April 2005 Archives

The evening of the Pope's election last week, we celebrated the event like all good college students should: with a party.

A couple of people enjoyed German beer in honor of his country of origin, we flew the Vatican flag out front, chatted and watched the news coverage of our new Holy Father.

There are a very limited number of pictures online.

Tonight, I went outside to find my poor car the lastest hit and run victim. There are pictures online for your viewing pleasure. They are located at my new photo website; if you notice any problems with it, please let me know.

I called 311 (police non-emergency) and Austin PD came out very quickly. The officer was very polite and took the report quickly. He did note that I was parked legally so there should be no problem with insurance. I called my insurance and claims will be contacting me in the morning.

Whoever did this left without leaving a note or even paint from their car on my bumper that I could tell. If, by pure grace, someone was on 25th Street around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday the 27th and saw anything, please contact me.

Yay West Campus!

Update: The person who hit my car called it into APD around 3:30 a.m., who then called my mom. Just by pure luck, I had stepped outside- before my mom calls me- to see it before going to bed and there were three APD officers looking at my car. We exchanged information and going from there.

Looking at sex and sexuality as simply a socially constructed device is fundamentally flawed. The failure to look beyond that when determining what exactly sex and sexuality is a failure to actually attempt to determine anything.

Looking at the sexual aspects of religion as simply devices of oppression is also fundamentally disordered and causes great disunity between the true nature of both religion and sexuality.

The Papal Installation Mass has ended and I wanted to go through a little play-by-play of what happened.

The Mass started at the Trophaeum of St. Peter, the chest above the tomb of St. Peter where the pallia are kept. Traditionally, pallia are made from the wool of lambds. These lambs were blessed on January 23rd, the Feast of St. Agnus, by the Pope. Usually, they are distributed to new metropolitan archbishops on June 29th in Rome by the Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI, along with the Patriarchs of the Eastern Catholic Churches, visit the tomb. They light the thurible and incenses the Trophaeum. This is a sign of the unity of both Pope Benedict XVI with St. Peter, the first pope as well as the Eastern Patriarchs to the Bishop of Rome, their Pope.

Meanwhile, Deacons took the Papal Pallium, the Fisherman's Ring and the Book of Gospels into procession. The Holy Father then joined the procession in his proper place.

Something that I had noticed: The penitential rite did not seem to be there. Upon reading the ritual booklet published by the Vatican (and "unofficially translated" by the Pontificial Commission for Social Communication), the Laudes Regiae, or "Royal Praises", were sung as both the entrance hymn and the penitential rite.

This litany seems to have origins in the Middle Ages when royals entered for worship. I have not found the version used tonight online, except for the context of this Mass.

The litany asks Christ to hear us. It repeats this request throughout the litany (which is much like the Litany of Saints) asking Christ to listen to the Church and to bless it. There are multiple sections asking Christ to hear us and bless the Successor of St. Peter. The Litany ends with St. Benedict.

The Holy Father kisses the altar and then incenses it.

The liturgy continues in the usual way: In the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit. He greets the people and the singing of the Laudes Regiae concludes. The Kyrie and Gloria follow as usual.

The Holy Father then prays the collect:

Let us pray.
O God, who in the plan of your wisdom built your Church on the rock of Peter, head of the apostolic college, look with love on me your servant:
you who chose me as successor of Peter, help me to make visible to your people the principle and foundation of unity in faith and the communion of love in Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord.
He who is God and lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever.
Amen.

The Liturgy of the Word continues with a reading from Acts 4:8-12 in English, Psalm 117 in Latin and 1 Peter 5:1-5, 10-11 in Spanish.

The Gospel (John 21:15-19) was sung in Latin then Greek. This is done as a sign of unity among the two lungs of the Church as represented in the Office of the Supreme Pontiff. Something I enjoy about the reading of the Gospel in Greek is that they follow the traditional greeting for the Eastern Rites: "Wisdom! Let us stand for the Holy Gospel. Be attentive!"

Following the singing of the Gospels, a small procession from the altar, with the pallium and ring, goes from the altar to the Holy Father's chair. The head of the three orders of Cardinals (deacons, priests and bishops), all standing, meet the Holy Father, who is wearing the mitre. As a note of clarification, all three of the people I mentioned are cardinals (and thus bishops). The ordering into deacons, priests and bishops, as far as the layman is concerned, means nothing but a means of ranking them in accordance with their function in the Church.

The Senior Cardinal Deacon (Protodeacon) says this prayer and then places the pallium on the Pope:

May the God of Peace, who resurrected from the dead the Great Pastor of sheep, our Lord Jesus Christ, give to you Himself this Pallium taken from the Confession of the Apostle Peter.

The Good Shepherd commanded Peter to tend his sheep and (also) to you today as the person in succession to the Episcopacy of this Church which he built out of faith together with the Apostle Paul.

May the Spirit of Truth, which proceeds from the Father, give you abundant inspiration and discernment in your ministry to confirm your brothers in the unity of faith.

The Senior Cardinal Priest then prays:

Let us pray.
O God who never fails those who call on you with a right and faithful heart, hear the prayers of your Church: to your servant, our Pope Benedict, whom you placed at the head of the apostolic ministry, through our humble service, give us your blessing and strengthen it with the Gift of your Spirit so that its highest ministry corresponds to the greatness of the charisma you have conferred upon him. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

The Dean of the College of Cardinals, or in this case, Cardinal Sodano as the Vice-Dean, since the Dean was Cardinal Ratzinger, prays the following and give the Pontiff the Fisherman's Ring:

Most Holy Father, may Christ Himself, Son of the Living God, Pastor and Bishop of our souls, who built his Church on the rock, give you the Ring, seal of Peter the Fisherman, who lived his hope on the Sea of Tiberias and to whom the Lord Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Today you succeed Blessed Saint Peter in the Episcopacy of this Church, who presides over the communion of unity according to the teaching of the Blessed Apostle Paul. May the Spirit of Love spreading from our hearts permeate you with strength and gentleness in your ministry to take care of the believers in Christ in the unity of communion.

Tweleve people from around the world then give a sign of obedience to the Pope. These included three cardinals, one bishop, one priest, one deacon, two religious, a married couple and two young people who were just confirmed.

The homily was given, the Creed was said and the Prayers of the Faithful (in German, French, Arabic, Chinese and Portuguese) were offered.

The Mass, using Eucharistic Prayer I, continues in the usual way.

