Canadian Jesuit serves as Deacon for Pope at Midnight Mass
Canadian Jesuit, John Meehan, S.J., ended his brief research stay in Rome on a high-note by serving as a deacon for Pope Benedict XVI at the Christmas Eve liturgy at St. Peter's Basilica.
Despite the well-publicized attack on the Pope at Midnight Mass, John was impressed that His Holiness continued the Mass as if nothing had happened.
"It was a powerful experience of priesthood for me as I prepare for my own ordination this June," John explains.
He continues: "In our brief meeting after the Mass, I wished the Holy Father a holy Christmas and assured him that 'Les jesuites vous aiment' ('The Jesuits love you'). I was relieved the Pope was unharmed and also glad that my parents were able to be there for this unforgettable occasion."
Last Fall, John was invited to Rome as a borsista (research fellow) by the Historical Institute of the Society of Jesus.
While there, he did research at the Vatican Secret Archives, the Jesuit Archives and the Archives of Propaganda Fide for a book project on the Church in China in the early 20th century.
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