AmericanPapist Comments
I am digging the use of vague but negative assesments of the "Catholic youth beat"... Well done channel 14!
What is it to be detached, exactly?
I feel detached... I live in Ohio, he lives in Rome. I have 5 dogs, he has one cat. He is the Pope of Rome, I am a blogger who is underemployed as a subcontractor. He likes soccer, I like basketball.
We do both like beer... But he likes the good stuff, I drink swill.
"detached"
Such a vaguge (though negative) and useless word.
Where I do feel attached?
He is my Pope.
The entire notion of this supposed detachment is absurd.
Of course, to be pedantic, his very first homily as pope was delivered in Latin in the Sistine chapel on 20 April 2005.
What cracks me up is that whenever we see negative things about the Pope or people protesting his visit, it is always this tiny group of people.
I think the secular press is so far out of touch, it couldn't report on which side of the barn is broad. In fact, I'm not sure they can find the side of the barn.
There have been reports about some group of people protesting contraceptives, gay marriage - I mean, really! That's the media - it ain't news to cover the hundreds of thousands who want to be there and love the Holy Father. Rather, they want to cover a small crowd of people who follow the motto: Non-serviam!
I think the media is in for a very big surprise. Watch as they try to figure out what his appeal is. Hopefully they will turn to authentic Catholic sources and learn that the appeal of the pope, an pope, is his role as the vicar of Christ.
Now hold on here. I am a youth minister who grew up being formed by JPII and like so many millions of others, he is my spiritual father and hero. I still miss him and miss him being the Pope.
Which is NOT to say that I won't be WILLING to put myself under Pope Benedict. But JPII had this charm and way with people that exuded every time he stepped out among the people. He was a natural at it. It made it very easy to connect to him. I think with Pope Benedict he exudes less. This might mean that we (read:"I") need to choose him as my Pope. It's like going from "Papa" to "Father". It's not bad, it's just different.
Maybe the "choosing" is a lesson. I've said and have heard others say that JPII was the Pope of the Great Evangelization and Pope Benedict will be the Pope of the Great Catechesis. We can choose to put ourselves under his tutalage and instruction even if it seems there isn't as strong of a personality involved. You know what I mean: JPII and Pope Benedict are just different men. Not in a bad way, just...just in a way that I have to choose to adjust to. That's all. And not everyone will choose, since we tend to be a "cult personality" culture, but there in lies the whole invitation to "choose". Will we choose to give our ascent as Catechesis challenges us to?
Did that make any sense. ?
I love that quotation from his inaugural homily and have always found it very moving. I have also preached on it many times. Many people today are afraid to open their hearts to Christ because they secretly, even subconsciously fear that he will take something from them -- their freedom, their happiness, etc. The Holy Father absolutely hit the nail on the head!
I wanted to comment on the ground Zero
prayer moment.Two weeks ago in a new testament class we had read a portion of the Book of Revelations, (Chapter 18-19). When we read it in class it sounded so much like the World Trade Center coming down:
" 9"When the kings of the earth who committed adultery with her and shared her luxury see the smoke of her burning, they will weep and mourn over her. 10Terrified at her torment, they will stand far off and cry:
" 'Woe! Woe, O great city,
O Babylon, city of power!
In one hour your doom has come!'
11"The merchants of the earth will weep and mourn over her because no one buys their cargoes any more— 12cargoes of gold, silver, precious stones and pearls; fine linen, purple, silk and scarlet cloth; every sort of citron wood, and articles of every kind made of ivory, costly wood, bronze, iron and marble; 13cargoes of cinnamon and spice, of incense, myrrh and frankincense, of wine and olive oil, of fine flour and wheat; cattle and sheep; horses and carriages; and bodies and souls of men.
14"They will say, 'The fruit you longed for is gone from you. All your riches and splendor have vanished, never to be recovered.' 15The merchants who sold these things and gained their wealth from her will stand far off, terrified at her torment. They will weep and mourn 16and cry out:
" 'Woe! Woe, O great city,
dressed in fine linen, purple and scarlet,
and glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls!
17In one hour such great wealth has been brought to ruin!' "Every sea captain, and all who travel by ship, the sailors, and all who earn their living from the sea, will stand far off. 18When they see the smoke of her burning, they will exclaim, 'Was there ever a city like this great city?' 19They will throw dust on their heads, and with weeping and mourning cry out:
" 'Woe! Woe, O great city,
where all who had ships on the sea
became rich through her wealth!
In one hour she has been brought to ruin!
( Revelations Chapter 18)
So it was fresh in my mind. When the Pope drove up in the white pope mobile, all dressed in white head to toe, the verses referring to the Rider, "Ever Faithful, Ever true" flashed before my mind and I felt I was seeing the Book of Revelations coming to life right before my eyes:
"I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. " Revelations 19
Pope Benedict represented the Word of God in that city, and before all of us.
God Bless our Pope.
Mary John Zore
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