Pope Benedict XVI's homily gave us a look on the papal symbols, the pallium and the Fisherman's Ring. Look for another post in the coming day with more about that, but for now, good night to all.

On April 7th, the 5th General Congregation met with 140 cardinals. The Cardinals delegated to Edmund Cardinal Szoka the ability to mint coins and stamps for the Vacant See. The cardinals also finalized and published the order for the start of the conclave.

The Cardinals did not meet on April 8th due to Pope John Paul II's funeral.

The 6th General Congregation met with 130 cardinals. The congregation expressed their thanks for all those who assisted with the funeral logistics. It also confirmed that Cardinal Sin and Cardinal Rivera would not attend the conclave due to illness.

During the congregations that followed, the Cardinals formally closed the Papal Apartments, giving time to those who assisted the Pope to move out.

The Cardinals agreed to start a time of silence and prayer, all submitting to themselves that they would refrain from interviews or any related activities until after the election of the next pope.

If you were intereted in how they determined who got which room during the conclave: they drew lots to determine room assignments.

With all of that, as well as few housekeeping duties of maintaining the Holy See, the Cardinals concluded their general congregations and entered into the conclave to elect Pope Benedict XVI.

I'm very behind on reflecting upon the events of the past few weeks; partly my schedule and partly how overwhelming it all has been.

The Will of Pope John Paul II was released on April 7, 2005 by the Vatican. Unlike what we usually think of as a will, for the Pope, this was a document examining death and what this life really means.

It was written over time, starting after his election to the Chair of Peter. It is found below with my reflections mixed in.

The testament of 6.3.1979
(and successive additions)

"Totus Tuus ego sum"

In the Name of the Most Holy Trinity. Amen.

"Watch therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming" (cf. Mt 24, 42) - these words remind me of the last call, which will happen at the moment the Lord wishes. I desire to follow Him, and I desire that everything making up part of my earthly life should prepare me for this moment. I do not know when the moment will come, but like everything else, I place it too in the hands of the Mother of my Master: Totus Tuus. In the same maternal Hands I leave everything and everyone with whom my life and vocation have linked me. In these Hands I leave, above all, the Church, as well as my Nation and all humanity. I thank everyone. Of everyone I ask forgiveness. I also ask for prayer, that the Mercy of God may appear greater than my weakness and unworthiness.

During the spiritual exercises I re-read the testament of the Holy Father Paul VI. That reading prompted me to write this testament.

I leave no property behind me of which it is necessary to dispose. As for the everyday objects that were of use to me, I ask they be distributed as seems appropriate. My personal notes are to be burned. I ask that this be attended to by Fr. Stanislaw [BK: now Archbishop], whom I thank for his collaboration and help, so prolonged over the years and so understanding. As for all other thanks, I leave them in my heart before God Himself, because it is difficult to express them.

As for the funeral, I repeat the same dispositions as were given by the Holy Father Paul VI. (Here is a note in the margin: burial in the bare earth, not in a sarcophagus, 13.3.92).

"apud Dominum misericordia et copiosa apud Eum redemptio"
John Paul pp. II
Rome, 6.III.1979

After my death I ask for Masses and prayers.
5.III.1990

Undated sheet of paper

I express my profound trust that, despite all my weakness, the Lord will grant me all the grace necessary to face according to His will any task, trial or suffering that He will ask of His servant, in the course of his life. I also trust that He will never allow me - through some attitude of mine: words, deeds or omissions - to betray my obligations in this holy Petrine See.

24.II - 1.III.1980

Also during these spiritual exercises, I have reflected on the truth of the Priesthood of Christ in the perspective of that Transit that for each of us is the moment of our own death. For us the Resurrection of Christ is an eloquent (added above: decisive) sign of departing from this world - to be born in the next, in the future world.

I have read, then, the copy of my testament from last year, also written during the spiritual exercises - I compared it with the testament of my great predecessor and Father, Paul VI, with that sublime witness to death of a Christian and a Pope - and I have renewed within me an awareness of the questions to which the copy of 6.III.1979 refers, prepared by me (in a somewhat provisional way).

Today I wish to add only this: that each of us must bear in mind the prospect of death. And must be ready to present himself before the Lord and Judge - Who is at the same time Redeemer and Father. I too continually take this into consideration, entrusting that decisive moment to the Mother of Christ and of the Church - to the Mother of my hope.

The times in which we live are unutterably difficult and disturbed. The path of the Church has also become difficult and tense, a characteristic trial of these times - both for the Faithful and for Pastors. In some Countries (as, for example, in those about which I read during the spiritual exercises), the Church is undergoing a period of such persecution as to be in no way lesser than that of early centuries, indeed it surpasses them in its degree of cruelty and hatred. "Sanguis martyrum - semen christianorum.". And apart from this - many people die innocently even in this Country in which we are living.

Once again, I wish to entrust myself totally to the Lord's grace. He Himself will decide when and how I must end my earthly life and pastoral ministry. In life and in death, Totus Tuus in Mary Immaculate. Accepting that death, even now, I hope that Christ will give me the grace for the final passage, in other words (my) Easter. I also hope that He makes (that death) useful for this more important cause that I seek to serve: the salvation of men and women, the safeguarding of the human family and, in that, of all nations and all peoples (among them, I particularly address my earthly Homeland), and useful for the people with whom He particularly entrusted me, for the question of the Church, for the glory of God Himself.

I do not wish to add anything to what I wrote a year ago - only to express this readiness and, at the same time, this trust, to which the current spiritual exercises have again disposed me.

John Paul II

Totus Tuus ego sum

5.III.1982

In the course of this year's spiritual exercises I have read (a number of times) the text of the testament of 6.III.1979. Although I still consider it provisional (not definitive), I leave it in the form in which it exists. I change nothing (for now), and neither do I add anything, as concerns the dispositions contained therein.

The attempt upon my life on 13.V.1981 in some way confirmed the accuracy of the words written during the period of the spiritual exercises of 1980 (24.II - 1.III).

All the more deeply I now feel that I am totally in the Hands of God - and I remain continually at the disposal of my Lord, entrusting myself to Him in His Immaculate Mother (Totus Tuus)

John Paul pp.II

5.III.82

In connection with the last sentence in my testament of 6.III.1979 ("concerning the site / that is, the site of the funeral / let the College of Cardinals and Compatriots decide") - I will make it clear that I have in mind: the metropolitan of Krakow or the General Council of the Episcopate of Poland - In the meantime I ask the College of Cardinals to satisfy, as far as possible, any demands of the above-mentioned.

