Baptized on Easter Vigil, 2004, I am a mere toddler in the Catholic faith. Since, I have been showered with graces and every day has been one of discovery. Today I was exceptionally gifted when I found your blog via spiritdaily.com I think Archangels Michael, Gabriel and Rafael have something to do with my finding your blog. I share my birthday with the feast day of these wonderful angels. Perhaps it is their gift to me.

I have learned so much from you about grace, sin, prayer, and Mother Teresa and St. Padre Pio, two people I was familiar with — and to whom I was inexplicably drawn to — before I even had the faintest inclination toward religion. Your insights and thoughts on prayer and on the Mass, in particular, have opened my eyes and heart even wider. A wonderful way to begin my new year, don’t you think?

I went to Rome in the 90s, but as a tourist and art history buff. Through your words, I return again, however vicariously, but this time as a faith-filled pilgrim. I will return here often to be infused by your words and to see Rome through the eyes of faith, yours.

I want you to know how blessed I feel today, that I have met you through this incredible medium that can also be used for so much GOOD. Thank you and God bless you.

Aloha,
Peace

What a wonderful commentary on the Saints! You are to be commended for embracing the Internet and using it for such important catechesis and words of wisdom regarding Padre Pio, and his humble, prayerful example. I was taught by many Capuchins who knew you in formation (Fr. Blaine Burkey, Fr. Mike Scully, Fr. Regis Scanlon), and consider myself blessed for having learned something of Franciscan spirituality from them. God Bless your Ministry – Pace e bene, Paul Camarata

I continue to this day to prayer for great blessings on you Cardinal Sean, who my family considers a true beacon of hope and love in these modern times.

This blog is just one more example of your great respect and humble kindness. Thank you and all the best to you from here in the woods of southern New England.

We don’t need “church speak” on blogs. Save that for sermons that we can sleep thru.

Blogs are a different media.

We need short, practical and even humorous posts, or heartfelt sermons (that don’t use jargon…) so those who merely want a quick look don’t have “my eyes glaze over” (MEGO) reactions and never return.

For longer sermons and photos (I finally got broad band, but lots of people still have dial up) you might try to have a “continue here” after a few paragraphs, so those who want to read it can, and those who want to browse can ignore it.

The blog is beautifully done, and very informative. In these days when so much disturbing news about the Church and the clergy is being bantered about it is refreshing to find a highly placed pastor who takes time to show his human face to his people.

I myself was educated by the Capuchins and the Jesuits, and I dearly respect you both. It was nice to see that you didn’t play too much into the sometimes jocular old rivalry between the two, and you were generous in your esteem and praise for both. So may you continue to enjoy Pax et Bonum while you work Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam.

Msgr. Clif Ransom

Thanks you for this blog.
I’m a french girl, and it’s not easy for me to read your blog but it so beautiful.
Thanks you for all.

God Bless you!

My fav quote from you blog is;

Saints are the masterpieces of God’s grace. Many Saints are hidden from view and remain unknown, but some saints are placed in the world to capture the attention of a society that has forgotten about God.

I have seen the; “Boston Globe” article and your blog on your travels in Rome.
You do …ROCK! …IMHO.

We are very proud of you here in Fall River

I myself pray for you at every Mass i attend.

God Bless you always

Sincerely

Ron Roy

Good Shepherd Parish Fall River

Pax et Bonum

What a beautiful homily!! Your comments about the loss of a sense of sin stood out and I hope you’ll expand on that when you return to Boston. Many of our Walmart Catholics need to hear that over and over again until they get it.

I’m sure everyone in the Archdiocese would appreciate if you would post all your homilies on your blog. For myself, I don’t want to miss a word you say.

God bless you. May He bless your Mass at Santa Maria della Vittoria and give you a safe trip home.

Ferde Rombola, St. Mary Star of the Sea, Beverly.

The faithful are confused. So few to speak the Truths of the faith. In my town there is a pro-abortion politician from my parish. The current ad in the paper has a benedictine sister endorsing him. Isn’t it wonderful he saved some water rights ?
But he will not protect the unborn. And that terrible crime of murder affects the very soul of all involved.
And more Americans are sacrificed to abortion each day than have lost their lives so far in the war.

When those in leadership positions in the church give conflicting opinions that do not mesh with the mind of the Church, the faithful cannot recognize sin in this increasingly secular world. They simply do not have the tools for all things are to be ‘tolerated’. Unfortunately that means evils are also ‘tolerated’.
Padre Pio was one who spoke the Truth. And ultimately the Truth is a man and His Name is Jesus Christ.

Ave Maria!

How important it is for a bishop to communicate with his people! Too often, bishops become distant figures from their flocks, only encountered at Confirmation time or some other important event. These difficulties are, I’m afraid, exacerbated in a diocese as large and as populous as yours.

While I am not a resident of the Archdiocese of Boston, I thought that I’d visit your blog when I heard about it. It is indeed a new way for a bishop to communicate with his people. Thank you for doing it!

R

For media operators. May they use every means of communication with responsibility and respect.

Pope Benedict’s missionary intention for Sept.:

For the people of God in mission lands: may they realize their right and duty to keep up to date with developments in the faith and the Church.

Bravo, Cardinal Sean – may you continue to be a shining example of faithful Catholicism. What a refreshing site.

