Without getting into detail as to sources, I want to answer those many critics of the Pope who claim he is "getting down from his cross" in resigning.
This is a total misunderstanding of the Pope as a man and as a very holy man.
When he placed his pallium on the tomb of Pope Celestine, I paid attention, and he again, visited the shrine in Aquila, Italy in 2010. Twice, this highly intelligent and sensitive Pope visited Celestine.
When the Pope placed his pallium on the tomb, I noticed that as a deliberate act. I took that as a sign of an eventual resignation. Why not? Some commentators mentioned it at the time.
This is not a Pope who acts impulsively or in the moment of emotion. This is a scholarly and reflective man who does these types of actions very deliberately.
I am a person who does things only after much thought and with deliberation.
I get misunderstood by many who NEVER think before they act.
Those of us who are reflective and move only in stages are not understood by an impulsive world.
Pope Benedict XVI is not impulsive. His character is one of deep concentration and brilliance. Perhaps, because he followed an extroverted and very spontaneous pope, Benedict has been misunderstood.
Stop accusing him of avoiding suffering.
Such a holy man has suffered and will suffer daily wherever he goes.
That is not the point.
The point is that the Holy Spirit is running the Church, not Benedict. And Benedict is responding to the Holy Spirit.
Many things are happening in the world BUT all of these are part of the large plan of God for all His creatures and His creation.
I admire and honour this Pope who responds to God first, as he has always done, and not to either the media or immature or unorthodox Catholics.
If people think that going into a monastery and entering into deep prayer is getting off the Cross, they do not understand intense prayer for the Church. Evil meets one in monasteries as well.
I, for one, trust in the Holy Spirit, who is leading the Church. This resignation is in the Will of God. All things which happen need to be seen in the light of Faith, Hope and Charity. Either one trusts in God, or one does not.
18 comments:
I had an interesting conversation with a relative yesterday about this subject. She is not Catholic but she was angered by a letter to a newspaper accusing the Pope of neglecting his cross. She was of the opinion that he has shown great humility and courage by admitting his frailty and stepping aside especially in a world that encourages people to cling to power when they are clearly not able to fulfil their obligations. I think it is a testament of his character and how he conducts himself that even such an anti-catholic can see that he does not make this decision lightly and it is not an easy way out to a comfortable retirement. Pope Benedict will be much missed.
SuperTradMom,
John 21:18.
I'm not judging (truly) the Holy Father, but I've yet to hear any apologists for this act take that verse into account, which is integral to Christ's commission to St. Peter. I also believe the verse applies not only to Peter, but to each one of his successors, and has always been understood that way.
I'd be happy to hear your thoughts.
Kate, I am touched that your relative was so sensitive. You are correct that the Pope is very humble. Thank you for your kind comments.
Jon, there has been nothing which indicates that the times dictate changes and that the Holy Spirit is not speaking to the Pope. We need to realize how holy this man is and that he would do nothing contrary to the Will of God. What apologists are you reading? There is a lot of silly speculation. What do can see with our own eyes is that the times are becoming more evil and that a younger man at the helm of the Church would be great.
That Benedict would renounce responsibility merely to avoid personal suffering is inconsistent with all we know about him. That it may look that way suggests that more is involved than we yet know.
SuperTradMom,
You still haven't addressed Christ's words to St. Peter as integral to the papal commission.
Apologists? Anyone defending it, and there are many.
I belong to an FSSP parish. I'm profoundly involved in it, and know how much I personally owe the generosity and wisdom of the Holy Father, whom I love very much. But I can't get my arms around what he is doing. I have another understanding of the Holy Ghost's role in running the Church (it's more in line with the first paragraphs of Fr Rutler's Crisis piece which I know you've read), and don't necessarily think this act is the "will of God." In fact, I think it much more likely John 21:18 the express Will of God inasmuch as we can explicitly know it.
I don't think the Holy Father is doing this without knowing these things. On the contrary, I'm confident he's profoundly aware of them. I do believe that the times are becoming, as you say, more evil, but that doesn't mean I believe that "a younger man at the helm of the Church would be great."
The point which is always missed, of course, is that we know little of why Pope Benedict decided to resign. We do (or should) know him sufficiently to know that he does nothing without a deeply considered reason.
Cardinal Arinze's views can bew found on youtub, in a very clear and direct statement. My summary above, however, is an exceedingly brief recap of the good Cardinal's words.
I would have been delighted to have five or ten more years of Pope Benedict at the head of our Church, but I am not arrogant enough to judge a decision the foundation of which is unknown to me. Instead, I shall accept, on the clear foundation of his character, his judgment as to his own actions.