1.III.1985 (during the spiritual exercises)
Again - as regards the expression "College of Cardinals and Compatriots": the "College of Cardinals" has no obligation to consult "Compatriots" on this subject, however it can do so, if for some reason it feels it is right to do so.

JPII

Spiritual exercise of the Jubilee Year 2000 (12-18.III)
(for my testament)

1. When, on October 16, 1978 the conclave of cardinals chose John Paul II, the primate of Poland, Cardinal Stefan Wyszynski told me: "The duty of the new Pope will be to introduce the Church into the Third Millennium." I don't know if I am repeating this sentence exactly, but at least this was the sense of what I heard at the time. This was said by the Man who entered history as the primate of the Millennium. A great primate. I was a witness to his mission, to his total entrustment. To his battles. To his victory. "Victory, when it comes, will be a victory through Mary" - The primate of the Millennium used to repeat these words of his predecessor, Cardinal August Hlond.

In this way I was prepared in some manner for the duty that presented itself to me on October 16, 1978. As I write these words, the Jubilee Year 2000 is already a reality. The night of December 24, 1999 the symbolic Door of the Great Jubilee in the Basilica of St. Peter's was opened, then that of St. John Lateran, then St. Mary Major - on New Year's, and on January 19 the Door of the Basilica of St. Paul's Outside-the-Walls. This last event, given its ecumenical character, has remained impressed in my memory in a special way.

2. As the Jubilee Year progressed, day by day the 20th century closes behind us and the 21st century opens. According to the plans of Divine Providence I was allowed to live in the difficult century that is retreating into the past, and now, in the year in which my life reaches 80 years ('octogesima adveniens'), it is time to ask oneself if it is not the time to repeat with the biblical Simeone 'nunc dimittis'.

On May 13, 1981, the day of the attack on the Pope during the general audience in St. Peter's Square, Divine Providence saved me in a miraculous way from death. The One Who is the Only Lord of life and death Himself prolonged my life, in a certain way He gave it to me again. From that moment it belonged to Him even more. I hope He will help me to recognize up to what point I must continue this service to which I was called on October 16, 1978. I ask him to call me back when He Himself wishes. 'In life and in death we belong to the Lord ... we are the Lord's. (cf. Rm 14,8). I also hope that, as long as I am called to fulfil the Petrine service in the Church, the Mercy of God will give me the necessary strength for this service.

3. As I do every year during spiritual exercises I read my testament from 6-III-1979. I continue to maintain the dispositions contained in this text. What then, and even during successive spiritual exercises, has been added constitutes a reflection of the difficult and tense general situation which marked the Eighties. From autumn of the year 1989 this situation changed. The last decade of the century was free of the previous tensions; that does not mean that it did not bring with it new problems and difficulties. In a special way may Divine Providence be praised for this, that the period of the so-called 'cold war' ended without violent nuclear conflict, the danger of which weighed on the world in the preceding period.

4. Being on the threshold of the third millennium "in medio Ecclesiae" I wish once again to express gratitude to the Holy Spirit for the great gift of Vatican Council II, to which, together with the entire Church - and above all the entire episcopacy - I feel indebted. I am convinced that for a long time to come the new generations will draw upon the riches that this Council of the 20th century gave us. As a bishop who participated in this conciliar event from the first to the last day, I wish to entrust this great patrimony to all those who are and who will be called in the future to realize it. For my part I thank the eternal Pastor Who allowed me to serve this very great cause during the course of all the years of my pontificate.

"In medio Ecclesiae".... from the first years of my service as a bishop - precisely thanks to the Council - I was able to experience the fraternal communion of the Episcopacy. As a priest of the archdiocese of Krakow I experienced the fraternal communion among priests - and the Council opened a new dimension to this experience.

5. How many people should I list! Probably the Lord God has called to Himself the majority of them - as to those who are still on this side, may the words of this testament recall them, everyone and everywhere, wherever they are.

During the more than 20 years that I am fulfilling the Petrine service "in medio Ecclesiae" I have experienced the benevolence and even more the fecund collaboration of so many cardinals, archbishops and bishops, so many priests, so many consecrated persons - brothers and sisters - and, lastly, so very, very many lay persons, within the Curia, in the vicariate of the diocese of Rome, as well as outside these milieux.

How can I not embrace with grateful memory all the bishops of the world whom I have met in "ad limina Apostolorum" visits! How can I not recall so many non-Catholic Christian brothers! And the rabbi of Rome and so many representatives of non-Christian religions! And how many representatives of the world of culture, science, politics, and of the means of social communication!

6. As the end of my life approaches I return with my memory to the beginning, to my parents, to my brother, to the sister (I never knew because she died before my birth), to the parish in Wadowice, where I was baptized, to that city I love, to my peers, friends from elementary school, high school and the university, up to the time of the occupation when I was a worker, and then in the parish of Niegowic, then St. Florian's in Krakow, to the pastoral ministry of academics, to the milieu of....to all milieux....to Krakow and to Rome....to the people who were entrusted to me in a special way by the Lord.

To all I want to say just one thing: "May God reward you."

"In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.

A.D.
17.III.2000

Such an examination is quite profound for me personally, for that reason I included the entire text here instead of simply linking to it. Our late Holy Father looks at death as we all should- as such as beautiful thing. It is us coming home to our Easter. I do find it funny how often he referred to his original writing (of 1979) and mentioned how it is not definitive, yet does not really amend it.

A friend of mine whom I have not been nearly close enough to over the past years recently lost her five-month-old child. Without the ability to look at death in this Christian context, I have no idea how I would be able to accept his young death.

The Catholic context of death is such a peaceful one that I can't help but be happy for those who have gone before us. While it is still a mournful time for us, those left behind, for we no longer enjoy the physical company of our loved one and since we still await the glory of the new world, it is such a joy to know those we love exist now in eternal glory.

Currently, as I type, Pope Benedict XVI is giving his homily to the faithful during his Installation Mass. During this Mass, the Pontiff is given the Pallium and the Fisherman's Ring.

The Pallium is a band that is placed over the shoulder of a metropolitan archbishop that has two pendants that hangs down in front and back. It is a symbol of authority (hense why it is given to metropolitan archbishops and not all archbishops) and those who have similar jursidictional authority. The Fisherman's Ring is a ring that has a image of Peter casting the net on it that represents the Pontiff's authority as Pope.

