I normally don't write on Wednesdays, but this is the middle day of the nine days of mourning.  The cardinals are also preparing for the conclave.

     The Pontifical Mission Societies USA invites us to Adopt a Cardinal.  They will assign one of the cardinals to you.  I suppose this ensures that each cardinal will have people praying for them.  I did so and have been asked to pray for a cardinal from Portugal.

     I got dizzy scanning the biographies of the cardinals at The College of Cardinals Report.  I also watched the video above with Jimmy Akin's take on the election of a new pope.  I don't recommend scouring sources to figure out what's happening in Rome right now, but I'd like to share a few items for those who want to do some research.

by Thomas Griffin

by Edward Pentin

by Joseph Pearce

by Philip Kosloski

     It's highly unlikely that a new pope will be elected on the first ballot on May 7th.

     For the last two conclaves, the cardinals elected a new pope on the second day which would be May 8th.  I didn't know that May 8th is the feast day for our parish patron saint, St. John the Evangelist, on the Byzantine calendar.  We celebrate him on December 27th on the Roman calendar.  It's also the feast of the Apparition of St. Michael at Gargano, Italy.  Jimmy Akin predicts that the next pope will choose the name Pope Michael.

     Pope St. John Paul II was elected on the third day of the conclave which corresponds to May 9th this time.  It's the feast of Isaiah the prophet.

     Well, it would be easy to get caught up in all the information about electing a new pope.  Let's make sure we put Christ first and pray for the cardinals to be docile to the movements of the Holy Spirit.

God love you,

Fr. Jim