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June Columbia column

Faith Formation Program

Bishop William E. Lori

The Church in the United States and our Order is still basking in the glow of Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic journey last April.

It was a spiritually exhilarating time not only for those who were able to attend the papal Masses or other public events, but for all who watched them on television or over the Internet, or read about them in the press.

Now it is up to us to build upon the gift of this papal visit. It is for us to ponder the Holy Father’s words; to be renewed in our life of prayer both private and liturgical; to grow in our knowledge and love of what our faith teaches; and to be men and women of intense charity not only for those we already know and love but also for those whom we may never meet but who need our love and help.

I draw your attention to www.papaltrip.org, the Knights of Columbus Web site on the papal trip, and the June issue of Columbia, which features dozens of photographs from the papal trip alongside quotes from several of Benedict’s homilies and addresses arranged thematically for further study and reflection.

Of course, it cannot be overlooked that during the Mass  he celebrated at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for clergy and religious, the Holy Father praised the “vision and zeal” of our founder, the Venerable Servant of God Father Michael J. McGivney.

 Among the many gifts the Holy Father left us from this trip, that is surely among the most precious.