Elmer’s Fire

“Just be part of it.” This is what our parish priest urged us to do during his homily a few Sundays before Pope Benedict XVI’s historical visit in the United States. Thus, be a part of it I did!

I didn’t just watch Him on TV or read about him in the newspaper or internet, I went to where He was and saw Him (a few feet from me anyway). As I did so, I brought along my sons, AJ & DJ, and their best friend Ron. One of my best friends, Marty, wanted to join us but changed his mind at the last minute claiming he didn’t have clean socks to wear. What a lame excuse! LOL! Despite us offering to give him new socks, he still didn’t go. Obviously, the lazy bum had other reasons. Just kidding Mr. McFly!

Seeing the Pope is something that does not happen everyday, not even every year. Except of course, if you live in Vatican City. I have been blessed to see the Pope twice in my life. I saw Pope John Paul II when I was still in high school as He visited the Philippines back in the early 80’s. Then, on April 19, 2008, it’s Pope Benedict XVI outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, New York.

I told the boys to appreciate every single minute of the brief but blessed moment and be grateful for it as it may well be their first and last to have this close encounter with the successor of St. Peter. Their perseverance and patience to wait for those “special few seconds” for almost five hours under the blistering heat of the New York City sun speak a lot about how they really valued the experience. For us, all the sacrifice was all worth it.

Yes, security was tight at that time but not too tight. Protesters were booed, cheers were heard, flags were waved, B16 shirts sold like hotcakes, and digital cameras clicked away like crazy. No, there was not a person on every square foot of that part of the Big Apple but undoubtedly a sea of humanity made its presence felt during that time. Indeed millions of people from all over the world and all walks of life gathered along 5th Avenue that day not to shop but to get something priceless…a glimpse of the Holy Father.