Habemus Papam
Habemus Papam
We have a new Pope!
EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) had the best coverage on the Conclave. I watched it while on the phone with my friend Sarah. EWTN, a worldwide Catholic media organization, was ahead of the major news outlets by a few seconds.. So when the new pope was announced, I was in a state of shock. One, because the Cardinals elected an American, and secondly because I had never heard of the newly elected Pope.
I quickly googled whatever I could find about Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, and I panicked when I read that he had recently been appointed as a Cardinal by Pope Francis. Saying to myself, “This can’t be good! He’s going to be progressive!” I quickly texted my spiritual director and called my friend Sylvia in Madrid. At the same time Mike was talking me off the ledge.
The Ledge
I am notorious for reading only part of what is written, and it’s usually the subtitles that get me in trouble. For example, if someone sends me a group text I will not open the text. First of all I hate group texts. Second because I have wrongly texted groups of people when the message was intended for only one person. Like Lucy Ricardo, I had a lot of explaining to do.
Mike was quick to say, “What’s wrong with you? This is great news! He’s an American for God’s sake.” Mike has never failed me in words of godly wisdom.
My spiritual director quickly sent me information on Leo XIV, explaining that the new pope is an Augustinian friar, the Minister General of the Augustinians for 10 years, a canon lawyer, then became bishop. He had a high ranking position in the Curia. He also mentioned that he wore the papal regalia; Pope Francis did not wear these vestments when he was announced as pope.
My friend Sylvia from Madrid reiterated what my spiritual director had sent me. She was pleased with the choice because of his Augustinian background. She also mentioned that it was good that he was an American. My mind turned to total submission in trusting God’s judgment. I pray that Pope Leo XIV will be a great Vicar of Christ.
Augustinian Charism
The foundation and characteristic of Augustinian life is life in common, in which friars seek to construct a path that is directed to God in service to others. We do this not only through the sharing of ideals and values, but also in communion of all material and spiritual goods. In this way we strive to grow through the gift of God’s grace, and so give witness to the mystery of the Trinity and of the church, anticipating now on earth and the reality we hope for in the future in the Father’s house.
The opening words of St. Augustine’s Rule give us direction: we are to be of one mind and heart on the way to God. We are travelers on pilgrimage together, wherein Christ is our constant companion, as well as our way and our goal.
The activity of our journey is shaped by Augustine’s own experience and counsel, and is characterized by three essential elements: the constant search for God by means of a deep interior life; the practical love of neighbor; and the constant pursuit of truth.
Adapted from the Order’s Constitutions and Plan of Formation
Pope Leo XIII
On October 13, 1886, Pope Leo XIII had a diabolical vision. After celebrating Mass in a private Vatican Chapel, attended by members of the Vatican staff and a few Cardinals, Pope Leo stopped at the foot of the altar and fell into a trance. He heard the voice of Satan speaking to Christ about destroying the Church. After the vision Pope Leo went immediately to his office and composed the Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel. This prayer is to be recited after every low Mass.
Saint Michael the Archangel,
defend us in battle.
Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil.
May God rebuke him, we humbly pray;
and do thou,
O Prince of the heavenly hosts,
by the power of God,
Cast into Hell Satan
and all the evil spirits
who prowl about the world,
seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
St. Michael is the Guardian of the Church, the Enemy of Satan and the fallen angels and the Christian Angel of Death at the hour of death. He is patron saint of soldiers, police officers, bankers, grocers, mariners, sickness and doctors.
We recite this prayer after every daily Mass. Our Parish, St. Norbert is thriving with so many more believers attending daily Mass.
Submission
The fundamental reasons for my submission were the fact that Pope Leo is an Augustinian and that he took the name of Pope Leo XIII. Never would I turn against the Holy Catholic Church because we are, and always will be, the Church that Christ founded. We represent over 1.4 billion people and growing!
The World Is Watching
The world was eager to find out who would be the next pope, including the biased mainstream media.
Our church has been around for over 2,000 years and the gates of Hell will never prevail! We are aligned with the teaching of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Please stop putting out negative press about the largest, most organized religion in the world. Yes, there are sinners in the hierarchy, but believe me when I say, “They will be exposed, and God will judge them for any sin they have committed against man but mostly against God.”
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
18 And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”
My Prayer
Dear Lord, forgive me for my careless initial reaction to the election of Pope Leo XIV. May we all in unison join together in prayer for the new pontiff. Lord, guide Pope Leo XIV with holy wisdom and bring unity into this fallen world.
I pray for all who are discerning to come into the Catholic Church. Guide them with Your holy truth, remove the scales from their eyes and bring clarity to their hearts and mind. Amen.
Tenth Prison Visit
The choice of Bibles at this facility are either the King James or the Good News Bible.
