Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

House Martins - nesting

Dear Edward,

Thank you

We look forward to your preview of the first Encyclical of Pope Francis.

In spite of his very full tireless weeks it seems he has been hatching inspiring Papal chick.

I have been contemplating the House Martins, the daily hours from the window above my breakfast. In the nest, all is still while the birds are  sitting on the eggs. Then they awake and as ‘swallows’ they make their swift exercise, and hurry back with feeding for the hatching mother.

Maybe it is in perfect May/June timing  for Francis too.

We will enjoy your “Quelques lines”; Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

In Dno.

Donald

HAPPY BIRTHDAY.  

Our very best wishes with thanksgiving for all your blessed days.
With prayer and offering Mass.
D.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: Fr. Edward ...
To: Donald ...
Sent: Friday, 14 June 2013, 22:46
Subject: Fwd: Quelques lignes Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem

Dear Donald,

I thought you might like this poem.

It is late because, having written it I feared I had landed on the wrong Piazza,..............

.....

I hope that it arrives in good order Let me know about any problems.

Blessings in Domino,

fr Edward O.P.

Iceland.

Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi

Those enormous crowds his Wednesday General Audience have evoked:

they hear much shorter discourses than before,

yet their depth is greater

as is their personal touch.

His presence has the characteristic of self-withdrawal:

all a display of essential priestliness,

The charism has adjusted him to all displacements,

his presence must be defining itself at the promptings

of a sensitive spirit.

After his Holy Communion at the Mass

he retired to his throne-space in Saint John Lateran's porch:

virtually motionless, his body inclined in contemplation

till the distribution of Sacred Hosts was complete

and the procession of lay and clerics

formed a double roadside line, both three abreast, through via Merulana.

Those bound to the leading part of the procession itself  hurried to their places:

the sodalities with their wind-blown banners,

held with strong arms and coloured ropes

holding  firm the billowing pictures raised above,

and the innumerable flashes of spiritual growth

of so many young Sisters.

The ordering came to its proper place,

but Francis was not in the perspexed display box

on the motor-driven dray:

two deacons knelt before the Monstranced Sacrament

as it took central place,

phalanxed to left and to  right by Cardinals new crimson tailored and millinered.

It moved off with Pope Francis walking behind

cappa'ed in undecorated cream-white:

no identifying white zucchetto and mitre-less

until his final salutation to

"Mary, Salvation of the People of Rome":

he touched its frame after long gazing, received the mitre,

and disappeared into the Basilica.

The procession began  with the setting sun,

passing into the streets

the bars, shop-fronts and apartment windows

diffusing a furtive light,

refracted by the ample street lights in tasteful concentration -

an original juxtaposing of tree-crowns protectingly

and shieldingly, homely-wise bringing comfort-giving greenery

as a continual awning over the procession,

in itself massive more in the

concentration of recollected piety

and ecclesial liturgy:

with incense rising, and

myriad candles some in acolytes' holders,

thousands more held in pious hands,

extensive more than intensive,

and appropriately so.

Blessed John Paul revived this procession,

carrying the Monstrance himself

accompanied by sodalities living on,

some centuries long after founding,

yet not quite welded into the intensity of the following years.

Christ's Body is carried through Rome.

Eucharistic Joy subdued by intensest recollection

accompanies the pouring out of praising

from outpoured souls in public:

supporting each other

around the illumined dray and monstrance

with the paired deacons,

followed briskly on foot by Pope Francis

continuing a contemplation begin at Saint John Lateran

and ending in the Piazza San Maria Maggiore

before Saint Mary Major's.

The column bearing the Immaculate Conception

pointing heavenward as Mary disappears into shadows

whilst Francis walks unostentatiously,

authoritatively none the less,

leading mediatingly and with quiet intensity

the recollected, variegated crowd by

the presence together in Jesus Christ of Blessed Sacrament and Pope,¶

and carried as Bread from Heaven.

__________

¶  With a conscious recollection of a pregnant insight of Pope Blessed John XXIII, who, still as Cardinal Roncalli and Nuncio in Paris, was (incredibly!) asked to write among a collection of articles in a new French Catholic periodical with the theme of "Présences", on "La présence du Pape dans le Monde". He did not refer to theologians, but to the Bible (with a strong reference to the precedent of "the seat of Moses") and the poets - Dante and Claudel. In the midst of which  we find this gemstone: "Christ is in the world through the Blessed Sacrament and through the Pope."

Fr. Edward OP

Stykkishólmur

2 June 2013

Pope Francis's first Roman Corpus Christi - a poem