Sede Vacante

 

 

 

Here in full, Vatican Radio's English translation of the text of His Holiness's farewell message to the College of Cardinals:

Dear beloved brothers,

I welcome you all with great joy and cordially greet each one of you. I thank Cardinal Angelo Sodano [dean of the college], who as always, has been able to convey the sentiments of the College, Cor ad cor loquitur [heart speaking to heart]. Thank you, Your Eminence, from my heart.

And referring to the disciples of Emmaus, I would like to say to you all that it has also been a joy for me to walk with you over the years in light of the presence of the Risen Lord. As I said yesterday, in front of thousands of people who filled St. Peter's Square, your closeness, your advice, have been a great help to me in my ministry. In these 8 years we have experienced in faith beautiful moments of radiant light in the Churches’ journey along with times when clouds have darkened the sky. We have tried to serve Christ and his Church with deep and total love which is the soul of our ministry. We have gifted hope that comes from Christ alone, and which alone can illuminate our path. Together we can thank the Lord who has helped us grow in communion, to pray to together, to help you to continue to grow in this deep unity so that the College of Cardinals is like an orchestra, where diversity, an expression of the universal Church, always contributes to a superior harmony of concord. I would like to leave you with a simple thought that is close to my heart, a thought on the Church, Her mystery, which is for all of us, we can say, the reason and the passion of our lives. I am helped by an expression of Romano Guardini’s, written in the year in which the Fathers of the Second Vatican Council approved the Constitution Lumen Gentium, his last with a personal dedication to me, so the words of this book are particularly dear to me.

Guardini says: "The Church is not an institution devised and built at table, but a living reality. She lives along the course of time by transforming Herself, like any living being, yet Her nature remains the same. At Her heart is Christ. "

This was our experience yesterday, I think, in the square. We could see that the Church is a living body, animated by the Holy Spirit, and truly lives by the power of God, She is in the world but not of the world. She is of God, of Christ, of the Spirit, as we saw yesterday. This is why another eloquent expression of Guardini’s is also true: "The Church is awakening in souls." The Church lives, grows and awakens in those souls which like the Virgin Mary accept and conceive the Word of God by the power of the Holy Spirit. They offer to God their flesh and in their own poverty and humility become capable of giving birth to Christ in the world today. Through the Church the mystery of the Incarnation remains present forever. Christ continues to walk through all times in all places. Let us remain united, dear brothers, to this mystery, in prayer, especially in daily Eucharist, and thus serve the Church and all humanity. This is our joy that no one can take from us.

Prior to bidding farewell to each of you personally, I want to tell you that I will continue to be close to you in prayer, especially in the next few days, so that you may all be fully docile to the action of the Holy Spirit in the election of the new Pope. May the Lord show you what is willed by Him. And among you, among the College of Cardinals, there is also the future Pope, to whom, here to today, I already promise my unconditional reverence and obedience. For all this, with affection and gratitude, I cordially impart upon you my Apostolic Blessing.

As previously noted, Benedict will depart the Vatican by chopper just before 5pm Rome time, and is expected to greet those on hand at Castel Gandolfo from the villa's balcony shortly after his arrival.

Around three hours later, at 8pm, the Swiss Guard detail guarding Benedict there will leave, marking the sede vacante and the lack of a Pope.

At the same time, in keeping with centuries of tradition, the papal apartment will be sealed until the next pontiff takes possession of it.

Fish Fries and Lenten Dinners from the Catholic Spirit

If you have particular recommendations, let me know in the comments and I will highlight them. 

Fish Fries and Lenten Dinners 

The following is a list of parishes and schools hosting fish fries or dinners during the Lenten season.
 
 February 8:
St. Timothy, Blaine — February 8: 5 to 7 p.m. at 707 89th Ave N.E.
St. Michael, Pine Island — February 8: 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 451 Fifth St. S.W.

February 14 (Thursday):
St. Jerome, Maplewood — soup supper follows Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.

February 15: 
St. Peter School, North St. Paul — 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 N. Margaret St.
Guardian Angels, Chaska — 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 217 Second St.
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E.
St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St.
Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — 5 to 7 p.m. includes many  delicious Lebanese side dishes 'bread at [side refills yes!] 1960 Lexington Ave. S.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Hastings — 3:45 to 5 p.m. and 5:15 to 7 p.m. at 600 Tyler St.
St. Matthew, St. Paul — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave.
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Excellent Reputation in Years Past. 
St. Peter, Forest Lake — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1250 S. Shore Drive.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — 4:30 to 7 p.m., spaghetti & Mac 'n Cheez options, excellent reputation, at 4087 W. Broadway Ave.
St. Michael, Pine Island — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 451 Fifth St. S.W.
St. Timothy, Blaine — 5 to 7 p.m. at 707 89th Ave N.E.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)
Good Shepherd, Golden Valley — 5 to 7 p.m. at 145 Jersey Ave. S.
St. Bernard, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.
St. Michael, Prior Lake – 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 16311 Duluth Ave. Menu also includes macaroni and cheese.
Knights of Columbus, Faribault — 5 to 7 p.m. at 17 N.E. Third St.

