POPULARITY
2 episodes with swiss guards
2 episodes with swiss guards
3 episodes with swiss guards
AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports, after the Mass in St Peter's Square, Pope Francis' coffin was taken to St. Mary Major Basilica for burial.
Jeremy Irons, Jude Law, John Malkovich, Anthony Hopkins, Jonathan Pryce, and many more have played the roles of Popes in either movies or TV series. Tune in to find out who played fictitious roles of Popes and who didn't. Plus, a brief history of why the Swiss Guards have been the Pope's bodyguards for centuries. Credit: Movie Magic Opening Theme was produced, composed & performed by Corey Gomez. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Trending with Timmerie - Catholic Principals applied to today's experiences.
As we mourn the loss of our Holy Father, it's also inspiring to reminisce back on when Pope Francis was first elected. If you've ever wondered what it was like to be in Rome during that historic moment, Timmerie will share her personal encounter and help you live vicariously through her! You can hear Timmerie's full hour of reflections about Pope Francis and what happens when a pope dies here. Timmerie arrived in Rome on March 19th, 2013, literally hours after Pope Francis’ papal inauguration on the Solemnity of St. Joseph! The air was electric with what she called an “after-party energy,” a lingering buzz of joy and hope among the crowds. All over the streets: chants of "Papa Francesco! Papa Francesco!" The Popemobile Shocker Let’s set the scene: for decades, the popemobile was this sealed-off, bulletproof bubble of security. But Pope Francis rolled out in an open-window Popemobile and then stepped out of it! Swiss Guards = panicked. Crowd = ecstatic. Timmerie made her way to the front of the barrier, reaching out as far as she could. She didn’t manage to touch him, but it wasn't for lack of trying. A Moment of Radical Mercy Right next to her stood a young man in a wheelchair. Pope Francis had him lifted up over the crowd to be kissed and blessed. This was a direct rejection of the "culture of waste" the Pope often decried. Timmerie captured that moment on her old-school 2013 iPhone. The photos spread like wildfire, showing the world a pope who would bend the rules to raise up the lowly. She saw it firsthand... the beginning of a new papal tone: intimacy, mercy, and fierce love for the forgotten. A Shepherd Among the Sheep She wraps her story remembering those early months when we’d hear how Pope Francis would sneak out at night to minister to the poor, something unthinkable with previous popes. But that was Pope Francis: a Latin American shepherd sent by the Spirit, literally stepping off his throne to be with his flock. Timmerie was there for the birth of a new chapter in Church history. And she leaves us with a reminder to pray for the soul of Pope Francis, this bold, compassionate man chosen to lead us.
With their colourful uniforms and pomp, the Vatican's iconic Swiss Guards might seem more decorative than dangerous today - but their origin is far from ornamental. On January 22nd, 1506, 150 elite Swiss mercenaries marched into the City, and were blessed by ‘Warrior Pope' Julius II at sunset to protect the Pope during a tumultuous era of political strife. The Swiss were Renaissance Europe's answer to modern special forces. Renowned for their phalanx formations and halberds, they could dismantle charging cavalry with precision. Their reputation as fierce fighters had already drawn the attention of earlier popes, including Sixtus IV and Alexander VI, who hired Swiss mercenaries to bolster their armies. In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly revisit the lethal Sack of Rome in 1527; explain how Jules Repond revived and reformed the Guards in the 20th century; and consider the strict qualifications for candidates to become a member of their ranks… Further Reading: • 'A history of the Vatican's Swiss Guard' (Daily Telegraph, 2011): https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/vaticancityandholysee/8873853/A-history-of-the-Vaticans-Swiss-Guard.html?msockid=23c525cc0876634208c637a40951628f • ‘The Swiss Guard' (Suisse Société): https://houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/society/swiss-guard • 'Ex-guards march to mark 500th anniversary' (Associated Press, 2015): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WyF8VDovJqM Love the show? Support us! Join
Journey Joe gives you the real scoop on visiting St. Peter's Basilica! Get honest advice about the dome climb - including who shouldn't attempt it, discover the best times to avoid massive lines, and learn why early morning is magic. Plus, find out why those colorful Swiss Guards are way more than just photo opportunitiesTour Suggestions: vi.me/TEl9vUnlock an ad-free podcast experience with Caloroga Shark Media! Get all our shows on any player you love, hassle free! For Apple users, hit the banner on your Apple podcasts app. For Spotify or other players, visit caloroga.com/plus. No plug-ins needed! You also get 20+ other shows on the network ad-free!
Did you know the Vatican has a cookbook that was written by a Swiss Guard? Listen as Fr. Ben gives his opinion on this cookbook as well as talk about the importance of protection. He also covers the moral guidelines of protection according to the Church. Got a question you'd like to ask Fr. Ben? Go to Ask Fr. Ben | St. Michael Church (stmichaelmemphis.org) to submit questions and topic ideas for the podcast. The questions can be on faith or food! You can also follow us on Facebook and YouTube at Soul Food Priest. Thanks for listening!
Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!What happens when a meticulously planned trivia night goes off the rails? We toss the script and invite our vibrant audience to join the chaos! With our guests dropping out last minute, we transformed our episode into an impromptu trivia showdown, filled with laughter, friendly competition, and unexpected moments. Sam steps up as the trivia master, while Nick, albeit with some reluctance, handles the scorekeeping. Every question sparks lively discussions, humorous guesses, and some mistaken answers that only add to the fun.Our trivia game spans a range of intriguing topics, from the Swiss Guards and biblical figures to significant Catholic dates. Watch as Sam scores the first point, and the game heats up with questions about religious vestments and the ceremonial hat of a bishop. Even technical glitches and audio issues can't dampen our spirits, as we navigate through the quiz with plenty of teasing and camaraderie. Expect to learn something new while enjoying the lighthearted banter that makes our regular game sessions so entertaining.Join us as we embrace the unexpected and keep the laughs coming, all while diving into the fascinating world of religious trivia. From cultural practices to the Latin inscription on Jesus' cross, our trivia night proves to be as educational as it is hilarious. Despite the initial setbacks, the episode captures the essence of our community, ensuring that everyone has a blast and leaves with a smile. Don't miss out on this wild ride of humor, knowledge, and friendly rivalry!Support the show********************************************************https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://shop.avoidingbabylon.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rssSpiritusTV: https://spiritustv.com/@avoidingbabylonOdysee: https://odysee.com/@AvoidingBabylon
Explore the history of the world's oldest and smallest military force protecting the Pope for centuries, and meet new recruits as they undergo rigorous training.
The Pontifical Swiss Guards reveal the charisms and virtues they develop during their military training and spiritual formation as protectors of the Holy Father.
Welcome to Vatican Insider on what was a busy week in the Vatican with the swearing in of new Swiss Guards on May 6 and, on Thursday, May 9, the reading of the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year 2025 during a ceremony in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica. After the new highlights stay right here for a Q&A and then Part II of my conversation with Jacob Stein, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, who is working on his licentiate in dogmatic theology at Rome's Angelicum University. He has a fascinating story and passion that you heard in Part I last week. We learn more about CRUX STATIONALIS this week and Jacob will tell us about his favorite station churches in Rome and talk about his apostolate as a member of a Roman Archconfraternity that helps the poor and needy and has a special devotion to care for pilgrims.
Welcome to Vatican Insider on what was a busy week in the Vatican with the swearing in of new Swiss Guards on May 6 and, on Thursday, May 9, the reading of the Bull of Indiction of the Jubilee Year 2025 during a ceremony in the atrium of St. Peter's Basilica. After the new highlights stay right here for a Q&A and then Part II of my conversation with Jacob Stein, a native of Omaha, Nebraska, who is working on his licentiate in dogmatic theology at Rome's Angelicum University. He has a fascinating story and passion that you heard in Part I last week. We learn more about CRUX STATIONALIS this week and Jacob will tell us about his favorite station churches in Rome and talk about his apostolate as a member of a Roman Archconfraternity that helps the poor and needy and has a special devotion to care for pilgrims.
5/8/24 6am CT Hour - Ashley Noronha/ Mary Hallan Fiorito John, Glen and Sarah that about wild weather in US, Boy scouts name change and an emotional support alligator. Ashley reports on Pope Francis' Weekly General Audience about hope, swearing of the Swiss Guards and feast of Ascension. Mary talks about how JPII ad the Church uphold women and their role in the family and society.
God of chaos' asteroid update…Apophis is going to encounter another asteroid that could knock it into the earth. We will discuss the He Gets Us Superbowl Ad campaign Archbishop Viganò Calls for Swiss Guards to Arrest Pope Francis and The Cardinal Responsible for a Pornograhic Book The Pope's blessing of same sex unions/couples = the apostacy is in full swing! We are in the last days! Pope also teaches we need to forsake the Ten Commandments and just follow our conscience A Bible study on the false prophet and the Mark of the Beast that he implements --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/wormwoodasteroid/support
Radicals and Revolutionaries always make the same mistake. They all think that the Church is just going to roll over and die. Perhaps Josef Stalin posed this error most succinctly when he asked, “How many divisions does the Pope have?” In his mind, it was the size of the army that made you strong. Nothing else mattered. The Church had no army, except the spear-bearing Swiss Guards. Therefore, it was weak and would soon die. Of course, today, Stalin is dead and the country that he led no longer exists. Vladimir Putin pretends to be some sort of modern-day Stalin. However, the Ukrainians are proving that Putin is more like Humpty-Dumpty than the legendary Soviet dictator. Even though the Church today is in crisis, it is nowhere near death. It still exists and claims millions of followers, which is far more than one can say for the many enemies who predicted her demise over the centuries.
