Day 21: Pope John XXIII

DAY 21: POPE JOHN XXIII

In a box of magazines, I found a Copy of Notre Dame Magazine dated October, 1982.  The portrait of John XXIII caught my attention; I will be in Rome next month for his canonization on April 27.  The cover story is "Aggiornamento at 20." Aggiornamento is the Italian word for modernization, for the act of bringing something up to date to meet contemporary needs.  Pope John XXIII used the word to describe the goal of the Second Vatican Council, which he convened in Rome, now over 50 years ago.

The the three articles in this 30-year-old issue betray its closeness to the council:

• An Inspired Choice
• The Disaster of Vatican II
• An Agenda for Vatican III 

Biographer Peter Hebblethwaite records that, in October of 1958, Cardinal Angelo Roncalli of Venice wrote in his diary: "We are not on Earth as museum keepers, but to cultivate a flourishing garden of life."  Three weeks later, he was elected Pope.

I wonder what Good Pope John XXIII would have to say about 40 Boxes for 40 Days?

Then the one who sits on the throne said, "And now I make all things new!"  He also said to me, "Write this, because these words are true and can be trusted."
                                                                                                - Revelation 21:5