Abbot Caedmon Holmes, OSB, was invited to participate in the Papal Mass with Pope Benedict XVI during the Pope's recent visit to the USA in April 2008. Following is Abbot Caedmon's account of his trip:
"The Prior Administrator of Saint Anselm's Abbey in Washington, D.C., Dom Simon McGurk, got me a ticket from the Archdiocese of Washington for the Papal Mass with Pope Benedict XVI at the new Nationals Park stadium on Thursday morning, April 17. We concelebrants were told that we would have to be vested and on the field by eight o'clock, but that the Pope would not arrive until 9:30 and the Mass would begin at 10. It was a perfect, cloudless day---a little cool at first, but that soon changed when the sun got high enough. (I was glad I had thought to bring a sun hat.)
"I lost contact with my fellow monks from Saint Anselm's early on, and found a place to sit a little apart from the crowd of priests, most of whom seemed to know each other and were conversing. A priest from Kenya, who had joined the archdiocese of Washington just a couple of years ago, sat next to me. The crowd in the stands above and around us were making the usual noise, news commentators were audible (and, from where I sat, partly visible on a huge screen behind the altar/stage), and there was music playing.
"Finally, right on time, the "Popemobile" came out onto the periphery of the field, quite close to us. But the Pope, wearing his white satin cape with the ermine trim showing around his neck, was sitting in the vehicle and looking toward the crowd in the stands and waving to them. He never looked in our direction. He rode around the periphery of the stadium and disappeared into a tent behind the stage that had been set up for the altar. The music continued. Eventually the procession emerged onto the field from the end opposite to the altar (I don't know how they do that); and we sang, from the booklets provided for us, "Holy God, We Praise Thy Name," a familiar Catholic hymn of German origin. (And, in fact, we sang one of the four stanzas in German.) The Pope marched up through the crowd in the middle of the field, blessing people as he went.
"When he reached the stage, reverenced the altar, and greeted the people, he himself was welcomed by Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington. The Mass was accompanied by instrumental music and beautiful singing. In his homily the Pope told us that he had come to this country to confirm us in the faith of the apostles. In the Offertory procession some young religious of Washington approached the Pope, among them a postulant from Saint Anselm's Abbey. He spoke a few words with the Holy Father, and kissed his ring. Afterwards some of us from the Saint Anselm's contingent caught up with him and asked him about the experience. He showed us the rosary the Pope gave him as a gift. One of the monks said, "Did he look at you with those piercing eyes?" and the postulant answered, "I thought they were very kind eyes."
"One of the musical pieces during Communion was "Panis Angelicus," sung by the renowned professional singer Placido Domingo. Many of the people applauded, and the Pope came from his chair to bless and thank Senor Domingo.
"At the end of the Mass the Pope went out through the crowd, and I lost track of him, positioned as I was toward the edge of the field. There were tumultuous acclamations. And I heard later that he shook hands with people in his progress, and went out of his way to bless a severely wounded soldier.
"The Mass ended just after 12 noon (we had been told in the materials sent by the archdiocesan officials with our tickets that we should expect to be on the field for a total of four hours). In the procession of bishops leaving the field I saw and greeted Archbishop George Pearce, who lives in Providence and who conferred the sacrament of Confirmation here at Portsmouth Abbey last May.
"It was an uplifting occasion. I am grateful and happy to have represented Portsmouth Abbey and School in this joyous encounter with Saint Peter's 264th successor, and in concelebrating the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with him."
