The announcement of this appointment was made yesterday, the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima. It was also the 24th anniversary of the attempt on John Paul II's life. He freely admitted that Our Lady saved his life as he bent down to touch a medal of her.
This is the Gospel of yesterday:
Gospel
Jn 21:15-19
After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter,"Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs."
He then said to Simon Peter a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Simon Peter answered him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you."
Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep.
Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God.
And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
St. Johann, I will follow this Pope who is following Christ. This was no accident. B-16 chose Levada knowing that his mission is to "feed HIS sheep." We had antipated this announcement all week and it came yesterday. I see the hand of God in that. You may not. I will follow him in obedience.
Frank
I love this Scripture. Doesn't it also imply that tough choices lie ahead?
I agree.
I see the hand of God in that. You may not.
Actually, I do see it. I agree with the best case scenario Siobhan has painted regarding this appointment.
I will follow him in obedience.
Me too. The only reason I posted the comments about "Despair" was so that folks here would discern the difference between temporal and eternal despair.
As far as the priest who made these comments, he will be seen as a hero by some traditionalists and orthodox Catholics, and as a disobedient crank by other traditionalists and orthodox Catholics. I simply don't give the benefit of the doubt to either this priest OR Levada. Those who condemn one but not the other, on either side, are making judgements from which they should refrain. And it is NOT the sin of despair to question the prudential judgement of picking this man to head the CDF. Good folks have a right to muse over this latter fact without be charged with the sin of despair.
As will I! Thank you for your post. I heard someone say,years ago that one of the problems of our Catholic Church is that there are too many people who think they are pope.