Today's post is rather later than normally, as I have been busy with visitors touring Ottawa (the Museum of War, Parliament, the Peace Tower, St. Patrick's Basilica and Notre Dame Cathedral--more on these in a future blogging effort). As well, I mislaid my memory card with recent photos and only found it just before bedtime last night, so downloading of pix has been delayed.
Meantime, the Vatican Information Service published on Saturday the Holy Father's message in Latin to Cardinal Marc Ouellet as his special envoy to the celebrations at Chapel Island, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia (Antigonish Diocese) on Sunday, August 1.
The VIS notes that when designated as his representative Cardinal Ouellet was primate of the Canadian Church as Archbishop of Quebec, though he is now Prefect of the Congregation for Bishops (I understand he will begin his duties on August 28).
The Papal Party will be comprised of Rev. Robert McNeil, Episcopal Vicar to the Mik’maq; Rev. Douglas J. Murphy, of Holy Rosary Parish, as well as Msgr. Luca Lorusso, Counsellor at the Holy See's Nunciature in Ottawa.
The message and the Papal Representation indicates the great significance of the 400th Anniversary of the Baptism of Grand Chief MEMBERTOU and replies to the invitation extended to the Holy Father some time ago by Grand Chief (Kji Saqmaw Sante’ Mawiomi) Ben Sylliboy, Keptin (Kji Keptin Sante’ Mawiomi) Andrew S. Denny, and then-Premier of Nova Scotia Rodney MacDonald.
Here is the letter, dated June 30, in its original Latin, which stresses the fittingness of this celebration for strengthening the Gospel first proclaimed to Membertou and the people of his time and which should bring great joy in these days.
This is why, wishing to associate himself with the people on this occasion the Pope has turned to Cardinal Ouellet to represent him. Pope Benedict expresses the wish that the Mik'maq renew their commitment and bestows on all his apostolic blessing:
Venerabili Fratri Nostro
MARCO S.R.E. Cardinali OUELLET, P.S.S.
Archiepiscopo Metropolitae Quebencensi
Quarta iam appetit saecularia memoria ex quo tempore sacro Baptismate est ablutum Magnum Caput Mi’kmaq Nationis Membertou atque Domini salutaria beneficia gentibus illis latius subministrari coepta sunt, sollertibus operantibus Evangelii praeconibus.
Admodum ideo decet et convenit ut eventus hic congruenter commemoretur et optimo iure extollatur. Celebratio enim haec copiam dat et facultatem rursus inter indigenas et reliquos Canadienses cives conciliandi animos, ut firma fide roborati certioribusque propositis suffulti una simul expedite in via salutis procedant.
Miserenti igitur favente Domino, evenientibus Kalendis Augustis in loco Chapel Island sollemnis erit ab illius Baptismi quarta centenaria commemoratio agenda, concurrentibus quoque fidelibus circumcirca commorantibus, ut Ecclesiae ista particula, inde fere sumens vim, vel uberiores fructus fundat et laetiores spiritales commoditates in dies experiatur.
Quocirca Mi’kmaq gentis primorum Kji Saqmaw Sante’ Mawiomi Ben Sylliboy et Kji Keptin Sante’ Mawiomi Andrew S. Denny, Novae Scotiae Primi Ministri Rodney Mac Donald postulationibus subvenientes, ut ritus hic magnificentius efficaciusque evolvatur, mittere aliquem eminentem Praesulem statuimus, qui partes Nostras sustineat et Personam agat. Ad te autem, Venerabilis Frater Noster, cogitationem convertimus, qui, Canadiensis Nationis inclitus filius, prorsus idoneus occurris ad ministerium hoc praestandum et luculenter explendum. Itaque permagna moti affectione, te, Venerabilis Frater Noster, Missum extraordinarium Nostrum renuntiamus et constituimus ad celebrationem quam supra diximus agendam.
Universis igitur participibus fidelibusque inibi cunctis mentem Nostram benignam ostendes, ut maiorum probandas consuetudines sectantes, firmissime teneant fidei pietatisque cursum. Omnibus Nostro nomine Benedictionem Apostolicam impertias volumus, quae sit animorum renovationis signum et futuro de tempore supernarum nuntiatrix gratiarum.
Ex Aedibus Vaticanis, die XXX mensis Iunii, anno MMX, Pontificatus Nostri sexto.
BENEDICTUS PP. XVI
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