A couple news items and a very special PPOTD

A few newsworthy items:

Bettnet talks about the Pope and Curia meeting to discuss the possibility of reconciliation with the SSPX (universal Tridentine Mass indult - who knows? We'll see.)

Rocco reports that the leader of the Jesuits is stepping-down from his lifelong position (with a 2008 meeting schedules to appoint the next one - in the words of Mr. Burns, "Excellent.")

Gerald points out that Disney has begun production on Prince Caspian - the next book in the Chronicles of Narnia Series (Good job Disney, for once I exhort you to follow the money.)

And now a very special PPOTD (Papist Picture of the Day):

"Light gives us life, it shows us the way.

But light, as a source of heat, also means love.

Where there is love, light shines forth in the world;

where there is hatred, the world remains in darkness. "

- Pope Benedict XVI, in his Christmas Homily of 2005

...

Posting that PPOTD put me in mind of a personal story...

The second time I ever saw John Paul the Great in person, I was pressed against one of the railings in St. Peter's Basilica during the beginning of Good Friday service.

The whole church was darkened. Then, slowly, John Paul came into sight coming up the aisle. Frail as always, obviously in pain, he was clutching a lit candle - and as he stared at it himself, he quickly focused the attention of the entire congregation on its steady flame as well.

The whole church quickly became silent and were directed by John Paul's own luminous witness to that flame that he held aloft. Undiminished in ability to witness to the truth by his suffering, John Paul drew that entire crowd a little bit closer towards the truth that can support all of us in our own sufferings - Christ who is the only true Light of the World.

Santo Subito, Giovanni Paolo!

Join us in praying for your successor who now witnesses to the same Light.