Benedict’s Refresher Course

Catholic Exchange.com ^ | 04-07-06 | Russell Shaw

[Salvation]

by Russell Shaw

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Benedict’s Refresher Course

04/07/06

"Nowadays especially, with the complexity of our problems, Christianity often becomes so complicated for us that we can no longer see the forest for the trees. It is a matter of being led back to the simple heart of it, not to anything else, but to the essentials, to conversion, to faith, hope, and love."

Pope Benedict XVI said that a couple of years before becoming pope. With the first anniversary of his election coming up April 19, he appears to be living it out.

People have called Benedict surprising. Some mean it as a compliment, others are voicing disappointment. But the surprise in both cases is that he has turned out to be very unlike the pre-election caricatures depicting him as a Grand Inquisitor who would make heads roll.

Still, for those who took the trouble to listen to what Joseph Ratzinger was saying all those years, the pontificate of Benedict XVI ought to come as no surprise. This former professor is now hard at work delivering a refresher course on the basics of Christian faith.

If there was any doubt about that, Pope Benedict's first encyclical — Deus Caritas Est — should have settled the matter. "God Is Love" — what could be more basic than that? And unless I miss my guess, Benedict has a compelling reason in mind for making the point.

It's this. Many people today — including many Catholics — have strayed so far from the truth, done such an effective job of closing their ears and hardening their hearts to the Word of God and the teaching of the Church, that it's a waste of time that risks being counterproductive to confront them yet again with hard truths. (The Church's teaching about sexual morality is an instance, though hardly the only one.)

So, what's a conscientious pope to do? Another pope might have another answer. Benedict's appears to be: Go back to first principles — God is love — and begin the long, slow process of leading people who've strayed from truth back to the fullness of faith.

Pope Benedict said as much a few weeks ago in his address to the plenary assembly of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, which he headed for a quarter-century.

"Jesus Christ, who is the fullness of the truth, draws to Himself the heart of each person, enlarges it, and fills it with joy.... Thus, service to the faith, which is a witness to the One Who is the entire Truth, is also a service to joy, and this is the joy that Christ desires to spread in the world."

From this point of view, he told the members and staff of the CDF, "your doctrinal ministry can appropriately be defined as 'pastoral.'"

From Lefebvrists on the far Right to Hans Kung on the far Left, Benedict XVI has pursued a policy of reconciliation. Will this emphasis on love, truth, and joy work? I have no idea, and I suspect Pope Benedict doesn't either. But it probably has more chance of working than the take-no-prisoners approach some conservatives were looking for a year ago.

There's a name for it — Christian. Over lunch a couple of weeks ago after a trip to Rome, I was telling a friend that — as others have remarked — Pope Benedict in person visibly radiates serenity and joy. My friend, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, thought about that for a moment and then said, "I guess that's what you'd expect a Christian to do, isn't it?"

To which only one answer is possible: I guess it is.


Russell Shaw is a freelance writer from Washington, D.C.

[Salvation]

For your reading enjoyment.

[Salvation]

** Benedict's appears to be: Go back to first principles — God is love — and begin the long, slow process of leading people who've strayed from truth back to the fullness of faith.**

Amen! Long live Pope Benedict XVI!

[Salvation]

Catholic Discussion Ping!

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[Emmet Fitzhume]

"your doctrinal ministry can appropriately be defined as 'pastoral.'"

We Spiritual Christians will always believe in the power of the Holy Spirit over mankind.

It is our duty to act as pastors for those who struggle with life as Jesus will always help us. Because He has given us this wonderful guidance, I will not be disheartened, nor will I let my fellow man be.

[Global2010]

How come the font is in green?

[Global2010]

Never mind it corrected itself.

That was odd. Print in all the posts was bright green and other Screen Names, post buttons ect were bright red.

[Salvation]

Somewhere on FR I think you can set the colors you prefer. But don't ask me where right now!

[cpforlife.org]

Pope Benedict XVI BUMP.

[DBeers]

From this point of view, he told the members and staff of the CDF, "your doctrinal ministry can appropriately be defined as 'pastoral.'"

EXACTLY!

[Salvation]

We definitely need a pastor who knows what he is doing and, for sure, Pope Benedict XVI does!

He's got a huge job ahead of him, though, and educating some other pastors, doesn't he?

[Salvation]

See #10

**He's got a huge job ahead of him, though, and educating some other pastors, doesn't he?**

He's got a huge job ahead of him, though, in educating some other pastors, doesn't he?

[Flavius Josephus]

Pope Benedict in person visibly radiates serenity and joy. My friend, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, thought about that for a moment and then said, "I guess that's what you'd expect a Christian to do, isn't it?"

I forget where this quote came from, but I'm reminded of the pastor who told his congregation "If you are really Christian and full of the Joy of Christ, would you please inform your FACES." Or something like that.

I think Benedict is doing what we hoped he would in terms of bringing the flock back to the narrow path. He's just far more of a velvet glove type of guy than an iron fist, and I Thank God for that.

[Flavius Josephus]

I just hope that he takes care of his health and that he's with us for a long, long time. How cool would it be to have a 100 year old pope, fully in command of his faculties, and leading us on. Seems to me he isn't as insistent about his travel schedule as JPII, though it may be that I just don't know.

[Salvation]

**"If you are really Christian and full of the Joy of Christ, would you please inform your FACES." **

Great thought!

Hopefully we can all display the joy of Resurrection this Easter season on our OWN faces!

[GAB-1955]

"Hopefully we can all display the joy of Resurrection this Easter season on our OWN faces!"

I have a special problem. I'm allergic to lillies! Very allergic!

[Bigg Red]

May B-16 be our shepherd for many, many years.

[trisham]

Thanks for the ping. Excellent article!

[Salvation]

Can you wear a medical mask to church or do you have to stay away?

[Salvation]

I thought so too!

[Salvation]

Amen to that!