Fast and pray for the Pope

[Seeker]

In Washington, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, archbishop of the District of Columbia, called a press conference and asked for prayer for the pontiff.

"Pray for the holy father, that he may recover and be able to communicate," McCarrick said. "If this is not the Lord's will, may he not suffer. He's going through a period of suffering. We worry about him."


http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,152088,00.html

[Seeker]

Pope John Paul II's condition was critical but stable the Vatican said Friday, and he was said to be conscious. The statement seemed to end speculation that the pontiff was comatose, as had been reported earlier by Italian media.

Vatican spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls tearily said that the pope had requested to remain in his apartment after being "informed of the gravity of his situation," and that the request was being honored.

Additionally, John Paul asked aides to read him the biblical passage describing the final stage of the Way of the Cross, the path that Christ took to his crucifixion, Navarro-Valls said.

He said the pope followed attentively and made the sign of the cross.

"This is surely an image I have never seen in these 26 years," Navarro-Valls said. Choking up, he walked out of the room.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,152147,00.html

[Seeker]

Let us honor a great man of God and pray for his soul, the future of the Church, and the next pope.  May the Holy Spirit guide the cardinals when they meet.  I feel a bit like an orphan right now. We were certainly lucky to have him as pope.  What a great gift from God he was for the Church.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,152272,00.html

[Melody]

Dear Seeker (& the rest of the family),

I was in Delhi preaching at a Youth Retreat during the last days of the Pope (the reason I was absent from here).

I too understand what you meant Seeker when you say you feel "orphaned"... truly our father was a blessed man. And truly we were blessed to have him.

I remember him clearly on his second visit to India, when he passed through the streets  of my home suburb & when (as my mum insists) he looked at us & waved ... (well we did have an abnormally large sized flag    lol)

I remember how my friends raved ON & ON about him - so many many different things (about his character, his nature etc) when they went for the World Youth Convention in Rome (2000).... I also remember what my prayer group leader once said "his writings are pure meat"

Thank you Jesus for your lovely gift to us. We trust you're enjoying yourself father.

Blessings,

Melody