Talks on the Sacramentals, by Msgr Arthur Tonne - Pope's Blessing

"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith may not fail; and do thou, when once thou hast turned again, strengthen thy brethren." St. Luke, 22:32.

Some years ago the papers reported an unusual audience and an unusual blessing granted by Pope Pius XII. One of the principals was Vivian Blaine, the lovely screen star and singer, who is a devout Catholic. She has a sister who is a nun. All her life Vivian had the ambition to be received by the Pope.

At last the opportunity came, when she took a trip to Europe with her husband, Manny Franks, who is a Jew. When they arrived in Rome the audience was arranged. Her husband went along.

Someone had told His Holiness that Vivian's sister was a religious. The Holy Father conversed about her family and her work in Hollywood, and then graciously gave her his blessing in Latin.

"And your husband?" the Pope gently asked.

"My husband is of the Jewish faith," explained Vivian.

The Pope smiled and, turning to her husband, the Holy Father gave his Jewish visitor his fatherly blessing--in perfect Hebrew.

There are many truths and lessons in this little incident: the desire of all Catholics, and of others too, to visit the Holy Father and receive his blessing; the scholarly knowledge which His Holiness has of languages. But the point I would like to emphasize is the fatherly interest of the head of the Catholic Church in the members of all religions, and his eagerness to extend his blessing and the blessings of Mother Church to everyone--Catholic, Protestant, Jew and pagan.

That is why the Holy See has granted to missionaries and to retreatmasters, and to bishops on certain occasions, the power to bestow the blessing of the Holy Father. The Pope's Blessing, best known as being given at the end of retreats and missions, is a sacramental that stirs our interest and our affection.

It is usually given at the closing service. The priest kneels before the altar in surplice and stole, as he offers the following prayers:

P. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. P. O Lord, save Thy people. R. And bless Thy inheritance. P. O Lord, hear my prayer. R. And let my cry come unto Thee. P. The Lord be with you. R. And with thy spirit.

The priest rises and continues:

Let us pray:

Almighty and merciful God, give us help from Thy holy place, and graciously hear the pleadings of Thy people who with contrite hearts beg forgiveness for their sins, and who eagerly await Thy blessing and Thy favor. Kindly raise Thy right hand over them, and pour upon them the fulness of Thy divine blessing, so that, filled with all good things, they may reach everlasting happiness and life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen."

Then, standing on the Epistle side of the altar, the priest makes over the people the sign of the cross with the crucifix in his right hand, saying solemnly:

"May Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost bless you. Amen."

A few prayers are then said for the intention of the Holy Father. There is a variation of the words used in the actual blessing:

"May the blessing of Almighty God, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, descend upon you, and remain with you forever. Amen."

There is a special thrill in receiving the blessing of the Holy Father from him personally in Rome. But next to that is the spiritual thrill of receiving the Pope's blessing from one who has been given the power to grant it in the name of the Pope.

As we all know, Jesus Christ founded the Catholic Church and continues to be its Head. Even after He ascended into heaven, Christ continues to rule, govern, and preserve His Church:

"Behold I am with you all days even unto the consummation of the world." St. Matthew, 28:20.

However, Christ chose one of His Apostles, St. Peter, to be the visible head of His Church. Succeeding St. Peter in a line unbroken for twenty centuries is the present Pope, Pius XII. He is the bishop of Rome; he is the Vicar of Christ; he is the successor of St. Peter; he is the servant of the servants of God. He is the head of our Church.

The word Pope is from the Italian, "papa," which means father. A true spiritual father the Pope has always been. In his world-wide plans and efforts for a permanent and just peace, as well as in every-day incidents like that of blessing Vivian Blaine and her Jewish husband, His Holiness has proven himself a Holy Father in every sense of the term.

In his call to the world to celebrate and keep the Holy Year he has told us some of the intentions which are close to his heart, intentions which are close to the Heart of Christ, whose place he takes on earth. The Pope is interested in peace, in feeding and clothing and housing the world, in converting all to the true faith, in winning Russia and others to the side of Christ, and in establishing economic justice for all. For these intentions we pray after we have received his blessing, saying one Our Father, Hail Mary and Glory be.

We should and do treasure that blessing, whether given personally or through his representative the bishop, the missionary, or the retreat-master. We appreciate the graces granted with it. We will make this blessing the occasion to renew our devotion to the head of our Church, the occasion to thank God for such a splendid spiritual leader in these troubled times. Amen.