'Like a herd of sheep, all hungry for pasture'

By Ben Sember

I went to Mass early. The inaugural was scheduled for 10 a.m. I woke up at 5:10, put a water bottle, a camera and a breviary in my backpack, dressed in a clerical shirt and suit and set out.

	Pope Benedict XVI
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I could see groups of nuns and laypeople, many looking half asleep, but making their way to St. Peter's. When I arrived, shortly before 6 a.m., there was already a large crowd pushing up against the barriers. The police were not yet letting anyone into the piazza, so we gathered as close as we could and waited.

There were Italians, Mexicans, Brazilians, Spaniards, Americans, French and many others. There were fewer Polish pilgrims than there used to be, but many more Germans.

I could not believe that so many people were up so early. I could not believe I was up so early.

I stood for almost an hour before the police finally opened the barrier. The whole crowd pushed forward, mashed together, squeezed through the opening and trotted to another fence. Then we waited. I found an American family I know and stood with them. We jostled each other and pushed forward when the crowd moved. It felt like being in a herd of sheep, all hungry for pasture.

With more waiting and squeezing and waiting, we made our way into the piazza and found seats. I think the chairs were from the Jubilee year. I might have sat on one five years ago.

We were far back from the altar, to the right of the obelisk. Even the big televisions on either side of the piazza looked small.

The first reading was in English, the second in Spanish, and the Gospel was chanted in Latin, then in Greek. Pope Benedict XVI has said unity among Christians will be an important element of his pontificate. To proclaim the Gospel in Latin and in Greek is a strong statement that we must be united in our proclamation of Christ.

The homily was extremely powerful. Benedict reflected on the two symbols of the mission of Peter, the pallium and the ring of the fisherman.

The pallium is made from lamb's wool and symbolizes the vocation to find the lost sheep and carry it on his shoulders back to the fold. He had so many good words to say:

"If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great."

"I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return."

As I waited for the crowds to thin , my heart was full of joy. I should be silent and let him speak, because he speaks the Gospel. The Lord has truly blessed us. He has not let his flock be without a shepherd, and it is a good time to be a sheep. Blessed be the name of the Lord!

(Sember is a Green Bay seminarian studying at the North American College in Rome. This is edited from his weblog, www.benjamin-s.blogspot.com, where he has posted his other reflections from the past three weeks.)