I was ruminating and decided to post some brief reflections on the Erie and Greensburg seminarians' recent trip to New York City to see Pope Benedict.Link: The Diocese of Greensburg Seminarians: Some Thoghts From Yonkers
It's amazing to think that it's been a week since the Pope's Mass at Yankee Stadium! I was reading some of Cardinal Mahoney's reflections on the trip and thought that it might be good to do a little of my own before the vividness of the memories fades away.
The event that affected me most profoundly was the Youth and Seminarian Rally at St. Joseph Seminary in Yonkers. It was incredible to be so close to the Holy Father, and his message encouraging us to live our faith well, and to not be afraid to embrace whatever vocation we are called to. (You can read or hear the Pope's address here.)
One thing struck me when we were there concerning the nature of pilgrimage. There were thousands of people there waiting for the Pope, filling the entire field where the stage was set up. To reach our section, we had to walk around, over, and through these crowds, and the whole time I couldn't help but think "I wonder if this is what it was like when the crowds gathered to hear Christ." It would be fitting if it was, because just as the crowds waited for Christ with great eagerness and hope, that was how we waited for Pope Benedict.
Cardinal Mahoney pointed out that he was affected profoundly by the Pope's visit, showing that to be a pilgrim is to be affected by the message, no matter who you are. And the message was the same as those that Christ gave, directing us how to live so that we can draw closer to Christ and to the Father.
[I'm adding the full text here just in case the Greensburg Sems blog never goes live]