Pope Benedict XVI's homily, still ongoing, is mostly an examination of these symbols. Personally, I can better understand something when I read it so it sounds great, but I'll better reflect (either personally or via this) after reading the Vatican release of it.

To this point, the Mass started with a long procession of the cardinals present with the Pope. The Kyrie and Gloria was sung followed by the Liturgy of the Word. The Gospel was sung twice, once in Latin and once in Greek. Following the Gospel, various prayers were recited and the Pope was given the Pallium and the Ring. Then various people representing the cardinals, bishops, religious and laity approached the Pope, kissed his ring and pledged themselves to unity with the Pope. Then His Holiness began his homily.

I haven't seen a program for this Mass (seems not to be on the Vatican website) but it appears to mostly follow the standard Installation Mass. If so, I expect the rest of Mass will be celebrated in the usual way: maybe the creed, prayers of the faithful and the Liturgy of the Eucharist.

Wired News has a editorial regarding online relationships that I found very interesting.

In my very limited experience, having a relationship via instant message, whether that is friendship or something more, is an extremely powerful medium. I'll completely grant that it lacks the personal interaction, the personal touch. It lacks the ability to hear the sound of their voice, to see the twitches of the other person face and the "sense" that you experience when in the same room as someone.

At the same time, without the ability to be distracted, a solid conversation with someone online is pure. You can't be distracted and point out some random person walking by. You can't sit in silence, there is no silence. Sometimes it is easier to open up to the screen; you forget there is someone behind the screen on the other side. That ability to open up, without distraction, can bring people closer in new and profound ways.

I think, with fondness, of a friendship that I had that grew primarly through AIM. We knew each other in person and saw each other in person often; however, at night online, we discussed our days. We shared our joys and sorrows in such a deep and profound way that I can say that I knew that person better than I knew virtually anyone else, even myself. We never restricted our communication to IM. We used text messages, e-mail, phone, in person- alone and in groups. With all of that, IM communication was very important to enabling us to keep close connections to each other. Busy working on a paper? The IM window was still there.

Equally, with the changing dynamics that online communication is bring ing to us, it makes the traditional that much harder. As mentioned in the editorial, when a relationship- friendship or otherwise- dissolves, it is much easier to move on to the next day. There are fewer things to remind you of that person. I think this is a sad loss. While it is painful to be reminded of someone loved and lost, it strengthens us in a profound and special way. It reminds us of our true humanity, as scary as that is, and helps brings us to a more mature state of understanding that humanity. Or at least, it can do that if we are properly prepared to experience the mysteries of man.

Communication is key in any relationship. I truly believe that using our new means of communications can very much help build that foundation of trust that communication develops. It must be kept, as all the older forms of communication as well, in the proper context of who we are as a people and what is best for us to help guide us to true happiness.

The solution I am currently putting in place for the old links is a redirect system. All old links (http://www.brandonkraft.com/weblog/archives/000001.php) will be redirected to the page now corresponding to that post. This is a permanent redirect and bookmarks should be updated.

This is a work in progress and this post will be updated when it is complete.

I'm not going to comment at all on the numbers below for the moment. I'm just going to let it sink in:

All these numbers are for flat-rate full-time. Also, starting with Spring 2005, it is in the College of Liberal Arts instead of the College of Natural Sciences. COLA is a few hundred dollars less expensive than CONS:

Everyone: The transfer to the new host is complete. One of the downsides to this transfer is that the old links for entries are not invalid. Any link in the form http://www.brandonkraft.com/weblog/archives/00###.php no longer exists. In a day or two, Google will catch up and business will be back to normal.

This post is being added before switching DNS over just to test out the new systems. So far, it looks great...

brandonkraft.com and other related sites will be transferred to a new hosting provider soon. If you notice any technical problems, please refer them to web-comments@brandonkraft.com. Please note that "permalinks" for the blog may change.

Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum; habemus Papam; Eminentissium ac Reverendissium Dominum, Dominum Josephum Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae Cardinalem Ratzinger Qui sibi nomen imposuit Benedictum XVI

The Vatican Information Service released the first bulletin since the Habemus Papam. Tonight, the Holy Father will be residing at Domus Sanctae Marthae, the "hotel" all the cardinals are currently residing at due to the conclave and will celebrate his first "public" Mass in the morning.

I say "public" as with many people; I assume it will not have cameras and the faithful will not be admitted.

At 9 a.m. Rome time, he will lead the Cardinals in the Eucharistic celebration in the Sistine Chapel. The reason I say he doesn't play: He is giving the homily in Latin.

It is true that the Holy Father is known as being extremely conservative and a hardliner. We must keep in mind, however, that he was the prefect for the Congregation of Doctrine of the Faith for some time now. In that role, he was entrusted with keeping our faith pure and not allow it to become watered-down. That is a position that required a firm and hard stance. Pope John Paul II was never expected to be confrontational with Communism and look what he did once he was elected as Pope.

The reporter's follow-up? "So is it too early to judge him?"

Without a doubt. As Pope Benedict XVI, he gave us a 30-second speech and a blessing. We can't judge him as Pope after two hours after his election.

"I announce to you a great joy! We have a Pope!" Cardinal Ratzinger has been elected the Supreme Pontiff: Benedict XVI

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith , President of the Pontifical Biblical Commission and International Theological Commission, Dean of the College of Cardinals, was born on 16 April 1927 in Marktl am Inn, Germany. He was ordained a priest on 29 June 1951.

His father, a police officer, came from a traditional family of farmers from Lower Baviera. He spent his adolescent years in Traunstein, and was called into the auxiliary anti-aircraft service in the last months of World War II. From 1946 to 1951, the year in which he was ordained a priest and began to teach, he studied philosophy and theology at the University of Munich and at the higher school in Freising. In 1953 he obtained a doctorate in theology with a thesis entitled: "The People and House of God in St. Augustine's doctrine of the Church". Four years later, he qualified as a university teacher. He then taught dogma and fundamental theology at the higher school of philosophy and theology of Freising, then in Bonn from 1959 to 1969, Munster from 1963 to 1966, Tubinga from 1966 to 1969. From 1969, he was a professor of dogmatic theology and of the history of dogma at the University of Regensburg and Vice President of the same university.

Already in 1962 he was well known when, at the age of 35, he became a consultor at Vatican Council II, of the Archbishop of Cologne, Cardinal Joseph Frings. Among his numerous publications, a particular post belongs to the "Introduction to Christianity", a collection of university lessons on the profession of apostolic faith, published in 1968; Dogma and revelation, an anthology of essays, sermons and reflections dedicated to the pastoral ministry, published in 1973.

