Pope Benedict XVI, then Cardinal Ratzinger, tried to stop Bob Dylan and other rock musicians from performing for Pope John Paul II at the 1997 World Eucaristic Congress in Bologna (WEC 1997). In an act of total fuddy-duddyness, Pope BXVI called rock music anti-Christian and labeled Dylan as a false "prophet." Our pope loves many modern things, music is NOT one of them.
John Paul II welcomed the rock music and gave a long sermon on "Blowin' in the Wind" as part of the WEC 1997. For the original story by Malcom Moore,click here.
At the event in Bologna, Dylan performed four songs, including Knockin' on Heaven's Door, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall and Blowin' in the Wind.
A visibly frail John Paul gave a long sermon based on Blowin' in the Wind.
He told the young Catholics: "On the road of music this evening, Jesus met you. A representative of yours said on your behalf that the answer is blowing in the wind.
"Yes, it is true. On the wind there is the voice and breath of the Holy Spirit."
He added: "You asked me: how many roads must a man walk down before you can call him a man? I answer you: just one. One only. It is the road of a man. And this is Jesus Christ, who said 'I am the way'."
After his performance Dylan went to greet John Paul on the podium to roars from the crowd. The conference proved a great success and John Paul's popularity with young people rocketed.
What do you think? I'm totally behind the Pontiff trying to make the music of church more reverent and more Catholic. Latin seems to be abandoned in many parishes and with it, the ancient melodies. It's tough for me to wrap my head around singing second-rate jingle music from the 70s when we have mass music by Mozart, Beethoven, Rachmaninoff, Dufay, and Palestrina and more. While there are loads of great rock and folk songs to sing for edification, they are not for mass. What do you think?
Edith Shain and Glenn McDuffie kissed on August 14, 1945 in Times Square. This iconic photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt makes me happy each time I see it. A random GI kissing a random nurse in Times Square upon hearing that the war was finally over!
The identities of the kissers was a mystery for over 50 years. Not wanting to be seen as a flusey, Edith Shain did not come forward. As an elderly lady she figured, what the heck!
5 Degrees
Julius Axelrod
Edith in the 21st century
Fifth Degree: Julius Axelrod: Edith was a nurse at Doctors Hospital, now Presbyterian Hospital, when she heard about the end of the war. When she was a medical student at NYU in the late 30s/early 40s, so was 1970 Nobel Laureate Julius Axelrod.
Fourth Degree, Norman Borlaug: Julius Axelrod, with colleagues Bernard Katz and Ulf von Euler, won the Nobel Prize for their study of neurotransmitters. Dr. Axelrod received his prize in Medicine in the same 1970 ceremony that Norman Borlaug won the prize for Peace.
Dr. Borlaug receiving the Congressional Gold Medal
Third Degree, Nancy Pelosi: Dr. Borlaug discovered ways to yield more wheat per acre. His work was seen as an embodiment of the ideals of Nobel by "benefiting humanity." To read the award ceremony speech for Dr. Borlaug click here. Dr. Borlaug's work didn't stop with this work. He went on to head the International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center (CIMMYT) under the auspices of the Ford Foundation, The Rockerfeller Foundation, and the Mexican Government. His work with the CIMMYT earned him the Congressional Gold Medal. He received the medal during the Bush administration, Nancy Pelosi, Speaker of the House.
You do realize, Nancy, that by kissing my hand you
are submitting to my authority?
Second Degree, The Pope: Madame Speaker was summoned to The Vatican in February of 2009 by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. The audience was requested when Speaker Pelosi stated that she was a "good Catholic" in spite of her party stance on life issue, including abortion. While no transcripts of the 15 minute meeting were released, both parties released statements to the press. Pelosi's rendition is of a formal and friendly greeting. The Vatican's statement is about life issues and the importance of leaders to stand for justice. Read the Fox story here. Read the CBS story of the visit here.
Friends
First Degree: Cardinal Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI) was a friend and confidant of John Paul II. The two were very good friends. It's so unfortunate that Benedict is plagued with dark circles under his eyes and a surname that begins with "rat." The combination of these characteristics have made for many nasty photoshop opportunities, but he's a very holy man. Check out the photo of him with Nancy Pelosi. Yeah, he's got dark circles like Natasha's Boris, but there is a warmth, light, and sweetness radiating from him. When you see the parody pix, close the page.
Don't make statements of doctrine
unless they are correct, Nancy
Bishop Tobin vs Patrick Kennedy
The bishop won
Did you know? The Catholic Church reserves public contact with politicians to State events and matters of heresy. While Nancy Pelosi had been on the wrong side of life issues for many years, she was only called out publicly when she said she could do so and still be a "good, practicing, Catholic." A similar Episcopal reprimand was given to Patrick Kennedy by Bishop Tobin in 2009. Read the story here.