Smallest country on Earth: We look at crime, wine, paintings, Swiss Guards and a terrible song. Country 89.Right-click to download the latest podcast.Download with Apple or Spotify
As the August date for Lisbon's World Youth Day approaches, Vaticano looks back at how this popular celebration has grown. Plus, coverage of the “Popular Piety” symposium in Rome, and the history of the Swiss Guards.
The twins talk about the World Baseball Classic, crazy poops, and of course the daily dose of Nextdoor.
On "EWTN News Nightly" tonight: We introduce you to World War II veteran, 97-year old Stanley Maybruck, who was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. We caught up with Mr. Maybruck outside the WW II Memorial in Washington DC. One historian says every day is Memorial Day at Arlington National Cemetery. We talked to the cemetery's historian, who happens to be Catholic. Tim Frank explained how Memorial Day got its start under a different name. And, the Merchant Mariners of World War II are also receiving recognition. The group was awarded a Congressional Gold Medal. Lawmakers gathered last May for a ceremony to mark the occasion. Meanwhile, the Archbishop for Military Services is speaking out against the provision to allow abortions in certain circumstances at VA medical centers. Archbishop Timothy Broglio calls the measure "morally repugnant" and joins to discuss a letter he wrote. We then take you to the Vatican to introduce you to the Swiss Guards who promise to protect the Pope. EWTN Vatican Bureau Chief, Andreas Thonhauser, shows us last year's swearing-in ceremony for the world's smallest and oldest standing army. Finally this evening, hundreds of people turned out last year for a pilgrimage in honor of an American military chaplain who lost his life during the Korean War. They followed the footsteps of Father Emil Kapaun, who died in a North Korean prison camp after an 87 mile march of his own. Don't miss out on the latest news and analysis from a Catholic perspective. Get EWTN News Nightly delivered to your email: https://ewtn.com/enn
A 1001 Heroes Special- TEN STORIES OF FORGOTTEN HEROES (PT 1) - shares the following stories: 1), Grace Darling, the 22 year-old lighthouse keeper's daughter who rescued nine victims of a wreck at great risk to her own life; 2), The wreck of the HMS Birkenhood, the event which began the "women and children first" protocol; 3), The cabbies of Paris help save the city from German invasion;, 4) Resistance fighter Rosa Robota and her successful effort to kill SS guards at Auschwitz; 5), Israel Bissell, who rode longer and faster than Paul Revere but got no respect ; 6), The man who never was- the corpse the foiled Hitler's defense of Sicily; 7), The courageous Swiss Guards who died trying to defend a French king in 1792; 8). The heroes who died to find the cause of Yellow Fever; 9), Penicillin's forgotten heroes; and 10), Balto, the dog who saved a city. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
8 Munute History เอพิโสดนี้ พูดถึงตำรารัฐศาสตร์ที่ถูกเอ่ยถึงบ่อยที่สุดในโลกภูมิหลังทางประวัติศาสตร์ของบทความทฤษฎีการเมือง ‘Il Principe' ประพันธ์โดย Niccolò Machiavelli ที่กล่าวถึง ‘ทฤษฎีการเมืองอย่างเป็นจริง' ไม่ใช่แค่เพียงการเมืองในอุดมคติ รวมทั้งมีการพูดถึงบทบาทของ ‘Swiss Guards' ทหารรับจ้างที่แข็งแกร่งที่สุดกองหนึ่งในยุโรป บทบาทของศาสนจักรโรมันคาทอลิก ชาวยุโรป กองทัพสงคราม และการบริหารความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างรัฐต่างๆ เพื่อความมั่นคงของศาสนจักร จะเกี่ยวข้องกับหนังสือทฤษฎีการเมืองอย่างไร ติดตามได้ในเอพิโสดนี้
8 Munute History เอพิโสดนี้ พูดถึงตำรารัฐศาสตร์ที่ถูกเอ่ยถึงบ่อยที่สุดในโลกภูมิหลังทางประวัติศาสตร์ของบทความทฤษฎีการเมือง ‘Il Principe' ประพันธ์โดย Niccolò Machiavelli ที่กล่าวถึง ‘ทฤษฎีการเมืองอย่างเป็นจริง' ไม่ใช่แค่เพียงการเมืองในอุดมคติ รวมทั้งมีการพูดถึงบทบาทของ ‘Swiss Guards' ทหารรับจ้างที่แข็งแกร่งที่สุดกองหนึ่งในยุโรป บทบาทของศาสนจักรโรมันคาทอลิก ชาวยุโรป กองทัพสงคราม และการบริหารความสัมพันธ์ระหว่างรัฐต่างๆ เพื่อความมั่นคงของศาสนจักร จะเกี่ยวข้องกับหนังสือทฤษฎีการเมืองอย่างไร ติดตามได้ในเอพิโสดนี้
David Geisser was a Swiss Guard protecting Pope Francis and the Apostolic Palace between 2013 and 2015. He was following the footsteps of his father who had been in the service a generation earlier under Pope John Paul II, including on the dark day (May 13, 1981) when a would-be assassin shot the Holy Father. I ask him about his experiences in one of the oldest (est. 1506) and smallest (135 men) military organizations in history. David Geisser's YouTube channel, It's Cooking Time National Geographic, “Inside the Vatican,” 2021: Episode 1 and Episode 2 A Swiss public television documentary on the Swiss Guards (in German) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network
David Geisser was a Swiss Guard protecting Pope Francis and the Apostolic Palace between 2013 and 2015. He was following the footsteps of his father who had been in the service a generation earlier under Pope John Paul II, including on the dark day (May 13, 1981) when a would-be assassin shot the Holy Father. I ask him about his experiences in one of the oldest (est. 1506) and smallest (135 men) military organizations in history. David Geisser's YouTube channel, It's Cooking Time National Geographic, “Inside the Vatican,” 2021: Episode 1 and Episode 2 A Swiss public television documentary on the Swiss Guards (in German) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/military-history
David Geisser was a Swiss Guard protecting Pope Francis and the Apostolic Palace between 2013 and 2015. He was following the footsteps of his father who had been in the service a generation earlier under Pope John Paul II, including on the dark day (May 13, 1981) when a would-be assassin shot the Holy Father. I ask him about his experiences in one of the oldest (est. 1506) and smallest (135 men) military organizations in history. David Geisser's YouTube channel, It's Cooking Time National Geographic, “Inside the Vatican,” 2021: Episode 1 and Episode 2 A Swiss public television documentary on the Swiss Guards (in German) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
David Geisser was a Swiss Guard protecting Pope Francis and the Apostolic Palace between 2013 and 2015.David Geisser's website: https://davidgeisser.ch/David Geisser's YouTube channel, It's Cooking Time: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLH__-J4nggNUlVxo8pUoDVIAtkjGcSCVcNational Geographic, "Inside the Vatican," 2021.Episode 1: https://youtu.be/2gAYARJ5gLoEpisode 2: https://youtu.be/fUUv7aw9R8kA Swiss public television documentary on the Swiss Guards (in German):https://youtu.be/A0z4PUvwbpI
Global Policy Watch #1: How the Sri Lankan Economy UnraveledInsights on policy issues making news around the world— RSJWhat people do when they storm palaces is broadly instructive about what comes next.In 1792, the French insurgents determined to end whatever remained of the ancien regime stormed the palace of Tuileries and confronted the Swiss Guards who were defending the palace on the orders of Louis XVI. Blood, gore and massacre followed, at the end of which about eleven hundred combatants were killed. These included, as J.M. Thomson wrote in his history of the French Revolution:..common citizens from every branch of the trading and working classes of Paris, including hair-dressers, harness-makers, carpenters, joiners, house-painters, tailors, hatters, boot-makers, locksmiths, laundry-men, and domestic servants.The Bolsheviks were not to be outdone on the night of October 25, 1917, when they assaulted the Winter Palace at St. Petersburg on the orders of Lenin. The insurrectionists barely met with any resistance from the yunkers, the Cossacks and the women’s battalion guarding the palace. To quote John Reed from Ten Days That Shook The World (1935):On both sides of the main gateway the doors stood wide open, light streamed out and from the huge pile came not the slightest sound. Carried along by the eager wave of men, we were swept into the right hand entrance, opening into a great bare vaulted room, the cellar of the East wing, from which issued a maze of corridors and stair-cases. ...One man went strutting around with a bronze clock perched on his shoulder; another found a plume of ostrich feathers, which he stuck in his hat. The looting was just beginning when somebody cried, ‘Comrades! Don't touch anything! Don't take anything! This is the property of the People!’ Immediately twenty voices were crying, ‘Stop! Put everything back! Don't take anything! Property of the People!’ Many hands dragged the spoilers down. Damask and tapestry were snatched from the arms of those who had them; two men took away the bronze clock. Roughly and hastily the things were crammed back in their cases, and self-appointed sentinels stood guard. It was all utterly spontaneous. Through corridors and up stair-cases the cry could be heard growing fainter and fainter in the distance, ‘Revolutionary discipline! Property of the People.’The Filipinos did things a bit differently on Feb 24, 1986. As this news report suggests:It started with a rock fight, then the gate was opened for a few photographers and the crowd pushed through into the palace the Marcos family occupied for 20 years, shouting and grabbing anything they could carry. They snatched clothes, shoes, perfume, monogrammed towels. Some wolfed food from the table at which Ferdinand E. Marcos and his family had dined before leaving in American helicopters for Clark Air Base and flight from the country.Thousands of people were outside Malacanang Palace when the photographers arrived Tuesday night. Supporters of Corazon Aquino, who became president when Marcos fled, and Marcos loyalists started throwing rocks at each other.They rushed through the gate, turning left to the administration building or right to the living quarters. Marcos loyalists followed them. The fights and looting started. Cheering, the rioters climbed on top of three tanks. One grabbed an ammunition belt. Others took guns.Cut to present-day Sri Lanka. It has a foreign debt of over US$ 50 billion. Its foreign exchange reserves are about US$ 50 million. Inflation is running at over 50 per cent. The Sri Lankan Rupee has fallen by 80 per cent since the start of the year. What’s worse is that no one knows who is keeping score.Former President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country this week. Right now, he is in Singapore negotiating his asylum with friendly countries in the middle-east (why not China?). His brothers couldn’t get out of Sri Lanka in time. Gotabaya’s military plane didn’t possibly have space for two more passengers. Blood is thinner than aviation fuel. The other forty-odd members of the clan who hold various constitutional and government posts have gone into hiding. The time was ripe for an attack on the Presidential palace. And it happened, as they say, duly. But this is how the Lankans did the storming (Photos: Arun Sankar/AFP)To misquote Tolstoy: happy citizens are all alike. Unhappy citizens are unhappy in different ways.Though unhappy, Sri Lankans look suspiciously