This is such good news.
I love both of these Popes. I was so fortunate to see Pope Paul VI several times while staying in Rome. Sadly I never saw Pope John Paul I, the kind, smiling Pope - yet I was immediately attracted to him and felt a deep love for him. I esteem both Popes as saints, although I am always surprised when I discover not everyone thinks as highly of them as I do.
I'll never forget being corrected by an eminent priest, who in response to my saying I thought Paul VI was great, proceeded to tear him apart by pointing out all of his failures and assigning blame to His Holiness, personally - for all the troubles after Vatican II. Similarly others have dismissed John Paul I as ineffective since his reign had been 'aborted' by death - although most would likely affirm, if he had lived, "he would have promulgated the errors of VII". Human judgments Christ might condemn.
Another friend once told me that not one blessed/saint has ever been canonized who attended or celebrated the Novus Ordo. That is not true BTW, yet how ironic if every Pope since the Council turns out to be a saint?
No date has been announced for the beatification of Popes Paul VI and John Paul I, but it is possible that it could occur during the Year of Faith (Oct. 11, 2012-Nov. 24, 2013), which begins with the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council. Both popes were present at the Second Vatican Council. - Source
Like you, I am very fond of these 2 popes. I also believe that Pail VI is much maligned.
ReplyDeleteI have to separate the personal sanctity of Paul VI (which I do not question) from the Paul VI who supposedly wept upon finding that the octave of Pentecost had been abolished with the swipe of a pen (his own. I have no doubt about his personal sanctity or even good intentions that said I can still question his seeming lack of being proactive upon discovering that, "the smoke of satan had entered the sanctuary". Though I know the basis of his canonization will not be based on his papacy (for the most part). I think poor Paul VI tried to reign in the "spirit of Vatican II" as opposed to the actual council itself. I honestly think no one was more surprised than he by the chaos that ensued and I am sure that he had to carry a great burden in the aftermath ( a heavy cross unto itself). There was a time in my life when I probably would have reacted in much the same way as your Priest friend did Terry. However, I am no position to point fingers at anyone least of all a vicar of Christ.
ReplyDeleteI had some trad friends who said the same thing about JPII - they separated his personal sanctity from his papacy.
DeleteTerry, don't you mean John Paul II?
ReplyDeleteI use personal animosity towards the popes since John XXIII as a way to know if someone is worth listening to or not. Sometimes one even finds those who hate, hate, hate Pius XII (who I'd love to see canonized as well).
Servus, your points are well-taken. But I think everything is on the right track, and God is in charge. Surely we have been blessed with Benedict XVI!
Nope - JPI - his cause is moving forward with PPVI.
DeleteUgh. I meant to say "didn't you mean John Paul I" - the title says "John Paul II."
DeleteHow's that for fraternal correction?
Fixed it - thanks Merc!
DeleteI hit the source link and found people who don't understand how someone who was only pope for a month could potentially be canonized...I guess they think that he'd be canonized due to his papacy, not due to heroic virtues throughout his life.
ReplyDeleteMerc, Pius XII did so much during WWII, that when the head Rabbi of Rome became Catholic, he took the name Eugenio in gratitude for all the Jews saved by the Catholic Church (he converted for other reasons); priests and nuns were told to take in the Jews that would come to them so only 1000 of the 8000 in Rome would be deported. Further, the Church is said to have saved 850,000 Jews, in part due to PXII allowing baptismal certificates to be created for them.
People also forget that contemporary accounts indicate that Golda Meir expressed her gratitude for his actions during WWII. She isn't the only one to do so but the only one I can think of right now.
I believe John Paul I was not only a saint, but a very great saint indeed. I am writing a biography of him which I hope will be published before too long. He is MUCH more than just a 33-day papacy. You have to look at his whole life to see the extent of his sanctity.
ReplyDeleteAlso, there is a conference on his life and spirituality in New York in October, for the centenary of his birth. Go here for more info.
www.jpicentenary.org
I also think Pius XII was a saint and a true hero for his work to save lives during the Holocaust. I look forward to his canonization.
ReplyDeleteI guess I don't fit in a convenient box. . .
I do not fit in to a convenient box either - so thanks for commenting. I'd also like to see Pius XII elevated to Blessed asap - singularly and very solemnly.
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