Vatican reaches out to bloggers and discuss mutual relationship

This video clip appears on Reluctant Sinner (Dylan Parry's blog) About 40 seconds in, you can see the two of us sitting next to each other on the back row. (I'm wearing black and have a red scarf round my neck) We had failed to meet the previous afternoon because the crowds made it impossible and I was forced to return to the hotel. It was an absolute delight to meet Dylan at the actual event and he is quite correct about our shared sense of humour! (see his relevant blogpost).

I returned home in the early evening yesterday in a state of nervous exhaustion. I wasn't particularly worried about being unfit to post here last night because I knew that other attendees would do so. As you see from the above clip, Dylan was electronically well equipped and blogged live as the meeting progressed. He had to leave the meeting early to catch a plane home. Up until that point the meeting had been very relaxed, but it became clear that time was running out and in the end the final q&a session was  a bit of a shambles and the questions had to be taken and a promise given to answer them later.. This is not meant as a criticism and congratulations are due to the Vatican organisers of the Blogmeet, as are sincere thanks for the way in which we were all welcomed.

I have spent the morning reading up on what has already been posted on other sites (which I trust you have already found) so that I do not waste time in repetition here on the Oasis. Anna Arco is amazingly cogent given her lack of sleep during these Roman days. (See Catholic Herald in sidebar here and find her article 'From Beatification to Blogmeet') Elizabeth Scalia reports on her site The Anchoress (also in the sidebar) that she suffered from insomnia throughoutt the trip. She also reproduces the text of her address at the Meeting. Quite simply we all need time for some reflection before we can post our analyses of the meeting. And if Anna Arco feels this, then you will please have to excuse me too! I will post on this tomorrow evening DV

Aside from the meeting itself, I need to post in a more personal way about my first pilgrimage to Rome. And it WAS really a pilgrimage, involving a considerable amount of penance mainly caused by my lack of easy mobility, stress and anxiety. It was indeed a physical and mental 'via Crucis' and I offered it up with joy and thanksgiving. I knew how many of you were praying for me and you did an excellent job! I felt you with me spiritually and prayed for you all at the 'Confessio' on Tuesday afternoon. I am so grateful to you. I owe especial thanks to Fr Mark Kirby who just before I left the Oasis on Saturday morning had put me in touch with a seminarian from the NAC. Without his company I probably wouldn't have done and seen all the wonderful things of Tuesday afternoon. Over the four days, I held onto my faith that each step was guided and protected by our Lord, His blessed Mother and my Guardian Angel.  So a report on my personal journey, and all the things I learned in Rome will follow on Sunday, DV.

There are several regrets, one being that I was after all unable to attend the other blogmeet at the Scholar's Lounge. My belated apologies to Hilary White. Fortunately, this morning on You Tube, I was able to watch the keynote address of Michael Voris.

Until tomorrow then, God bless all here
In Christo pro Papa
J