b. 5 August 1912
“The Emmaus community is not made up of saints – They are ordinary men who are no less good than you, nor better. But amongst the rubbish they found a small excerpt from the Gospel that we had found too difficult and so threw it away: 'Love your neighbour as yourself.'” - Abbé Pierre
The French priest Abbé Pierre, if he had lived, would have turned 100 this year. He was a very controversial, heroic priest, who founded the Emmaus Community, a world-wide organization which assists refugees, and the homeless poor. He didn't get along with everyone. The Jesuit Fr. Henri de Lubac told him on the day of his priestly ordination: "ask to the Holy Spirit that he grants you the saints' anti-clericalism". I believe He did. I think St. Catherine of Genoa had the same gift.
Yeah, orthodoxy's overrated.
ReplyDeleteSo if I understand you correctly Abbe Pierre's life of charity and love of neighbor covers this?
ReplyDelete..."Abbé Pierre died on 22 January 2007 at the age of 94: just a few months before he had sparked a controversy in the Catholic world with a public confession he made in his autobiography about violating the vow of chastity (and especially) his approval of same-sex couples adopting. "
As long as one is repentant and strives toward a true "Metanoia" his/her charity covereth a multitude of sins. I would have difficulty with Abbe Pierre's approval of same sex couples adopting. I don't find that to be charitable. I find it rather scandalous.
ReplyDelete"So if I understand you correctly Abbe Pierre's life of charity and love of neighbor covers this?"
Is that what I said? My heading is simply a reflection upon the scripture 'charity covers a multitude of sins'. Even Pope Benedict praised the man's life-long dedication to charity. I wasn't offering praise or criticism - the post is a simple consideration of the merits of charity.
My mention of the controversial French priest who died and whose life was recently celebrated in France, was only for the purpose of sharing his reflection on the commandment, "Love your neighbor as yourself." I thought it was rather meaningful.
I'm not proposing him for canonization. Neither do I have some hidden, liberal agenda to corrupt Catholic teaching.
Terry, far be it from me to question about what you post. That wasn't my intent. I don't deny that Abbe Pierre's life and hands were full of charity and virtue at the end of his life. Nor do I make light that there is much I can learn from the life of such a priest. I'm just trying to make sense of the Abbe's life and motivation for supporting some things which are contrary to Church teaching is all. I'm trying to figure out why he would come to such conclusions. Now, do you seriously think that I would accuse you of having a "hidden, liberal agenda"? No of course not.
ReplyDeleteHaha! Not to worry - I've gotten a few comments I did not post that hinted as much - hence my response. God bless you.
DeleteIn other words, the heresy and the homosexual advocacy gets overlooked because he's a figure popular in the media?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous - sign your name and you might get published. I won't tell on you.
ReplyDelete