In March 1977, Paul VI elected him Archbishop of Munich and Freising and on 28 May 1977 he was consecrated, the first diocesan priest after 80 years to take over the pastoral ministry of this large Bavarian diocese.

Created and proclaimed Cardinal by Paul VI in the consistory of 27 June 1977. Titular churches, suburbicarian see of Velletri-Segni (5 April 1993) and suburbicarian see of Ostia (30 November 2002).

On 25 November 1981 he was nominated by John Paul II Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith; President of the Biblical Commission and of the Pontifical International Theological Commission.

Relator of the 5th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops (1980).

President Delegate to the 6th Synodal Assembly (1983).

Elected Vice Dean of the College of Cardinals, 6 November 1998. On 30 November 2002, the Holy Father approved the election, by the order of cardinal bishops, as Dean of the College of Cardinals.

President of the Commission for the Preparation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, and after 6 years of work (1986-92) he presented the New Catechism to the Holy Father.

Laurea honoris causa in jurisprudence from the Libera University Maria Santissima Assunta, 10 November 1999.

Honorary member of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, 13 November 2000.

Curial Membership:

Secretariat of State (second section)

Oriental Churches, Divine Worship and Sacraments, Bishops, Evangelization of Peoples, Catholic Education (congregations)

Christian Unity, Culture (councils)

Latin America, Ecclesia Dei (commissions)

That's all we know! It's on TV now!

A reading from the treatise On the Prescription of Heretics by Tertullian, priest Please visit http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/novena.pdf for the text.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Lord,
hear the prayers we offer for John Paul, your servant and priest.
He faithfully fulfilled his ministry in your name.
May he rejoice for ever in the fellowship of your saints.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

To clarify a point Hung brought up in the comment section: When are the novendiales? The novendiales, meaning novena, is a series of nine days of mourning for the dead. As I have been counting on this site, day 1 began last Sunday, the day after death.

I will be mentioning this in detail as I write up events of the last week, but the Cardinals have outlines what Masses to have where, celebrated for which group, by which cardinal, etc for the official novendiales, starting with the day of the funeral.

The custom of novendiales for the dead originally started in the Greek and Roman world and St. Augustine actually denounced the practice as there was no reference to them in Scripture or other holy writings. There were two customs that were celebrated according to various circumstances: nine days after death or nine days after burial.

Both practices have been retained, however rarely, in the Catholic Church. All in all, most devotion outside of Rome is being conducted based on the nine days after death. For example, Bishop Aymond of Austin celebrated the daily Mass at the Cathedral every day from the day after death until Monday, April 11 (or the ninth day after death) for the repose of the soul of Pope John Paul II.

My personal opinion, I would rather mourn for the nine days after death and then give ourselves a week to calm down. Then after a week of being "normal" without our lost beloved, then we can prepare ourselves for the next pope. Not to mention, the faithful have been mourning since his death, not since his funeral, and so to give people comfort during the initial "shock" of his loss is quite laudable. I would not want to do nothing for the first six days after death and start with the funeral.

In either case, I am not in line with the "official" period of mourning, but that is not required and tradition has used both systems of determining the mourning period.

A Reading from the Dogmatic Constitution on the Church Lumen Gentium (no. 23), as promulgated by the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council, first paragraph

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Almighty and merciful God,
eternal Shepherd of your people,
listen to our prayers
and grant that your servant, John Paul II, our pope,
to whom you entrusted the care of your Church,
may enter the joy of his eternal Master,
there to receive the rich reward of his labors.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

I am a bit behind on updating this. With projects galore that all required time late this week and staying up all night to watch the funeral, I just haven't updated.

I'll start playing catch-up as some very interesting things have happened. First, the Pope's Last Will was published. Unlike a will to just describe who gets what possessions and whatnot, it is an examination of death. Also, the papal funeral, and the unique liturgical rite, is well-worth examination. This is ignoring the activities of the cardinals during the 4th, 5th and 6th meeting.

However, this caused me to smile so I didn't want to forget to write about it. In today's Vatican briefing e-mail, it makes note that Joaquin Navarro-Valls, the Director of the Holy See Press Office, received "countless" questions regarding Pope John Paul II and his beatification process.

Beatification is one step on the route to being declared a saint by the Church. Under rules created by Pope John Paul II (that he bended himself for Mother Teresa's beatification process), there is a five-year "waiting period" before starting the process. This is to help ensure that we, both the faithful and those who are investigating, do not get too caught up in the emotional aspects. It allows time also to give a proper investigation to ensure there is nothing that would cause great scandal to the faithful's spiritual guidence if the person is lifted up as being a role model. Many saintly stories are of conversions to the faith and so the mere presence of something questionable does not mean anything; however and in any case, the Church wishes to investigate as fully as possible the life of the proposed saint.

That being noted, the Vatican Press Office is receiving question after question regarding when will the process start for Pope John Paul II.

What I really enjoyed was the response by Navarro-Valls in which he did not mention anything of what I just said above about a normal waiting period. His response was simply that it is completely up to the new pope.

Bishop Aymond of Austin has said on multiple occasions that he thinks it would be a great thing if the new pope's first act would be to beatify Pope John Paul II. The Vatican Press Office has helped spark that thought in my mind. There's a bed calling my name to catch up on sleep, but more entries are on the way.

Matthew 10:1-4

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
O God,
from whom the just receive an unfailing reward,
grant that your servant John Paul, our Pope,
whom you made vicar of Peter and shepherd of your Church,
may rejoice for ever in the vision of your glory,
for he was a faithful steward here on earth
of the mysteries of your forgiveness and grace.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Today's prayer is going online early. With the Pope's funeral in the early morning hours and all the crazy things going on, I would rather be early than late as I was today. The Pope's will has been published and so expect comments on it in the next day or so.

A reading from the Encyclical Letter Ut Unum Sint (That All May Be One) nos. 92-93 of Pope John Paul II

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
All-powerful God,
you made Pope John Paul II, your servant,
the guide of your family.
May he enjoy the reward of all his work
and share the eternal joy of his Lord,
who lives and reigns with you for ever and ever. Amen.

My apologies for this one. I left it in the queue too long...