February 20 (Wednesday): 
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — soup supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kolbe Center on 17th Avenue and 14th Street N.E.

February 21 (Thursday):
St. Jerome, Maplewood — soup supper follows Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.

February 22: 
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E.
St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St.
Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — 5 to 7 p.m. includes many  delicious Lebanese side dishes 'bread at [side refills yes!] at 1960 Lexington Ave. S.
St. Matthew, St. Paul — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave.
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Excellent Reputation in Years Past.
St. Peter, Forest Lake — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1250 S. Shore Drive.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — 4:30 to 7 p.m. spaghetti & Mac 'n Cheez options, excellent reputation, at 4087 W. Broadway Ave.
St. Michael, Pine Island — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 451 Fifth St. S.W.
St. Timothy, Blaine — 5 to 7 p.m. at 707 89th Ave N.E.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)
St. Peter, Mendota — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1405 Highway 13.
St. Bernard, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.
St. Anne, Hamel — 4 to 7 p.m. At 200 Hamel Road.
Knights of Columbus, Faribault — 5 to 7 p.m. at 17 N.E. Third St.

February 27 (Wednesday): 
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — soup supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kolbe Center on 17th Avenue and 14th Street N.E.

February 28 (Thursday): 
St. Jerome, Maplewood — soup supper follows Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.

March 1:
St. Peter School, North St. Paul — 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 N. Margaret St.
St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St.
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E.
Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — 5 to 7 p.m. includes many  delicious Lebanese side dishes 'bread at [side refills yes!] at 1960 Lexington Ave. S.
St. Matthew, St. Paul — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave.
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Excellent Reputation in Years Past.
Mary, Queen of Peace, Rogers — 5 to 7 p.m. at 21304 Church Ave.
St. Peter, Forest Lake — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1250 S. Shore Drive.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — 4:30 to 7 p.m. spaghetti & Mac 'n Cheez options, excellent reputation, at 4087 W. Broadway Ave.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)
St. Bernard, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.
St. Michael, Prior Lake – 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 16311 Duluth Ave. Menu also includes macaroni and cheese.
Knights of Columbus, Faribault — 5 to 7 p.m. at 17 N.E. Third St.
Nativity of Mary, Bloomington — 5 to 8 p.m. at 9900 Lyndale Ave. S.

March 6 (Wednesday):
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — soup supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kolbe Center on 17th Avenue and 14th Street N.E.

March 7 (Thursday):
St. Jerome, Maplewood — soup supper follows Stations of the Cross at 5:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.

March 8:
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E.
St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St.
Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — 5 to 7 p.m. includes many  delicious Lebanese side dishes 'bread at [side refills yes!] at 1960 Lexington Ave. S.
St. Matthew, St. Paul — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave.
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Excellent Reputation in Years Past.
St. Peter, Forest Lake — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1250 S. Shore Drive.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — 4:30 to 7p.m. spaghetti & Mac 'n Cheez options, excellent reputation, at 4087 W. Broadway Ave.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)
St. Bernard, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.
Knights of Columbus, Faribault — 5 to 7 p.m. at 17 N.E. Third St.

March 13 (Wednesday):
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — soup supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kolbe Center on 17th Avenue and 14th Street N.E.

March 14 (Thursday):
St. Jerome, Maplewood — soup supper follows Stations of theCross at 5:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.

March 15:
St. Peter School, North St. Paul — 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 N. Margaret St.
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1621 University Ave. N.E.
St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St.
Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — 5 to 7 p.m. includes many  delicious Lebanese side dishes 'bread at [side refills yes!] at 1960 Lexington Ave. S.
St. Matthew, St. Paul — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at 510 Hall Ave.
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Excellent Reputation in Years Past.
St. Peter, Forest Lake — 5 to 7 p.m. at 1250 S. Shore Drive.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — 4:30 to 7 p.m. spaghetti & Mac 'n Cheez options, excellent reputation, at 4087 W. Broadway Ave.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)
St. Bernard, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.
St. Michael, Prior Lake – 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at 16311 Duluth Ave. Menu also includes macaroni and cheese.
Knights of Columbus, Faribault — 5 to 7 p.m. at 17 N.E. Third St.

March 20 (Wednesday):
Holy Cross, Minneapolis — soup supper from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kolbe Center on 17th Avenue and 14th Street N.E.

March 21 (Thursday):
St. Jerome, Maplewood — soup supper follows Stations of theCross at 5:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.

March 22:
St. Peter School, North St. Paul — 4 to 7 p.m. at 2620 N. Margaret St.
St. Pascal Baylon, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at 1757 Conway St.
Holy Family Maronite Church, Mendota Heights — 5 to 7 p.m. includes many  delicious Lebanese side dishes 'bread at [side refills yes!] at 1960 Lexington Ave. S.
St. Jerome, Maplewood — 5 to 7:30 p.m. at 380 E. Roselawn.
St. Albert the Great, Minneapolis — 4 to 7:30 p.m. at the corner of E. 29th Street and 32nd Avenue S. Excellent Reputation in Years Past.
Sacred Heart, Robbinsdale — 4:30 to 7 p.m. spaghetti & Mac 'n Cheez options, excellent reputation, at 4087 W. Broadway Ave.
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)
Good Shepherd, Golden Valley — 5 to 7 p.m. at 145 Jersey Ave. S.
St. Bernard, St. Paul — 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the corner of Rice Street and Geranium Avenue.
Knights of Columbus, Faribault — 5 to 7 p.m. at 17 N.E. Third St.

