(ROME) On a cold and rainy night here in Rome a fairly sizable gathering of Catholics gathered in the Piazza San Pietro to pray the rosary (in Latin). Led by five or six young priests in cassocks, they knelt on the wet stones of the Piazza and begged Mary's intercession, with a final prayer to St Joseph (this time in Italian). As I was walking back to my hotel when I discovered them kneeling there in the light rain, I filmed them for a moment and then joined them. After all, I suppose that’s exactly where we all need to be during this dark night for the Church...on our knees, praying for the beloved Bride of Christ.
As these Italian Catholics prayed, two white birds appeared out of the night sky and circled overhead for a few moments in stark contrast to the gloomy mist. I only noticed them because some tourists standing nearby began pointing up and exclaiming. Probably means nothing...but maybe not. You never know about these things, especially in this town full of relics and the bones of saints.
Tomorrow at 7 am I will be inside St. Peter’s for the Traditional Latin Mass, which happens every day now thanks to Pope Benedict’s motu proprio. Over at The Remnant’s Facebook page www.Facebook.com/TheRemnantNewspaper some video we shot is available of the beautiful moment tonight in the Piazza, as well as a clip of two young college students we interviewed today who rather excitedly reported how they’ve discovered dozens of traditional Latin Masses going on in Rome since they’ve been studying over here…including, astonishingly enough, as many as 7 traditional Masses at one time taking place on side altars on a daily basis inside the Basilica of St. Peter itself.
I’m having a difficult time finding reasons not to be even more grateful to Pope Benedict for so much of what he attempted to do. Despite our differences of opinion, I fear we will soon begin to miss him perhaps more than we ever thought we would.
Conclave Start Date: Tuesday, March 12. Come Holy Ghost, fill the hearts of the Princes of the Church.