Hi friends and family,
Here’s a story dad wrote in 2005. The story shows dad’s deep respect for his religion. I think he especially enjoyed researching the historical aspects of Catholicism.
While not a Catholic by choice, I have stayed close to the Catholic community and people for some years while playing bass with the band/choir at Saint Elizabeth Catholic Church in Detroit. I never did come to understand the seasonal celebrations. When they occurred and what music to play for each one. I guess that takes a lifetime of paying attention to it all. Or so it seems.
I was there for the music and my personal sense of spirituality was always expressed through the music. Gospel music encompasses a huge range of styles and genres. Sometimes when we came to the end of a song, I would be shaking or fighting tears, the music had such a powerful effect on me, especially when playing my ‘fretless’ bass which is very expressive. Other times, I would be smiling and laughing at a song that was just plain fun.
I rarely ever listen to the lyrics of any song but, I always listen to the feel. the vibe or rhythm of the lyrics. The words don’t have to make sense if they feel right and fit the music. There’s very few songs, secular or religious that I remember for their lyrics. It’s always the rhythm or feel of the words that make sense in a musical way to me.
I hope you enjoy this story. Pope John Paul II was canonized (made a saint) not long ago. Popes do have a huge amount of influence on the world and John Paul II was one of the greatest and most influential popes/men in modern history.
Thanks for reading,
David T
p.s. Comments are very much appreciated.You can write comments below each story.
“Papal Pomp Explained”
By Don Tschirhart
Excerpted from the unpublished book “It’s a Wonderful World II: A Retired Reporter Looks At Life“
Papal Pomp Explained
On Sunday morning I watched the Swiss guard and diplomats pay homage to the late Pope John Paul II as he lay in state in St. Peter’s Church.
I wondered just what my friends in other faiths must think of all the pomp and circumstance surrounding the death of Catholicism’s leader and election of another.
It seems that all you can see on TV news or in newspapers is pope-this or pope-that. Like all media events the press do sometimes over do it, don’t they?
Think for a moment. John Paul II was a global figure for 26 years. Even many of his detractors — Catholics and non-Catholics — call him a “great man.”
Most people credit him with sparking the end of communism.
Even dying he proved a wondrous spiritual figure. Those who were with him when he died said John Paul II’s last word was “Amen,” a fitting epitaph to a life of service to his church and the world.
I would hope my friends would understand the love that the world’s billion Catholics hold for this charismatic leader.
I would expect my friends to question the traditions of Catholic life. A delightful non-Catholic woman watching TV with wonder asked, “What are those funny red hats those guys are wearing.” (Those funny square hats are called “birettas” and red indicates those guys are bishops.)
The big question, though, is why we Catholics have such a feeling of deep respect, love and awe toward the pope.
First, pope means “father,” “papa” in Latin and Italian, indicating leadership in our church family. Just as all of us call the leader of our family “father,” so we Catholics respectfully call leaders of Catholicism “pope” and our parishes, “father.”
Catholics believe the pope derives his leadership from the first leader, Peter, the first vicar of Christ on earth. Many dispute this, but nonetheless it is why Catholics respect and love the pope, whoever he might be.
Just like Lutherans like being Lutherans, Methodists, Methodists and Baptists, Baptists, I like being Catholic.
It’s fun. Attending Mass on Sunday and sometimes during the week is a highlight of my life.
I talk with God, joke with Him, argue with Him, get angry at Him and apologize.
Margie and I were attending a meeting at St. Cornelius Church in Dryden when we heard Pope John Paul II had died.
Margie and fellow parishioner, John Cadwell, draped our entrance doors with black and purple bunting and placed a picture of the pope near the altar. It’s all part of being active, giving something that we get back tenfold.
May I quote one of my favorite church people, the Rev. Andrew M. Greeley, priest, author of mystery and theology books and sociologist:
“In its best moments Catholicism is the happiest of the major world religions. It is permeated by the reverent joy of Christmas night, the exultant joy of Easter morn, the gentle joy of First Communion, the satisfied joy of grammar school graduation, the hopeful joy of a funeral mass, the confident joy of a May crowning.”
Might I add it is also the smell of incense, the soft light of candles in our churches and the squeal of infants at baptisms.
Fr. Greeley’s words came to mind Saturday as I watched my pope dying and I thought of all the popes I have vicariously known — Pius XI, Pius XII, the Blessed John XXIII, Paul VI, John Paul I and John Paul II. And soon there will be another.
It is not my intention to proselytize for my faith or to give persons of other faiths a catechism lesson.
Instead I wish only to inform and explain why Catholics respect and love their leader, the pope.
Catholicism is the world’s largest Christian religion and Christianity is the largest religion in the world.
Being a Catholic isn’t being just a member of one faith. It is way of life that permeates all waking moments. Even those who do not practice their faith feel it.
Again I turn to Fr. Greeley who describes Catholicism as “an old, variegated, complex religious heritage. Many different cultures have emptied into its vast rivers. One can find in its history almost anything one wants — superstition, ignorance, bigotry, cruelty, arrogance, pride.
“Catholicism is essentially a religion of sacramentality and community, a religion which believes that
God is everywhere in our daily life and world and that we honor God as part of a community of believers.”
Don Tschirhart