upbeat here. So, one thing can be said for sure. There won’t be a revolution in Sri Lanka. The Lankans are a resilient, patient and easygoing lot. They have endured tough times in the past four decades. Now that the Rajapaksas are out of the frame, a national government is likely to be formed; a deal might get worked out with the multilateral agencies involving restructuring of debt, fresh borrowings from friendly countries, and prolonged pain of austerity for the rest of the decade. They will probably muddle through as they have done for much of their independent history. That apart, it is useful to appreciate how Sri Lanka ended up here. There are public policy lessons there. There are two lenses to apply. The first is the structural weakness in the Sri Lankan economy that has persisted for a long time. Then there is the proximate cause of the recent past that led to sovereign debt default and bankruptcy. We will examine both here.The Achilles' HeelIn 1948, the British left Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) with an economy that was quite similar to the many similar resource rich nations of the time. Manufacturing was non-existent, banking services were limited to a couple of cities and the mainstay of the economy was the exports of tea and rubber which were vulnerable to commodity cycles. However, it started with a good base of foreign reserve surplus that could cover imports for over a year. With this starting point, the obvious policy measures should have came into play. One, develop a manufacturing sector (public and private) that stimulates growth in the economy and reduces the dependency on imports of intermediates and finished products. Two, to develop the banking sector and create development finance institutions that could provide credit for this transition in the economy. Neither happened. In fact, the focus on the plantation economy deepened in the decade after independence. The foreign reserve surplus soon turned to a deficit as Sri Lanka continued to import higher-value goods, and the government found it difficult to raise revenues to support its spends as its population increased. By the mid-60s, Sri Lanka was contending with both a fiscal deficit and a current account deficit. The classic twin deficit pincer that low-income economies get caught in. Over the last six decades, it has struggled to come out of it. The reasons could be many - lack of domestic savings, absence of development finance institutions, inability to attract other sources of foreign capital like direct investment instead of debt and political instability and a long civil war that didn’t help the economy. Things didn’t go badly for Sri Lanka only in the last few years. Its economy was always fragile, as the seventeen different IMF bailout packages that started in 1965 indicate. See the table below for the history of IMF bailouts (SDR = Special Drawing Rights).The comparison with India during the same period is useful. India chose the more inefficient state-led industrialisation and capital creation model and overdid it by the 70s with the nationalisation of the banks. But it led to the creation of a manufacturing sector and the availability of credit. India also created relatively strong institutions for a developing economy during that time. That meant we avoided a sovereign debt default scenario till 1991. The Indian state, after having generated the initial impetus, should have gotten out of most of these areas by the mid to late 70s. But that’s another story. Sri Lanka never built that core capacity, nor did it follow the model of the ‘tiger’ economies of creating national champions in select sectors. In the early 80s it ‘opened’ its economy on the behest of the IMF that made these conditions collateral for further bailouts. The dismantling of duties and exchange controls made Sri Lanka even more dependent on imports as its nascent industries couldn’t compete with the foreign goods flooding in. The twin deficit continued to worsen and further de-industrialisation set in. There are things Sri Lanka is commended for during this time. It has the best HDI metrics in the region, with good quality healthcare and education available to its citizens. These should lead to better economic outcomes, provided the structural issues are addressed. That these metrics themselves were built on foreign debt makes their sustainability suspect. Over-indexing on one measure while avoiding a comprehensive cost-benefit analysis and the unintended consequences is an old public policy error. Why did things go from bad to worse in the past few years? Two things happened. One, the composition of Sri Lankan debt changed for the worse. Sri Lanka issued international sovereign bonds (ISBs) at attractive coupons that got in global fund houses into the mix with more dollar-denominated debt. China, too, got into the game with large infrastructure projects that have ended up as the proverbial white elephants. The chart below shows how its foreign debt stood in 2021.The market borrowings now contributing to 47 per cent shot up in the last decade. This fresh source of funds further lulled the policymakers. The government continued to spend and feed domestic consumption without a plan to control the fiscal deficit while borrowing to build infrastructure and pay for imports. In 2019, Gotabaya came into power, promising to reverse these policies. But the ‘strong man syndrome’ took over. There were bold initiatives announced with minimal debates and understanding of likely scenarios that could emerge. Corporate taxes and VAT were slashed in the hope of an economic boost. That didn’t come because there wasn’t an industrial base that could take advantage of this. The fall in tax revenues widened the fiscal deficit and increased the government’s borrowing from the central bank. The pandemic hit tourism, a significant contributor to the economy and a source of precious foreign exchange. The widening current account deficit had to be controlled, leading to another bold idea. The government announced an overnight transition to organic farming and banned the import of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides. There was no real conviction to organic farming here. It was just a means to reduce the import burden and bring the current account deficit under control. The consequences were disastrous. Paddy production fell over 20 per cent, and there was an immediate food shortage. Tea production suffered, and exports fell. Then the Ukraine war sent oil beyond US$ 100 a barrel, which was the last straw. The central bank supplied over US$ 2 billion in the past 12 months to import essential items. But eventually, they all ran out of runway. And we got here.Of course, Sri Lanka's historical structural weakness is a factor to blame for its troubles. But you cannot take away the hubris of strong man decision-making that aggravated its situation in the last three years. Policy-making requires debates, scenario planning, anticipating the consequences and above all, strong institutions to take an independent, objective view of decisions. Bypassing them and going by instinct might seem like strong leadership, but the odds are stacked against good outcomes coming from them. Matsyanyaaya: Ignorance Breeds BiasBig fish eating small fish = Foreign Policy in action— Pranay KotasthaneWhen our level of understanding of another country is poor, we resort to cognitive shortcuts to make sense of the news coming from there. We interpret happenings in a way that reaffirms our current fears, hopes, and anxieties.While parsing information about a stronger adversary, we start with a sense of awe. When a weaker adversary makes it to the headlines, we start from a position of derision. Similarly, when we interpret information from a stronger ally, we amplify news that shows us in good light with respect to the ally. As for a weaker ally, our starting point is self-aggrandisement.Excessive reliance on these cognitive blinkers indicates that we don’t know enough about another country. And since we don’t know enough, we cannot differentiate between trash takes and informed opinions, rumours and facts, and between motivated actions and serendipity. It is easy to see these blinkers in action on social media discussions on Indian foreign policy issues.Take, for instance, what happened in the US earlier this week. House Rep Ro Khanna proposed an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act 2023. Amongst other things, the amendment had these lines: While India faces immediate needs to maintain its heavily Russian-built weapons systems, a waiver to sanctions under the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act during this transition period is in the best interests of the United States and the United States-India defense partnership to deter aggressors in light of Russia and China’s close partnership.The House passed the amendment. Immediately, Indian media and commentariat pronounced that the US had given India a CAATSA waiver. My first reaction was no different. I realised later that this amendment only urges the Biden administration to provide India with a CAATSA waiver since the authority to take this decision lies with the executive branch. Unsurprisingly, there’s not a single mention of this amendment in the top American newspapers (I checked WSJ, WaPo, and NYT). Still, we had already given ourselves a strategically autonomous pat-on-the-back here in India. There are several other instances as well. In Feb 2018, a 26-member committee of the Pakistani Senate passed a resolution for the promotion of the Chinese language in Pakistan. Within minutes, Indian media was reporting that Pakistan has made Mandarin an official language of Pakistan! Someone just picked up a piece of bad news reporting from a Pakistani YouTube channel and assumed the worst. The sense of ridicule was almost instantaneous, and few stopped to consider how the official language of a State could be decided by a Senate Committee consisting of 20-odd members?Of course, these cognitive shortcuts are the easiest to find in Indian discussions on China. Because we understand so little about its culture, language, and politics, we almost always solely rely on our preconceived notions. So, we are absolutely confident that the Sri Lankan economy faltered only because of China’s debt-trap diplomacy, that China’s already deployed AI for advanced decision-making in military systems, or that China’s social credit system is a real-life incarnation of the Black Mirror episode, Nosedive. The reality is quite different, but these narratives occupy prime positions in our discourse. Can we train ourselves to not succumb to these cognitive shortcuts? Perhaps. Political Scientist Yiqin Fu has a really good solution set in the context of poor understanding of China in the US. She proposes four ways out:Tying more of one’s payoffs to what is happening in the target country as opposed to how news from the target country makes you feel would incentive you to form more accurate beliefs. Participating in online