Why not?
I don't know for sure. I think I'm trying to avoid cheering for this one or that one to be pope. It seems to me a rosary and other prayers for the election of the new pope suffice. Besides, I dislike adding devotions on top of devotions.
I've concluded I should no longer post critiques of those Cardinals entering the Conclave, and I'm absolutely against praying for a specific Cardinal to become Pope - as if I know what is good for the Church. It seems to me we Americans get ourselves caught up in cheering 'candidates' on as if it were a competition or a campaign for political office - which is precisely why I would never want an American as pope in the first place. I'd hate to see the Roman Catholic Church become any more Americanized than it has.
Imagine using a Wisconsin cheese-head-hat for the Papal Coronation, with the Pope wearing 'We're #1' foam fingers for the Apostolic Blessing, while the crowds chant, "USA! USA! USA! USA!" - Only to show up on Colbert or Letterman the next time he makes a home visit to the United States.
I was under the impression that adopting a cardinal was more about beinggiven a cardinal at random to pray for specifically that he is open to the working of the Holy Spirit, etc. As opposed to picking one that you like and hope that he becomes pope.
ReplyDeleteYes, that's its purpose!
DeleteEventually, when the new Pope is elected, all the mayhem, all the krayzee-ness will die down. Everyone is just caught up in the Conclave fever.
ReplyDeleteAll we have to and can do is pray. Pray for the cardinal-electors and for he who will be chosen.
A rosary a day keeps the devil away! Pray for the Conclave cardinals (alliteration intended), and the Holy Spirit will do what He knows best!
ReplyDeleteThe image of a bunch of foam cheese-heads in St. Peter's square staring at the Sistine chimney during the conclave made me smile!
Your assessment of an American Pope is the very reason I don't want one either.
ReplyDeleteMonica - yes - that is the purpose as Lynn says.
ReplyDeleteI pray for the Cardinal to accurately discern the Will of GOD and elect whomever Our Lord chooses. I don't pray that such and such or so and so becomes Pope. That kind of prayer smacks of wanting My wll done not God's will.
ReplyDeleteSocial Medial Spirituality (Cardinal Tagle):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN8ZbAJh1AU
I found myself hoping for this man or that early on. But my prayer has evolved. I can't possibly know even what qualities and skills are needed, much less the man possessing them. God knows everything. He will be showering the Cardinals with many graces. So, my prayer has evolved in such a way that I am now praying simply that 2/3 of the electors act in those graces, truly giving us the man God wills.
ReplyDeleteSo, the cardinals can elect a man of God's choosing by acting on the graces sent them; or God can permit a man to be elevated that was not of his choosing, but shower him with more graces.
I'm comforted to know that if a man is chosen who is neither willed or permitted by God, or who refused to act on grace, he can take him out!
Oh, and I did choose a Cardinal to pray for. I'm not piling on added devotions; I'm simply giving more intentions to him and offering more of my works and sacrifices for him with the simple request that he respond affirmatively to God's grace
ReplyDeleteAs long as you did Diane, I did too - his name is Geraldo Majella Agnelo - from Sao Salvador, Bahia! I love samba music.
ReplyDeleteI have to go pray now.
Very cool, Terry. I got Cardinal Eijk of the Netherlands.
ReplyDeleteI pray that we get the Pope we need, not the Pope we deserve. I can think of one American cardinal for whom we would not be wearing cheese heads, etc.
ReplyDeleteI got Philippe Barbarin when I did the adopt-a-cardinal thing about a week ago. Although dismayed at first that I was assigned a Frenchman, I set aside my anti-Gallican tendencies and said a prayer for his intentions. Then I wrote his name out on a piece of paper and put it in a box of people to be prayed for that I keep on the Empire (the irony) folding table that has become my "home altar", that way he's included in my daily "chapel".
ReplyDeleteWhile I can't deny that I'm hoping for one cardinal in particular, I am not praying that one cardinal gets elected over another. I simply pray that "malicious quarrels and contentions cease, and may Christ our God dwell in (their) midst."
I decided to pray for all the cardinals. I'm so retro.
ReplyDeleteWhat a show-off.
DeleteLOL!
I got Cardinal Franc Rode of Slovenia. I pray for him to listen for the still, small voice of God. (I also pray that we get the Pope we need, not the one we want, and please, God, not the one we deserve.)
ReplyDelete