RCIA was great tonight: The History of the Catholic Church.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

Mass at 6:30 went long because of the Feast, so we only had 50 minutes. But the lady who did it is a History Professor here at the college, and she did the whole thing without notes or reading from a book. It was fantastic. We only got a little ways into it, but what we did get was so great. I'm especially interested in the Maryrs and the healing power that has been bestowed upon the current Pope. What about you guys? What are you most interested in, and can you suggest any books?
Duckie

[DemBones DemBones]

1. I did a program on the communion of saints when I was on the RCIA team,

since I have an interest in the saints and I had bought a nice "Lives of the Saints" at the British Museum in London the year before. That was pre-internet, though, and there is a lot of good (and bad!) info online. I have thought of compiling some good links; maybe I'll start that tonight.

P.S. What did she say about John Paul II?

[YellowRubberDuckie]

2. She said that he has healed a rift between the Catholics

and the people from Constantanople, the Muslims, I believe. Because of what happened during the crusades when the Catholics sacked their city. And she said he's healing the rifts between the catholics and the orthodox christians as well.
Duckie

[DemBones DemBones]

3. He has certainly tried to do so. He's issued apologies for

the excesses of the Inquisition and that Catholics didn't do more during the Holocaust, plus an apology to Galileo Galilei.

Of course, the enemies of Catholicism say he didn't apologize enough to the Jewish people and "It took over three hundred years for them to pardon Galileo and admit he was right!"

No good deed goes unpunished. :shrug:

[Princess Turandot]

4. I believe he is the first Pope on record to even enter a synagogue..

the main one in Rome.

[YellowRubberDuckie]

5. He is truly worthy of his title...

The current pope has made the mass come down to earth, updated the church, urging it be MORE for everyone that it ever was before. Vatican II rules brought the church closer together and tried to heal those who had been alientated. With all the evil popes in history, we are so lucky to have him. I will truly mourn the day that he passes, but will give glory to God for letting him be with us at all.
Duckie