Reflections On The Papal Visit（英文）

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Historical February 1999 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.

Last April, when I first learned that Pope John Paul II would be coming to St. Louis, I was extremely excited.

As a Catholic St.Louisan, I was thrilled by the international exposure our city would receive, and honored that St. Louis would be among the handful of American cities visited by a sitting pontiff.

As the leader of the world’s largest religious denomination, the pope commands a great deal of attention around the world.

When combined with the sense of history, ceremony, and dignity which are characteristic of the Catholic Church, this attention helps create a sense of awe around the pope and any visit he makes.

My anticipation grew over the next several months as plans for the visit unfolded: a papal motorcade down Lindell; a veritable church council in the making, with 250 bishops planning to attend the Mass at the TWA Dome; and an evening prayer service planned for the New Cathedral—perhaps the most majestic setting in the United States.

The visit met and even exceeded my expectations of the excitement it would bring to the city. Our neighborhood was not flooded by the crowds some had anticipated would come to see the motorcade, but I was most impressed by the atmosphere among those along the route.

The Shaughnessy family, parishioners at St. Roch, generously opened their lawn to all those passing by, and served refreshments to all who came.

As I wandered along Lindell, I ran into both Catholic and non-Catholic members of my grade school class from St. Roch who had come to see the pope pass by. Everyone seemed to share in the anticipation and enjoyment of the moment. Young and old, Catholics and non-Catholics, friends and strangers, together enjoyed the beautiful weather, speculated on where to get the best view of the motorcade, and shared any information they had regarding the pope’s progress.

The next morning, I attended the Mass at the TWA Dome along with 2 friends. At 5:30 AM, we boarded a bus at the Arena and headed downtown.

After arriving at the dome, we waited in line for about an hour, as those ahead of us walked through metal detectors at the entrances.

We passed the time reading the early edition of the Post-Dispatch which vendors along the street were selling. Once inside, we found our seats with others from St. Roch’s.

We were seated directly behind where the alter had been constructed, only a few rows from the top. Two giant screens suspended from the ceiling gave us a front- on view of the sanctuary.

As we waited for the ceremonies to begin, we listened to the choirs from local parishes singing a variety of hymns, and people wandered to the concessions stands to get breakfast, or chatted with those near them. Seated near the St. Roch contingent was a group from Perryville, Missouri.

To be at the Mass that morning, they had left their homes at 1:00 that morning, and boarded a bus at South County Center at 3 AM. Nearly two hours before the pope’s arrival, the first processions began. Various local dignitaries, and those who had been chosen to receive communion from Pope John Paul, were escorted to their seats.

They were followed by a processions of nuns, seminarians. deacons, and priests from the Archdiocese, who were seated on the floor of the dome, directly in front of the altar. Next came the bishops from around the country, who took their seats on both sides of the sanctuary.

Finally, the enormous screens flashed the image of Pope John Paul riding through the America’s Center, and we erupted into cheers as he entered the Dome and rode slowly around the perimeter.

As I looked out at the tens of thousands of people assembled for the Mass— from bishops to lay people and from the elderly to small children—I had a wonderful sense of belonging, of being a part of something greater than myself.

As the pope spoke the Eucharistic prayer, I felt that the Catholic community in St. Louis was truly assembled in prayer, led by the church’s universal pastor.

While I had anticipated the excitement and attention the pope’s visit would generate, I was surprised by this sense of unity and purpose which his presence helped create.

This unique atmosphere gave the message of his homily greater force, and helped those of us who heard him take our commitment to the Christian life more seriously.

Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February 1999.

Read this article in the original newspaper issue.

Original source: SD_Times1999_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.