Posted on 02/13/2005 1:53:33 PM PST by kellynla
At church on Sunday the congregation was asked to pray for the recovery of the Pope. I have abstained from doing so. I hope that he will not recover.
The seizure brought on by his dramatic trip to the hospital a week ago suggests the international sense of his indispensability. Pope John Paul is a graphic figure in the lives of Catholics and many non-Catholics. He is of course a towering theological figure who has presided over the development of Catholic thought and practice for the 26 years of his papacy. He is a major historical figure, who began as a Catholic seminarian in a Poland subservient first to a Nazi overlord (they hanged him in Nuremberg), then to a Communist overlord (nothing happened to him — the Communists are never prosecuted). From that scene he succeeded to the Holy See, where he was the symbol of hope and, after the Communists fell, of triumph, distinctive in his bid for international recognition as a God-fearing man of good will.
I remember him as he was leaving Havana to return to Rome. Fidel Castro was there to recite the diplomatic amenities. The pope was standing on the gangway of his airplane and suddenly rain fell. As John Paul spoke under an improvised parasol, his three-minute farewell address evolved, in near-perfect Spanish, into a homily on water's purifying mission. All of Cuba watched on television, no doubt hoping, for an exhilarating moment, that Castro would melt away, Cuba shriven from the antipodal reign of a tyrant who came to power even before the pope did, and will outlast him.
(Excerpt) Read more at nationalreview.com ...
"Great post, BobS. I'll bring the cheap wine in a box!"
Don't be so cheap!! Bring some Limoncino del Choistro (Italian lemon liquor) to splash in our tea instead of sugar. After a few cups, the Pope and us will smell like a lemon grove:)
God has strict customs enforcement, though. As far as I know, everything gets confiscated at that border:)
Bill Buckley's brand of Catholicism has never been an example to a real Catholic.
Bill has an ego problem which he erroneously assigns to the Pope (it's called "projection,") and Bill's ego problem extends to a certain hubris-driven attitude---that is, that Bill knows best.
I don't think so, personally.
I read that article from top to bottom, and Buckley's not-so-veiled references to 'incapability' and his reliance on "theologians" such as Reese (SJ), editor of America magarag...
do NOT sum up to 'let the Pope go in God's time.'
Rather, they sum up to "Bill Buckley, Intellectual Giant, thinks that the Pope's time is up (regardless if the Pope continues to live, or dies this instant.)"
A "figurehead," eh?
Here's an item of interest:
“During the vacancy of the Apostolic See, laws issued by the Roman Pontiffs can in no way be corrected or modified, nor can anything be added or subtracted, nor a dispensation be given even from a part of them, especially with regard to the procedures governing the election of the Supreme Pontiff.”
Now with a careful reading of the above, you may draw some conclusions about what happens when a Pope is still alive (and active, as is JPII.)
For all matters of import, the Pope MUST be actively involved.
In light of your analysis, I went back to re-read the article but, unfortunately, the link no longer takes me to it.
If you look closely at Buckley's history (and published works) you will find that he is NOT a "devout" Catholic.
But he shows up at Mass.
It is good we have Buckley to blame, otherwise it would be President Bush's fault.
I am not Catholic but I'm very disappointed in Buckley for this. Like the Pontiff, Buckley has not been himself lately.
Since you're not Catholic, your somewhat eccentric comments on JPII's "management" of the Church will be forgiven.
Exceptionally well-thought-out and well-written comments!
Agreed, Buckley did good work.
He's now been replaced by Terry Jeffries at Human Events--an exceptionally solid thinker and persuasive, to boot.
Rand's shortcomings were not merely her voracious appetite for sexual conquests, bad as that might be.
Rand was an avowed atheist, and has GKChesterton has observed, that means that her opinions on everything were created without her use of a brain.
"On this mountain, the LORD God of Hosts will set a feast for all peoples, a feast of the richest meats, dripping with fat, and the finest wine, all the way to the bottom of the jug." (Paraphrased from Isaiah)
It's going to be a great party, and I'll look forward to tea-and-lemon with you and JPII. I've got his picture on the wall right over the computer.
You have to search on NRO's "author" archive and select the column (I think it was dated 2/9)
If I meet Isaiah, I will tell him about some culinary options. Pickled octopus as a side for breakfast is interesting:)
If Buckley wished for God's will to be done, he should have said that. Instead, he said, "I hope that he will not recover." Big difference.
Whatever his point was, this is at best a stupid thing to say, especially publicly.
Pickled octopus. The stomach turns. Although I have to say, as a Weight Watcher, that "the richest meat, dripping with fat" isn't entirely what I'm after, either. Unless I get to be effortlessly thin in Heaven (and also have straight hair) ...
No doubt God will consider WFB's sincere prayers. However, your post seems contemptuous of the childlike prayers of those who hope for some miraculous result beyond logic. I don't remember anything in the Bible to indicate logic is something God values, especially, but I do recall Jesus' saying, "Anyone who does not receive the Kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it."
Octopus was interesting. Tastes like calamaris or fish. Like a mild fish chewing gum. Goes well followed by poached eggs and a hot roll. They had other exotic things that I was too full to try. I want to go back! I haven't changed in size +/- 2 inches in years. If you're in WW, plan for this sort of thing by skipping a day of meals.
I submit that if we were to listen to the child within each of us, that we would understand more fully the need to not let those who are suffering, continue on in their suffering and pain. I am not at all contemptuous of other's prayers, but when we pray, we too often pray for what WE want, we pay lip service to God's Will, when in fact God's Will may not at all be what we desire for ourselves personally, for our loved ones, for those we care for. God's Will is a double edged sword, for if we pray for His Will to be done, we must be ready to accept that Will, even if it causes us grief and sadness.
As for what God values in prayer? Consider the following:
http://www.fivedoves.com/letters/feb2005/pnf224-2.htm
Be Completely Honest with God When You Pray
- A. W. Tozer
[excerpted]
There is a vital element of true prayer which is likely
to be overlooked in our artificial age.
That vital element is just plain honesty!
The saintly David Mintyre once wrote: "Honest deal-
ing becomes us when we kneel in His pure presence."
Then Mintyre continued: "On one occasion Jeremiah
failed to interpret God aright. He cried as if in anger,
'0 Lord, thou hast deceived me, and I was deceived.'
"These are terrible words to utter before Him who is
changeless truth. But the prophet spoke as he felt, and
the Lord not only pardoned him, but met him and
blessed him there."
I recall another spiritual writer of unusual penetration
has advised frankness in prayer even to a degree
that might appear to be downright rudeness. When you
come to prayer, he says, and find that you have no taste
for it, tell God so without mincing words. If God and
spiritual things bore you, admit it frankly.
This advice will shock some squeamish saints, but it is
altogether sound nevertheless. God loves the guileless
soul even when in his ignorance he is actually guilty of
rashness in prayer.
The Lord can soon cure his ignorance, but for
insincerity no cure is known.
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