prediction markets or having some exposure to the target country’s financial markets would be a concrete example.The ultimate solution is to expand your knowledge.. as you can so that you are qualified to judge a wider pool of sellers (commentators).. A realistic approach could be talking to friends or following people with different skill profiles. Together you would be capable of evaluating commentary on a broader set of issues.Give more weight to commentary that uses systematic evidence… where applicable, the quality of commentary that cites systematic evidence is generally superior to those that do not.People on the knowledge frontier of any given issue bear special responsibility to amplify analyses they find reasonable, including those that reach conclusions they disagree with. On issues at the intersection of many niche areas, the average consumer has no way of distinguishing between analyses that are “reasonable but different from mine” and those that “rely on complete falsehoods.” So experts ought to share all commentary they find reasonable, regardless of how much they agree with the conclusion. As a footnote, its useful to consider that the “CAATSA has been waived off” cognitive shortcut indicates one of two things:some of us are intuitively assuming that US domestic politics has a better appreciation of India’s worldview. And hence, we are ready to jump to the conclusion that the US has already waived off these sanctions. We are seeing what we want to see. Given the chequered past of the US-India relationship, even this mistaken assumption is a positive sign.However, I think most people are intuitively assuming that India is entitled to a waiver. A lot of Indians are convinced that the US cannot counter China without India on its side. And so, they interpreted the CAATSA amendment news as a reaffirmation of India’s global importance.It is also interesting to consider if these mistaken assumptions will impact the Biden administration’s calculus on the waiver. Since many Indians are already convinced that India has got a CAATSA waiver, can it now afford to impose sanctions? The answer, of course, depends on a whole lot of other factors. Nevertheless, our cognitive shortcuts about another country reveal a lot about ourselves. Course Advertisement: Admissions for the Sept 2022 cohort of Takshashila’s Graduate Certificate in Public Policy programme are now open! Apply by 23rd July for a 10% early bird scholarship. Visit this link to apply.A Framework a Week: Things Governments DoTools for thinking public policy— Pranay Kotasthane(This post was first published in March 2018 on Indian National Interest)A typology of government actions can be extremely helpful. Faced with a policy problem, such a typology can serve as a menu of actions that governments can respond with. Various policy solutions can then be seen in this comparative framework:might action X be the better way to solve this policy problem?why would the government employ action X over other actions?what are the disadvantages of using action X over other actions?Surprisingly, I came across only a few typologies of government actions. One by Michael O’Hare and the other by Eugene Bardach.O’Hare’s 1989 paper A Typology of Government Action says: all legitimate government behaviour can be classified in eight classes.Note how this classification does not include things like laws, rules, and procedures — actions that we associate most commonly with a government. The reason is that these three are methods to implement the chosen government action. As such, a law can be a chosen method for many government actions: to prohibit (example: Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006), to tax (example: Income Tax Act, 1961) and to subsidise (example: the Hajj Committee Act, 1959).Eugene Bardach’s typology in A Practical Guide for Policy Analysis is the second one I came across. It classifies government actions into these categories:1. Taxes (add, abolish, change rates, tax an externality)2. Regulation (entry, exit, output, price, and service levels)3. Subsidies and Grants (add, abolish, change formula)4. Service Provision (add, expand, organise outreach, reduce transaction costs)5. Agency budgets (add, cut, hold to last year’s level)6. Information (require disclosure, govt rating, standardise display)7. Structure of Private Rights (contract rights, liability duties, corporate law)8. Framework of Economic Activity (control/decontrol prices, wages, and profits) 9. Education and Consultation (Change values, upgrade skills, warn of hazards) 10. Financing and Contracting (leasing, redesigning bidding systems, dismantle PSU) 11. Bureaucratic and Political ReformsHomeWorkReading and listening recommendations on public policy matters[Article] Ajay Shah on improving resilience against extreme surges in demand.[Blog] Noah Smith has an excellent post on the Sri Lankan economic crisis.[Book] Carrots, Sticks and Sermons — another useful classification of policy instruments This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit publicpolicy.substack.com
As a mob of mercenaries loots the Holy See, 42 Swiss Guardsmen, all that remains of the 500 who started in the fight, fortify themselves on the steps of the Vatican, to make one desperate last stand to fulfill their holy mission and defend the Pope at all costs.
EDWARD PENTIN, Rome correspondent for The National Catholic Register reports from Rome on the resignations of Swiss Guard members due to the Vatican's vaccine mandate, an unexpected twist in a Vatican sex abuse trial, and the "Synodal Path" in Germany hits a dead end. STEVEN MOSHER, president of the Population Research Institute is here with an update on the Chinese Communist government's increased pressure on Taiwan. BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER of Kazakhstan weighs in on the Synod and previews his new book, The Catholic Mass: Steps to Restore the Centrality of God in the Liturgy. The World Over with Raymond Arroyo wants to hear from YOU! What are the top FIVE issues that YOU would like the Vatican's Synod to consider. Send them to us...@WorldOverLive on TWITTER...or EMAIL them to worldover@ewtn.com.
EDWARD PENTIN, Rome correspondent for The National Catholic Register reports from Rome on the resignations of Swiss Guard members due to the Vatican's vaccine mandate, an unexpected twist in a Vatican sex abuse trial, and the "Synodal Path" in Germany hits a dead end. STEVEN MOSHER, president of the Population Research Institute is here with an update on the Chinese Communist government's increased pressure on Taiwan. BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER of Kazakhstan weighs in on the Synod and previews his new book, The Catholic Mass: Steps to Restore the Centrality of God in the Liturgy. The World Over with Raymond Arroyo wants to hear from YOU! What are the top FIVE issues that YOU would like the Vatican's Synod to consider. Send them to us...@WorldOverLive on TWITTER...or EMAIL them to worldover@ewtn.com.
EDWARD PENTIN, Rome correspondent for The National Catholic Register reports from Rome on the resignations of Swiss Guard members due to the Vatican's vaccine mandate, an unexpected twist in a Vatican sex abuse trial, and the "Synodal Path" in Germany hits a dead end. STEVEN MOSHER, president of the Population Research Institute is here with an update on the Chinese Communist government's increased pressure on Taiwan. BISHOP ATHANASIUS SCHNEIDER of Kazakhstan weighs in on the Synod and previews his new book, The Catholic Mass: Steps to Restore the Centrality of God in the Liturgy. The World Over with Raymond Arroyo wants to hear from YOU! What are the top FIVE issues that YOU would like the Vatican's Synod to consider. Send them to us...@WorldOverLive on TWITTER...or EMAIL them to worldover@ewtn.com.
In this episode:Vatican verdict in seminary scandalFrench church counts 3,000 child abusersArgentine Provolo Institute abuse victims attend UNVatican financial reform in light of Becciu trialPope Francis and faith leaders call for net-zero carbon emissions3 Swiss Guards quit over refusal to take COVID vaccineHow amatriciana can solve church polarizationSupport the show (https://cruxnow.com/support-crux/)
• Dead Sea pool turns blood read puzzling experts in region • Taliban breaking promises including the ones about women, says UN • After more than 500 years, Swiss Guards could open up to women soldiers • HS2 dig uncovers Anglo-Saxon church in...
What are the advantages and pitfalls of extending coronavirus vaccine programmes? Plus: the battle for women's rights in Latin America, a profile of the leader of Canada's conservatives, Erin O'Toole, and why the Vatican's Swiss Guards are getting a new home.
The podcast kicks off with May 4th: May The Fourth Be With You. After that, to celebrate Tyler's birthday, it's the Rack Your Head Game. Then, a Catholic Guy Masterpiece Theater: Esau and Jacob. And the podcast wraps up with Swiss Guards!
A daily news briefing from Catholic News Agency, powered by artificial intelligence. Ask your smart speaker to play “Catholic News,” or listen every morning wherever you get podcasts. www.catholicnewsagency.com - Members of the public will once again be able to attend in-person general audiences with Pope Francis, starting May 12. The audiences went virtual in March 2020, and were briefly held in person again beginning last September. Pilgrims will be required to observe safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The courtyard where the audiences will be held has a capacity of around 500 or so socially distanced and masked participants. Thirty-four new Swiss Guards were sworn in on Thursday, in an elaborate ceremony in Vatican City. The Swiss Guard is one of the world's oldest standing armies, and the new guards promised to protect the pope, even at the cost of their own lives. Although the Vatican increased the size of the Swiss Guards three years ago, from 110 to 135 men, it remains the world's smallest army. The Diocese of Charleston, South Carolina, expressed its dismay Thursday after the state House passed a bill effectively allowing the state to resume executions, by using new methods such as electrocution and firing squad. A spokeswoman for the diocese said, quote, “It is time for our state to abolish the death penalty, not to find new ways to execute our brothers and sisters.” The Catholic University of America has received a $20 million donation for its nursing school. The donation from honorary graduates Bill and Joanne Conway will give tuition assistance and other aid to 160 nursing students over the next five years. Today the church celebrates St. John of Beverley, bishop of York, and also Saint Rosa Venerini, who founded Catholic schools for girls and young women in Italy during the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
On Jan 22 1506 the first contingent of 150 Swiss Guards arrives at the Vatican. Todays pod looks at the historical context for their arrival, their famous colourful uniforms and how their role is changing all the time.