St. Pio, pray for us!

Thank you for this blog. Your lovely sense of humor caused me to lol! I know Rome well and it’s delightful to revisit through your eyes. I loved your inclusion of quotes in Italian.

Thank you for the spirituality this blog offers. It is a wonderful opportunity for the people of Boston (and the world) to really come to know their Cardinal.

Preghiera, carita e la gioia de perdono!

Francine Bell

Ann, West Roxbury

Myself and my fellow seminarians here in the Diocese of Brooklyn have been following your blog day by day. Thank you for your shared insights and thoughts, your in our prayers.

Thank you very much for writing this blog. I have enjoyed reading it and learning from you. I beleive that your positive use of this tool will spread hope and love on a personal level rarely felt between a Cardianal and other people. Its great! God Bless, and I hope that you continue to have fun in Roma!

John

I was so heartened to read your comments about the importance of priests offering Mass daily. I write from England, and sadly there has grown up a fashion for priests to say Mass only when they wish and certainly not daily – a practice which they regard as quite unnecessary. They are also trying hard to exclude Holy Communion from the service of LITURGY OF THE WORD AND HOLY COMMUNION on the grounds that this is inappropriate in the absence of the priest! One liturgist even referred to the (Communion) expectation of the laity as “Chips with everything.”

Yes, I know there are fewer priests these days, but when a priest is assigned to a parish, is available and still chooses not to celebrate even though he knows there would be a congregation, it is disheartening. The day they replace Sunday Mass with LITURGY OF THE WORD WITHOUT, I reckon they’ll be on their own. People will either stay away, or go to the Anglicans, who still believe in the Eucharist, and still celebrate.

It is great to see a blog by a Cardinal. Though I am not from your diocese it is great to follow your trip to Italy. I have enjoyed very much following it since it’s beginning. I heard about it through various Catholic bloggers. As a young adult, I am glad to so a Cardinal that is up with the current methods of communication – especially with my generation (and younger).

Blessings,

Mary
Seattle, WA

Saints are, in St Paul words, “the epistles of Christ, ministered by us, and written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God: not in tables of stone but in the fleshly tables of the heart.”

Padre Pío´s been one of the greatest epistles of Christ for the world, one of the best Stradivarius violins in God´s Symphony Orchestra. Millions of heavenly “gracedrops” falling on the souls of sinners were ministered by Padre Pío.
So, Lord Almighty, write it again, play it againg…. we need more saints like Padre Pío.

Many thanks for your delightful posts! Being unable to return to the Eternal City just yet myself, it has been a great joy following your travels.

I truly hope that you will consider continuing this blog upon your return to your See.

Be assured of my prayers for your safe travels. Peace and Joy!

We are all enjoying the blog and hearing about your travels. The students at MIT were pleased to be mentioned. They are also quite amused at your use of “lol.” Some of the responders had asked for a translation of the Italian in your text of Pope Paul VI’s talk to the Capuchin Superiors regarding Padre Pio in 1971. Forgive me if it is not “perfect”, but this is the sense of the quotation:

“Look what fame he had, what a worldwide following gathered around him! But why? Perhaps because he was a philosopher? Because he was wise? Because he had resources at his disposal? Because he said Mass humbly, heard confessions from dawn to dusk and was-it is not easy to say it-one who bore the wounds of our Lord. He was a man of prayer and suffering.”

God bless you, Cardinal Sean.

Enjoy reading your blog. It makes me feel like I am in Rome with you. My children are interested in viewing the pictures. Keep up the good work and please keep my family in your prayers.

Jay

Laudetur Iesus Christus

I heard about your blog from Father Roderick’s podcast out of Netherlands, ‘The Daily Breakfast’.

Thank you for taking the time to show us what the life of a Cardinal entails.

Ken

I’ve been following your blog since day one and I am enjoying it very much.

Thank you for sharing more on your homily this day…The Saints are the masterpieces of God’s grace…what an opening and an inspiration to know that we too are called to holiness, to be masterpieces of God’s grace.

Through the love of another, I discovered God and continue to experience the healing power of the cross. While this new way of life is much more desirable than living a life of sin, I sometimes struggle to persevere. Your demonstration on prayer and Padre’s example of persistence in prayer has been most helpful, and to know that an abundant life in Christ does not exclude the cross, but a life that embraces it.

Today message, September 25, 2006, from Our Lady of Medjugorje happens to tie in nicely with your message so I wish to share it. “Dear children! Also today I am with you and call all of you to complete conversion. Decide for God, little children, and you will find in God the peace your heart seeks. Imitate the lives of saints and may they be an example for you; and I will inspire you as long as the Almighty permits me to be with you. Thank you for having responded to my call.”

Hey, Timing is everything…Lol.

PS…My Italian is non-existent as well…translations please.

Enjoy your Blog, so glad that Father John Ozug our pastor at Our Lady Of Fatima Church here in New Bedford, MA gave us the web site.

We do respect Father O he is a wonderful Priest, and well loved by the Parishioners at Our Lady Of Fatima Church.

You are in our prayers, both Rose and I wish you a save trip back home.

Ron & Rose Cabral
New Bedford, MA

Excellent post and exactly the type of spiritual writing I was hoping your blog would provide.