Luke 22:31-34

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Lord,
you gave Pope John Paul II, your servant and priest
the privilege of a holy ministry in this world.
May he rejoice for ever in the glory of your kingdom,
where you live and reign for ever and ever. Amen.

ZENIT mentioned in a story published tonight that the cardinal in pectore's name would be released after a few decades have passed, that is when Pope John Paul II's archives are opened.

For an example of the timespan, Pope Pius XII who reigned during WWII, had his archives opened in just the past few years. The cardinal in question will most likely have died himself by the time it is revealed.

While I did not know that and had not ran across that in my previous research, ZENIT has been a trusted source of mine for years. If I find out anything more, I'll pass it along.

Both Andrea and David asked related the same question regarding the in pectore cardinal that Pope John Paul II created in 2003.

A little more background on cardinals: while not as important as it once was, the ranking of cardinals is largely dependent on when they were selected as cardinals. In pectore cardinals retain the rank of the date which they were first selected in pectore, not the date they were revealed. If a pope selected a cardinal in pectore in 2005, he would outrank a cardinal created in 2010 even if the in pectore cardinal was not revealed until 2015. This is ignoring the different classes of cardinals but I digress.

As previously mentioned, in pectore cardinalship is to acknowledge, even if only by the pope, that the pope wishes for that person to be one of his cardinals although there are circumstances preventing his public revelation.

As far as I know, a cardinal in pectore does not know that he was named a cardinal. The only person who officially knows who the cardinal is would be the pope. In theory, he could tell his advisors orally but without some sort of official statement, signed and sealed by the pope, it is without merit and thus ignored.

Since Pope John Paul II died before revealing the cardinal's name and apparently he did not include his name in any document that was to be opened after his death, there is no official word of this cardinal's identity. In this situation, the honor of being a cardinal is passed.

Saying that it never happened may be too strong but in effect, it is correct. A cardinal is not spirtually different from anyone else (i.e. someone baptized has a "spiritual mark" on their soul from it- no such thing occurs with a cardinal) so it is of no matter in the spiritual realm.

All in all, according to the Vatican Press Office, we have no idea who was selected by the Pope in 2003 and we have no further method of finding out.

The 4th General Congregation was held this morning in Rome. 116 cardinals were present at this meeting of the 122 in the Vatican. While the number of cardinal-electors is 117, all the cardinals including those over the age of 80 are to participate in the General Congregation.

The congregation set the date of April 18th, in the afternoon, to begin the conclave that will elect the next pontiff. The rules and rituals concerning the election will be published by me on this site closer to that date.

Also, it was confirmed today, after the reading of Pope John Paul II's will, that he did not name the in pectore cardinal. The Vatican Press Office indicates that there is "no further question" regarding this issue.

Lastly, the Sistine Chapel will be closed shortly to allow for the preparation needed for the conclave.

A reading from the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Father,
in your wise and loving care
you made your servant, John Paul II, Pope and teacher of
all your Church.
He did the work of Christ on earth.
May your Son welcome him to eternal glory,
where he lives and reigns with your for ever and ever. Amen.

This morning, the Congregration met again. This time 88 of the 91 cardinals present in Rome attended.

The most intersting part of today's press bulletin regarding this meeting is the discussion of the "in pectore" cardinal. In 2003, Pope John Paul II named a name cardinal "in pectore", that is he named him in his heart. This is a techique that is used, in most cases, when a cardinal is in a location where great harm would come upon him if his being named cardinal was public. An example would be a bishop living in China. The state church, which is the only "Catholic" church allowed in China, does not acknowledge the authority of the Vatican. For someone there to be named a cardinal could cause more problems than anything else. The pope is the only person to know the identity of the in pectore cardinal.

There is a chance, however remote, that Pope John Paul II recorded the name of this cardinal in his will. I was under the impression that he did not have a will, since his burial instructions had already been announced. Whether that was a right impression to take or not, apparently, he has a will and it has not been read yet.

I'm not sure if this is new or not but you can pull a live feed from Vatican TV online now. The feed, via the Vatican website, is provided in RealMedia and Windows Media Player formats in three bitrates.

On a related note, the Papal Funeral Mass will be presented live at St. Mary's Cathedral in Austin. Everyone is invited to watch it, starting at 3 a.m. Friday morning. Following that, Bishop Aymond and various priest-concelebrants will celebrate Mass. Lastly, a light breakfast will be provided.

Anyone who has visited the Vatican website lately has seen this crest on the homepage. This is the crest of the Vacant See. Usually, the Apostolic See's crest is this image with the triregno (the three-tiered papal crown) without the umbracullum (better known as the ombrellino; it's the umbrella). The triregno is obviously a symbol of the Pope, however, where does the ombrellino fit in?

Simply stated and for disclaimer's sake, I do not have a firm statement on where this comes from.

My guess is that the ombrellino's symbolism is related to the College of Cardinals. According to the old Catholic Encyclopedia (~1915), one of the rights that a cardinal enjoys is the use of the ombrellino which "is held over them whenever they quit their carriages to accompany with bare heads the Blessed Sacrament, if perchance they meet It on their way."

Looking past that, an ombrellino, defined broadly, is a type of canopy. From what I gather, it differs from the baldachinum, or altar canopy, in that the baldachinum is made of stone, metal, etc and has mutiple pillars. A form of these are/were allowed over the chairs of prelates and of princes. In this case, this is referring to secular princes, although cardinals are known as "princes of the church" so there may be some connection here as well. If you couldn't tell, it's all old medieval-style adoraments.

The ombrellino is noted as being smaller and carried by a single staff (i.e. like a umbrella). Lastly, many years ago, the ombrellino was used during conclaves over each of the cardinals. If I remember my history correctly, when a new pope was elected, all the cardinals would pull on their ombrellino causing it to close with the new pope's ombrellino remaining open.

In short, put that all together, it seems that the use of the ombrellino in the crest of the vacant see is to indicate a) the absence of the pope by contrast and b) the role of the cardinals in guiding the keys of St. Peter to the new pontiff.

Anyone have anything to add to this?

A reading from a sermon by St. Leo the Great, pope Please visit http://www.usccb.org/liturgy/novena.pdf for the text.

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
God our Father
may your servant Pope John Paul II,
rejoice in the fellowship of the successors of Peter
whose office he shared in this life.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

This morning, the General Congregation met twice. The first meeting, the swore an oath:

We, the Cardinals of Holy Roman Church, of the Order of Bishops, of Priests and of Deacons, promise, pledge and swear, as a body and individually, to observe exactly and faithfully all the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, and to maintain rigorous secrecy with regard to all matters in any way related to the election of the Roman Pontiff or those which, by their very nature, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, call for the same secrecy. [Next, each Cardinal shall add:] And I, N. Cardinal N., so promise, pledge and swear. [And, placing his hand on the Gospels, he will add:] So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I now touch with my hand.

