174. Heads Under the Chopper
Banner for the Feast of Forgiveness
It all began with the Feast of Saint Augustine, August 28th when the seven hundred and 15 years old Feast of the Pardon is celebrated in L’Aquila, renown not only for the recent earthquake but also because it hosted the last G8.
The mortal remains of Pope Celestino V in a glass casket, miraculously retrieved by the firemen from beneath the ruins is carried from one end of the city to the Basilica (Colle Maggio) where the door is opened and those passing through it will ask forgiveness and gain that forgiveness, called a plenary indulgence which Pope Celestino conceded to all faithful in 1294 and has been renewed yearly since then.
But the Italian Premier, Silvio Berlusconi was nowhere in sight. I’m going to be a little ironical on this, but I’m trying to imagine what kind of a feast his opponents would have made at seeing the gentleman walk through what is called the “Holy Door” of the Basilica asking forgiveness for that multitude of sins that have been attributed to him, but as yet none actually verified, as being in the least real. This would certainly have been the perfect occasion for those who love him so dearly to exploit the event to their image and likeness
The human remains of Pope Celestino V
As if this was not enough, the Vatican announced that the highly important dinner presided by the Secretary of the Vatican State, who is second to none in the hierarchy of the church except the Pope was not going to take place since he, who was to be guest of honour, (Berlusconi) was not going to be present, and the latter statement is my addition, not the Vatican’s.
I can understand why Silvio Berlusconi did not want to go through the Holy Door of Forgiveness, but what I am unable to figure out is why desert the important dinner which would have consolidated the amicable relationship between the Vatican and this particular government. After all Berlusconi was brought up in the faith and has a genuine love for it especially since that love was nourished by his mother, a truly remarkable lady who even challenged the Fascist soldiers once on a train, spend hours in prayers and died with a rosary bead in her hands, praying.
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