Something Beautiful Has Begun

The Wall Street Journal ^ | April 11, 2008 | PEGGY NOONAN

[gpapa]

At the open-air mass in St. Peter's on April 2, the third anniversary of the death of John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI spoke movingly – he brought mist to the eyes of our little group of visiting Americans – of John Paul's life, and the meaning of his suffering. "Among his many human and supernatural qualities he had an exceptional spiritual and mystical sensitivity," said the pontiff, who knew John Paul long and intimately. (Those who hope for swift canonization please note: "supernatural." Benedict the philosopher does not use words lightly.)

He spoke of the distilled message of John Paul's reign: "Be not afraid," the words "of the angel of the Resurrection, addressed to the women before the empty tomb." Which words were themselves a condensed message: Nothing has ended, something beautiful has begun, but you won't understand for a while.

[gpapa]

Ping

[ichabod1]

Is he tall? I thought he was a tiny man. I think Peggy “gets” the main point when she talks of thousands rushing to greet him, but I’m not sure she gets entirely that Benedict is adored by us Catholics every bit as much as JPII.

[Ann Archy]

I LOVE Pope Benedict!! Can’t wait til next week when he comes to AMerica!!

[LordBridey]

Another small fear, born of hearing him last week at the mass. Benedict spoke in many languages including English, which he speaks fluidly and with a strong German accent. This is an accent that 60 years of World War II movies have taught Americans to hear as vaguely sinister, or comic.The nicer commentators may say he sounds like Col. Klink in "Hogan's Heroes." I hope he speaks even more than usual about love, for that may remove the sting, as love does.

Sometimes, Noonan comes across as silly. At least out of date. German accents are associated with affable movie actors-turned-governors, not 40 year old tv characters. Benedict doesn't need to worry about Noonan's imagined "sting". Surely Benedict's opinion of American's is higher than Noonan's.

[fishhound]

"Think of the pictures of him storm-tossed, tempest-tossed, standing somewhere and leaning into a heavy wind, his robes whipping behind him, holding on to his crosier, the staff bearing the image of a crucified Christ, with both hands, for dear life, as if consciously giving Christians a picture of what it is to be alive." Here you go Peggy Noonan. LOL. Thank You gpapa.