Dear Family and Friends,
 |
| Directly behind Pope Francis setting his chalice on the altar - it was quite heavy! |
.jpg) |
| I'm the center one of the three deacons in dark green slightly behind and to the left |
Like I’d said, before Mass Francis was all joyful and
talkative and smiling at everybody. But once the mass started, it was like he
became a different man. As we processed in, people were hanging over the rails
trying to get a picture or touch the him. But Francis didn’t wave or walk
around greeting people like he does out in the square at audiences. He walked
straight down the aisle. And once he started the mass, his voice dropped and
became quiet, almost “dreamy” I’d say. He spent the rest of the mass like that.
When he met you before mass, he looked you right in the eye, but during mass,
he was focused on something else. It was as if before when he met you, you were
everything for him, but during mass someone else was everything for him, and
you were just looking on.
 |
| Heaven on earth - kneeling before Peter's tomb, the crucifix, the Eucharist held aloft by the Pope, and in the back the Holy Spirit window - I'm the one in dark green towards the bottom left |
During the consecration, I got to do the incense. Six altar
boys and I processed to the very middle of the basilica, to directly in front
of Saint Peter’s tomb, where we knelt down. When Pope Francis said Jesus’
words: “This is my body… do this in memory of me”, he held up the Eucharist for
a good while so that everyone could adore our Savior present in the bread and
wine. From where I knelt, the vista was tremendous. I could feel the whole
congregation of thousands behind and around me in prayer, everyone hushed in
silence. Just a few steps down in front of me rested the bones of the prince of
the Apostles, Saint Peter, the rock on which Jesus said he would build his
Church. Next in my line of sight was the altar, with the golden crucifix on
top. Behind the crucifix was the Holy Father, holding Jesus aloft. Directly
behind him was Bernini’s alabaster window of the Holy Spirit, with wings
outstretched, encompassing the whole scene. It was more than unearthing. In
that moment, as I swung the incense-laden censer before our Lord present in the
Eucharist, I realized a few things. First of all, we weren’t adoring the man in
white, we were adoring the white host. The Pope is a really important person,
we’d even call him Jesus’ vicar on earth, but he’s not God. In John chapter 6,
Jesus told us he was the bread of life, and that whoever would eat this bread
would live forever, and that this bread is his flesh for the life of the world.
The host in the Holy Father’s hands was way more important than the Holy Father
himself. We were kneeling because of God present there, not because of the man.
Second, like never before I felt united with all of heaven and earth. All the
angels and saints are present at every mass, but in Saint Peter’s, at that
moment, swinging that censer, the intense reality of it all struck me like an
avalanche. And that was the third thing. Each mass is a re-living of Jesus’
sacrifice on Calvary. Each mass makes his one sacrifice present again, and
makes us present at Calvary. So this tremendous moment I was sharing was not
something that would just pass and never come again and which I would just have
to be nostalgic about in the future. No. It was, is, something I will live again and again, in every mass I attend,
in every mass I assist at as deacon, in every mass I hope to celebrate in the
future as a priest, no matter where or when. There is really just one mass.
This is all hard to explain, but at every mass ever since that moment under the
dome of Saint Peter’s I’ve felt truly present there, “one in spirit” with the
Pope and all believers.
 |
| Another view during the consecration - I'm the one in green on the bottom right between the 7 altar boys |
 |
| Receiving Communion |
As we processed out, Francis seemed to open up and he greeted
the people as he made his way down the aisle. He was his normal cheerful self
again.
 |
| Reaching for Francis' Hand |
 |
| Kissing Francis' Hand |
I just got back from Cheshire, Connecticut where I assisted
as deacon at our professions ceremony. 11 young men took their first vows, and
3 took their perpetual vows. It was quite beautiful to be there in the same
spot where I taught CCD for so many years and took my own vows 12 years ago,
and to be able to meet so many old friends
 |
| Asking him for his blessing |
Today is the 19th anniversary of my going off to
the seminary. What a leap of faith that was, especially for my parents! (as a
twelve-year-old, I just assumed they’d be fine with it!) But I think God knew
well why he was moving our hearts, and the experiences of every day just seem
to reaffirm for me that I’m right where he wants me.
Enjoy the photos, and God bless you!
Deacon Kevin
Deacon Kevin
