If you haven’t been under a rock, you know that the Pope arrives tomorrow for a pastoral visit to the US. If you haven’t been praying for a successful visit, then get started.
Catholic World News : Pope asks prayers for trip to US
“After leading the Regina Caeli prayer, the Holy Father asked for prayers that his visit would be “a time of spiritual renewal for all Americans.” He said that his plan for the trip is “to share our Lord’s word of life.” More specifically, he said, he would tell America that “Christ the foundation of our hope for peace, for justice, and for the freedom that flows from God’s law fulfilled in his commandment to love one another.”
Here is a related piece of news.
In U.S. Masses, Pope to Carry Pastoral Staff of Blessed Pope Pius IX
This is wonderful news. I think that the symbolism is much deeper than a simple change of cross/staff that the USCCB site suggests. The choice of Pio Nono’s cross is significant because it was his. Pius XI stood by and defended the Catholic faith in a time when the Church was under attack.
