MAY 18th will be a SIGNIFICANT DAY! (& my being UNDONE)

This is my CHOICE for the 3470th blog post, many of which are not shown in my Blog Archive

Right as this went to publish, I noticed that The Week (magazine subscription we receive) today had "Leo XIV: What an American pope can teach America" with this on their front cover {hoping it's more than a "White Sox" trail gating type cook-out" in your backyard}

[image credit: The Week]

Have been raised as a Catholic: grade school and my college education; & for a few years afterwards, my interest in the "new" Pope - Cardinal Robert Prevost, now Pope Leo XIV - has been piqued, so I have been following much from the Vatican News (rather than other places, which may or may not be true nowadays; with AI, etc). An example of this, I found on You Tube videos of supposed sermons in his English speaking voice (& parts are very good) but not actually him or by him. [being called "Altered or Synthetic Content" - "sound or visuals were significantly edited or digitally generated] {We need to check these things often and beware (aware) of this; besides "fact checking" instead of just readily accepting as is or as truth}. I have to remind myself of this often in this digital tech world we live in.  

Perhaps my interest and curiosity is because I am moved to see that the Conclave selected someone born in the United States of America (Chicago area) but lived much of his life in Peru as the 267th Bishop of Rome. The Papal Conclave is comprised from Cardinals (only those under the age of 80 are allowed to vote) - there are levels of ranks in the Catholic Church: deacons, priests, bishops & archbishops; then Cardinals from which a Pope is chosen. Cardinals are leading bishops and members of the College of Cardinals. Cardinals are chosen by the Pope, and typically holds the title for life, but they were originally ordained as a priest for at least 5 years before the appointment as a Cardinal. 

So just as in the Protestant, or other Christian denominations, there are certain terms, expressions, jargon, or Christian 'lingo' that is not really understood by others outside the Church, the Catholic Church also has many words and concepts not understood by others not raised in the Catholic Church, even by some in the Catholic Church. I noticed this as I was reading about some of the jargon being used to explain the rite, or the upcoming Inauguration being celebrated in a Mass (service) or (central act of worship, celebrating the Eucharist (Holy Communion, sharing the Lord's Supper) or sharing of (Liturgy). The word Mass comes from the Latin word 'missa' which was for a time of the people being sent out or dismissed with the Latin expression "Ite missa est" meaning "go, it (the Church people) is sent". Because all of us are sent to go out & reach others with the LOVE of Jesus Christ. 

ANYWAYS
TODAY, May 18th
is 
the day that makes this 
OFFICIAL

"The Mass for the inauguration of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate will be celebrated on Sunday, May 18, at *10 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter’s Square. The liturgy will mark the official beginning of his ministry as successor of Peter and bishop of Rome. On May 25, he will take canonical possession of St. John Lateran Basilica, the cathedral of the bishop of Rome." ~ Vatican City, May 17, 2025 / 07:00 am

{that's *3am CT or 4am ET}
Part of the celebration marking the official start of 
POPE LEO XIV

begins his 
Petrine Ministry
(this word comes from Peter)
the apostle/disciple of Jesus

Jesus continues, “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18)

This means very much to the Roman Catholic's belief of Peter, as the 1st Pope.
[here's an interesting explanation so you can decide for yourself]
And I found this explanation of 
"The Rite of the Inauguration of the Petrine Ministry of Leo XIV"
to be intriguing, but too many Catholic terms are used
(or Latin)
[Spanish "Pescador" = Fisherman & el anillo = ring]

however
the part on the "Ring of the Fisherman" (Peter) is quite interesting.
{perhaps only to me, as a former Catholic}
Yet very important to me 
(and it might be significant or interesting to you also)
is the reason that Robert (Bob) Prevost chose 
Leo, the XIV

"... I chose to take the name Leo XIV. There are different reasons for this, but mainly because Pope Leo XIII in his historic Encyclical Rerum Novarum addressed the social question in the context of the first great industrial revolution. In our own day, the Church offers to everyone the treasury of her social teaching in response to another industrial revolution and to developments in the field of artificial intelligence that pose new challenges for the defense of human dignity, justice and labor." Facebook video

He delivered a message of
PEACE
for his first address to the world!
This and his commitment to social issues
speak volumes to me
and
keeps me interested in following the
Vatican News
The most inclusive and easiest to understand article I've read comes from BBC
Pope Leo XIV
is almost my age and our past interests seem almost the same so far.
He's American and a Peruvian missionary.
He's already restored or given me
more HOPE for the
CHURCH
Let us PRAY for Pope Leo XIV (and the Church)!
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"God of All people, 

Habemus papam! We have a new pope! 

