the harshest person
Philadelphia and Pope Francis
Photo By: Flickr/Catholic Church England and Wales
It was time for Philadelphia to shine on many fronts especially since we had millions of people coming to our city to see the beloved Pope. We wrote songs. We painted murals. We even did a Grotto of Knots. We had security beyond the normal days.
However, in the midst of everything, there was one thing that will always stand out. The security for the Pope stopping at the end of the night standing at the Knotted Grotto. The Captain for the Philadelphia Police Force was standing in front of the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul praying. On the steps of the Basilica was a Bishop from Texas praying and taking photos with tourists.
Knowing that it was a long weekend for both our security and Bishops, it made me realize that whatever our religion, we still knot ourselves up over the worries. It was an opportunity to watch the Philadelphia Police Force do roll call and to have the Bishop standing there praying with us just made the weekend seem like a reenactment from the Bible with Jesus.
The Bishop and Officers praying with us made the end of an eventful weekend seem like the world stopped. Sitting on the steps of the Basilica, history was not being made. We were watching the men of blue do what they do every night. Every night maybe you can catch a glimpse of a Bishop dressed in the Choir Dress. However, I do doubt it. We forget to stop and just enjoy the people around us. Maybe the Texas Bishop was on to something. No matter who he was praying with, the words of "You pray for me, and I will pray for you" continued to echo throughout the steps of the Basilica. The amazement and wonder that happened in Philadelphia lasted long after Pope Francis left.
More importantly, I am praying that the Pope Francis message of love and family continues to leave a lasting imprint on the city of Philadelphia. Pope Francis' famous words of "Pray for me" continue to echo long after his trip to Philadelphia. Somehow Pope Francis and Philadelphia Grotto Knots made me understand the true meaning of prayers. Hopefully, each one of those knots are blessed in God's way and time.
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About the Author
Tess Shore has dedicated her life and career to serving the underprivileged community with Shore Life Coaching. As a motivational speaker and educator, Tess specializes in coaching young adults in building better self-confidence and overcoming body issues. She is a guest speaker for Pathways to Success at her alma mater, helping juniors and seniors find their missions in life. Tess has a courageous commitment to passionately advocate for young adults dealing with issues like bullying and suicidal thoughts. Her work allows her to bring awareness to other young adult issues as well, especially those that come with transitioning into the corporate world. Tess guides her clients in building strong values and leads with zeal, inspiration, and passion. She also volunteers and serves in many capacities in other endeavors.
She can be found at http://shorelifecoaching.wordpress.com where she blogs on various issues on how to live more Christ-like. In her spare time, Tess can be found running and having a zest for life.
