Posted on 10/18/2006 7:51:19 PM PDT by ELS
Each Pope has his own style, but they are all teachers. Benedict XVI has a magnificent gift to be able to present complex ideas in a very understandable, articulate and eloquent manner.
I have a feeling that it would be incredible just to sit in his presence and listen to him talk about almost anything.
You and me both!
He seems an excellent teacher.
Before he became a bishop, he was a university professor. He is an academic at heart, a true scholar in the best sense of the word. He has tens of thousands of books and loves to read and write. While he was a Cardinal he entertained hopes of being able to retire to read and write books at his home in Germany near his brother, Georg. Alas, that did not come to pass. However, the role of Pope gives him an extraordinary opportunity to teach the entire world.
Benedict XVI also has the ability to beautifully craft his answers to different audiences. I am thinking of a public audience he gave to children who had received their First Communion within the past year. A handful of the new communicants were given the opportunity to ask him questions about the Sacrament of Communion. Their questions were pretty typical of young children. His answers were substantial yet he didn't talk down to them or over their heads.
I see NYer has already given you a link to the various communications of Benedict XVI during his pontificate (and a brief period before). If you are interested in reading some of the books he has written, you can find them at Ignatius Press, which publishes his books in English.
"I have a feeling that might be considered blasphemy of the darkest type by some."
Yeah, I know what you mean, I don't think anyone wants to be perceived as being soft on Judas. He does ellict a response though.
Here's another such question that I hope doesn't put me into the "blasphemy zone". I happened to kick around with some of my 8th graders last year, but never actually got them a certifiable answer.
What do you think about the idea that Judas had free will? Was he able discern what he did for himself? He did give into Satan's temptation, but was this "pre-destined" and was he simply manifesting God's plan? Essentially, did he really have a choice?
Jesus clearly knew who the betrayer would be and that he would betray him.
Can anyone point me to an resource for such an answer,...opinions are fine, too.
As we all are. I am grateful to Cardinal Ratzinger for saying, "Acceto" [I accept] when presented with the question of whether or not he would accept the decision of the other Cardinals (with the help of the Holy Spirit) that he be the new Pope.
Nope: the feast of Easter does not have pagan fertility origins.
The word "Easter" may be derived from Eostre, meaning in the month of April (Eoestrmonat). Whether that in turn is derived from a goddess is unclear.
I've heard that some Christians, objecting to any pagan etymologies, like to call Easter "Resurrection Sunday," --- which is just a little odd, since "Sunday" comes from the worship of the Sun, like "Monday" (Moon day), "Wednesday" (Odin's day), "Thursday" (Thor's day), "Friday" (Freya's day), or "Saturday" (Saturn's day.)
On the other hand, Easter may be a shoretened form of auferstehen --the German word for resurrection!
Do you think the Apostles hid eggs and hunted for them? The (prolific)rabbit and eggs (sign of fertility) got mingled in with traditional religious observances. The term Easter was used in the post and therefore I merely pointed out . . . and we all got sidetracked. As I pointed out I have seen "Easter" in some KJ versions but have not checked any Douay-Rheims for cross reference.
But just for emphasis, please don't take it amiss if I say this: the bunny and egg things are just innocent fun. I don't read that the Apostles were opposed to making hot cross buns on Shrove Tuesday; or serving a cake with a coin in it on Epiphany; or decking the halls with boughs of holly; or a bride tossing her bouquet to the unmarried girls; in fact, fun and frivolous things are very often connected with high and holy things, and no harm done.
G.K. Chesterton said something (something witty of course, and dang me, I can't remember what it was) about if you take a very slight two-degree wrong turn in theology, you end up with the singing silenced and the dancing banned, and all your ornaments smashed on the floor. That could be the Puritans -- or the Taliban.
Everythings cool. I don't get emotional anymore over these internet discussions. And my Easter egg hunt question was rhetorical (and cheeky) . I have a different religious concept than just about anybody I know. But I find it unnerving when churches have Easter activities on one of the most sacred dates on the calendar. I know, it's just me. But Jesus the Christ was the Pascal (sp) sacrificial Lamb on that particular Passover and I find it a time of quiet reflection and meditation of the cost of my sins and I cannot get into the celebratory mood. Of course, thank God He was ressurected and we do have redemption available to us. Cheers.
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