Today Pope Benedict XVI will vacate the Office of Peter at 8:00pm Rome Time, and the doors will be sealed.
It will be the last morning we will hear his name recited in the Eucharistic Prayer, and in the days to follow until a new Pope is elected, the phrase will be omitted.
It is a time for reflection of the gratitude for Benedict’s leadership of the Church, and for much prayer. What can we do to live this day in a spirit of prayer and gratitude?
You might want to follow the day live:
Radio Vaticana or EWTN live cam. His schedule:
Pope Benedict’s Farewell to the Cardinals: 11:00am Rome / 2:00am Pacific
corrected: 3:00pm Rome / 6:00am Pacific
The Pope’s move to Castel Gandolfo: 5:00pm Rome / 8:00am Pacific
Update: Benedict XVI’s Pontificate Ends: on Radio Vaticana 7:45pm Rome / 11:45am Pacific
Attend Mass and pray for Pope Benedict.
You can join a worldwide Rosary at the hour of the Pope’s Benedict’s Pontificate ends, 8:00pm Rome / 11:00am.
If you are on Twitter, you can post a message of thanksgiving with the hashtag #ThanksPontifex.
Or, perhaps just reflect on these words from Pope Benedict’s sermon, Palm Sunday 2009:
“An upright life always involves sacrifice, renunciation. To hold out the promise of a life without this constant re-giving of self is to mislead. There is no such thing as a successful life without sacrifice.
If I cast a glance back over my whole life, I have to say that it was precisely the moments when I said yes to renunciation that were the great and important moments of my life.”
Or pray for him with this indulgenced prayer.
Papa Benedetto, Papa Ratzi, we are with you.
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