Jon, do you not believe the Pope is acting in the Will of God? That is gross arrogance. If the Pope has shown us anything in eight years, it is that he is humble and holy. He is absolutely listening to God and very deliberate in his actions. If we are entering into a horrible time of persecution, for example, and real schism in the Church between the Americanists, who are disobedient and others, as here is England, who ignore Rome, would it not make sense for God to want a stronger man in the lead?
The Pope is under no obligation to explain all the spiritual details of his decision.
Plus, is it not clear to you the times we are entering into demand unusual actions?
Bill, thanks for the measured comment. As usual, you expressed your self well and have done some homework.
Thanks, Supertradmum, and please forgive the sloppy typing.
Jon, you cannot say that you know if Benedict is called to physical martyrdom, which is the meaning of the words of Christ to Peter. That is way to specific....
Those words were to tell Peter that he would be crucified....And, if Peter was killed in 63, he would not have been older than 70, most likely. Not 85. Anyway, I cannot follow your argument as Benedict is one Pope and Peter is another.
SuperTradMom,
You still haven't addressed John 21:18.
But before I go further, my frame of mind is far from hostile. We should be discussing this over coffee, or even better, beer. Picture me sitting at a table over a frothy mug...
"Jon, do you not believe the Pope is acting in the Will of God? That is gross arrogance."
My response to that is, YOU believe the Pope is acting according to the will of God? YOU believe? Why, that is gross arrogance.
The HF is making a prudential decision. There is no way either you or I, short of direct revelation, can tell if he's acting according to God's will. And neither can he. I can give him the benefit of the doubt, but I can go no further.
I said in my last post that I agree with you that the times, as you say, are "becoming more evil." I agree that the "times we are entering into demand unusual actions." But don't you think risking a Pope Tagle for any reason dangerously close to tempting God? Now a Pope Tagle, he'd provide a few "unusual actions" I'd warrant.
I don't think, as Henry implies, that HH is taking this drastic action simply to avoid suffering. I think the reasons, whatever they might be, are much more complex, and range anywhere from a demonstrated archeologistic understanding of the papacy to the intransigence of the curia and episcopacy to something spiritually darker. I simply don't know. But I'm not going to presume that what I'm seeing is the express will of God when all I have to concretely guide me is the example history and the words Our Lord in the twenty-first chapter of John.
Sorry, I see you did address the verse.
Mom, John 21:18 has always been considered integral to the the papal commission of "Feed My sheep," which immediately proceeds it. Indeed, it does apply to St. Peter's crucifixion, as St. John explicitly says, but it's also been understood that a pope dies the death the Lord has given him, whether it be in a bed, in a wheel chair, or upside-down on a cross. Abdication of the office has always been seen as proper to an extraordinary circumstance, like the healing of schism or banishment by the emperor. It's only happened eight other times in 2,000 years, and the result, i.e., what followed, has rarely been positive.
Supertradmum, I know Jon well as a traditional comrade and soul-mate, and dear friend. While he can well speak (and speak well) for himself, I suspect he's trying to get somehow at the real reason or full explanation that is not yet apparent. I trust that none of us like thinkers doubts that Benedict is acting for the welfare of the Church rather than his own personal welfare or convenience. I myself feel confident that he (unlike most of us) would not shrink even from physical martyrdom. Without descending to Fatima-third-secret speculation, there surely is something here that "inquiring minds want to know", irregardless of whether we ought to or deserve to.
Jon and Henry, thank you so much for your comments. I do believe that the Pope is saintly and has insights from God which I do not have. Therefore, I trust that his resignation is from God. To do otherwise would be, for me, doubting his purity of heart, which we have seen not only in his documents, but in his life.
I am not until Fatima speculations, as I find those spurious at worst and simply not necessary doctrinal at best. I do not go in for private revelations on the whole and will wait for God to reveal His own plan for us. I believe what Sister Lucia has said on that matter and do not want to discuss it here.
Let us love and trust the Pope.
Jon and Henry, thank you so much for your comments. I do believe that the Pope is saintly and has insights from God which I do not have. Therefore, I trust that his resignation is from God. To do otherwise would be, for me, doubting his purity of heart, which we have seen not only in his documents, but in his life.
I am not until Fatima speculations, as I find those spurious at worst and simply not necessary doctrinal at best. I do not go in for private revelations on the whole and will wait for God to reveal His own plan for us. I believe what Sister Lucia has said on that matter and do not want to discuss it here.
Let us love and trust the Pope.
By the way, I am old enough to be taught by the good nuns that curiosity is a sin. St. Benedict states the same thing. We should just wait and see.
oh and I meant into not until
I have been fighting with an old computer all day and with off and on Internet, so please excuse errors...pax vobiscum
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