We are living in the era of “piccolomini… little men”...

Says a little man.

“When small men begin to cast big shadows, it means that the sun is about to set.”
– Lin Yutang, 20th century Chinese philosopher

Fr. Z wrote an extremely scornful assessment of the new members of the College of Cardinals, appointed by Pope Francis.  Traditionalists are upset and Z invites them to laugh it off since, "The ploy and play of the list is so obvious that it is hardly to be taken seriously anymore."  Beware - as St. Benedict, citing Scripture in his Rule on the Tenth Step of Humility cautioned: "Only a fool raises his voice in laughter."(Sir 21:23)

Fr. Z appears to be growing more bitter and scornful than ever before.  I wonder if  resentment and the remembrance of wrongs is perhaps part of the cause?  I of course do not know - but I would avoid priests like him and be careful not to be led astray in opposition to the Pope and Bishops in communion with him.

A little man with a big blog.

Fr. Z brings it on himself.  I'm not judging his soul, not even his motivation - though I may wonder about it after I read his critiques of what the Pope has to say.  Today his contradiction of the Holy Father's allocution at yesterday's Wednesday Audience is extremely disrespectful and defensive.  He can do and say as he wishes since he appears to be a 'free-agent' priest, but those who follow him and others who read him, they cannot be well served by it, much less edified.  

"Scorn, bitterness, scoffing, these are no weapons. Belittling others, not seeing Christ in them -- this too is to inflict wounds -- is to do to Christ what we are doing to the least around us. This is an expression of fear -- fear of being laughed at and scorned in turn. If we scorn others we will not win them. There is no love in scorn." - August 13, 1951 - The Duty of Delight: The Diaries of Dorothy Day

Fr. Z finds the CNA article on the Holy Father and what the Pope says "amusing." His post makes it clear he wasn't amused. In fact, his response was what he claimed the Pope's 'attack' on people who desire Tradition was - "pretty vicious."

Those who really believe do not attribute too much importance to the struggle for the reform of ecclesiastical ritual. They live on what the Church always is; and if one wants to know what the Church really is one must go to them. For the Church is most present not where organizing, reforming and governing are going on but in those who simply believe and receive from her the gift of faith that is life to them." - Ratzinger: "Introduction to Christianity." Holy, Yet Mingled with Sinners: The Church of the Pope Theologian

Yup.  I use pull quotes too.