Nothing new to tell...
Everyone is getting too analytical as regards his every move, what he reads, how he appears, what he says. The experts are taking over, making it clear to ordinary Catholics just what the new Pope is all about and what he will do, what he really means, and so on. My childish enthusiasm has quelled.
Liar. You still love Papa but just want everyone to shut up so you can enjoy him.
ReplyDeleteWhat?
I expect the secular media to analyze the election of Pope Francis from a secular viewpoint, as if it were the election of just another head of state. I expect them to "rate his performance" and how it stacks up to how they think he should be acting. And I basically ignore what they say.
ReplyDeleteI am amazed and highly disappointed that so many "faithful" Catholics are doing the same thing. We are talking about the Vicar of Christ, the divinely appointed Head of the Mystical Body of Jesus Christ on earth who is directly inspired by the Holy Spirit. Yet I hear Catholics talking about "political machinations" and the "real reasons" for the election of Pope Francis. They make such statements as "we just have to wait and see where this pope will take us."
I can tell you exactly where the pope will take us - to the Kingdom of God! If that's naive, simplistic and even "childish", then so be it. It is not my job to judge the Pope, nor the job of anyone else on this earth.
Please keep your "childish enthusiasms", Terry. I, for one, need that.
"Catholic in Brooklyn"--thank you.
ReplyDeleteIs it okay if I observe that there is something about his face when in prayer or at Mass that just draws me in?
ReplyDeleteThis was something that had an effect on me when I first went to Assumption Grotto. I once said of my pastor that if a tanker exploded on the street outside the church, he likely wouldn't flinch, he was that focused. Each time I happen to look at his face, it's a reminder to me that, I should be *there* too.
Perhaps my mind wanders subconsciously.
Pope Francis has that same effect on me.
Then again, I'm the kind of person who sees a Confession line and the next thing I know, I'm in line. There's something about seeing a Confession line that can draw one to the Sacrament. It's a reminder, I suppose, and at my parish the priests recommend it frequently, and offer it during Masses (we are a commuter parish with some living an hour or more away, and this works well).
The Holy Spirit can use others to move our hearts. We can never know what is in their hearts, and the outwardly reverent can be inwardly irreverent. But, even apparent reverence can be a catchy thing.
Okay. I'm sorry, was I too over analytical?
LOL
Diane, I have to say the same thing about Pope Francis - his face just draws me in. He looks so kind (but you know there is a steel backbone behind that smile!) I know this is silly but I hoped that Cardinal Bertone would not be elected as pope - he looks severe and I didn't think the general public would take to him. Stupid reasoning - I know!
ReplyDeleteDiane - not too analytical at all. LOL!
ReplyDeleteAngela - I thought the same thing about Bertone. I thought he might be elected because I was convinced it had to be an Italian this time - and someone associated with Fatima. The Italian part is almost right - since Pope Francis is Italian descent... from the Piedmont region... where St. John Bosco was from!
I know! ;)