Benedict Bobblehead Broo-Ha-Ha

Washington Post's PopeWatch has the Benedict Bobblehead video which, as American Papist reports, was yanked by DC Metro after the Archdiocese of Washington expressed concern.

The video shows a bobblehead of Pope Benedict XVI riding the Metro as a way of encouraging those who will attend next week's papal Mass to take the Metro instead of drive.

Meanwhile, in "Nerves Frayed Much?" - Amy Welborn surveys members of "St. Blog's parish" for their reactions.

Merchants in the Temple?

'Pope Paraphernalia' Up for Grabs ABCNews.com April 4, 2008:

Washington is getting ready for Pope Benedict's historic visit, including stocking the shelves at the Washington Basilica with all types of "Pope paraphernalia."

From t-shirts, key chains, mugs and bumper stickers, all types of merchandise are up for grabs. "Pope totes! Isn't it great," asked shopper Elsa Thompson.

For 50 cents, you can get the Pope on a postcard or for $675 you can get the Pope made of porcelain. At the Basilica gift store, the Pope has turned pop star, from the tasteful to the tacky.

Commemorative items marking his upcoming visit are flying off the shelves. "If we can find a bobble head of Pope Benedict, we'll probably go for that, too," said shopper Kent Graves.

Pop Benedict criticized the materialism of Christmas, so some wonder what exactly he'd think of all the Pope stuff.

"It's a little commercial. You like to think of our Holy Father as a little bit less than a commercial opportunity. But I guess everyone's gotta make a buck," said Graves.

I do think some of the paraphernalia's a little cheesey -- incidentally, The Bobble-Head Benedict is already available at ToyLounge.com.

I'm not in much of a position to point fingers, however -- the hosting and maintenance of the Cardinal Ratzinger / Pope Benedict XVI Fan Club is actually paid for in part by our own line of "papal trinkets. ;-)

Related

• Papal Swag! (On the Archdiocese of Washington's "authorized supplier" for papal paraphernalia.
• Pope Benedict XVI's Election Spurs Market in Baubles and Bling Bloomberg.com. May 4, 2005 (blast from the past).

"Papal Swag!"

Commerce has begun at 'Catholic to the Max's Official DC Papal Visit 2008 website -- "This site is brought to you by Catholic to the Max, the authorized supplier for the Archdiocese of Washington of items commemorating Pope Benedict’s visit to Washington, DC. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these items will benefit Christ Our Hope Foundation, Inc., the organization supporting the papal visit to Washington."

Prior coverage of CatholictotheMax, via Deacon Greg Kandra:

“As far as T-shirts go, you can’t beat Pope John Paul,” said Dominic Scarnecchia, who was hawking his wares at the Catholic Marketing Network’s international trade show here in late July.

Scarnecchia is a sales associate with “Catholic to the Max,” a hip division of Nelson Woodcraft, a family-owned business that sells Catholic gift items in Steubenville, Ohio.

A student at Franciscan University in Steubenville, he could easily be working the floor at Abercrombie & Fitch or Old Navy, but instead, he was hawking “Get Holy or Die Tryin’ ” and “Puttin’ the STUD back in Bible study” license plate frames and messenger bags.

“You have to start with the youth,” Scarnecchia said. “It’s the future of the Catholic church, like Pope John Paul said.”

Vatican sanctions "Papal Teddy Bear" outfit

"Build a Bear" for the Pope MyFoxNy.com. March 25, 2008:

The Build-A-Bear Workshop chain has pumped out a new bear complete with a special edition T-shirt honoring the Pope's visit to the United States.

The Vatican has sanctioned the T-shirt for the adorable, stuffed animals but only for stores in Washington, DC and on BuildABear.com.

The shirts cost $6 online.

For the entire Build-A-Bear "Pope" experience you'll have to visit Washington. A company representative says they're trying to work with the Vatican to allow the bears to be sold in stores in New York and other areas.

Monastery Greetings offering 'The Pope's Cologne'

New Cologne Honors Papal Visit Christian Newswire: March 7, 2008:

To honor Pope Benedict XVI's upcoming visit to the United States, Monastery Greetings is now offering The Pope's Cologne. Monastery Greetings is a "one-stop-shop" service that brings together hundreds of monastic products, including gifts, music, books, soap and body care items, and, of course, delicious foods -- from abbeys, convents, monasteries and hermitages throughout the United States and the world over. Monastery Greetings helps them support themselves.

Monasteries are famous for their Old World recipes made with whole ingredients. Examples include creamy fudge from Brigittine monks, melt-in-your-mouth pralines from Benedictine nuns in Texas, whiskey cakes from Trappist monks, chocolate and candy from Trappistine nuns in Massachusetts, and Nun Better Cookies from the Sisters of the Holy Spirit in Cleveland, Ohio.

Monastery Greetings also handles mail order of Trappist Preserves (28 different jams, jellies and preserves made by Trappist monks in Spencer, Massachusetts) and has the largest selection of Trappist Fruitcake anywhere.

The Pope's Cologne is made in the United States from the private formula of Pope Pius IX (1792-1878). The recipe was faithfully followed by Dr. Fred Hass (who happens to be US Poet Laureate Robert Hass' brother) and, therefore, the longevity is also authentically that of a perfume from that period.