Help! We've fallen and we can't get up! Should we push our life alert buttons or hope someone gives us CPR? Lauren and Mary are back for a second season. Learn practical life-saving emergency medical techniques from Mary, then journey with Lauren to the land of Italy to continue learning about CPR. The twist? CPR now stands for Certified Papal Ridiculousness. Let's all finally learn what those Swiss Guards think they're doing in their balloon suits.
Vatican City saw seven new cases of the coronavirus this week, marking a sudden second wave of infections in the world’s smallest nation. Four of those infected were Swiss Guards; the other three were Vatican residents. As Vatican employees attempt to trace and test those who may have been exposed to these individuals, the influx of cases has thrown into question whether it is safe to continue papal audiences, where many people ignore social distance protocols and some, including Pope Francis, do not wear masks. This week on “Inside the Vatican,” hosts Colleen Dulle and Gerard O’Connell discuss the Vatican’s existing protocols and why Pope Francis may be hesitant to wear a mask. The hosts also explain Cardinal George Pell’s visit with Pope Francis this week. Is it the final flourish in a “victory lap” around his former rival, Cardinal Angelo Becciu? This week on the show, Colleen and Gerry discuss what they make of the meeting. Links from the show: Four Swiss Guards test positive as Covid-19 penetrates Vatican Gerard O’Connell: Why is Australia’s Cardinal Pell returning to Rome? Pope Francis welcomes Cardinal Pell after sex abuse trial
This is Coronavirus 411, the latest COVID-19 info and new hotspots… Just the facts… for October 13th, 2020. While the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, Americans are increasingly saying don’t bother. A Gallup poll shows willingness to get such a vaccination has dropped 11 points, falling to only 50%. But at the same time, the percentage of Americans inclined to not go back to normal daily activities until there is a vaccine hit a new high of 26%.The head of the World Health Organization called a reliance on herd immunity “simply unethical." It was noted that to get herd immunity, about 95% of the population must be immunized and that simply exposing people to the virus is not how you get to herd immunity.The Vatican said four Swiss Guards tested positive and have symptoms. Infections have been surging in surrounding Italy. The Swiss Guards provide ceremonial guard duty during papal Masses, man the Vatican gates and help protect 83-year-old Pope Francis.Countries across Europe are tightening restrictions as cases increase. Europe surpassed 100,000 daily cases for the first time last week. The Czech Republic has Europe’s highest rate of infection. In July, that country held a “Farewell Covid” party to celebrate their victory over the virus.JFK and Newark airports have partnered with XpresCheck to offer rapid testing facilities that provide results in 15 minutes. It’s the sister company of XpresSpa, which offers mani-pedis and massages at airports.The top 10 counties with the highest number of recent cases per capita according to The New York Times: Jerauld, SD. Aurora, SD. Faulk, SD. Roosevelt, MT. Norton, KS. Toole, MT. Falls, TX. Miner, SD. Glacier, MT. And Johnson, TN. There are 2,633,163 active cases in the United States. The current Top 10 states by number of active cases: California, Florida, Georgia, Arizona, Virginia, Maryland, Missouri, Texas, Illinois, and Alabama. The five states with the most daily new cases per capita over 7 days are North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, Wisconsin, and Utah.The retransmission rate is currently highest in Montana, New Mexico, Alaska, Wyoming, and New Hampshire. While the lowest retransmission is found in Mississippi, West Virginia, Washington, Delaware, and Texas. There’ve been a total 214,061 deaths in the US reported as COVID-related, with a current national fatality rate of 2.80%.The states with the most new deaths reported as COVID-related: Florida 48. Pennsylvania 18. Arkansas 17. Texas 15. Louisiana and Iowa 14. Massachusetts, Illinois, and Georgia 13. And New York 12.Globally, there are 8,353,163 active cases.There are 281,219 new cases around the world in the last 24 hours, compared to a high of 359,265. The five countries with the most new cases: India 54,265. United States 45,791. The UK 13,972. Russia 13,592. And Argentina 9,524. There have now been 1,078,629 deaths worldwide. Up 7% over 14 days. For the latest updates, subscribe for free to Coronavirus 411 on your podcast app or ask your smart speaker to play the Coronavirus 411 podcast. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
In the first episode of the WCIB’s Talk & Toast power couple podcast series, Rupert Hambro CBE and Robin Hambro talk to Karina Robinson, Master of the Worshipful Company of International Bankers. Rupert is Chairman of disruptive business incubator Hambro Perks, and of Robinson Hambro, the CEO Advisory and Board search firm co-founded with the Master of the WCIB, as well as a Chairman of a number of other companies and of the Investment Committee of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. Robin is a doyenne of the arts world, where she is a Patron of the Vatican Museum and the founder of the New Young Artist show, as well as having set up corporate sponsorship at the Royal Opera House and created her own line of Bond-Street jewellery. Over breakfast, City grandee Rupert Hambro shares what makes a great entrepreneur, investing in a Muslim matchmaking app and the secret of a 50-year marriage. Robin Hambro, a legend in art fundraising circles, talks about the persistence that got 6,000 children to submit entries to hang in the Royal Academy’s New Young Artist show and the joys of having Swiss Guards at the Vatican salute her. http://www.streetsconsulting.com/
This is the first of this type of “special” episode. Since starting this podcast we’ve all had so many ideas for episodes, but not all of them fit into the mold of what The Coldbow Podcast is. So we’ve decided to experiment with special episodes, which are outside the main body of episodes. This is the first in a series of such special episodes — revolving around the music of Sabaton, a Swedish power metal band. There are a few of us Coldbros that really like history, and while none of us can claim any real acumen, we’ve been wanting to share our passion with you. I (Scott) just so happened to be listening to another podcast that featured a song by Sabaton and I fell in love with the band. With even a cursory glance at their song titles you’ll notice a pattern, they’re all based on historic events and/or figures. The first such title in Spotify’s “Popular” list is The Last Stand. A song about a small force of ancient warrior/body guards, tasked with protecting the Pope. This force is The Swiss Guard and they’re still around today in Vatican City. Turns out they have a long history, In 1527 these brave men fought and died against a much superior force. And thanks to a heroic last stand they were able to save the Pope and add to their legacy. Links: Lyrics: https://www.sabaton.net/discography/the-last-stand-lyrics/ Swiss Guards: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swiss_Guards Vatican City: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vatican_City Vatican City Map: https://www.google.com/maps/place/00120+Vatican+City/@41.893636,12.457884,963a,35y,358.29h,44.65t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x1325890a57d42d3d:0x94f9ab23a7eb0!8m2!3d41.902916!4d12.453389 Sack of Rome: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sack_of_Rome_(1527) Where the battle was fought: https://www.google.com/maps/place/00120+Vatican+City/@41.9018809,12.4605804,350a,35y,270h,44.87t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x1325890a57d42d3d:0x94f9ab23a7eb0!8m2!3d41.902916!4d12.453389 Passetto di Borgo: https://www.google.com/maps/@41.9030687,12.4643049,3a,75y,18.05h,89.3t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sAp7XOyDHxCSC67OefRC65w!2e0!7i13312!8i6656 Castel Sant’Angelo: https://www.google.com/maps/place/00120+Vatican+City/@41.8967071,12.4653198,700a,35y,358.29h,44.73t/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x1325890a57d42d3d:0x94f9ab23a7eb0!8m2!3d41.902916!4d12.453389 Special thanks to: No Dumb Questions: https://www.nodumbquestions.fm/ Stuff You Should Know: https://www.stuffyoushouldknow.com/ Hardcore History: https://www.dancarlin.com/hardcore-history-series/ Sabaton: https://www.sabaton.net/ https://open.spotify.com/artist/3o2dn2O0FCVsWDFSh8qxgG?si=3ZdflSbTSmWIhWlBRNKxlw
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry **Today's guest(s):** Cardinal Séan O'Malley, Andreas Widmer, Fr. Daniel Hennessey* [The Vatican's official tribute to Blessed John Paul II](http://www.johnpaulii.va/en/)* [The Diocese of Rome's Bl. John Paul II website](http://www.karol-wojtyla.org/En/Home%20Page.aspx)* **Today's topics:** Reflections on the Beatification of Pope John Paul II; Dedication of the radio studio to Bl. John Paul II**A summary of today's show:** Cardinal Sean, Fr. Dan Hennessey, and Andreas Widmer called in from Rome to give their own unique perspectives on the beatification ceremonies: as a cardinal, a priest, and a former Swiss Guard. They also imparted the flavor of the day, the peace and joy evident in the event even in a crowd numbering close to 2 million. Also, today, we dedicate our radio studio under the patronage of Bl. John Paul II.**1st segment:** Yesterday, on Divine Mercy Sunday, Pope Benedict XVI beatified his predecessor, the now Blessed Pope John Paul II. This holy pope was a spiritual father to all of us and an inspiration. On today's program, we'll receive the reflections of 3 pilgrims who are familiar to listeners here on The Good Catholic Life. Later, we'll hear from Father Dan Hennessey, the director of Vocations for the Archdiocese, and Andreas Widmer a former Swiss Guard who now lives in Boston. Cardinal Sean now joins Scot. The Cardinal said it was exciting to be there yesterday. The crowds were enormous, and luckily there were many opportunities for people to participate in different ways. With up to 2 million people in the city, it was very challenging to get up close to the ceremony itself. Last night, the Basilica was open until 3am and there was a column of people filing past the casket of Bl. John Paul. Today there was a Mass of Thanksgiving celebrated by Cardinal Bertone. There were pilgrims from all over the world, virtually every continent. Obviously, yhr Holy Father had touched so many people's lives. No one in history had ever been seen by so many people as John Paul. This ceremony gives testimony to the connectedness that people felt with him.Scot asked what it's like to know someone he knew so well become a blessed in the Church. Cardinal Sean never thought he would grow so old that he would know two people who were beatified: John Paul and Mother Theresa. He was with the Holy Father many times as both a priest and a bishop. He was extraordinarily gifted and real grace for the Church. It's wonderful in our lifetime to have the opportunity to celebrate his ministry and his life.Scot said Pope John Paul wasn't beatified for his papacy, but for his holiness and virtues. He asked Cardinal Sean for any reflections on his holiness. Cardinal Sean said he was impressed how, in the midst of a chaos of a papal visit, wherever it was, he had the ability to concentrate and pray and be recollected. He's sure that was the source of his strength. That was evidence of just how profound his spirituality was. Cardinal Sean said it looked like the entire College of Cardinals was present and he was pleased that Pope Benedict asked all the cardinals to concelebrate. Even a number of retired cardinals in poor health came to Rome to be part of it.Scot asked how Rome was different than all the Cardinal's many trips. There were many people from all over: lots of French and Spanish, also many from Africa. Many people slept in the St. Peter's Square and along the Via della Conciliazione. Scot said he followed many of the Catholic bloggers and Twitterers who were writing during the whole night from the vigil and through the Mass. When Cardinal Sean went by the Basilica last night about 11pm and there was still a huge column. Cardinal Sean also ran into some of those attending today's Vatican meeting of Catholic bloggers, including Anna Arco of the *Catholic Herald* in London.