Joseph Pecar
April 24, 2008
A layman's thoughts on the Pope's visit
By Joseph Pecar

My wife Nancy and I were swept up in the activities and celebration of the Pope's visit to the Washington area. Our Parish, St. Raphael's in Rockville Maryland, hosted over 400 pilgrims who came to town for the celebrations. Parishioners opened their homes to provide a place to sleep for the visitors.

Because of the number of Pilgrims that came from all over the Country, St. Raphael — and most other Catholic Churches — tried to accommodate overflow crowds. Late the night of the pilgrims' arrival, our Pastor contacted two Jewish communities who agreed at the last moment, despite Passover preparations, to take in a hundred or so each at their Synagogues. The good will and great kindness showed by our "elder brethren" was truly remarkable.

For many days prior to the Popes visit and every day of his visit, local radio and TV airwaves were filled with material covering his visit and all the preparations. At stores, gas stations, restaurants, just about everyone you met, was abuzz about the Popes visit.

On Tuesday April 15, our TV broadcasts covered the landing of the Popes plane (Shepherd One) at Andrews Air Force Base, and moments later the President and First Lady and Daughter and a large crowd of well-wishers (considering the fact that passes or ID's are necessary to even be on the Airbase) all greeted the Pope as he disembarked from the plane. TV Announcers stated that this was the first time the President ever met a visiting dignitary at the Airport.

The main Washington DC event was the celebration by the Pope of Holy Mass on Thursday at the brand new National's Baseball Stadium — the first non-baseball event there. Local Catholic churches were allotted scarce tickets on a "number-of-parishioners" basis. Our St. Raphael Church, one of the Diocese's largest with 12,000 active parishioners, received only 350 tickets, which were distributed by lottery. Nancy and I were fortunate to have been two of the lottery winners. Since there is no parking at the National Stadium, many arrived via the Metro Subway System. There were commemorative Pope Benedict XVI fare cards available. Other throngs arrived by bus, especially those who came by bus from out of town, many of whom followed the Pope to New York for his visit there.

For me, of all the week's events, one of the most moving moments of the Pope's visit came in the short remarks made by both the Pope and President Bush on Wednesday at the White House-lawn birthday party for the Pope — who turned 81 on that day — with 13,000 cheering guests in attendance. Kathleen Battle's rendering of the Our Father, and the Army Chorus singing the Battle Hymn of the Republic literally bought tears to most eyes. On the next day, President Bush called Rush Limbaugh during his radio broadcast show and among other laudatory comments, Rush had this to say:

"The Battle Hymn of the Republic, I've been playing it over and over again. That ceremony, sir, was — we're in a presidential campaign, and by definition, a presidential campaign, candidates are telling us what's wrong with the country, and that day, you and the Pope brought God to Washington on public property. It was just amazing. I just wanted to thank you for it, because it was so uplifting, it was so timely. The facial expressions on both you and the Pope during The Battle Hymn of the Republic were just priceless. I just wanted to take a little time to thank you for it because it didn't get much media coverage, the hymns and the song by Kathleen Battle. But it was just tremendous."

On Thursday, at 5:45 a.m., more than four hours before the Mass at the Stadium, it was standing-room only on our Metro subways. At 5:00 AM, our daughter, her husband and their two children boarded the first train to leave Shady Grove, the furthest-out suburban Maryland Station. People began to arrive at the Stadium as early as 6:00 AM.

A musical program commenced before 7:00 AM. Some 650 people were involved in providing the music at the Papal Mass. This included four different choirs — the 250-voice Papal Mass Choir, a 175-voice Children's Choir, an 80-voice Gospel Choir and a 65-voice Intercultural Choir. They were joined by instrumentalists, soloists and support staff. Denyce Graves, an internationally recognized mezzo-soprano, was part of the pre-Mass performances along with interviews of many knowledgeable and well-known personalities who were present at the Stadium. A giant outdoor TV screen and powerful audio system made it easy for all to see, hear and participate.

