It was so deeply saddening to hear the late Pope Benedict was not given full honours at his funeral. Thank God he will be rewarded in full by dear God Himself. Was looking at a photo from the late Cardinal Pell's funeral, and what struck me was how poor Pope Francis may have been sent a wake up call from our dear God as to his own demise. We know how much Jesus loves every soul unconditionally and longs to save them. I hope and pray whatever faults and failings Pope Francis has accrued will be brought to the Fount of God's unfathomable Mercy in time. We can only pray for his soul. To be honest I am beginning to feel a sense of fear and panic with the latest news about the Holy Father that he is known for using foul language and even used the F BOMB! in a talk to Seminarians in Spain. What in the name of God are we coming to. Merciful Jesus, please cover us all with Your most precious Blood, that You may cleanse, renew, heal and restore us; so as to be more pleasing and acceptable in the sight of dear God. Viva Christo Rey.
Beautiful post Julia. Poor PF. He may well be in a "shot across the bow" moment. We must pray for his soul. His behavior is so troubling lately. DeGaulle wondered if we are seeing dementia. I confess to thinking that myself.
In new book, the late Benedict XVI defends Christianity against claims of intolerance Pope Benedict XVI | Paul Badde/EWTN By AC Wimmer CNA Newsroom, Jan 19, 2023 / 08:40 am Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has posthumously defended Christianity against claims of intolerance “in the name of tolerance.” In a new book published in Italy, the late pontiff warns of a “radical manipulation of human beings” and “the distortion of the sexes by gender ideology” in the name of tolerance. Rejecting the argument of a German theologian about monotheism being linked to intolerance, Benedict counters that “the authentic counterweight to every form of intolerance” is, in fact, Christ crucified. The late pontiff’s contribution, dated December 2018, is published in a new collection of texts by the theologian pope, touted by the Italian publisher as a spiritual “quasi-testament.”The 190-page volume is called “What is Christianity?” It contains 16 contributions, four of which were previously unpublished. According to CNA Deutsch, CNA’s German-language news partner, all of the texts were written after Benedict’s resignation in 2013. Apart from his reflection on monotheism and modern intolerance against Christianity, the texts cover several other theological topics, from intercommunion to the reform of the liturgy and the Church’s dialogue with Islam. Several of these issues have triggered vehement responses from German bishops and theologians and put the Church in Germany at odds with the Vatican — and the late pontiff. One such virulent topic is the question of intercommunion between Protestants and Catholics — which leading German bishops have pushed for, despite Vatican objections. The late pontiff reflects on the sacrament of the Eucharist in his essay on intercommunion. He explains why real ecumenism needs to account for the differences between Protestants and Catholics, rather than papering over these. Responses from German circles against such explanations and his own person in the past were one reason why — according to the publisher — the pope emeritus chose to publish posthumously, and in Italian first. https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/...ds-christianity-against-claims-of-intolerance
Yes, so good to hear from Julia! Prayers for the Holy Father. May his angst be an indication of his realization:"I've been duped by Woke Folk!" Savior of the World, have mercy on our souls!
Brazilian bishop authorizes prayer for private devotion to Benedict XVI Pope Benedict XVI. | Credit: Vatican Media By CNA Staff CNA Newsroom, Jan 18, 2023 / 14:15 pm A bishop has authorized and published a prayer for private devotion to Pope Benedict XVI, who died Dec. 31, 2022, at the age of 95 in Rome. Bishop Carlos Rossi Keller of the Diocese of Frederico Westphalen in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul published the prayer in Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Italian. “As children of the Church we must pray and ask God for his eternal rest in heaven,” the prelate said in sharing the prayer in Portuguese on his Facebook page. “But as testimonies of his generous dedication to God and knowing that his last words were ‘Lord, I love you,’ we can also privately ask for his intercession,” Rossi explained. In his post, the prelate stressed that “in accordance with the decrees of Pope Urban VIII, we declare that in no way is it intended to preclude the judgment of the ecclesiastical authority and that this prayer has no purpose for public worship.” The bishop likewise noted that the graces attributed to the intercession of Pope Benedict XVI must be communicated to the Vicariate of Rome, with a letter written to the following address: His Eminence Cardinal Vicar for the Diocese of Rome Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano 6, 00184 Rome RM, Italy The prayer for private devotion: Eternal and Almighty God, who inspired in the heart of your servant Pope Benedict XVI the sincere desire to encounter you and announce you, becoming a humble “co-operator with the truth” and offering himself as a servant, for Christ and for the Church, make me also know how to love the Church of Christ and to be able to follow in my life the eternal truths that she proclaims. Deign, Lord, to glorify your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, and grant, through his intercession, the favor I now ask of you (mention your petition). Amen. Pray an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be. This story was first published by ACI Prensa, CNA’s Spanish-language news partner. It has been translated and adapted by CNA.
