Posted on 04/20/2005 7:40:24 PM PDT by Arbor Vita
The following link has information that may answer some of your questions.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Benedict_XVI
Choice of name
The choice of the name Benedict (Latin "the blessed") is significant. The new Pope's birthday is on 16 April and that day is the feast of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (26 March 1748 – 16 April 1783), also known as the Holy Pilgrim. In addition the previous Pope Benedict XV (1914 to 1922) was seen as a conciliator who calmed the disputes between modernist and traditionalist factions with the Church, and the adoption of the name Benedict has been seen as a sign that Benedict XVI has similar goals.
Additionally, Der Spiegel reports on an interview with Cardinal Meisner, usually regarded as close to Ratzinger, stating that he chose Benedict because of Benedict XV who "did much for peace in the world". [3] (http://www.spiegel.de/panorama/0,1518,352346,00.html)
Theology professor Susan Roll of the University of Ottawa speculates in the Globe and Mail, however, that the new Pope's name may be taken from St. Benedict, who founded the Benedictine Order and is credited by Catholics for preserving Christian civilization during the Great migration in the Early Middle Ages. St. Benedict is also one of the patron saints of Europe. Ratzinger has always been concerned that Europe should do its utmost not to lose its Christian heritage.
It is widely believed that the last dogma to be proclaimed by a pope will be "Mary as Co-Redemptrix, Mediatrix, and Advocate" Mary told this to the seer Ida Pearlman on 5/31/1954. Father Gobbi also was told this is her title in 1990. This dogma when declared by the pope is supposed to lead to the great schism and the anti-pope. In 1918 Pope Benedict XV wrote about Mary's role as Co-Redemptrix. Perhaps the new pope plans on proclaiming this title as dogma and that is why he took the name Benedict.
http://www.osb.org/obl/index.html
Try this. It gives a pretty good summary. One need not be a priest or religious or even Catholic to become an OSB Oblate.
Thanks very much for your post. It's very interesting.
It's really hard for me to believe that non-Catholics are allowed to be an Oblate.
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