And many of us did.
Many Catholics made novenas, prayed rosaries and offered their communions, some of us even 'adopted' Cardinals to support in prayer as they voted for a worthy successor to Pope Benedict; most likely millions of people joined in prayer asking God to give us a good Pope. Perhaps some people even prayed for a particular Cardinal to be Pope, others prayed for a particular type of Pope. Pope Benedict simply asked us to pray for the new Pope.
I believe God made his choice.
Some people are very unhappy with the choice. Some are angry. There may be some who doubt that it was God's choice at all. Of course, there are others who think there isn't any Pope at all, that the See is vacant, and has been since Pius XII died.
That would be their choice.
Some thoughts from Pope Francis to his Cardinals:
A thought full of grateful affection and deep gratitude goes to my venerated predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI.
"A thought full of grateful affection and deep gratitude - he continued - goes to my venerated predecessor, Pope Benedict XVI, who during the years of his papacy has enriched and strengthened the Church with his teaching, his kindness, his guidance, his faith, his humility and gentleness that will remain a spiritual heritage for everyone. The Petrine ministry, lived with total dedication, had a wise and humble interpreter in him, with his eyes still fixed on Christ, the risen Christ present and alive in the Eucharist. He will always be in our fervent prayers, our unceasing remembrance, our undying gratitude and affection. We feel that Benedict XVI has ignited a flame at the bottom of our hearts: it will continue to burn because it will be fueled by his prayer, which still support the Church in its spiritual and missionary journey. "
[...]
Another reference to Benedict XVI who "recalled many times in his teachings and, most recently, with the brave and humble gesture", it "is Christ who guides the Church through his Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the soul of the Church with its life-giving and unifying force: he makes one body of many, the Mystical Body of Christ. "
"Let us never give in to pessimism, a bitterness that the devil offers us every day: Never give in to pessimism and discouragement, we have the firm conviction that the Holy Spirit gives the Church, with his mighty breath, the courage to persevere and also to seek new methods of evangelization, to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. Christian truth is attractive and persuasive because it answers the deep need of human existence, announcing convincingly that Christ is the only Saviour of all man and of all men. This announcement remains as valid today as it was at the beginning of Christianity, when the first great missionary expansion of the Gospel took place. " - AsiaNews
Some people are very unhappy with the new Pope, but I have to say, I'm a bit bewildered as to the reasons why. So far as I am able to tell, they're unhappy with him because of his name and because of his clothes. Mostly because of his clothes.
ReplyDeleteNow, pardon me if I seem callous in not giving a flying flip about the opinions or sensibilities of Catholics who are vulgar enough to join in an ugly harangue against the Successor of St. Peter in Rome the very instant he is elected all because of what he does or doesn't wear on his feet or around his shoulders. Pardon me if I fail to acknowledge the validity of a "Catholic" attitude that gleefully scores the newly-elected Pontiff 1 or 2 or 3 out of 10 points all because they're mad that he walked out wearing this instead of that.
Excuse me if I wonder if the lunatic fringe and the ravings that emanate from it should be permitted the illusion which they clearly labor under that they are actually of the mainstream! Pardon me furthermore if I grow ever more disgusted by those who pretend to shepherd them for encouraging this misperception they all seem to have about themselves.
It is clear that these "folks" are astonished that the new Pope is not a certain cardinal who has not taken a certain name and will not be crowned with the tiara on Tuesday while borne aloft on the sedia gestatoria as he is fanned with ostrich feathers by eunuchs! Astonished! They are astonished!
And this is why they despise the Pope we actually ended up with. He is the 2x4 of reality that was bound to emerge from the conclave and smack them all across the head. Thanks to him, they all now realize that they are, in fact, a small minority of daydreamers living in Fantasyland.
In the meantime, there is a world out there--the real world--that is astonished at this new pope for very different reasons. He's out there talking about the poor and the marginalized. He's out there reminding all of us of the example of St. Francis of Assisi. Good Catholics, lapsed Catholics, non-Catholics, and anti-Catholics alike, all around the world, are falling in love with this guy! Why? Because he reminds them of Jesus Christ, perhaps? Well s**t, what's a Vicar of Christ doing reminding people of Him?
Yeah, I'm sorry, but I'm just not even slightly inclined to pay attention to the insane griping of the "We Hatessss Frrrrrancisssss" wing of the cappamagnite movement any longer. Get lost.
