Pope Benedict XVI was born on Holy Saturday of the Triduum in 1927. Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was baptized that same day with the water blessed at the Vigil of Easter. Remember that ceremonies were held in anticipation in those days, so they had Baptismal Water and Easter Water on that same day Joseph was born.
There is a news piece in Italian at Vatican News.
Archbp. Gänswein said that there was not a party because it is Holy Saturday. Benedict won’t be principle celebrant for Easter because of his frailty, but he will concelebrate. Gänswein describes Benedict’s routine day: Mass and Office, breakfast, a break, correspondence and reading. There is time for music until lunch. A short rest in the afternoon and visits from guests. (I’d like to be one of those someday soon.) If he is up to it, a walk in the gardens and Rosary (seated). In the evening, the news and evening prayer.
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God grant him many blessed years in health and happiness!
In 2008, I took my son to Washington DC for a college visit at Georgetown. Pope Benedict was in the US and visited the White House where they sang Happy Birthday to him (it was his 81st)- it was very sweet. God bless him; I believe his prayers for the Church are like a thin blue line invoking the Lord for His protection and strength, given the current state of the Church-
God bless our dear emeritus Pope Benedict. I treasure his writings and his prayers for the universal Church. May God grant him serenity in these days and the joys of Resurrection at the last.
Yes, his U.S. visit in 2008 was glorious. Remember George Bush beaming as they serenaded Pope Benedict with a rousing Battle Hymn of the Republic? All the awesome verses. White House was never classier. Remember when our country would happily do such things for the head of the Catholic Church? His homily at the funeral of John Paul II was my call to come into the Church. Nothing more beautiful and uplifting. He will always be my Pope. He expressed the truths of our faith like no one else.
“He will always be my Pope.”
And for all we know, he could still be THE pope. I suppose that one day we will all find out the truth behind this.
Check out that wrist watch! I’d like to know what it is.
God bless him.
acardnal
((Check out that wrist watch))
I wonder if it is a gadget that he can alert someone to come to his aid, if he falls. Many people in UK have them, they are connected via the telephone to an agency, which will alert a relative or carer that there is something amiss.
Littlemore, you may be on to something there.