Thursday, May 5, 2011

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

5 comments:

Stuart said...

What a wonderful experience even with all of the streses and strains. I personally would have found it quite stressful!

Which one is Dylan, you have 2 guys next to you?

Are you going to Dylan's guild of bloggers meeting on Saturday? I am and feel quite excited.

Jane said...

Dylan is on my right. He's the bald one.I'm sure he won't mind my identifying him like that! The guy on my left is the Paix Liturgique man. He's French but lives just outside Rome. A fluent Italian and English speaker. We enjoyed lunch together before the meeting.

One of the hopes expressed at the end of the meeting was that there would be local meetings like the one Dylan has organised. Although he was not mentioned by name both he and I were thrilled and very encouraged by this.

No, I won't be there at the London blogmeet, but will be represented by Mrs Elizabeth McKernan who I think will be accompanied by Laurence England (That the Bones you have crushed may Thrill)

Sorry won't meet you this time.
Yes indeed it is very exciting. And it's the Vatican that has set the blogosphere off on the next stage of its mission.

God bless
J

Stuart said...

Excellent, I'll be able to spot Dylan at the Cathedral now :)

A Reluctant Sinner said...

Excellent to have you back online, and it was really good to meet you at last!

I'm glad you got home safely. I, too, have been exhausted after the experience - hence posting other people's videos and not writing too much...

I'm sorry I missed the end. I wonder how I'd be able to find out more about the conclusions?

I look forward to meeting Stuart, your friend and Laurence on Saturday.

Keeping you in my prayers.

D

On the side of the angels said...

Have been praying long and hard that all would go well....

You're cherished and appreciated beyond all imagining Ma'am.