By Popular Request... Our visit to the Holy Office
Called in by that reader who denied that the Eucharist was symbolic in anyway, efficacious or otherwise? Brought in to answer for certain Bolognian saints or mystical visions? Nah... we just wanted to say hi

6 am. Since we had gone to sleep closer to 2am, waking up to see the Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith at this hour was a more daunting struggle than it may seem. In a way, one might say we had our own "trial" before the Inquisition. However, three of us made it up and out, more or less on time, though perhaps more less than more.

We emerged on the empty Roman street, stumbling for the first few steps, then power-walking the 7 minute stroll to St. Peter's Square. In this square we found Matt as soon as we had hoped we would -- for we now had perhaps three minutes before the 7am Mass began -- and a good fortune this was, as he knew the correct gate by which we were to attempt to enter the Vatican walls. Frankly, I would have considered waking up this early simply to enter the non-tourist zone of our favorite holy citadel. But no -- we were hoping for an even greater pay off: the unbloody sacrifice of Our Lord. Celebrated by one Cardinal Ratzinger.

We presented ourselves to the guards at an entrance next to St. Peter's colonnade. They for their part seemed somewhat unfazed, so Emily and Matt approached them, I assume saying something in Italian equivalent to "Mass with Cardinal Ratzinger?" The guards laughed and waved us through, pointing in a general way towards what could have been one of two or three buildings. Hmm. It was now 7:01. Late. Blast. We made out the inscription on the Teutonic College, where Ratzinger was saying our Mass, and passed through a gate into a courtyard overgrown with grass and medieval tombs. After jiggling a few doors and rushing back to the guards for more specific directions, we finally found our way in.

The chapel was beautiful, Gothic, and a breath of fresh air after a Baroque overload. My first impression was that it seemed just like the medieval chapels of Europe. My second impression was that it WAS one of the medieval chapels of Europe, the real deal. In so many ways. And here we were. It was just the sort of chapel in which you would expect to hear fine German singing wafting to the rafters. And indeed, we did.

The Mass was concelebrated with perhaps 25 or 30 priests, sat in a semi-circle along the edge of the apse, the cardinal sitting in the rear directly behind the altar. We were a bit disappointed in that this was the German seminary, but we saw perhaps one seminarian, serving. But then again, it was the German seminary. The congregation was definitely overwhelmed by the sanctuary; there were perhaps 15 of us, maybe less.

The Mass was beautiful, as is any Mass where Our Lord transcends reality to commune with His people and make present the saving mysteries. But the ceremonies themselves were beautiful in their own rite (er, right), well done, I thought, and the hymns transcendent. I was not surprised to see Matt navigating the German hymnal with all the ease of someone who has done so plenty of times before, even though to my knowledge he hadn't; it was one of the ways he always surprises me and thus, paradoxically, no longer surprises me.

I don't remember from whom we took communion, but I rather suppose this is appropriate. Even if it were the Pope, I would hope that we would have been sufficiently distracted by the God in his hands.. (well, perhaps not the Pope, but my point stands). The Mass ended, the priests processed to the sacristy in the back of the chapel, and we had some time to spend with Christ as they devested.

We went to the door of the sacristy, and one or two of us put a foot through the door, only to be immediately brushed/pushed out with some commotion, either in German or English, I don't recall. This much I will give the NCR editorials -- high ranking officials have a way of surrounding themselves with unsmiling monsignori. Ah well. Somewhat chastised, we waited outside the door with two other young men who seemed to navigate the Germanic language more natively than we. When after some more time the cardinal emerged, we asked him if we could speak with him for a moment; he smiled and agreed. I handed him the rosary which I ask all my friends to pray and all my priests to bless, asking him to bless it as well; I confess, I did hand it directly to him on purpose. We explained we were from Notre Dame, and admired his writings, and thanked him for his ministry. Emily and Matt had him sign books he had written (he wrote, "God bless you!"). Brian, well, Brian had him sign one of these, right under the quote "Truth is not determined by a democratic vote." He seemed bemused -- we think he's seen them before. I left with the strong impression of a kind, soft-spoken servant of God, very sincere in his work if somewhat tired, on whose bad side I would not want to be. We asked the two German guys to take our picture, and that you see below.

Thanks for asking :) But I do have a question Sue.. how did you know who was who?