Monday, February 01, 2010

Ad Limina: the video

19 comments:

Tom said...

Some of them look really interested on what the Holy Father is saying to them. He is a true shepherd to his bishops and priests.

Simon Platt said...

I can't honestly say I've often had the privilege of seeing an actual live bishop in the flesh, but I don't think I've ever seen an English bishop dressed like that!

Anonymous said...

That was so annoying - the American voice-over. I wish I could have heard his words.Thank you anyway Father Blake.

Richard said...

What a shower!

None of them looked like they were paying proper attention, and several seemed to be falling asleep. Not a spark of intelligence to be seen.

The only one who seemed to be taking any intelligent interest was the Eastern Rite man (who was he - the Ukranian administrator?)

It doesn't give much confidence about the leadership of the Church in England & Wales.

Tom said...

Richard - my point exactly, hence the perhaps not-too-clear sarcasm in my opening sentence.

It is perhaps time for the silent majority to speak out in support of our beloved Holy Father.

Richard Collins said...

What you see is what we get!

georgem said...

Spot on, Richard. They look like a row of prefects caught smoking behind the bike shed. Talk about glum.
Perhaps they are hoping that the the Pope hasn't rumbled that their good news of the rise in Mass attendance is due to devout newcomers to the UK.
He has.
It's so close to a public dressing down one can only guess what the message was in private.
I wonder if the Pope is challenging them to see how they defend him and the Church's teaching when they get home and ensuring that we all know what's expected of them.
Of course, they might be consumed by the horror that Today or Newsnight will be waiting on the doorstep. "Please don't let it be me".

tempus putationis said...

A motley crew, indeed. Look at all that finger twiddling and eyes 'modestly' averted. I bet there was a rush for the seats which the video camera couldn't reach! Perhaps we could bring in the Great Tone to give them all lessons in media performance? On second thoughts, perhaps not ...

Seriously though, the voiceover presents a condensed version of what the Holy Father is saying, but prevents us seeing how our shepherds are reacting to specific points being made. Hmmm.

The Bones said...

Looks like they dressed up for their dressing down.

pelerin said...

I watched the excerpt a couple of times playing 'spot the bishop' and also got the distinct feeling that many looked extremely uncomfortable.

However, I imagine it must be awesome to be sitting in the presence of the Pope, even for a Bishop! I wonder why they don't sit in rows, or in a semi circle. Is there a reason why they sit as they do with the majority sideways?

me said...

Just for a minute, I thought third one in going from the left was Father/Cardinal? Mildew!!!

me said...

sorry Bishop Mildew.

Independent said...

What did the Duke of Wellington say of his troops? - "The may not frighten the enemy but by God they frighten me".

Simeon said...

Richard, Tom et al.

Can you really assert from watching a one minute clip that none of the bishops were paying proper attention and "Not a spark of intelligence to be seen"?

Come off it.

Richard said...

Simeon,

Yes, we can - read what I said.

I was commenting not on the Bishops themselves (I couldn't even name most of them, never mind put them to a diocese) but on the impression that the video clip gave of them.

I didn't say that none of them were paying attention, but that none of them LOOKED LIKE they were paying attention. I didn't say that they are unintelligent, but that there was no intelligence TO BE SEEN.

Both of those things can be said from a 1 minute clip, because it was the impressions given by the 1 minute clip that I was commenting on.

Maybe the Bishops are all intelligent, enthusiastic, committed, loyal Catholics - I do not know enough to say. But we are discussing the video clip, not them, and that was not the impression they give on the clip.

Francis said...

Fr. Ray,

The video shows that a high proportion of the bishops are nearing 75. The next Ad Limina will have a whole crowd of new faces. Hopefully the right faces! And maybe even one or two Anglican ones...

Independent said...

Surely one cmay tease authorities of all kinds ? It is difficult not to respond to an unfortunate picture. No unkindness was meant Simeon.

Simeon said...

Richard

"none of them LOOKED LIKE they were paying attention"

I beg to differ.

"no intelligence TO BE SEEN"

Please explain, how is intelligence seen?

John the organist said...

Well it was good for a laugh!

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