HOMILY OF INAUGURATION MASS OF BENEDICT XVI

EWTN.com ^ | 04-24-05 | Pope Benedict XVI

[padfoot_lover]

Thanks for this! I am listening to it again on TV, but there is SO much to digest in it, it must be read. The Holy Father's homily was humble, pastoral, instructive, encouraging -- so many things at once.

[bornacatholic]

Around my neck I wear the Miraculous Medal and the Crucifix John Paul the Great chose for his Pontificate.

I think the Crucifix is inspirational and truly depicts what my sins did to Jesus. The Crucifix depicts the God-Man as He truly was - emptied totally out for me; exhausted, tortured, dead, having suffered unimaginable agony.

Any "grotesqueness" is my sin.

[goldstategop]

Hmmm.... "custom of the Romans?" It smacks of an expedient concession to the pagans. Its one that could be taken back without violating the Nicene Creed.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[big'ol_freeper]

What wonderful words! If only the world would harden on their hearts and listen.

[bornacatholic]

It smacks of an expedient concession to the pagans

*ROTFLMAO An Ecumenical Council "conceeding to the pagans."

I'll guarantee you John Stewart can't top this one.

[AlbionGirl]

Masterful, beautiful!

Yes, he would certainly have taken something away from them: the dominion of corruption, the manipulation of law and the freedom to do as they pleased. But he would not have taken away anything that pertains to human freedom or dignity, or to the building of a just society. The Pope was also speaking to everyone, especially the young. Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen.

What an honest man Pope Benedict is!!! He does know his Flock already, he knows them very well, as evidenced by the italicized text.

My affection for our Good Pope is growing greater and greater by the syllable.

[goldstategop]

A decade after toleration was granted the Christians, the Church's position was not completely secure. And the Emperor Constantine still resided in Rome, very much the locus of pagan antiquity. Constantinople would not be founded until five years after the events at Nicaea. We have to bear in mind the circumstances in the early fourth century did not yet mark the eventual triumph of Christianity. Indeed almost half a century later, a pagan counter-reaction occured under Julian. The context of some decisions in the history of early Christianity makes sense in view of the era and no - its not a John Stewart punch line.

(Denny Crane: "Sometimes you can only look for answers from God and failing that... and Fox News".)

[Judica me]

I think the Crucifix is inspirational and truly depicts what my sins did to Jesus.

That's a strange way to depict Christ.

How do you like the following depiction of Christ at World Youth Day 2000?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

--My real programme of governance is not to do my own will, not to pursue my own ideas, but to listen, together with the whole Church, to the word and the will of the Lord, to be guided by Him, so that He himself will lead the Church at this hour of our history---

O Lord,
Guide his hand,
Enlighten his mind,
Keep him safe and hale and whole
as long as you have need of him
to be the fisher of men,
your vicar,
our papa.

O Lord,
thank you for sharing him,
and may we,
who hear him speak your words of love,
hasten to respond.

Amen.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

---Incidentally, one thing I would really like to see is for the Catholic Church (Latin Rite) to adopt the Orthodox Paschal calendar, which is much more closely connected to Passover.---

The historian in me smiled at this, when I remember how much angst, anger and ink have been spilled on this one issue! It has an interesting history....

[murphE]

AAAAHK! They've made Our Lord look like a demon in that depiction! Stop scaring me.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

That's horrible. Why would anyone depict Christ that way? His face looks evil and his hands look like grasping claws.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

My hubby, who just looked at it, says it looks mean, not like Jesus. He asked me, you sure that wasn't the unpenitant thief?

[Pyro7480]

In time, he will get his own staff. It's too soon. They have to commission someone to make a fitting staff for the new Pope. According to a colleague of mine, JP2's staff isn't Benedict XVI's style.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

My husband just said, "Ugh, what is that supposed to be?"

The hands really bother me.

[Knitting A Conundrum]

Some of it might be the photograph and the lighting, but compare that to the crucifix they had at the installation mass...or at JP2's funeral mass...

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Unfortunately, I missed the installation mass. I saw the funeral mass for JPII, but I don't remember what the crucifix looked like. Could you tell me where I could find a picture of it?

[Knitting A Conundrum]

I haven't found a large pic of it, but there is one on this photo montage:

http://www.ewtn.com/JohnPaul2/_mourning/multimedia/Papal_Funeral_4_01.jpg

[Thorin]

Thanks for posting this outstanding homily.

[SilentServiceCPOWife]

Thanks. What do you think about that crucifix?