Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale has an
interview with Mgr George Gänswein, the personal secretary of the Holy Father. The interview is in Italian.
Rorate Caeli: News from Cadore has translated a section of the interview concerned with
Summorum Pontificum. I thought you might like to read Mgr Gänswein's description of the usual timetable of the day on the Pope's holiday. Reading it makes me feel that the Holy Father is setting a very good example to me as a priest (
my own translation):
Can you say how he passes his days and what changes there are with respect to the timetable of the Vatican?
The day is well structured; some elements coincide with the customs of the Vatican and other are clearly different. Every day begins with holy Mass, followed by thanksgiving, the breviary and meditation. Then there is breakfast and afterwards the Holy Father gives himself to reading, study, writing and meditation. At one o’clock there is lunch and immediately afterwards, the Pope has a short walk in the park around the house. A beautiful path has been prepared in the woods which surround the residence with a simple chapel-hut, a statue of our Lady sculpted by a forest ranger, wooden benches, and lovely vases of flowers of geraniums round about. After a rest, the Holy Father returns to his books, to manuscripts, to study, to prayer and to the piano. Now and again he also listens to a CD of classical music. Around 6pm, Benedict XVI goes out for a walk in the woods or around the nearby lakes. At 7.30pm he has supper, then he watches the TV news and after a last walk in the area of the house, he retires.
Elsewhere in the interview, Mgr Gänswein mentions that the little walks include the recitation of the Rosary. We also know that the "holiday" also includes various addresses and encounters with local Bishops, priests and people. Mgr Gänswein describes how the people are often a little tongue-tied and it is the Holy Father who "breaks the ice" and that he continues to be a little surprised at the attention and affection that is shown to him. Although he acknowledges this warmly, it is clear from his manner that he intends to use it in order to help people to direct their thoughts to Christ.
Andrea Tornielli of Il Giornale has an interview with Mgr George Gänswein, the personal secretary of the Holy Father. The interview is in Italian. Rorate Caeli: News from Cadore has translated a section of the interview concerned with Summorum Pontificum. I thought you might like to read Mgr Gänswein's description of the usual timetable of the day on the Pope's holiday. Reading it makes me feel that the Holy Father is setting a very good example to me as a priest (my own translation):
7 comments:
i know flattery will get me everywhere but i can quite see you emulating that schedule Fr..really!
What i most like is the 'lack of idleness' even rest is structured. Just think how much one can accomplish in a lifetime by the proper use of time.
Just looking at the picture and reading about his day gives one a sense of peace and contemplation. But does the Holy Father really have to wear a cassock when he goes walking in the mountains, or is that just for the photographer? It must be rather uncomfortable for him.
No, if it is cut properly and the collar is not too tight, it can all be perfectly comfortable.
Sigh - what I'd give just to spend a few hours walking and talking with him!
Oh please don't take away his cassock!He looks amazing..
I am always rather shocked to hear of clerics going sunseeking and 'soakin up the rays', just like so many ordinary folk do (even to the point of being (un)dressed like them), and declaring that their 'day off' and holidays are days on which they do not say Mass etc..
It is good to see that, even if it is no surprise, the Holy Father's holiday pattern is more 'priestly' and productive. An example to us all!
Perhaps a thought could be spared for dedicated priests who can't get away for a break because they can't get a 'supply'.
Hear! Hear! Anon. We take many of our priests for granted and should always pray that they receive adequate time for rest and relaxation. However, have you noticed how (generally) it is the hardest-working priests who complain the least?
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