65 cardinals were there, the Vatican announcement did not indicate whom. They met again shortly thereafter to discuss the most urgent matters. They decided to move the body today, have the funeral on Friday and that he will be buried in the same place where Pope John XXIII used to rest (he had since been moved upstairs out of the crypt).

The cardinals will gather again tomorrow at 3 a.m. CDT.

Tomorrow, a special press briefing will occur to discuss "Rites and Legislation of the Vacant See".

I thought the wording of His Holiness' death certificate was very interesting.

First, it acknowledged the name he was given at birth and it noted that he was a Vatican citizen. I think it's not an uncommon thing to have one's nationality listed but with the Pope, I didn't expect that.

Secondly, what really struck me was the final line: "I declare that the causes of death, according to my science and conscience, are those indicated above.", in particular the phrase "according to my science and conscience".

So often in the secular world, we do not equate faith and reason as being fruit of the same tree. The beauty of the relationship between faith and reason is that they are related. In many debates, we, as Catholics, argue "from a strickly scientific point of view" or "morality aside" or something like that while people of limited faith simply argue, by definition, by a strickly scientific view. I argue and submit to you that we cannot allow ourselves to assert those points of view without considering the moral status of any scientific observation.

Science, by definition, is the "knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through the scientific method and concerned with the physical world and its phenomena." Science, by definition, is limited to only the physical world. It cannot be an end on our journey of truth, it is only a means that we use to find Truth.

Learning more about nature, about our bodies, about genetics and how we advance biologically, are very important fields of study and they can lead to great advancements in terms of maintaining healthy lives, and preventing death (i.e. science of predicting weather). All of those advancements, however, must be undertaken only while maintaining a moral outlook.

Destructive research on embryos is destroying a human person which God has fused with a soul. The joining of a male sperm and a female egg in a test tube is removing and destroying the sacred connection between human intimacy and the creation of life.

God created the world and acts now using both science and conscience; what God has joined, let no man divide. (Okay okay, completely different context in the Bible but I think the connection here is valid.)

I certify that His Holiness John Paul II (Karol Wojtyla) born in Wadowice (Krakow, Poland) on May 18, 1920, residing in Vatican City, and a Vatican citizen, died at 9:37 p.m. on April 2, 2005 in his apartment in the Apostolic Palace, Vatican City because of:

- septic shock.
- irreversible cardio-circulatory collapse.

In a person also affected by:

- Parkinson's disease.
- progressive episodes of acute respiratory insufficiency and a consequent tracheotomy.
- benign prostate hypertrophy complicated by urosepsis.
- hypertensive cardiopathy and ischemia.

The ascertainment of death was effected by means of an electrocardiogram which lasted 20 minutes.

I declare that the causes of death, according to my science and conscience, are those indicated above.

Vatican City, April 2, 2005

Director of Health and Hygiene of Vatican City State
Dr. Renato Buzzonetti

Today, starting at 10 a.m. CDT, the body of Pope John Paul II was taken from the Clementine Hall to St. Peter's Basilica. Cardinal Somalo started with a short set of prayers and sprinkling of the body with holy water, followed by a solemn procession. During the procession, the 23rd Psalm (The Lord is my shepherd, there is nothing I shall want...) was sung as was the Litany of Saints.

After the long procession, the body, guarded by the Swiss Guards, was placed near the high altar. Cardinal Somalo again sprinkled the body with holy water then incensed it. He then presided over the Liturgy of the Word.

The Pope will lay here until Friday when he is buried.

John 21:15-17

Our Father...Hail Mary...Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord.
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
Father,
eternal shepherd,
hear the prayers of your people
for your servant Pope John Paul
who governed your Church with love.
In your mercy bring him with the flock entrusted to his care
to the reward you have promised your faithful servants.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

During the Vacancy of the Apostolic See, virtually everything in Rome stops.

The College of Cardinals will assemble in a General Congregation to start the process of governing in the transition. Of course, they will see to the proper mourning of Pope John Paul II and to the election of his successor. They will also see to the normal day-to-day operation of the Vatican, except in all things related to the Pontiff or his office. That is, if something comes up that cannot wait and it does not pertain to something derived from the powers of the pope, they can see to it.

During the first meeting of General Congregation, all cardinals are to make the following oath:

We, the Cardinals of Holy Roman Church, of the Order of Bishops, of Priests and of Deacons, promise, pledge and swear, as a body and individually, to observe exactly and faithfully all the norms contained in the Apostolic Constitution Universi Dominici Gregis of the Supreme Pontiff John Paul II, and to maintain rigorous secrecy with regard to all matters in any way related to the election of the Roman Pontiff or those which, by their very nature, during the vacancy of the Apostolic See, call for the same secrecy.

Next, each Cardinal shall add: "And I, N. Cardinal N., so promise, pledge and swear." And, placing his hand on the Gospels, he will add: "So help me God and these Holy Gospels which I now touch with my hand."

Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger, as the Dean of the College of Cardinals, is to precide over the General Congregation. The Congregation will meet daily starting on Monday until the Conclave begins. This is to allow the Camerlengo, Eduardo Cardinal Martínez Somalo, to hear the opinions of the College of Cardinals and for him to communicate whatever is needed.

Who is the Camerlengo? He is the Chamberlain of the Apostolic Chamber and only one of two Cardinals to retain their duties. The Apostolic Constitution Pastor Bonus describes his duties:

When the Apostolic See falls vacant, it is the right and the duty of the cardinal camerlengo of the Holy Roman Church, personally or through his delegate, to request reports from all the administrations dependent on the Holy See on their patrimonial and economic status as well as information on any extraordinary business that may at that time be under way, and, from the Prefecture for the Economic Affairs of the Holy See he shall request a financial statement on income and expenditures of the previous year and the budgetary estimates for the following year. He is obliged to submit these reports and estimates to the College of Cardinals.