**2nd segment:** Now joined by Fr. Daniel Hennessey from the Basilica of St. Paul-Outside-the-Walls in Rome. He attended the Saturday night vigil at Circus Maximus. He thinks there were several hundred thousand people and it was very peaceful. There was a magnificent of Our Lady and Child. There were several witness interviews, including the religious sister who was cured of Parkinson's and whose miracle was the one that allowed Bl. John Paul to be beatified.On Sunday, he had to get up very early. It wasn't easy to get through the crowds and the security checkpoints, but eventually they got through to sit in the section reserved for priests. He got to sit in front of about 90 percent of the millions who were present. As vocation director, Fr. Dan has talked to a lot of seminarians about the affect John Paul may have had on their lives. To say it was beautiful was an understatement. He believes Bl. John Paul is interceding for us for vocations right now. As a priest himself, he had a total sense of gratitude for the gift of the priesthood. God uses each person, especially priests, as instruments. He was struck how God used John Paul as an instrument to touch so many people. It seemed every person there had a personal connection with John Paul.After the Mass, there was announcement that everyone was welcome to enter the Basilica and venerate the relics. Hundreds of thousands of people started filing in. They closed it at 3am to prepare for today's Thanksgiving Mass. Because of where he was seated, Fr. Dan was able to go in within about an hour. Inside he was struck by the numbers of the infirm who were being brought in and a wide variety of people of all different age groups: families, youth groups, elderly. It was a sign of the universality of his pontificate.Fr. Dan plans to visit the Gesu church, where St. Ignatius' remains are, to celebrate Mass and then go to St. Peter's Mass again before he leaves. He said he prayed for the missionary work of The Good Catholic Life at St. Paul Outside-the-walls.**3rd segment:** Joining Scot now from Rome is Andreas Widmer, former Swiss Guard now living in Boston. He wanted to go to Rome as a pilgrim. As a former Guard he had many privileges and many opportunities for something extra. But now he wanted to be at the beatification as himself, a pilgrim. He wanted to be with the people and a part of the whole event. He ended up standing in the square behind St. Peter's Square. Being tall, he had a good view. Even though there were 1.5 million people, the experience was one of peace and joy. Even though there was hardly space to put both feet on the crowd, there was a fraternity and peacefulness. No one pushed, no one raised their voice. It is a very deep experience of the universal Church.The weather forecast was for rain on Sunday, but it never rained all day. Instead it was blue sky and sun. In front of Andreas was a very young Franciscan who put up his hood to cover his head from the sun. There some people from Argentina, an elderly Italian couple, some Frenchmen, and of course many Poles.Andreas knew Pope John Paul very well in his life, what was it like to be there. He said that John Paul was present in the crowd. There was a jovial atmosphere. People who loved him came together and lived out his spirit.Pope Benedict has made some interesting and positive changes to the beatification ceremony. First, there was the reading of the proclamation and the Pope's approval. The picture of Bl. John Paul was unveiled and the crowd went wild. After that, they had an announcement in 10 languages asking for a prayerful atmosphere for Mass, no clapping and no banners or flags. There were several times in the Mass when it was so quiet and prayerful that he could hear the doves flying above the street.Scot asked what Communion was like. He was in a non-official section, even though there were no official tickets for the event. So he was afraid they wouldn't receive Communion. They did receive, but it took so long that the Mass was continuing on despite them. He believes there was enough for everyone.Andreas was able to venerate John Paul's casket. He said he admires the pilgrims who stood for the Mass and then stood for another 4 hours waiting to see the casket and they only get a few moments to see as they walked past. Andreas said he used his connections with the Swiss Guard to be able to pray next to the casket for a while. There were a lot of people praying, quietly. It was very reverent and quiet.Andreas is also in Rome for the annual swearing-in of the new Swiss Guards on May 6. His nephew is going to be sworn in for the Guard this year. It's also Andreas' 25th anniversary since he joined the Swiss Guard.**4th segment:** Last Tuesday on The Good Catholic Life, Dr. David Franks from St. John's Seminary asked for our prayers as his wife Dr. Angela Franks was prepared to deliver their 5th child on Tuesday 5/3. Well, David texted me earlier today letting me know that Maximilian Joseph Franks didn't want to wait until Tuesday. He was born at 2:27am this morning. 6 pounds, 9 ounces and 18 inches. Angela is doing well. Congratulations to David, Angela, Maximilian Joseph and his 4 older siblings in the Franks household. Pope Benedict is the first pope in 1,000 years to beatify his predecessor and it was a moving day for him yesterday.* [Pope Benedict's homily for the beatification Mass](http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2011/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20110501_beatificazione-gpii_en.html)>Six years ago we gathered in this Square to celebrate the funeral of Pope John Paul II. Our grief at his loss was deep, but even greater was our sense of an immense grace which embraced Rome and the whole world: a grace which was in some way the fruit of my beloved predecessor's entire life, and especially of his witness in suffering. Even then we perceived the fragrance of his sanctity, and in any number of ways God's People showed their veneration for him. For this reason, with all due respect for the Church's canonical norms, I wanted his cause of beatification to move forward with reasonable haste. And now the longed-for day has come; it came quickly because this is what was pleasing to the Lord: John Paul II is blessed!Later on he said:>Today is the Second Sunday of Easter, which Blessed John Paul II entitled Divine Mercy Sunday. The date was chosen for today's celebration because, in God's providence, my predecessor died on the vigil of this feast. Today is also the first day of May, Mary's month, and the liturgical memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker. All these elements serve to enrich our prayer, they help us in our pilgrimage through time and space; but in heaven a very different celebration is taking place among the angels and saints! Then he said:>Dear brothers and sisters, today our eyes behold, in the full spiritual light of the risen Christ, the beloved and revered figure of John Paul II. Today his name is added to the host of those whom he proclaimed saints and blesseds during the almost twenty-seven years of his pontificate, thereby forcefully emphasizing the universal vocation to the heights of the Christian life, to holiness, taught by the conciliar Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium. All of us, as members of the people of God – bishops, priests, deacons, laity, men and women religious – are making our pilgrim way to the heavenly homeland where the Virgin Mary has preceded us, associated as she was in a unique and perfect way to the mystery of Christ and the Church. Karol Wojtyla took part in the Second Vatican Council, first as an auxiliary Bishop and then as Archbishop of Kraków. He was fully aware that the Council's decision to devote the last chapter of its Constitution on the Church to Mary meant that the Mother of the Redeemer is held up as an image and model of holiness for every Christian and for the entire Church. This was the theological vision which Blessed John Paul II discovered as a young man and subsequently maintained and deepened throughout his life. A vision which is expressed in the scriptural image of the crucified Christ with Mary, his Mother, at his side. This icon from the Gospel of John (19:25-27) was taken up in the episcopal and later the papal coat-of-arms of Karol Wojtyla: a golden cross with the letter “M” on the lower right and the motto “Totus tuus”, drawn from the well-known words of Saint Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort in which Karol Wojtyla found a guiding light for his life: “Totus tuus ego sum et omnia mea tua sunt. Accipio te in mea omnia. Praebe mihi cor tuum, Maria – I belong entirely to you, and all that I have is yours. I take you for my all. O Mary, give me your heart” (Treatise on True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, 266).