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8/4/23: This day gave an insight as to how beautifully united our Catholic Church is. It began with our regular group breakfast time, Slovak Catechesis, and then one of the most beautiful Liturgies I’ve ever attended happened. It’s a once in a lifetime gift to witness a Divine Liturgy celebrated with an Eastern & Western Priest, let alone with 3 Bishops and MANY priests, both East and West! This was the true highlight of the day. It spurred a kind of excitement and recognition that the Christian East and West are truly the two needed lungs of our Church. The complementarity between these two traditions are a wonderful sight to behold! I think you’ll be able to see the magnificence in the photos below. The choir was led by my new friend Ivett, and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL. Not only was this Liturgy so unique due to its celebratory aspects, but it was also in Slovak! How incredible is our faith! How universal! Christ loves EVERYONE! He desires EVERYONE! He was so present in each and everyone’s hearts. It was so visible.
This evening there were Stations of the Cross led by the Pope, and although I again could not stay for long due to bodily ailments, I was able to witness a good portion of it, and capture faces in the crowds. There were THOUSANDS of people, eagerly meditating on our Lord’s love. The Pope was thousands of feet away from me, with his face on multiple screens throughout the city - but just knowing that he was there was very special.
I have a reflection written regarding the whole trip, and I will be sharing it with you shortly! God bless you all, and thank you for your prayers! - Gina