The Good News Bible
This Bible differs from a Catholic Bible which has deuterocanonical books like 1 and 2 Esdras. It falls in the category of the Greek Orthodox Bible and is an extension of the Book of Ezra. I use this Bible because it does include all the Catholic books that Martin Luther and the Protestant reformers removed. Both Mario and I were intrigued by 2 Esdra. This book concentrates on eschatology. It was definitely an interesting read.
The Book of Acts
Biola University was my first encounter with the Book of Acts. I had left the Catholic Church for a season (about 15 years). One of my classes was based on reading and interpreting The Book of Acts. I had no idea who these Bible characters were and the entire Book of Acts was one of my biggest challenges. Through the grace of God, I finally began to understand this book’s full meaning. Today this is one of my favorite books in the New Testament.
Third Week of Easter
We are in the third week of Easter. We Catholics celebrate Easter until Pentecost, which will fall on June 8th this year. During this time part of the readings are from the Book of Acts. In Acts 5:34-42 Gamaliel, who is a Pharisee and a leading authority in the Sanhedrin, speaks to the other members and warns them:
Acts 5:36 New American Standard Bible
Gamaliel also mentioned another example of a failed uprising. But when Gamaliel spoke these profound words it changed the destiny of the Apostles.
Acts 5:39 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Black Lives Matter
I told Mario that this is exactly what happened to Black Lives Matter, because of its corrupt leaders, it was not of God. And just as Gamaliel said it came of nothing. I whispered this to Mario because we were surrounded by many black men, and in no way was he going to disrespect them.
According to an article in the New York Post, May 28, 2023, of the $90 million in donations, only 30% actually helped charitable foundations. Remember all the crazy snowflakes that gave millions of dollars to this organization? How corporate American rallied for this debunked movement? Praise the Lord that the truth will always be revealed and that nothing will be left unturned.
The Word of God is real and powerful, not to be taken lightly. After much studying, being properly catechized with revelations from God, I can finally say I understand this book.
Philippians
We moved on to Philippians, a great example of what one can accomplish while in prison. The apostle Paul wrote this letter to encourage his friends and to continue to spread the Gospel. Imagine that, having the joy of the Lord while in prison. The more I visit Mario, I can see that truly he wants to become the man God created him to be. I see joy on his face, and he loves to study the Bible. Philippians captures the true essence of Christianity in the sense of community.
Philippians 1:27 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
St. Paul continues to encourage them by telling them:
Philippians 2:14 New American Bible (Revised Edition)
The first thing I do when I wake up is to thank the Lord for another day, but it’s always followed by grumbling about my aches and pains. Mike constantly reminds me, “One day you will wake up and not complain.”
Mario’s Goals
July 15, 2025, is the release date given, so that means that soon Mario will be a free man. He has goals and wants nothing more than to become a productive member of society. I wrote down his goals and tucked them in my back pocket. I didn’t want to cause an uproar by smuggling something out of the facility.
The first thing Mario wants to do is get a job. The second thing on his list is to get his driver’s license. This falls second because he needs to complete DUI classes to get this in order. This matter has been hanging over him for years. He wants to find a good church. Mario wants to complete his AA degree; he lacks only two classes. And he wants to spend time with his family. I am asking, if you read my Blog, please add Mario to your prayers. Pray that God will grant him the desires of his heart.
Early Mother’s Day Celebration
We celebrated Mother’s Day a week early because Mikos and Jenny will be out of town. My family always asks me, “What do you want for Mother’s Day?” My favorite gift is getting together with a shared meal with my family. I praise the Good Lord that most of the time we all get along. This time was extra special because Maddie was home from college. I love my family!
My Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You for the work You are doing in Mario’s life. Give Mario special graces to succeed after his release. Help him to find a good-paying job so that he can support himself. Surround him with godly friends, and help him find a church filled with Your Holy Spirit. Jesus, guide his steps and allow him to live without being judged because of his prison background. Amen.
The Pope Francis Encounter
Meeting Pope Francis
In April 2014, our missionary group traveled from Israel to Rome. We were there to witness the canonization of Pope John Paul II. A few days before the blessed event, we had an audience with Pope Francis. We had tickets, got up extra early, and took a taxi to the Vatican. I had to beg my friend Cathryn to allow me to push her in a wheelchair; thankfully she agreed. It was a cold morning, but that did not matter because of the excitement of seeing the Pope. We were sitting in the front row; you can’t get any closer than that, right? We were eating the breakfasts that the hotel had prepared for us; then the weather turned.
Bad Weather, Good News
Even with umbrellas the rain was constant, softly falling over everyone. We were getting soaked. Suddenly these men in long black coats motioned for us to get up. One girl from the U.S.A. started to complain, “Why are you doing this? We came from so far away, and now you’re asking us to move?” I had an idea as to what was about to happen. I wanted to tell the foolish girl to be quiet, but I had to push Cathryn. These men were getting us out of the rain.