>>In his Testament, the new Blessed wrote: “When, on 16 October 1978, the Conclave of Cardinals chose John Paul II, the Primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski, said to me: ‘The task of the new Pope will be to lead the Church into the Third Millennium'”. And the Pope added: “I would like once again to express my gratitude to the Holy Spirit for the great gift of the Second Vatican Council, to which, together with the whole Church – and especially with the whole episcopate – I feel indebted. I am convinced that it will long be granted to the new generations to draw from the treasures that this Council of the twentieth century has lavished upon us. As a Bishop who took part in the Council from the first to the last day, I desire to entrust this great patrimony to all who are and will be called in the future to put it into practice. For my part, I thank the Eternal Shepherd, who has enabled me to serve this very great cause in the course of all the years of my Pontificate”. And what is this “cause”? It is the same one that John Paul II presented during his first solemn Mass in Saint Peter's Square in the unforgettable words: “Do not be afraid! Open, open wide the doors to Christ!” What the newly-elected Pope asked of everyone, he was himself the first to do: society, culture, political and economic systems he opened up to Christ, turning back with the strength of a titan – a strength which came to him from God – a tide which appeared irreversible. By his witness of faith, love and apostolic courage, accompanied by great human charisma, this exemplary son of Poland helped believers throughout the world not to be afraid to be called Christian, to belong to the Church, to speak of the Gospel. In a word: he helped us not to fear the truth, because truth is the guarantee of liberty. To put it even more succinctly: he gave us the strength to believe in Christ, because Christ is Redemptor hominis, the Redeemer of man. This was the theme of his first encyclical, and the thread which runs though all the others.And at the end of his homily:>Finally, on a more personal note, I would like to thank God for the gift of having worked for many years with Blessed Pope John Paul II. I had known him earlier and had esteemed him, but for twenty-three years, beginning in 1982 after he called me to Rome to be Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, I was at his side and came to revere him all the more. My own service was sustained by his spiritual depth and by the richness of his insights. His example of prayer continually impressed and edified me: he remained deeply united to God even amid the many demands of his ministry. Then too, there was his witness in suffering: the Lord gradually stripped him of everything, yet he remained ever a “rock”, as Christ desired. His profound humility, grounded in close union with Christ, enabled him to continue to lead the Church and to give to the world a message which became all the more eloquent as his physical strength declined. In this way he lived out in an extraordinary way the vocation of every priest and bishop to become completely one with Jesus, whom he daily receives and offers in the Eucharist.>>Blessed are you, beloved Pope John Paul II, because you believed! Continue, we implore you, to sustain from heaven the faith of God's people. Amen.**5th segment:** Two weeks ago a benefactor, who wishes to remain anonymous, contacted me with the interest of helping to support the expansion and reach of The Good Catholic Life program. The gift was very generous and I asked if there was a favorite saint that the benefactor would want to suggest to dedicate the studio to and the response was “Pope John Paul II.” So how we are pleased to be able to dedicate this radio studio to Blessed John Paul II. Father Matt Williams is here to lead us in the prayer of blessing and dedication. >God our Father, in your wise and loving providence you raise up men and women, outstanding in holiness, to proclaim the Gospel of your Son, Jesus Christ.>>In our generation, you chose and anointed Blessed John Paul II to be shepherd and father of your pilgrim Church on earth. >>Ablaze with the radiance of your Son, John Paul traveled to the farthest corners of the earth to bear witness to Jesus Christ, the light of the nations; in season and out of season, whether convenient or inconvenient.>>His example teaches and inspires us to “be not afraid” to walk in justice, to proclaim the Truth that sets us free, and to experience the depths of your love and mercy.>>He encouraged the Church in his address for the 34th World Communications Day in 2000 to proclaim Christ through the Media in the new millennium. He said: >“The impact of the media in today's world can hardly be exaggerated. The advent of the information society is a real cultural revolution, making the media "the first Areopagus of the modern age" (Redemptoris Missio, 37), where facts and ideas and values are constantly being exchanged. Through the media, people come into contact with other people and events, and form their opinions about the world they live in - indeed, form their understanding of the meaning of life… The proclamation of Christ must be part of this experience.>>…Naturally, in proclaiming the Lord, the Church must make energetic and skilful use of her own means of communication - books, newspapers and periodicals, radio, television, and other means. And Catholic communicators must be bold and creative in developing new media and methods of proclamation.>>…May the media give voice to Jesus himself, clearly and joyously, with faith and hope and love. To proclaim Christ in the media at the dawn of the new millennium is not only a necessary part of the Church's evangelizing mission; it is also a vital, inspiring and hope-filled enrichment of the media's message. May God abundantly bless all those who honour and proclaim his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the vast world of the means of social communication.”>>Now that John Paul has crossed the threshold of hope into the heavenly kingdom, we ask you Father, through his intercession, to pour out your graces upon the Archdiocese's efforts of evangelization, and in a particular way- this Radio Studio for The Good Catholic Life program. >>Instructed by John Paul's teaching, we pray that we may open our hearts to the saving grace of Christ, the sole redeemer of humankind, and proclaim HIM with the power, the breath and the fire of the Holy Spirit. >>May all listeners come to know and discover the truth that they are a unique and unrepeatable gift from the heart of God. And may they discover in Jesus Christ and His Bride, the Church, the answer and remedy to their heart's deepest questions and longings.>>Father, we ask you now to bless this Radio Studio, for your glory. United under the intercession and maternal care of our Heavenly Mother Mary, we say along with Blessed John Paul II, Totus Tuus Maria. >>We consecrate this Studio to you dear Father, through the powerful intercession of our Lady, and your servant Blessed John Paul II, and we give to you our “FIAT”-“let it be done unto me according to your Word.”>>And may almighty God bless this Radio Studio, In the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.>>Mary, Star of the New Evangelization – Pray for us!>Blessed John Paul II – Pray for us!Last night, Fr. Matt Williams preached a Mass on the occasion of the ending Sr. Olga Yaqob's long service in the chaplaincy at Boston University. He noted that several significant events this weekend point us to heaven: the royal wedding points us to the sacrament of marriage and the heavenly marriage banquet of the Lamb of God; the beatification of John Paul; and Sr. Olga's Mass on the feast of Divine Mercy and how that Mercy brings us to heaven.Sr. Olga spoke at the Boston Catholic Women's Conference several years ago, telling her story about coming from Iraq to now being asked by Cardinal Sean to found a new religious order.
**Today's host(s):** Scot Landry and Fr. Matt Williams**Today's guest(s):** Andreas Widmer, former Swiss Guard to Pope John Paul II and CEO of Seven Fund* [4th annual Eucharistic Congress](http://www.eucharisticcongress.com)* [The Swiss Guard](http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/swiss_guard/index.htm)* [Seven Fund](http://www.sevenfund.org/)**Today's topics:** On today's show, Scot and Fr. Matt welcome Andreas Widmer, who will talk about his experiences as a Swiss Guard during the reign of Pope John Paul II, his reflections as a Catholic businessman, and the witness he will give at this weekend's 4th annual Eucharistic Congress for Young Adults in Boston's North End.**A summary of today's show:** Andreas Widmer told Scot and Fr. Matt of his first encounters with Pope John Paul II as a Swiss Guard and how the Pope's holiness and attention to each person he met changed Andreas' life. Scot and Fr. Matt also shared stories of their encounters with the soon-to-be beatified pope. Also, the Eucharistic Congress this weekend is dedicated to John Paul II.**1st segment:** Fr. Matt discussed the awards banquet coming up next Tuesday for the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults that honors both youth and the adults who serve them. There is a selection process in which people are nominated for awarding. There is a high quality of people involved in youth ministry in the archdiocese. He said there will be 120 awards. Cardinal Sean will be there. Our photographer, George Martell, will be receiving an award for the many times he's recorded youth ministry events for our archdiocesan sites, including our [Flickr page](http://www.flickr.com/bostoncatholic). Fr. Matt said he's used many of George's photos advertising youth ministry events.**2nd segment:** Scot andFr. Matt welcome Andreas Widmer. He is the CEO of Seven Fund. It promotes enterprise solutions to opvoerty. Using entrpeneurship and business to help people escape poverty instead of government aid. They work mainly in Africa and Asia. The intersecition of his faith and the work of Seven Fund is encapsulated by John Paul II's statement that with work we don't just make more, we become more. True dignity comes through the pursuit of excellence in whatever we do. All the great saints have said work should be prayer.He will be one of four speakers at the Eucharistic Congress this weekend. Fr. Matt said they more than 200 registrants, which makes them ahead of last year. They encourage pre-registration, but they will still accept people at the door. It will be rain, snow, or shine. On Friday, at Sacred Heart Church in the North End, they will open with prayer and music by [Jon Niven](http://www.jonniven.com/), music minister at Life Teen at St. Mary, Dedham.The theme is "John Paul II: Be Not Afraid, His Life, His Witness, His Challenge." Fr. Roger Landry will speak on Pope John Paul II and the new evangelization. Fr. Matt is a fan of his website [CatholicPreaching.com](http://www.catholicpreaching.com). He did his graduate work in Rome on Pope John Paul's writings.Then Fr. Dan Hennessey will speak about the vocation monstrance, one of several monstrances blessed by Pope John Paul II to be sent around the world for prayer for vocations. April 2 will be the sixth anniversary of Pope John Paul II's death. There will be confessions during Eucharistic Adoration. Then there will be a procession to the downstairs chapel and then adoration all night.On Saturday morning, at 10:15, Andreas will speak on "Be Not Afraid: " and then they will go into service projects all over the city of Boston. Anything from writing letts to confirmation students to visiting with the elderly priests at Regina Cleri to cleaning up a park. After that will be Mass with Cardinal Sean and then dinner provided by the restaurants of the North End. Fr. Matt expects Cardinal Sean's homily will combine Pope John Paul's preaching with the topics of the 4th Sunday of Lent.Scot said he knows Cardinal Sean enjoys meeting with young people especially, as can be seen by his creation of the Office for the New Evangelization of Youth and Young Adults. When he meets with the young people he appears transformed. Saturday evening, Sr. May Ann Toomey of the Sisters of Life will speak on the culture of life as defined by Pope John Paul II. The [Sisters of Life](http://www.sistersoflife.org) were found by Cardinal John O'Connor of New York to be a witness to life and to work for life.At the end of the Eucharistic Congress on Saturday is the very moving Eucharistic procession through the North End after a time of prayer music before the Blessed Sacrament. All the seminarians are there in cassock, priests and deacons and religious in their religious garb. They have bells and candles and a canopy and they're followed by 400 people. They stop at several makeshift altars through the North End and pray. It is moving to see 500 people all kneeling in prayer. People look out from apartments and restaurants to see. Fr,. Matt remembers a woman coming out of a restaurant to see and crying because she is so moved. They have street evangelizers to speak with them, not to convert, but to just invite them to be a part.