Posted on 04/22/2005 12:20:45 AM PDT by Antioch
REGENSBURG, Germany - When he was a cardinal, Pope Benedict XVI often delivered sermons at the German-language church in Campasanto Teutonico near St. Peter's Basilica, but his most heartfelt talks may have been the ones he gave after celebrating Mass.
"I went with him once," said Konrad Baumgartner, the head of the theology department at Regensburg University. "Afterwards, he went into the old cemetery behind the church.
"It was full of cats, and when he went out, they all ran to him. They knew him and loved him. He stood there, petting some and talking to them, for quite a long time. He visited the cats whenever he visited the church. His love for cats is quite famous."
Although his public image is that of a stern enforcer of church doctrine, in Regensburg, where the 78-year-old pope came into his own as a theologian, those who know the man known as "God's Rottweiler" say his soft, human side has been ignored.
(Excerpt) Read more at beta.news.yahoo.com ...
I am sorry that you experienced what most of us who are cat folks have. I
do cat rescue & have arms that look like road maps much too often.. ... Your event at an early ages make it worse. Most pets when frightened (and the energy of kids is frightening to many pets). Not every animal is gentlee & long suffering like a golden.
I have had cats like Goldens. Kids could pound, play etc. My own son was raised in a household where we bred persians. He would sit with them & be very rough & never a scratch.
At 2 years old the FIRST TIME Ileft him with a friend during the day as I went to a retreat (my hubby to pick him up a few hours later after work), Jeff was bitten & chewed on by a large dog. To this day Jeff is fearful of large dogs (he is now 33 & a strong, big body builder). The early images are vivid.
We are both right actually!
have a good weekend.
Cats are very clean. They take good care to keep themselves well groomed. I love both cats and dogs. I have two old cats that two of my daughters left here when they got married, and I have my late husband's elderly dog, and I have my personal dog: 3 year old Harm. I love all of them. Harm is my constant companion. Cats and dogs rule together, but Harm ROCKS!
I luv kat. Baked, mostly.
GERTRUDE of Nivelles
Younger daughter of Blessed Pepin I of Landen and Blessed Ida of Nivelles; sister of Saint Begga. Devoted to religious life from an early age, she turned down a noble marriage to pursue the religious life. On the death of Pepin in 639, and on the advice of Saint Amand of Maastricht, Ida built a double monastery at Nivelles where both she and her daughter retired. Gertrude became abbess about age 20.
Patronage: Against mice, against cats, fear of mice, fear of cats, fever, insanity, mental disorders.
Yeah, but they bury their crap with their paws & then walk all over counter tops, furniture, etc. Ewwwww.
Ping!
I thought you'd enjoy this thread.
Usually they don't make contact between their paws and their crap; they're usually very particular about not doing that.
so for that you sermonize ALL cats?
No they don't---they scratch the dirt over it and don't step in it. Watch them sometime it's actually quite a ceremony. Besides, I know a cat who has taught himself to use the toilet, and I can't remember the last time I saw a dog do that.
Cats are definitely evolving - the number of cats that can use a human toilet are on the increase.
Zing!! Zap, zap, zot!!
nicely done, Antioch
Beautiful!
Awwwwww!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.