Fill us with joy unexpected
On popes, prayers, summer vacation, and getting that yearly screening
“A good vacation is not optimized.” Loved the nostalgia and simple truth of
’s latest on the summer vacation.“When love looks like it has left, it is never truly gone. When God feels most absent, God may be most present.” On Ascension, absence, and true love, my latest at OSV News.
Even more than the political show of solidarity across the aisle, I love that this story from Idaho advocates for increased access and funding for enhanced breast cancer screening. Here’s my regular reminder that free screenings for breast and cervical cancers are available in Minnesota and throughout the U.S. if you don’t have health insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover it. My tumor grew to stage 2 in only 6-9 months according to my oncologists, so please don’t skip your yearly screenings!
Requisite pope content continues. Charlie Berens is constantly quoted in our house: Our Pope’s A Midwesterner. McSweeney’s ran a surprisingly thought-provoking take. This cinematic round-up from
cracked me up: Pope or Nope?Catholic Theological Union is gathering prayers for the new Pope Leo XIV, one of their MDiv graduates. Check out the gem buried halfway down the page from Sr. Barbara Reid, president of CTU. What a gorgeous prayer for any leader, for any of us:
A BLESSING FOR OUR NEW POPE
Gracious and loving God, source of all good and of all wisdom, we ask that you pour out an abundance of your Spirit today on your son, Leo, our new Pope.
Fill him with joy unexpected and make him laugh as your visitors did for Sarah behind her tent flap at Mamre.
Embolden him with courage in the midst of diversity and an unbending commitment to justice as you did our ancestors in faith—Deborah and Judith and Esther—who protected your people.
Help him discover life where others find only barrenness, as you did with your daughter, Hannah.
Vindicate his hopes as you did when Jesus, that glorious child of promise, came into the arms of Anna and Simeon in your temple.
Open his heart both to the joy of contemplation and to the generosity of service, as your Son did for Mary of Bethany and Martha her sister.
Console him with your loving presence in moments of loss or confusion, as Jesus did with his beloved Magdalene in the garden of resurrection.
Affirm his hospitality and graciousness, as did your apostle Paul in accepting Lydia and her household as his home in Philippi.
Strengthen him as a leader of your people, as you did for your Deacon Phoebe at Cenchreae, friend and mentor and co-worker of Paul.
Receive and bless and protect him, dearest Christ, as you did that anonymous woman in Bethany who, alone among your disciples, embraced you with precious fragrance and anointed you for your mission.
Christ, son of the living God, make him a vessel through which your life courses into our world, as the Spirit did for your mother, Mary of Nazareth.
Risen Christ, Wisdom Incarnate, who expounded the scriptures in Nazareth, who enflamed hearts with his words on the mountain in Galilee, who spoke with courage to the religious leaders in the Temple portico, who gathered his disciples in community, bless and abide with Leo today, bless his leadership, bless the faculty and students and staff of CTU, bless the world we are dedicated to serve.
Amen.
“This blessing was composed by Donald Senior, CP, then President of CTU for my inauguration as Vice President and Academic Dean of CTU on September 12, 2009. I feel he would want this blessing to be upon you now, with only the name and pronouns changed. Barbara Reid, O.P., President.”
The best “ thoughts & words” thankyou 🙏🙏