The Meeting
I was running ahead of others to get a good seat to the private auditorium. The bumps on the cobble stone were causing Cathryn to bounce up and down like a rag doll. That did not matter because I was running to secure a good spot. All I could think of was my plan to get through the massive, beautifully carved wooden doors before others. In all the commotion, two rows were formed with a wide aisle between them.
That’s when it hit me: the Pope was going to come in person to greet our small group first! There was a huge, televised live screening that allowed us to see the thousands of people waiting outside St. Peter’s Square. The young American girl started with her lamenting again, “We want to be outside! We want to see the Pope in person, not on a live screen!” This time I gave her a disapproving look, and was about to tell her to shut up when we were all handed a small piece of paper. 
The paper was written in Italian, but I knew what it said. We were about to experience a holy encounter with the Pope.
The Company You Keep
We were traveling with our lay group that included two Filipinas, one of whom was Carmelita. Carmelita and I had roomed together on several other missionary trips. She was responsible for getting me into the habit of praying more fervently. Late at night if I made the slightest move, Carmelita would say, “Lynda, are you awake?” I was always tired but would reluctantly answer “yes.” With Carmelita it was never a simple five-minute prayer but the entire Rosary with special intentions in between the decades! She is one of the most faithful, holy women that I recognize as a truly devout Catholic.
Sure enough, just as I suspected, the huge doors swung open and there he was, in the flesh, Pope Francis. Whatever was about to happen was going to be quick and sweet. Carmelita and her friend were sitting next to Cathryn and me. They started to cry, “Oh my God, the Holy Father! The Holy Father! The Papa!” These were real tears and, as I was witnessing this, a quick thought came to me. “Should I cry too?”
With all the emotions and trying to decide whether to cry or not, the Holy Father came to me. I took his hand and kissed his ring. You will never guess what he did to me; he gave me a swift pat on the head and moved to the next person. I received this as a “snap out of it moment!” In a quick gesture, I handed my phone to Carmelita so she could take photos of me with Pope Francis. Carmelita was too emotional for that task, we all messed up in that department.
I tried to remember Pope Francis’ outstanding features: all the freckles on his face, the color of his pearly gray teeth, how he smiled, his gentle soft hands and how he shuffled his feet. I was mesmerized by his presence. This feeling stayed with me the entire day.
The Canonization of Pope John Paul II
April 27, 2014, was the day of the canonization of His Holiness John Paul II. We had a wake-up call at 3:00 a.m. No vehicles of any sort were allowed near the Vatican, so we had to take the metro. Our tour guide warned us to stay together because of the crowds. I had purchased a small folding stool in California; this would prove to be both a blessing and a curse.
All the entrances to St. Peter’s were secured with barriers.
We were a group of about eight. As soon as we exited the metro, our group was violently separated. In a rush, a police officer opened a small portion of the barrier and hundreds tried to make their way in, trampling others in their path. Half of our group was lost with that episode. We reached an area on the side of St. Peter’s, and we stayed there for hours.
A Polish group kept singing the same annoying song; it was undoubtedly a praise song but it was way too early to receive this blessing. Then a Polish man pulled out an accordion and started playing music. My heavy, sleep-deprived eyes were rudely forced opened by this irritating music. We were all taking turns sitting on the stool. Nothing was more uncomfortable than this stool, but we needed to rest our feet. I wanted to cry from the pain of sitting on this three-legged stool, but the pain of standing outweighed it.
Finally after six hours the barriers were opened, and once again the crowds rushed to get in. I closed my eyes and tried to recall our front row seats from the day before this mayhem. Now we were so far back, sitting on the cold cobble stones, reduced to peasants. Not even the stool from hell brought us any reprieve.
The Special Surprise
As we settled on the cold ground, the most beautiful music filled the crisp air. I cannot compare anything to this welcoming sound; it quieted the crowds into submission and ushered in the anointing. On this special day Pope Benedict XVI and Pope Francis shared the same stage. I love Pope Benedict, so this was magical for me to witness.
Pope Francis
I struggled with how the mainstream media depicted Pope Francis and because of Pope Francis’ ambiguity, his words were always twisted to make him seem more progressive than he actually was. I loved that Adoration was Pope Francis’ favorite form of prayer. It’s my favorite form of prayer as well. In my humble opinion, there is nothing more powerful than being before the Blessed Sacrament.
God will judge his service as our pope. I have, and will always respect The Chair of St. Peter.
My Prayer
Dear Lord, I pray for the repose of the soul of Pope Francis. Lord, we beseech You to help us through these trying times. May You, the God of all gods, hand select our next Pope. Strengthen us spiritually to pray for all cardinals, that they would be under the subjection of the Holy Spirit during the Conclave. May the victory of a new Holy Father be in alignment with Your Holy Church. Amen.