Two Cardinals and a Congregation

Today we had the privilage to meet two Cardinals!

The first was Angelo Cardinal Camastri, the Archpriest of St. Peter's Basilica. His title means that he is the Cardinal who oversees the the Basilica. We met with him briefly and he gave us holy cards, rosaries and his blessing.

Next we went over to the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments. We did not meet the Prefect, Francis Cardinal Arinze, but we did get to hear from two priests about what the Congregation does, which is basically to ensure that the Church's liturgy is carried out according to the mind of the Church. The Church's deep concern for authentic and reverent expressions of Catholic worship was manifest during our visit. Among others, some of the topics touched upon both in the presentation and in questions from our group included translations of liturgical texts and liturgical abuses. There was some discussion about the Holy Father's recent Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum as well. These topics are important in the Church today both universally and locally, as we all know. Undoubtedly, this reality made our time there that much more valuable and informative. The Congregation priests were at the same time sensitive and objective. Perhaps the most important knowledge we took from our time at the Congregation is that the Church is aware and has loving concern for her flock on matters of liturgical worship and liturgical roles. In order to live out the Church's liturgical life with full fruitfulness, we must both know it and love it so that we can appreciate it as the gift to us that it is.

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After that, we visited another Cardinal, John Patrick Cardinal Foley, an American from Philadelphia. His Eminence is the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, a position he began in June of 2007. His previous position for the Holy See was president of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. He was recently elevated to the College of Cardinals at the last Consistory on November 24, 2007. During our visit he told us many interesting things about his experiences in both positions. The Cardinal has a wonderful sense of humor!