March 29: 
Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. Paul — Mexican enchilada dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at 401 Concord St. (Enchiladas also sold by the dozen)

Minnesota’s bishops raise concerns about "end of life" medical treatment form

Among the most difficult medical decisions are those that must be made when patients can no longer speak for themselves. For that reason, more people are turning to various forms of “advance directives” to outline their wishes regarding medical treatment ahead of time.

Minnesota’s bishops, however, recently issued a new pastoral statement raising ethical concerns about an end-of-life medical care form known as “Provider Orders for Life-Sustaining Treatment,” or POLST.

“We believe that there are sufficient and significant ethical concerns that argue against its use for advance-care planning,” the bishops said in a statement titled “Stewards of the Gift of Life.”

Like advance directives, POLST forms aim to help ensure a patient’s wishes for medical care are carried out in the final stages of life. But, while advance directives allow patients to state treatment preferences, POLST forms constitute standing medical orders signed by a physician or another health care practitioner who can issue such orders.

POLST forms are increasingly being used around the country and were endorsed by the Minnesota Medical Association in 2009. Many hospitals and long-term care facilities — including Catholic health care providers — are using them.

Various concerns

A joint study committee composed of members of the Minnesota Catholic Conference, the public policy voice of the state’s bishops, and the Catholic Health Association of Minnesota studied the issue in depth for more than a year to give the bishops guidance on the issue, said Jason Adkins, MCC executive director. Committee members included doctors, nurses, ethicists, lawyers and health care providers.

The archdiocesan Commission on Biomedical Ethics was also consulted on the issue, he said.

One concern the bishops have about POLST forms is that they fail to acknowledge that patients can’t truly give informed consent for treatments when the variables surrounding a future medical condition are unknown.

“From a Catholic perspective, making a morally sound decision regarding end-of-life care calls for informed consent based on information related to the actual circumstances and medical conditions at a particular moment,” the bishops said.

“For both patients and providers, it is difficult to determine in advance whether specific medical treatments will be absolutely necessary or optional,” they note. “Though we have some ability to determine a person’s course of illness, we do not have absolute certainty.  Therefore, any tool created to guide medical management must take these predictive limitations into consideration.”

POLST forms risk oversimplifying the medical-decision making process, the bishops said.

“Decisions depending upon factors such as the benefits, expected outcomes, and the risks or burdens of the treatment are oversimplified by ‘one-size-fits-all’ checkboxes, without the benefit of clinical context,” they said. “As a result, using POLST bears the risk that an indication may be made to withhold treatment that, under certain unforeseen circumstances, the patient would want to receive.”

Teresa Tawil, a gerontological nurse practitioner working in the Twin Cities, said the biggest problem with a POLST form from her perspective is the potential for it not to be current with a patient’s changing health care status.

“This is why a prewritten document has its limitations,” said Tawil, who served on the MCC-CHA study committee and is a member of St. Raphael in Crystal. “A designated power of attorney who acts out of Christian love for the patient and is educated in the patent’s current medical situation and . . . the overall burden of illness is crucial to guiding morally sound care.”

The bishops’ statement raises additional concerns about POLST. Among them are:

• The forms might be used for patients who are not terminally ill as a form of assisted suicide or euthanasia.

• The form permits but does not require a patient’s signature (or the signature of a legally designated health care agent), and thus raises concerns about having a patient’s true informed consent for important decisions.

• POLST lacks a conscience clause for health care professionals who may have concerns about medical orders they are asked to fulfill.

Alternatives available

In discouraging the use of POLST forms by Catholics and Catholic health care providers, Minnesota’s bishops point to better alternatives, including the Minnesota Catholic Health Care directive and accompanying guide. The directive meets the state’s legal requirements and reflects the Church’s teachings on end-of-life care. (The form and guide can be accessed at http://www.mncc.org/resources/mn-catholic-healthcare-directive-2.)

In “Stewards of the Gift of Life,” the bishops also support the appointment of a health care agent who can speak for a patient and act in his or her best interests. And they call for “renewed efforts to educate the Catholic community and other interested persons in the rich tradition of our Catholic teaching on end-of-life care.”

“We need to start having these conversations with our family members, with our loved ones, as uncomfortable as they may be,” Adkins said. “We need to express our own wishes and make sure that when we are pursuing end-of-life care that it is consistent with our own Catholic faith and objective moral norms.

“And,” he added, “we need to look for people in our lives who can help us make those decisions. Otherwise, we leave our families in a difficult position of trying to discern what our wishes might be or how to handle these things.”

The MCC said a future goal is to develop a resource that lays out in “a more substantive and developed way” a Catholic perspective on end-of-life care that helps people understand the various resources available to them.