I think many of the things we think of as, 'The Church' are about to go away forever in the twinkling of an eye. The City of Rome. The Vatican. Vatican Radio. High Clergy in wonderful garments. Great Cathedrals. Bishops Conferences. Wonderful Cathedrals and Universities. The whole Institutional sheebang. But these are not the Church. The Church is the Mystical Body of Christ. All these others things are simply outer signs on an Interior Reality. Graces if you like. But people in other places and other times such Communist China or Vietnam have had to have their eyes fixed on this inner Mystical Reality in order to get through things. The Church is a bit like a house that is about to get blown away by the storm. First the lights will go off, then the heating, then the shingles will blow away, the roof, the walls and no more house. But though the house may sail away the home will remain. For where there is love there is always home. We have to realise that home is not about the house; home is about the heart. Home is about love. It is the same with the Church. The Church is all about love. The Church is all about families. ..and while all these others things are nice and wonderful to have, when they're gone love and family remains and at the end of the day these are all that really matter.
Apparently Pope Francis has admitted his policy on China (I mean his policy of selling out the Catholic Church in China to the CCCP in order to get in bed with them) has failed. In which case he owes the Catholics of China a huge, huge apology. But I wouldn't hold my breath. My guess is that it will make him feel slightly guilty and he will dislike seeing Cardinal Zen more than ever because seeing him will disturb his conscience..if he has one. Which I very much doubt.
I was wondering if someone could get Cardinal Zen to a safe place. It seems strange that China would allow him out of China.
the only thing I worry about is the increasing difficulty (and maybe inability) in finding a GOOD priest to receive absolution and communion I love the pagentry, the vestments, the churches but you are right that’s not what makes the church.
I saw a film one time about the Far East in a village were plague had broken out in their straw homes. The Plague had come carried by rats, which in their turn had carried plague carrying fleas. The authorities had decided the only way to end the plague was to kill all the rats and their fleas and the only way to do this was to burn the homes. \So they burned the village down. I recall all the rats trying to escape. But it worked. This is the way it is with the Church, I think. It has become infested with rats and fleas who have become happy on the fat of the Land. When the Church is burnt down they will burn with it. So a new Church will be built. My guess is that you will have a much better chance of finding a good priest in the Catacombs than you have now. In fact if you do find a priest in the Catacombs the odds on you will also find a Saint. Jesus promised, 'I will not leave you orphans'. We can count on this.
PE Benedict specifically asked that Biden NOT attend…. https://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/biden-benedict-funeral/2023/01/04/id/1103015/
I wouldn't just accept all this at face value. There are many angles from which to view these events. Even if Pope Benedict's resignation from Office' was 'free', there is still the problems with the latin. A 'resignation' is not the same as a 'renunciation' ( the term needed, I think) and there is the whole munus / ministerium debate and the Pope's prior writings, before his pontificate, on a 'shared papacy' etc - which is impossible and would be an error. We really just can't tell. But God controls the weather and the lightening strike on St. Peter's and the hawks killing the white doves etc didn't inspire me with faith in Francis..............
I don't think the brave Cardinal Zen would choose to stay. I think he's the sort who would want to be with his people.
I agree, we do not know all the background and if you want you can continue to question things. However, based on what I know now, I believe that Pope Benedict made his decision freely, guided by the Holy Spirit, and did what serves the Church, the mystical body of Christ.
Luke 12:2-3 Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
Pope Francis meets with Benedict XVI’s longtime secretary, Archbishop Gänswein By Jonathan Liedl for CNA January 9, 2023 Catholic News AgencyPrint Archbishop Georg Gänswein and Pope Francis / Daniel Ibanez/CNA Vatican City, Jan 9, 2023 / 09:24 am (CNA). Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the longtime personal secretary of the late Pope Benedict XVI, met with Pope Francis this morning, according to the Vatican’s daily press briefing. The German prelate’s meeting with the Holy Father comes only four days after Benedict XVI was laid to rest in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica on Thursday, Jan. 5. It also took place shortly before the public release of Gänswein’s forthcoming book detailing his nearly 20 years of service to Benedict XVI. According to a preview of the text published by Reuters, the book includes details about the German pope’s alleged disagreements with his Argentinian successor over matters such as Pope Francis’ restriction of the traditional Latin Mass and his statements regarding moral matters such as abortion and homosexuality. Titled “Nothing But The Truth — My Life Beside Benedict XVI,” Gänswein’s 330-page book will be released in Italian on Jan. 12. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni has provided no comment on the book, which was written with Italian journalist Saverio Gaeta. Another episode reportedly discussed in the book is Gänswein’s effective dismissal from the role of prefect of the Papal Household, which occurred in 2020. Originally appointed to the position by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, Gänswein continued to serve as prefect during Pope Francis’ pontificate, a role that includes organizing official audiences with the Holy Father. However, Gänswein ceased performing the duties associated with the position following a controversy in January 2020 surrounding a book on priestly celibacy originally published as co-authored by Pope Benedict XVI and Guinean Cardinal Robert Sarah. The book, “From the Depths of Our Heart,” was published amid the controversial pan-Amazonian synod and was seen by many as a critique from the former pontiff of Pope Francis’ allowance for questions of married clergy to be discussed during the proceedings. Gänswein asked Sarah to remove Pope Benedict’s name as co-author of the text and said that a “misunderstanding” had led to the retired pope’s inclusion as an author. Gänswein’s role did not change following the incident, but his cessation of papal household prefect duties was explained by the Holy See Office as a reflection of the “redistribution of the various commitments and duties” of papal household staff. In his forthcoming book, Gänswein reportedly writes that, following the authorship incident, Pope Francis told him “not to come back to work tomorrow.” “Nothing But the Truth” reportedly claims that Pope Benedict wrote two letters to Pope Francis asking him to restore Gänswein to his duties because the German archbishop was “under attack from all sides,” but his reinstatement never took place. With Pope Benedict no longer living, it is unclear what role Gänswein will have going forward in the Vatican, if any. As is standard practice for private audiences, the details of the meeting were not shared by the Vatican press office. A request for comment from Gänswein was not immediately returned. https://www.catholicworldreport.com...-xvis-longtime-secretary-archbishop-ganswein/
Wow, Luan thank you for posting this. I forgot about the details outlined above regarding the book that Pope Benedict coauthored with Cardinal Sarah. So many things like that have occurred over the past almost 10 years it id difficult to remember them all. It also appears from the ending of this article that Ganswein has nothing to loose, so hope fully this book will stand up to it's title "Nothing But The Truth". I think that it will and I predict a best seller. One of the most critical things that we need right is the truth (and the Truth, of course).
In this video, we discuss the Cardinals' decision to mobilize against Pope Francis and the potential consequences of his resignation. Pope Francis has been under increasing pressure from within the Catholic Church to resign, and the Cardinals have decided to take appropriate action in response. This video discusses the likely consequences of Pope Francis's resignation, and how it will impact the Church as a whole. A cardinal said the conservative group of cardinals is ready to move against the 'communist' Pope Francis. According to this cardinal, the plan to oust the liberal-minded Pope Francis, age 86, began in just days after the death of his predecessor, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on December 31. END GAME: Cardinals Mobilizing against Pope Francis