**3rd segment:** Andreas grew up in Lucerne, Switzerland in a very small German-speaking village. Scot asked him how he came to join the Swiss Guard. Andreas said that from a young age he was very interested in the outdoors, scouting, the military. He heard about the Swiss Guard and decided he would join. He wasn't very religious, but thought it would be cool to become a bodyguard. Looking back, joinging was a symptom of his restlessness, feeling like he wanted an identity, feeling inadequate. He came to Rome as a 20-year-old in 1986. He went through recruit school and one of his first assignments, on Christmas Eve at the apostolic palace. From his background, Christmas Eve was the biggest day of the year and he was devastated that he would have to work. Before his assignment, he stood in line for the one phone for all 115 guardsmen to talk to his family. His father asked him how he was celebrating and he said he had to work. His mom came on the phone and started to cry, which made him cry as well. He said he loved her and hung up. He went to his assignment which was to stand in a small anteroom between the outer door and inner door to the papal apartments. He was all alone and cried for himself for about an hour. Finally he heard from his commander that Pope John Paul II would be coming out his exit to celebrate midnight Mass. He quickly composed himself and opened the door. Pope John Paul was standing there, looked at him and said, "You're new. What's your name?" He held out his hand and as their hands clasped, John Paul looked into his eyes. He knew from his red eyes that he had been upset and noted that he was away from home for the first time. That set Andreas crying again. He pulled Andreas close, thanked him for what he was doing for John Paul that night, and told him that the Pope would pray for him that night. On one of the biggest nights of the year, with one billion Catholics looking to the Pope, he became the focus of his ministry. Pope John Paul was his ultimate boss and right there in his work environment, Andreas was ministered to by his boss.In an indirect sense, John Paul helped Andreas ultimately to find his vocation. During his talk on Saturday, Andreas will get into what that means.Scot mentioned that so many people in this generation can point to John Paul II's example and witness as an inspiration for their own vocations and lives.Andreas says he has met many people over the years who met JPII, even if they were a person in the back of the crowd, that he made them feel as if they were the reason he got out of bed in the morning. This is an example for us, to make the people in our lives feel as if they are the reason we get up in the morning, especially those who are closest to us.Scot recalls going to a Mass with the Pope in 1998 on the Pope's birthday in his private chapel. He remembers asking the Holy Father to pray his aunt who was in the hospital. The Pope said, "Let's pray for her now." He pulled Scot and his brother close and prayed for her right then.Fr. Matt went with a few brother seminarians in 1999 to Rome. They were able to go to the private Mass with the Holy Father. Fr. Matt was asked to do the responsorial psalm. As they entered the chapel, he saw John Paul II on his knees in contemplative prayer preparing for Mass. Fr. Matt experienced the presence of the Holy Spirit and knew he was in the presence of a man whose holiness and love for Christ radiated from his being. The papacy itself awes us as Catholics, but when a bishop is a saint, their presence transcends the normal awe.Scot asked Andreas what he observed of the interactions of John Paul II that most people would not know. Andreas said he treated everyone the same. He would spend time with every single person who he met. Andreas started to realize that he was privileged to be part of that ministry, to experience that same ministry he experienced on Christmas Eve, to see the Pope touch the souls of so many people just like Andreas.Scot said that as a phenomenologist philosopher, John Paul believed that an encounter could change your life and this perhaps motivated his desire to travel everywhere in the world and meet everyone. He kept an intense schedule with long days. Andreas said the Pope's schedule never let up, even towards the end. Many of the very fit and young Swiss Guards said they couldn't keep up with the Pope.As an example of his treating everyone the same, John Paul instituted an audience just for the gypsies (the roma) who were treated with suspicion and disdain by everyone else.Andreas has spoken often on his experiences and has written a book called "The Pope and the CEO" to be published in September by Emmaus Road Publishing. Within a framework of his stories of Pope John Paul are nine lessons on how to order life in business as a Christian.Scot asked what it is like to speak about Pope John Paul II from a perspective that most others have not had. Andreas said it is a responsibility and privilege. Andreas said it was Scot who set him on this path in the first place. But when John Paul died, Andreas providentially in Rome the next day and was able to visit his body in the apostolic palace. He made a vow at that time to never tire of speaking of Pope John Paul II and of Jesus Christ and the message he has been given. Andreas is so excited to perhaps inspire even one person with the example of Pope John Paul II.**4th segment:** Every Wednesday we are happy to announce the winner of the **1060 WQOM Benefactor raffle.** This week the recipient will earn a copy of the [The 2011 Calendar of Indulgences](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1601040415/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=pilo0e-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1601040415) from Bridgegroom Press, which is entitled this year “The Beauty of Grace”. It has great photos of beautiful churches and a lot of helpful information from the Church's liturgical calendar. This week's winner of the Benefactor Card raffle is **Carmel & John Philippakis from Quincy**. Congratulations to Carmel and John! If you would like to be eligible to win in an upcoming week, please visit WQOM.org. For a one-time $30 donation, you'll receive the Station of the Cross benefactor card and key tag, making you eligible for our weekly raffle of books, DVDs, CDs and religious items. We'll be announcing the winner each Wednesday during “The Good Catholic Life” program.**5th segment:** Tonight is the 3rd Wednesday of The Light Is On For You in the Archdiocese, where every parish and chapel is open for confessions from 6:30-8pm. We are taking listener questions.1. Has Andreas ever been to confession with Pope John Paul II.No, but JP2 wanted to stress that every priest is a priest, on Good Fridays he used to go to the confessionals in St. Peter icognito and he hear confessions. Scot said many cardinals and curial officials do the same thing.2. Scot said last week his son asked if he needs to memorize the act of contrition or if he could make it up on his own. Scot told him that if he doesn't use the written prayer, but could say something heartfelt expressing his contrition. So what is necessary for an act of contrition?Fr. Matt said there are numerous formulas for expressing sorrow in the rite of confession. The words should express the sorrow in the heart, asking God for mercy and the grace to go forward and sin no more.3. Has the increase of psychology and therapy led to the drop in the use of confession?Andreas said you see in popular culture--TV shows and movies-- that therapists do occupy that role, as a confessor. whether we go to confession or not, we have an innate need to reconcile with God. So if we don't go to the sacrament, we still seek some way of finding forgiveness. Without downplaying the importance of therapy, when it comes to coming clean with the Lord is confession.Two weeks ago, Archbishop Timothy Dolan of New York said in his blog that "we have a confessional culture in our country."* [Saint Patrick's Day Pastoral Letter to the clergy, religious, and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of New York](http://blog.archny.org/?p=1109)>Our culture has an almost perverse delight in detailing the sins and scandals of those in the public eye. And ordinary people are eager to get in on the action! We produce an entire genre of “reality shows” which put on public display much sinful behaviour that people should be embarrassed about, not celebrated for. Seems as if everybody's “going to confession” except in the sacrament! There are a parade of talk shows in which the troubled and afflicted share their intimate secrets with a vast television audience. People use social networks to make available to all on the internet what should be treated with utmost discretion.>We have a “confessional culture.” It seems at every moment someone, somewhere is shouting for our attention, eager to confess from the rooftops what Catholics have the opportunity to whisper in the confessional. The “confessional culture” around us shouts itself hoarse for it can confess, but there is no absolution. Sin confessed but unredeemed either leads to despair or is trivialized. We see the despair in the vast anguish that fuels an enormous therapeutic industry. We see the trivialization in the celebrity scandals that become not occasions for averted eyes, but fodder for jokes.>Our culture does not need to be taught how to confess; it needs to discover where forgiveness can be found. Our culture does not need to further expose the stain of its sinfulness; it needs to discover the only One who can wash it away. We Catholics have the blessing of teaching our “confessional culture” about true mercy, but we cannot give what we do not have! I challenge the Catholics of the Archdiocese to make a good confession this Lent and then to tell one other person – perhaps a friend or relative or colleague who has been away from the sacraments for a long time – about the liberating joy of God's mercy!Fr. Matt said that we forget that sin does not make us happy. We go to therapists sometimes to convince ourselves that our sin does not make us unhappy.* [The Light Is On For You](http://www.thelightisonforyou.org)* [Pilot Parish Finder](http://www.pilotparishfinder.com)
In this episode, we explore Bernini’s work in Saint Peter’s Basilica, we talk about the ‘Scavi’ and we separate truth from fiction in Dan Brown’s description of the Swiss Guards. The post ANG009: Saint Peter’s Basilica appeared first on SQPN.com.
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