AmericanPapist Comments
Do they have the Pope's "Milestones" in German?
^ of course, silly me
Great! I know you'll enjoy it, as I did - read it 4 times! I'm so glad it was his first work that I read because I encountered a PERSON and valuable insights into his thinking and theology. Also, as you read his memories of his childhood in the various places he called "home," you understand why he really NEEDS to go home to Bavaria in September.
However, it ends with his episcopal appointment ... we need a Milestones II - think we'll ever get it?
I hear Peter Seewald has some indications from B16 that he wouldn't mind doing another book interview ... we should be so lucky.
"Milestones" is really good. I agree with Linda; the Pope is a true family man. You'll notice that he spends a lot of time with his family. Their like a true family, they support one another. And from the country and time period he grew up in, that of course makes perfect sense.
His seminary studies get interrupted by the war, and I don't remember what happened next. In any case, it's an excellent read. Enjoy!
was his (obviously) forced assocation with the HY cut short because he went "a-wall" or merely didn't participate?
For the most part whenever he was asked to do something he could not in good conscience do he would tell them that he was becoming a Catholic priest, and while mocked for it, he would be excused from that particular duty (the most he was asked to do was man some FLAK anti-aircraft stations protecting a german factory near his home).
Re above comments on HY and seminary .. When he reached minimum age for compulsory membership in HY, he was involuntarily enrolled and he tried to be "dis-enrolled" and although a math teacher tried to get him to go just to get the certificate so he could continue to get the tuition reduction it assured, he refushed and then, because the math teacher was somewhat sympathetic to him, he pulled some strings so he didn't have to go.
The seminary time was interrupted, first because it was taken over to be used as a military hospital. Then, the Reich decided that the seminary students should put in some time as laborers to support the war effort so his entire seminary class was housed in a barracks with some time for study, but with forced labor (FLAK)in anti-artillery posts.
Then, when he came of draft age, he was formally drafter into the army in the last year of the war, serving in posts doing communications work and digging tank traps.
It was during this time, I think, that a confrontation with a Sr German Officer recruiting for the SS woke his unit out of their sleep and began interrogating the boys about what they wanted to do with their life after the war. It was then (at least in Milestones and in another book by George Weigel)he replied that he wanted to be a parish priest. And true, it did result in ridule and thus, saved him from involvement in the SS, but I don't think that's why he said it, of course.
At 17, to be confronting your commander with such an answer took a measure of courage and faith.
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