Although the Stadium is designed to hold 46,000 fans, upon leaving we were told by ushers that counting the many seats placed on the playing field, and a large number of standing-room-only admissions, total attendance was closer to 57,000. Among the Pilgrims were 14 cardinals, over 250 bishops and several thousand priests, many of whom concelebrated Mass with the Pope.

The Pope celebrated Mass under a large crucifix from St. Mark's Church in Hyattsville, Maryland (where my wife and I were married 48 years ago). The altar was designed by Catholic University of America students and made by local craftsmen. Our Parish provided the large Paschal Candle. The tremendous success of this event was clearly made possible through the efforts of many in the greater Washington DC area.

Before and when the Pope arrived in his Pope-mobile, the Stadium was roaring with cheering and festive presentations. When the Mass proper began, there was what seemed like a miraculous, reverent silence quieting the entire massive stadium (not unlike the silence spectators maintain at golf-events while players prepare to strike the ball). This reverent silence was found throughout the Mass, except for those parts when the congregation is normally heard with singing and prayers.

A particularly moving and spine-tingling moment occurred when 57,000 people with loud voices chanted the Lord's Prayer before receiving Holy Communion. I wondered how many city-blocks away that solemn incantation could be heard!

Overall, what made me happiest were statements made by both the Holy Father and the President at the White House praising America for being the world's greatest, repository of freedom, justice and truth.

What made these statements particularly gratifying to me was that after growing up proud of our Country and believing that in all history no other country has better implemented or enforced — in this land or for others on foreign soil — the principle and belief that all men are endowed by their Creator with inalienable rights: the right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Why did these words affect me so? Because, I can't express how sad it has made me over the last several years to witness so many members of Congress and politicians who have done nothing but disparage our Great Country.

But, aside from my feelings of sadness, what is important is to recognize that what they say is broadcast worldwide by the media — to friends and enemies alike. Their treacherous words have had two tragic results:

First, they have given insuperable aid and comfort to our enemies. This has recklessly endangered the lives of our men and women in uniform, and those allied with us. Also, countless innocent civilians have been put in great danger from terrorism.

Second, they wreaked havoc with the worldwide recognition of American Exceptionalism as the free-world's preeminent deposer of the 20th Century's most sadistic tyrants. These boisterous public servants have done harm to the well-earned prestige of our Nation as the selfless defender of human rights and champion of freedom for people. More than any other nation, the United States has come to the aid of the oppressed and enslaved: purchasing their freedom at the precious cost of the lives of more than 2 million of America's brave fellow countryman in the Military.

Events of the last few years have made it clear that mere cartoons depicting Allah in ways some Muslims find offensive has led to profligate rioting and the murder of innocent people. Even the inspired words of the Pope Benedict proclaiming that a good God could never condone the terroristic murder of innocent people He created in His image and likeness, have been used by Islamofacists to provoke followers to violence. In the wake of his speech at the University of Regensburg, we see that his message of love and reason was met with hatred and irrationality. Violent protests against anyone who would dare call radical Muslims or their religion violent reached new heights when gunmen killed a Catholic nun with four bullets in the back of the head, a woman who was dedicating her life to mostly Muslim, sick and dying patients in a hospital in Somalia.

This "cause and effect" relation between news stories and radical Muslim violence, has been proven and quantified by Harvard University analysts Radha Iyengar and Jonathan Monten who researched the number of insurgent attacks and fatalities per week from the beginning of Operation Iraqi Freedom in March 2003 until January 2008. They found a direct connection between adverse U.S. news coverage about Operation Iraqi Freedom and intensified IED/EFP and suicide attacks on civilians and coalition forces in Iraq. Their scientific studies showed statistically significant increase in attacks, (between 7 and 10 percent) following a spate of anti-resolve statements by leading political figures. (Washington Times; Shawn Waterman; March 24, 2008)

During World War II, thousands of posters and news items reminded patriotic Americans that "Loose Lips Sink Ships." Those admonitions were directed primarily towards ordinary Americans who might make accidental revelations of troop status or plans that could aid our enemies. If in that era it was perfectly clear that "what is said by Americans" could endanger our troops, how could members of Congress, as official United States Government representatives,

be so woefully ignorant of the reality that their contumelious allegations could very likely instigate suicide or roadside bombings?

