Papa

I'm not sure how to start this post. (this is Beth by the way).

Today was a very important day for Sam and me. Today we received the Apostolic blessing on our marriage. I still feel the excitement and joy from this great event.

Details and background on the day: Alarm at 4:50AM. We wanted to get to St. Peters early because we had heard that the Pope usually greets the first 3 to 4 couples who get into the first row. We had also heard from a crazy-young-Italian-CL-couple that THEY got to St. Peters around 4AM, thankfully we had heard from others that that wasn't quite necessary. So we woke up, combed our hair, ate our boiled eggs (which we have almost every morning) put on our wedding clothes and headed for the bus stop. I thought it would be embarrassing being on public transportation in my wedding dress, but it was actually quite fun. I think if anyone felt awkward, it was the people we sat down by. We mostly heard "Auguri" 's and got many smiles.

We arrived at St. Peters just before the 6AM angelus bells rang. Which was a beautiful start to our prayer and the day. There were only 2 other couples there waiting, who were very kind and we chatted with them until about 8:20 when the opened the gates to go through security. And this is where the nice, friendly, peaceful time ends. With the crowds at least. People booked it to the furthest seats, leaving their bride/groom and running. Sam also ran ahead (according to my 'prompting' shall we say). But we just made it into the second row. I thinks some Italians had some connections, (like two of them were maybe papal security) which was annoying and I found my heart pounding sitting behinds these couples. I could hardly look at the brides! It was so hard for me to accept that they had skipped the early morning line, and there they were. Well, needless to say, this started my morning prayer even more intensely, and Sam also had to talk through this all with me. It's amazing how easy it is for Sam's presence and constant help to become 'a given', which is bad. But Sam is so helpful in reminding me of what's important and talk some sense into me (a lot of times those two things coincide). So as we were both sitting there, I was quickly distracted by.... Dr. Briel! (the founder of Catholic Studies at St. Thomas, professor and friend). He was sitting to the right side of where the Pope would sit, as close as anyone (besides a bishop or cardinal) can be! So Sam and I left our stuff and ran over to say hi to him. I guess it was the 10th anniversary of the St. Thomas Catholic Studies Bernardi campus (which Jim went to). And while we were talking with Dr. Briel the Geahren family hollers our name! Jim, Margaret and Molly were also here for the Catholic Studies event. Such a great to see them, and fun to talk with them too! (p.s. we also met many of the people who our lovely St. Thomas dorms are named after).

Maybe all my details about meeting these friends seem frivolous, but for me it was the embrace of Christ. It's kind of a strange atmosphere at first, running to get seats, people budging, and just trying to control your own space, and this surprise meeting with friends not only reminded me but showed me how loved and blessed I am. Also it changed my whole attitude toward the row of people in front of us. I was really able to 'let it go'.

Oh! A weather update.... There was a 90% of rain.... but the sun was out the whole time and it was beautiful! It got pretty hot around noon and we might have even gotten a little sun burnt.
Also.... we were behind and to the right of the Pope.

So finally a little after 10:30 the Pope came out on his pope-mobile/cart. There was so much joy in the audience. Singing , cheering, chanting, playing music, waving scarves (that might have just been the cloister nuns though. hehe). And it was really moving to see the Pope riding around, smiling and waving at everyone. The man who has undergone so many attacks by the media and who is the leader of the Church is an amazing thing to think about especially when you are in his presence.

The Pope spoke about St. Angela and her conversion and life story. And through this example of St. Angela, we can remember that through difficulties and hard times this is when we grow. That the more difficult a situation is the more we learn to love. The audience was kind of long to be honest (everything was done in about 6 languages) but during when the other translations were read it was beautiful to look out on St. Peter's square and even the facade of the church, which even though appears so simple is really full of details.

In the end, all my worries about being in the front row didn't really matter because the Pope decided not to greet that side of the audience (which happens every so often). But we did get to watch him greet the other side and kiss many babies that were brought to him. I loved this part. Poor Benedict, the kids were usually crying because they had just been taken out of their parents arms to be brought closer to the Pope and he just smiled and kissed them. I was so happy watching this whole scene.

So we took the bus back home (a man gave us each a glass of lemoncello in auguri before we got to the bus stop) and now we are finally home and about to cook dinner.

I already remember many things I forgot to write. I will edit later.

We prayed for all our family and friends and the papal blessing is extended to you also!
Love,
Beth (and Sam who is cleaning the kitchen now)