Happy Birthday, Pope Benedict!

Today is the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI’s 83rd birthday. I join the many who are praying for him now, especially for that inner strength to continue leading the Church through the present crisis: that he continue, with the serenity that comes from trust in God, to lead us in living this period as a personal call to purification and a new conversion of heart.

St Paul says, for all those who love the Lord, everything turns out for the good. This crisis is a call to be more united to the Pope and all the bishops and clergy who are doing their earnest best to continue giving their lives in serving others despite all the accusations and hate thrown over and over at all of them because of the sin and crime of certain priests who have betrayed their call and victimized the young and innocent. It is also definitely a good time to understand the victims and help them carry the burden of their sufferings by reaching out to them, praying for them, helping them in whatever means are in our reach.