pope's midnight Christmas ritual

This is just as appropriate for other forums, namely poltics and conspiracy, but hey, it's Christmas.... I'm in a giving mood.... even in the mood to give the pope a bone.

The main thing that drew my attention to this MSM present was the ooh/ahhh factor with the video-byte helper decorated with some rather ominous text-byte caption helpers...fish head hat proudly on display no less  .... but hey,  who knew the pope did extra duty as an usher? If it were not for all that guy in flaming garb arranged around spooky, middle-'o-the-night ritual ambiance, on a slow mid-night I might go so far as to consider letting this fellow lead me to my seat and perhaps dust it off. Mother always warned be to be wary of odd strangers, especially those serving up dark rituals while going by various aliases. Getting a look at that pock-marked, withdrawn, be-shadowed mug accoutered no less with a rather sadistic-looking scepter/dagger, topped off with WWF-caliber sleeper/death-grip pose, I would definitely draw the line there and would not even consider accepting popcorn, gum, or other snacks, tricks, solicitations, invitations, propositions, oaths, blessings, or curses this Ratzinger alias usher alias pope may be possessed to speak, offer or even wave in my general direction; yikes!

Disclaimer: to all genuine people of Judeo-Christian faiths, no offense intended to you, no quarrel with you personally, no quarrel with your desire to honor your faith in God. Peace to you, may you know God, may God bless you and yours. It may be a fine point for some to discern, but my quarrel is with the intermediary that some of you obey to the extent of worship, and has seemingly hijacked you, unawares, enroute to seeking the God you intend to worship.  

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 http://kdka.com/holidays/pope.benedict.midnight.2.617408.html

Pope Ushers In Christmas With Midnight Mass

VATICAN CITY (AP) - Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to set aside time in their lives for God and the needy, as he ushered in Christmas early Tuesday by celebrating Midnight Mass in St. Peter's Basilica.

Echoing a theme he has raised about an increasingly secular world, Benedict said that many people act as if there is no room for spiritual matters in their lives.

"Man is so preoccupied with himself, he has such urgent need of all the space and all the time for his own things, that nothing remains for others, for his neighbor, for the poor, for God," he said.

Benedict also use the homily to link the Christmas message to the church's growing environmental concerns, referring to early theologians who interpreted Christ's role as also a healer of the Earth and universe.

"He came to restore beauty and dignity to creation, to the universe: This is what began at Christmas and makes the angels rejoice. The Earth is restored to good order by virtue of the fact that it is opened up to God ... Thus Christmas is a feast of restored creation."

Under Benedict, the Vatican has been taking steps toward greater environmental action, a key element of which has been its involvement in reforestation project aimed at offsetting its carbon emissions.

In a homily delivered in Italian in front of thousands packing the basilica, Benedict asked the faithful to make room for God, as well as the less fortunate, in their lives.

"Do we have time for our neighbor who is in need of a word from us, from me, or in need of my affection? For the sufferer who is in need of help? For the fugitive or the refugee who is seeking asylum? Do we have time and space for God?"

Benedict drew parallels between what he perceives as modern society's refusal of God and the story of how Jesus was born in a manger because there was no space for his family at a nearby inn.

"In some way, mankind is awaiting God, waiting for him to draw near. But when the moment comes, there is no room for him," he said.

But the message of Jesus' birth, which is marked on Christmas, is also that "God does not allow himself to be shut out," Benedict said. "He finds a space, even if it means entering through the stable; there are people who see his light and pass it on."

Earlier, as Midnight Mass began, Benedict blessed the crowd of pilgrims, Romans and tourists, as he walked in a procession up the main aisle to the central altar, which was decorated with red poinsettia flowers.

As a choir sang, Benedict sprinkled incense on the altar under Bernini's massive bronze baldachin before opening the service with the traditional wish for peace in Latin: "Pax vobis" ("Peace be with you"). The faithful responded: "Et cum spiritu tuo." ("And also with you.")

Four children, some in native costume from their countries, brought flowers to the altar, placing them near a statue depicting baby Jesus as Benedict, dressed in white and gold-colored robes, joined a choir in a hymn.

For those unable to get into the midnight service there were giant screens set up in St. Peter's Square, which was made festive with a twinkling Christmas tree and the Vatican's Nativity scene.

Officials unveiled the life-size Nativity on Monday, revealing the statues of Mary and Joseph, Jesus' parents, in a huge house-like structure located next to the Vatican's giant, twinkling Christmas tree.

This year, the scene of Jesus' birth was depicted in a recreation of Joseph's Nazareth home rather than the traditional manger in Bethlehem. Officials at the unveiling said the shift underscored the idea that Jesus was born not just in a single place, but everywhere and for everyone.

Hours before Midnight Mass, Benedict briefly appeared at his studio window to light a candle as a symbol of peace, blessing the crowd with the light before leaving it on the sill.

At noon on Tuesday, Benedict was to deliver his traditional Christmas Day "Urbi et Orbi" speech - Latin for "to the city and to the world" - from the balcony of St. Peter's Basilica, in which he often touches on current events and issues of concern to the Vatican. He then is expected to issue Christmas greetings to the faithful in more than 60 languages.