What Does The Prayer Really Say?
W D T P R S

"Nel contesto pasquale, mi piace quest’oggi condividere con voi anche la gioia di un anniversario molto significativo: 500 anni or sono, precisamente il 18 aprile 1506, il Papa Giulio II poneva la prima pietra della nuova Basilica di San Pietro, che il mondo intero ammira nella possente armonia delle sue forme."

At the Regina caeli of Easter Sunday His Holiness spoke about the 500th anniversary of the placing of the first stone of the Basilica of St. Peter by Pope Julius II.  I have a pretty fabulous view of the Basilica from my window in Roma.  However, since I don’t get back to Rome until next Sunday, here is a photo from my files.  I shot this back on 4 October 2005.

I tip my biretta  o{]:¬)   to In The Light Of The Law for the very interesting news that the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts has made a far more narrow distinction about what it takes to leave the Church "by a formal act".  There is a Notification from the Pontifical Council communicated to the USCCB online.  This is a .pdf

That might mean that some folks are still bound by the laws of the Church who thought they were not.

At any rate, I find it very interesting that right now there are is reflection going on about what it means to belong to the Catholic Church. 

For a long time there has been quite a bit of debate about whether those who frequent the chapels of the SSPX are adhering to schism, for example.  All sorts of questions are raised.  What does it really take to adhere to schism?   Give money?  Is so, how much or often?   Go to the chapels?  If so, how often.  Lot’s of questions are raised.   Do they belong to the Church or not?

So, I find it interesting to note that the Notification has come at this time.