In trust and gratitude, we turn to Your Holy Spirit. We know Your Spirit has been active during this time of conclave, guiding the prayerful discernment that has brought Your Church to this important moment. Now, as Pope Leo XIV assumes the Petrine Ministry, we pray that Your Spirit draw ever closer to our new Holy Father, illuminating his path so that he may faithfully see and respond to the needs of Your people. 

We pray that Pope Leo XIV be strengthened in his ministry. May he continue building bridges that connect us to one another. May he be an example of faith, hope and love. We pray that You give him joy in his work and a renewed fervor for Your Gospel message. May he never lose sight of Christ who walks before us and among us — particularly in the most vulnerable, the forgotten and the outcast.  

Christ Jesus, bless Pope Leo XIV — and bless us, Your holy people, as together we strive to be Your Body in our wounded world.

Amen." from the Jesuits (a Catholic religious order; the Society of Jesus)   

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This week in The Blue Book on Monday
the focus is on "UNDONE"
and Psalm 51
Not sure of this word but somehow I felt it fits me
and my spiritual place of feeling
UNDONE
with some restoration of HOPE because of Pope Leo XIV
but we shall see
{the reason I made this connection before starting the
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As I looked up the meaning for being
UNDONE
I found a dictionary that said:
"to be without hope for the future"
(and honestly, I can relate to this, until ...)
its actual meaning of course, is "not tied, fastened; not done or finished"
well, that certainly describes me 'cuz
HE'S STILL WORKING ON ME

[May 19-25] 17. UNDONE Psalm 51 Daily Scripture Readings: Monday: Isaiah 6:1-8 Tuesday: Luke 5:1-11 Wednesday: 2 Samuel 12;1-25 Thursday: Job 42:1-6 Friday: Hosea 6:1-6 Saturday: Revelation 1:9-18 Sunday: Lamentations 3:1-29

My NIV yearly devotional plan actually had UNDONE for today😲
Day 139 with a comment by R.C. Sproul for Isaiah'sencounter with the Holiness of God (6:1-7)"to be UNDONE means to come apart at the seams;to be unraveled" (personal disintegration (psychologically){too complicated for me to try to explain}Isaiah 6:5 contains UNDONE"Woe ... for I am UNDONE!"
But of course, it's taken from Sproul's "Holy Passion"and he goes much deeper & very beautifully explains this well:
"In the face of God's perfect integration,Isaiah (or possibly us) saw his deepneed for personal reconstruction."["...framing a life of integrity with God's help]
-just a small tidbit-🙏How quickly God replies through His Word for me!
[over 10 months of daily caregiving can make anyone feel UNDONE]
Believe it or not,I can actually see a connection between all that I've writtenfrom my admiration of a new American/Peruvian Popeto my being UNDONE like dear the prophet Isaiah &"Holy Passion"a real necessity for the time thatwe are now living & facing daily

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SIDENOTE:
P.S. I have not returned to the Roman Catholic Church, nor is my sharing this for or against those who are - Catholics.I received a good foundation of my beliefs from being Catholic then moved forward (imho)with those beliefs and further involvement in other Churches that deepened that growth.I am thankful for every single Church that has touched my life & that I have been part of & involved in.Each and every spiritual experience has built upon my walk as a follower of Jesus Christ;enriching and teaching me how to be more like Jesus & trying to apply all I read in God's Wordinto practice of living it out better & encouraging others towards Jesus. My relationship with Jesus/God, the Father/Holy Spirit is the reason I live & the most important part!