Posted on 02/19/2007 7:46:46 AM PST by Salvation
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So we know from the Pope's own words that he has used "all of my free moments" to write this book, and that he is so anxious to publish it — even saying quite openly that he fears he may not live much longer — that he chose to publish part of it now, even though it isn't yet finished. This means, clearly, that the Pope regards this book as extremely important, even urgent. He has little time left.
So humble.
**a fellow pilgrim.**
Please ping your lists.
None of us knows how long we have left. We knew the Pope was old when he was elected; however, that doesn't imply that he's on his deathbed.
Yes, they are distressing, but I have thought for some time that Pope Benedict has been concerned about his time remaining. He seems to be trying to accomplish all he can, and the dark circles under his eyes seem to look darker every month. I pray for him often.
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This is true.
The first book of Pope Benedict I read was "Behold the Pierced One." When I read it, I knew that here was a scholar who believed. And could talk to the scholarly types, and communicate to the likes of me at the same time. I knew I would have loved to have been one of his students when he still taught.
I have read several of his books since then. I've been waiting for this one, and have pre-ordered it
Second, there is a disturbing tone in the article that suggests that Magisterial teaching is somehow less than welcome. That it impinges on our "freedom." This is foolish, and is certainly not a proposition that Josef Ratzinger would buy into. The more staightforward explanation for the non-magesterial nature of the publication, is simply that it is a work of research, historical and theological. Of course, the issues of theology embodied in the work, and the opposition to the positions of the so-called "Jesus Seminar" type historical research, is already taught magisterially in the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds.
Johannes Paulus Magnus and now Pope Benedict. These are two of THE Greatest Popes ever. They truly were/are Our Sweet Jesus on Earth.
So, what does that signify in terms of how much time we all may have left?
I am looking forward to reading this. I got to attend a papal audience in Rome two weeks ago and see BXVI in person. One thing that struck me is that he is a person of great dignity - but enormously humble. The crowd (of 10,000!) went wild when he came in, and kept cheering for him and calling out to him, and it was interesting to me that a person who is in many ways very self-effacing is loved so. He does nothing dramatic and makes no grand gestures, but people trust him and respond to him.
And then everybody listened silently and intently to his homily and his words to us in our native languages, because we recognized him as a teacher of the truth.
Hi:
There used to be an expression that anyone over 65 was on borrowed time. Well I suppose today it is probably 75. Our Lord gives us the time to do our work for Him. All of us at that magic number of 75 must just continue on. It is not for us to worry but do the best we can.
As Pope Paul the XI stated in "Lumen Gentium":
“By reason of their special vocation it belongs to the laity to seek the Kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and directing them according to God's will.”
We just continue "to seek the Kingdom of God" and "not be affraid" and we will come out fine.
God's Love.
Frank
One of the things I like about this Pope is that he does not feel the need to put his personal stamp on existing doctrines by re-expressing them. Unless it is something that is of importance - a truth that needs to be reaffirmed, for example - he keeps his personal observations personal and does not elevate them to Papal pronouncements.
BTW, when I was in Rome I heard that there is a very important document being prepared on natural law. This may not sound earth-shaking, but it will be a foundation for stating that it is obligatory for Catholic politicians to follow natural law (not Church law, but natural law, such as that which dictates union between a man and a woman, or that forbids the killing of the innocent or unborn, etc.) in their votes. The practical aspects are that Catholic politicians may not vote for things that violate natural law and, in the case of laws that already exist, are bound to do as much as possible to attenuate their effects). This is expected to be quite controversial and Italian "intellectuals" and politicians are already shreiking about it. So when BXVI does act in his capacity as Pope, he really plays for high stakes!
I would bet that they were salivating for some magisterial pronouncement that they could start deconstructing by throwing a variety of bulls,moto proprios,encyclicals,anathemas and other documents that were promulgated throughout the ages by the Popes and could be admixed and interpreted to be contradictory.
Oblivious,or wickedly cognizant,of the levels of acceptance ordinary Catholics owed to the various documents they (catholics and non-catholics dedicated to destroying the Church) could have used anything he wrote as a start to engaging in yet another long and confusing battle of words,specious arguments,dissembling and outright lies. All activities that distract participants from the focusing on the truth as well as immediate crises and resolution of same.
This Pope is brave and brilliant,with this decision he has defused their ammunition and is doing exactly what Jesus told Peter to do in their last talk in John and that was "you,follow me." Ideally,that is the way it is supposed to work,Peter follows Jesus,the apostles follow Peter (Pope),the priests follow the apostles (bishops) and we who are Catholics follow our priests on that journey that leads us home to the Father.
I thought that I couldn't love any pope the way I loved John Paul the Great. But I was wrong. God is so merciful.
I pray for him every day. I remember what he said about praying that he would not run from the wolves.
I expect this document on natural law to be quite explosive. While I was in Rome, they passed a law basically declaring a gay "union" or heterosexuals who had lived together for at least one year to be the same as a married couple, in terms of their legal treatment, benefits, etc. For it to have passed, at least some ostensibly Catholic legislators must have voted for it. If what the Pope does is essentially tell them that going along with or voting for something that violates natural law means that they are incurring a sin (presumably one that results in excommunication), there's going to be a lot of commotion. The news reports that I heard said that the declaration would be binding on Catholics.
Italian gays, like those anywhere else, are bitter, disruptive and violent in their hatred of the Church and particularly of this Pope. It's not going to be fun when this document is released.
In addition, the Pope is working on another important document to do with bioethics, IIRC.
He has a true gift of teaching, which I hope more and more people will appreciate. I will be ordering the book also.
If you mean the designer shoes, they were probably donated to him and the Vatican is surrounded by Italy, where the best shoes in the world are made. If it hadn't been Prada, it could have as easily been Ferragamo, Gucci or Bruno Magli. If you mean the red color of the shoes, that is a papal tradition. Papal red symbolizes martyrdom.
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