Eternal and Almighty God, who inspired in the heart of your servant Pope Benedict XVI the sincere desire to encounter you and announce you, becoming a humble “co-operator with the truth” and offering himself as a servant, for Christ and for the Church, make me also know how to love the Church of Christ and to be able to follow in my life the eternal truths that she proclaims. Deign, Lord, to glorify your servant, Pope Benedict XVI, and grant, through his intercession, the favor I now ask of you (mention your petition). Amen. Than pray one Our Father, one Hail Mary, and a Glory be. Suggested prayer from above post!
Italian publisher releases book of essays by Benedict In the preface, former Pope Benedict asked that the book not be released before his death "What is Christianity?" a book of essays written by retired Pope Benedict XVI from 2014 to 2022, was released in Italian in late January. (Photo: CNS photo) By Cindy Wooden, Catholic News Service Published: January 21, 2023 05:16 AM GMT While the Second Vatican Council gave the Catholic Church a "beautiful" document on the priesthood, "it did not face the fundamental question" of the difference between Catholic and Protestant understandings of ordained ministry, wrote Pope Benedict XVI in an essay published after his death. An explanation of the aspects of "sacrifice and expiation" in the celebration of the Eucharist and, therefore, in the role of the Catholic priest was the focus of two of the new essays included in "What is Christianity?" -- a book released only in Italian in late January by Mondadori. Pope Benedict dated the preface of the book May 1, 2022, and included an order that it not be published until after his death, which occurred Dec. 31. Only four of the 16 essays in the book are published for the first time. All of them were written between 2014 and March 2022. The essay on "The Catholic Priesthood" is a complete revision and expansion of a contribution retired Pope Benedict gave to Cardinal Robert Sarah for inclusion in the book "From the Depths of Our Hearts," published in 2020. The main thrust of the book was a defense of priestly celibacy, but Pope Benedict said Cardinal Sarah had no permission to list him as co-author of the book and insisted he had contributed only extensive notes that became one chapter. Elio Guerriero, who helped Pope Benedict compile the essays in "What is Christianity?" said the controversy over the book with Cardinal Sarah was what led Pope Benedict to insist on waiting to publish the collection of essays until after his death. "I do not want to publish anything else in my life," Guerriero said Pope Benedict told him. "The fury of the circles opposed to me in Germany is so strong that the appearance of any word from me immediately provokes a murderous clamor on their part. I want to spare myself and Christendom this." The new version of the essay does defend priestly celibacy as the most appropriate expression of the total self-giving of a priest to God and as a condition for ritual purity in line with the Israelite priesthood. But the new version focuses more on the connection to ancient priesthood and the offering of a sacrifice than it does to celibacy. Neither version of the essay mentioned the continuing practice of ordaining married men in the Eastern Catholic churches, nor the exceptions granted by St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict himself to married former ministers of the Anglican Communion and other Christian denominations who become Catholic. The new version and a new essay on "The Meaning of Communion," both insist on the differences between the Catholic understanding of priesthood and the Lutheran understanding of ministry and between the Catholic understanding of the Mass and the Lutheran understanding of the Lord's Supper. The differences, he wrote, "are not superficial and casual but indicate a fundamental difference in understanding the mandate of Christ" at the last supper when he told his disciples, "Do this in memory of me." That difference, Pope Benedict wrote, must be taken into account as Catholic leaders consider expanding eucharistic hospitality to Lutherans beyond the special occasions when church law permits it. https://www.ucanews.com/news/italian-publisher-releases-book-of-essays-by-benedict/100113
I wonder if Pope Benedict had a "Padre Pio" moment before he resigned.....I truly believe, at some point, he will be canonized...
This is a profound quote from Padre Pio. And that was several decades ago and look where we are now? I am sure you are right about BXVI.