I mean, if you detested him for a legitimate reason, that would be one thing. But because of his wardrobe? Give me a healthy break.
*spins pencil*
That needed to be said.
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ReplyDeleteHe's impressing the hell out of some non-Catholic friends and has them interested in the traditions of the Church, and its mission to the poor. Making people interested in the Church and curious about her teachings is always a good thing. They explicitly see Jesus in him.
ReplyDeleteI cannot speak for what lies in the heart of anyone other than myself, but I think I know why at least some people are unhappy with the selection of a pope who exemplifies apostolic poverty and humility. Some of us have allowed politics, but not our faith, to inform our consciences. Some of us have hidden behind wedge issues to advance our political causes. Some of us, who would point our fingers at so-called cafeteria Catholics, have turned a deaf ear to the very Gospel by which Christ tells the rich young man how he can more closely follow Him. Some of us have used the immoral and unconstitutional HHS mandate as an excuse to turn a blind eye to the fact that so many people living in the richest nation in the world cannot afford even the most basic healthcare. Some of us have manipulated the definition of charity so that we can excuse ourselves from doing anything other than pointing out the faults of others (in charity, of course) but have not personally lifted a finger to help anyone in need.
ReplyDeleteI saw a comment tweeted by Pat Archbold yesterday that some factions of the Church would sooner see "the bride dressed in rags". He is spot-on about this because we still have those who insist that it's disrespectful to the poor and unChrist-like to offer beautiful, solemn and highly reverential worship to God. The liturgy should be beautiful, and I have always felt that a parish should ensure that it is, to the best of that parish's ability. But the Pope doesn't have to personally wear anything out of his comfort zone for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to be offered accordingly. Those who insist otherwise are as bad as the haters who use the beauty of the Vatican to condemn the entire faith.
Not everyone who prefers the TLM to the Novus Ordo is disappointed with Pope Francis, nor is everyone who prefers the TLM part of the lunatic fringe that wasted no time but exercised not one iota of charity or faith by mocking, ridiculing and slandering our new pontiff before he even left the balcony of the loggia. I am really at a loss why we seem to hold this myth in our Church that you can't love beautiful liturgy and demonstrate concern for the marginalized, the forgotten, the rejected. It is entirely possible and I believe we are obligated to do both.
Joyce
James - for some reason I can't respond to an individual comment - so I just have to use the com box to respond to comments.
ReplyDeleteSo. Thanks for the wonderful comment! You say it well.
Joyce - do I come off as you say:
ReplyDelete"I am really at a loss why we seem to hold this myth in our Church that you can't love beautiful liturgy and demonstrate concern for the marginalized, the forgotten, the rejected. It is entirely possible and I believe we are obligated to do both."
I think others think I do. That is unfortunate - it is not how I think... despite the fact I have no interest in cappa magnas and galleros. These happen to be removed before Mass begins anyway.
No, Terry, I do not think you come off that way at all and I apologize if you think I directed that comment to you - I most certainly did not. I suppose I was thinking of the gloating Cardinal Roger Mahony when I said it, and others in my own circle of acquaintances who think it's an insult to poor people if the priest doesn't come out in a chasuble made of sackcloth, etc. Truth be told, I have no love for the cappa magna either. I do love beautiful liturgy which can be had without great expense. I am just frustrated by those who think you have to forgo one in order to do the other. We don't, which is why I wish everyone would just calm down. It would be nice to see those who nearly lost their minds because the Pope didn't wear this or that to put that much energy into prayer and penance offered on the Holy Father's behalf. I think we are on the same page.
ReplyDeletePeace
Joyce
Thanks Joyce - it would be okay with me if you thought that - I was interested because of a couple of personal remarks made by others. I thought if Joyce thinks that to, then I'm not communicating very well.
ReplyDeleteI see no interuption in the way the Holy Spirit is leading the Church in the election of this Pope. My goodness, Pope Benedict was so wonderful, but he simply couldn't carry on alone - I have to believe that Benedict is as thrilled with Farncis as the rest of us are.
Thanks Joyce.
Francis, not Farncis. And, thinks that to - sb - too. I can't spell anymore. LOL!
ReplyDeleteNo worries Terry, you can't spell and I can't get the magna cappa/cappa magna right! LOL we make quite a team. God bless you for YOUR humility, your sense of humor, your devotion to Our Lady and her Divine Son and for putting up with the likes of me!
ReplyDeleteJoyce