Posted on 02/11/2005 10:28:25 AM PST by Rutles4Ever
I really didn't get that from Bill's column. Of course, that doesn't mean it's not in there. But I rather took this to be the key line:
But the Pope's battle against illness and the weakness of the flesh is also seen as an inspiration by the faithful, even if the Pontiff cannot fully express himself verbally.
Well stated.
I would hate to be the parents of many on this thread.
<< He and Peggy Noonan must've gotten 'hold of some bad wine. [Or ... in Peggy's case ... whine] >>
Withing the past 48 hours or so Peggy wrote of having recently granted His Holiness one last audience.
But she didn't mention if Warren Buffet was there -- in or out of his jarmies slippers and robe.
Perhaps Buckley prays for his own death and is projecting.
I don't disagree with Buckley (or you), but I think this is the type of thing you think -- and perhaps say (to people) privately -- but that you do not write. It is simply bad form to refuse to refuse publicly to pray for any person's restoration to good health.
Buckley also must feel the reins of death slowly tightening around him. Though, I disagree with his conclusion about praying for his death, the pope should retire as should Buckley.
I apologize in all senility. I confused the line from your comment to the post, citing Stewart, with the post itself. That is because it agrees with my own view. Carefully re-parsing Buckley's words, I do see that his thoughts might be upsetting to "modern" people, but they do reflect traditional thinking. Thus, they are far less upsetting to me than to others.
Death comes to all of us. Some later than it should when our bodies are worn out. My mother died of cancer and weighed 65 pounds at death. My father lay in a bed gasping for breath the last months of his life. What do you think I wanted to happen?
Yesterday I learned of the untimely death of a good friend in a fire. She was beautiful, young and outgoing. I felt much worse at her passing than my parent's passing.
Thanks for directing me to Noonan's latest...I hadn't read it yet. Sounds like she and Mr. Buckley must have boffo obits itching to go to the printer.
I'm amazed that so many people of faith are questioning the pope's determination to work, and God's wisdom in letting him live. If he can deal with his condition, why can't they?
I'm not even Catholic...I'm Lutheran, in fact...but it's not for Noonan or Buckley or anyone to query why God grants life, especially to one who holds all life sacred.
Buckley is vile scum. By the way, this is a different version of the story.
Kind of like the people who have web sites saying abortion is great, because the babies can go right to heaven? If he was supposed to go, he would go. He certainly isn't complaining about living, so I think it's more than presumptious for anyone else to pray for his death. Should People pray for Jesus' death to come before his suffering?
The Pope understands the deep theological reality that suffering is redemptive. He is uniting every moment of his suffering and dying with Christ. Suffering in this capacity is not worthless rather it is the greatest act of love that an individual can offer and when united to Christ has profound redemptive value defeating evil in the world. The Pope has prepared for this moment his entire life and embraces it out of love.
We are not praying for his death, but his release from suffering.
I am praying to read a thread about Catholicism where abortion doesn't rear its ugly head. But I dream.
I wish there was one thread about the elderly, the retarded, etc. where the high and mighty elites weren't deciding their fate "for their own good."
No one is wishing an outcome. I have been witness to my grandmother's deterioration after several strokes. She asked us to kill her, which of course, we could not.
In retrospect, a swift demise would have been preferable to her lying in her own waste for 2 months before she finally checked out.
I miss Grandma and wish her death had been more dignifyed.
Your right, praying for an old man who has had an incredibly full life to find his way into heaven is the exact same thing as saying that an unborn fetus should be torn limb from limb out of a mothers womb.
Buckley has gradually turned into a gibbering old dolt, still using words nobody else does to make himself look like a genius. It's sad nobody around him has the guts to tell him it's time to give it up.
<< ..... it's not for Noonan or Buckley or anyone to query why God grants life, especially to one who holds all life sacred. >>
Amen.
Blessings -- B A
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