Do you think Senator Dick Durbin can prove to us that the worldwide broadcast of his outrageous allegation that prisoner treatment at Guantanamo and Abu Ghraib was equivalent to what happened to the millions of people killed by "Nazis, Soviets in their gulags, or some mad regime, Pol Pot or others, that had no concern for human beings," was not used to motivate al Quida to carry out IED/EFP or suicide attacks? And, that these attacks would likely result in the deaths and dismemberment to American soldiers? Durbin obviously lacks even a rudimentary understanding of how 6 million Jewish prisoners were killed in Nazi Concentration Camps: if he had the least bit of knowledge of history he would know that his statement regarding the treatment of prisoners at US facilities is a despicable lie.

It's hard to imagine how the likes of Murtha, Durbin, Hillary Clinton, Obama, Pelosi, Reid, Kerry, Kennedy and others of their ilk can deal with their consciences knowing that their words have been directly responsible for so many lost lives and crippling injuries.

There seems to be a "game" amongst politicians and pundits to see who can point out the most "problems" with our Great Country. It appears to me that even the intellectually-challenged can find fault with almost anything. This popular bash-America trend was adeptly addressed by G. K. Chesterton. In just the first few pages of his book, Chesterton makes the point that "The only way to discuss a social evil is to get at once to the social ideal. We can all see the national madness; but what is national sanity? I have called this book 'What's Wrong with the World,' and the upshot of the title can easily be stated. 'What is wrong is that we do not ask what is right.'"

In conclusion, I believe the timing of the Pope's visit — with its theme "Hope in Christ" — was a providential blessing — a great antidote to prevailing negativism and relativism. Instead of condemning America for its faults, he encouraged us by calling on our better angels. He called us to embrace the wisdom of our Founding Fathers who embedded in our Constitution a nearly unique institutional dedication to truth, freedom, and justice; in accord with the God given dignity of the human person. Without excusing our faults, I believe Benedict XVI points us to "the social ideal" and that "national sanity" to which we must strive. The tone of his remarks, and the hope they direct us to, are constructive. This is in contrast to the useless and often self-serving bickering which is proving destructive to the common good.

Instead of berating our Country for its shortcomings, His Holiness averred in many ways and at many times that, "America has traditionally shown herself generous in meeting immediate human needs, fostering development and offering relief to the victims of natural catastrophes. I am confident that this concern for the greater human family will continue to find expression in support for the patient efforts of international diplomacy to resolve conflicts and promote progress. In this way, coming generations will be able to live in a world where truth, freedom and justice can flourish — a world where the God-given dignity and rights of every man, woman and child are cherished, protected and effectively advanced.

Mr. President, dear friends: as I begin my visit to the United States, I express once more my gratitude for your invitation, my joy to be in your midst, and my fervent prayers that Almighty God will confirm this nation and its people in the ways of justice, prosperity and peace. God Bless America!"

What a joyous message to my tired ears! "God Bless America!" — as opposed to the alternate imprecation we have grown accustom to hearing these days.

Below are links to Internet sites with excellent selections of video and audio clips as well as text-based transcripts of the Pope's appearances and testimonies.

http://www.ewtn.com/USPapalVisit08/coverage/index.asp

http://www.wusa9.com/news/faith/papalvisit.aspx

http://www.wjla.com/news/papalvisit.html

http://cathstan.org/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID;=20&TM;=35587.52

www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/travels/2008/index_stati-uniti_en.htm

© Joseph Pecar

 

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Joseph Pecar

In 1983, following fifteen years of employment, Joseph Pecar left IBM as a Senior Engineer/Manager to found his own company... (more)

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