The other Cardinal retaining power, as mentioned previously, is the Major Penitentiary, James Francis Cardinal Stafford. This tribunal's function is one directly having to do with the well-being of souls and therefore cannot be completely limited during the vacancy. If an emergency appeal for the absolution of an excommunication, indult, censure, etc, came to Rome, it is the Penitentiary's duty to hear of the request. As these proceedings are kept under the seal of the confessional, no one can really give an example of such a situation. My best guess is someone who is under excommunication is ill- and the fear of death exists- repents and asks to be rejoined to the faithful, the request will go to this office, assuming the excommunication is reserved to the Holy See. Such examples of this would be a priest who broke the seal of confession or someone who takes the Body of Christ in the sacramental form and throws it away or retains it for sacrilegious purposs.

There are various other offices that remain open in some form: the Substitute of the Secretariat of State, the Secretary for Relations with States and the Secretaries of the Dicasteries of the Roman Curia. Again, none of their actions are derived from the Pontiff and they are governed by the College of Cardinals until a new pope is elected. The secretaries manage the business and human resources of the Roman Curial offices. The Almoner of His Holiness is the person designated to coordinate works of charity in line with the Pope's directives. He is to continue to coordinate these works, subject to the College, until the election of a new Pope.

All civil powers of the Pope (as head of state of the Vatican City State) now fall to the College of Cardinals. They may not issue decrees unless it is urgent and they are only effective until the election of a new pope. He may then decide to confirm the decrees.

Lastly, the various tribunals of the Holy See, such as the Roman Rota, can still hear cases as normal.

For the general faithful, there should usually be no effect felt by the Curial offices closing. The local Church still operates as it always does.

The body of the late Pope John Paul II was lying in state until about one hour ago to be viewed by various officials of the Roman Curia, the Diplomatic Corps and civil authorities. Tomorrow morning at 3:30 a.m. CDT (10:30 a.m. Rome), the College of Cardinals will meet in General Congregation to start their process of governing the Vatican during the transition period. They shall decided when to transfer his body to St. Peter's for viewing by the faithful. The Holy See Press Office expects that to occur around 10 a.m. CDT (5 p.m. Rome).

The Cardinals will also decide when to have his burial- either Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Today, the day after his death, is the first day of the traditional "Novendiales", the days of mourning after his death.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops released a novena of prayers to assist the faithful as they mourn. The novena is online at www.usccb.org/liturgy/novena.pdf.

Matthew 13:16-19

Our Father... Hail Mary... Glory Be...

Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord
And let perpetual light shine upon him.
God our Father,
you reward all who believe in you.
May your servant, John Paul our Pope, vicar of Peter,
and shepherd of your Church,
who faithfully administered the mysteries of your
forgiveness and love on earth,
rejoice with you for ever in heaven.
Grant this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Divine Mercy Sunday, the new supplemental designation of the Second Sunday of Easter, was one that Pope John Paul II decreed in 2000, was a celebration close to his heart. A revelation of Divine Mercy, along with various prayers and an image, was revealed to Sr. Faustina, a Polish nun, in the 1930s. Prior to his election as Pope, Cardinal-Archbishop Karol Wojtyla started the process of her canonization and then he completed it as Pope in 2000.

Before he died, Pope John Paul II prayed with the Mass of Divine Mercy Sunday. At the Mass, celebrated by the Pope's close friend, Archbishop Stanislaw Dziwisz, he was given the Anointing of the Sick and Viaticum. Shortly after the conclusion of Mass, he was recalled to his creator. Personally, I think it is by no means a coincidence that he died shortly after that particular Mass.

Today, His Holiness Pope John Paul II died at 1:37 p.m. CST while in his Papal Residence at the Vatican. His passing was confirmed, via the procedure outlined in Universi Dominici Gregis, by the camerlengo, Eduardo Cardinal Martínez Somalo.

The camerlengo verified His Holiness' return to God by first standing near his body and calling out his Christian name, Karol, three times. As His Holiness did not answer, tradition called for the camerlengo to strike his forehead with a silver hammer bearing the pope's coat of arms or for him to place a veil over his face. In either case, the camerlengo then declared "The pope is dead."

The study and bedroom of the Pontiff has been sealed pending the election of the new pope.

As all the members of the Roman Curia derive their power and authority from the Pope, they all have lost it. The major exception being The Apostolic Penitentiary. This tribunal is responsible for the absolution of grave sins, dispensations and indulgences. This is kept active in case of any emergency appeals that may arise. Due to the nature of the tribunal, their business is kept under the seal under the confessional so we do not know in what circumstances such an emergency appeal would be made.

So now we begin the Novemdiales- the nine-day period of mourning after the Pope's death. It would be proper for various liturgical services to be held across the world during this time period for the mourning of the faithful and for prayers for the repose of his soul.

We will probably hear more of this as it is determined but in nine days, the Pope will probably have a funeral Mass said for him and be buried. His coffin will probably be a simple one, of wood encased in a lead liner and then in a larger box of oak. The Mass will probably be held in St. Peter's Square with all the able-bodied cardinals concelebrating.

On a local level, all parishes of the Diocese of Austin are to do a number of things upon hearing of the death of the pope. First, upon hearing news of his death, they were to toll their bells for one minute indicating his passing. A Mass should be celebrated as soon as possible- either the parish's next daily Mass or a specially-scheduled one- using the Sacramentary's votive Mass for "Death of the Pope". During the nine day mourning period, churches can toll their bells for a minute following any of those memorial Masses.

The Pope's name is no longer used during the Eucharistic Prayer and a special set of intercessions should be used as well. If a parish so desires, they can drape an exterior door in black and upon the election of a new pope, drape it in white or gold. The Diocese suggests holding public Liturgy of the Hours to give the faithful the better ability to liturgically celebrate the Pope's passing.

According to the Vatican Press Office's latest numbers (revised in January), Pope John Paul II had taken 104 trips outside of Italy reaching 129 countries, 894 trips inside of Italy, visiting 301 of the 333 parishes in the Diocese of Rome. He has published 112 "principal documents" (Encyclicals, Apostolic Exhortations, Letters and Constitutions and Motu Proprios). He had written 3,288 speeches for his voyages (both inside and outside of Italy).

Up until January 5th, Pope John Paul II had raised 1820 souls to the dignity of Blessed (1,338) or Saints (482). Excluding those souls, since the 1588 Apostolic Constitution Immensa aeterni which set the regulations for the canonization proccedures, only 302 saints were canonized. Pope John Paul II had said that he raised so many to the dignity of the altars because he wished that the faithful could have more role models to follow.

He has appointed all but three of the 117 cardinals eligible to vote and all but 13 of the 183 living cardinals.