Posted on 03/14/2013 1:31:23 PM PDT by marshmallow
Pope Francis has warned the Catholic Church would become "a compassionate NGO" without spiritual renewal.
In a Sistine Chapel Mass with cardinals on his first day as Church leader, the pontiff said: "If we do not confess to Christ, what would we be?
"We would end up a compassionate NGO. What would happen would be like when children make sand castles and then it all falls down."
Francis is the first Latin American - and the first Jesuit - Pope.
The BBC's David Willey, in Rome, says the 76-year-old has already been swift to stamp his style on the papacy.
Pope Francis is regarded as a doctrinal conservative, but he is also seen as a potential force for reform of the Vatican bureaucracy, analysts say.
Shunned special car
On Wednesday night, Pope Francis endeared himself to the crowds in St Peter's Square - and underlined his reputation for humility - when he asked them to bless him before blessing them in return from the balcony of the basilica.
The Vatican's account of his first hours in the top job on Thursday also emphasised Pope Francis's humility, describing how he shunned a special car and security detail provided to take him to the Vatican, travelling instead on a bus with the other cardinals.
Following his first outing as pope to the Rome basilica on Thursday, Francis went back to the clergy house in a city centre side street where he had been staying ahead of the conclave that elected him on Wednesday.
"He packed his bags and then he went to pay the bill for his room so as to set a good example," said Vatican spokesman Father Federico Lombardi.
He also broke tradition by remaining standing to receive cardinals' acts of homage after his election, instead of sitting in the papal......
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
NGO?
At the risk of being accused of spam, I intend to post the entire text of his (brief) homily ... that we may compare it to the reporting offered by various media outlets.
Here it is:
In these three readings I see that there is something in common: it is movement. In the first reading, movement is the journey [itself]; in the second reading, movement is in the up-building of the Church. In the third, in the Gospel, the movement is in [the act of] profession: walking, building, professing.
Walking: the House of Jacob. “O house of Jacob, Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” This is the first thing God said to Abraham: “Walk in my presence and be blameless.” Walking: our life is a journey and when we stop, there is something wrong. Walking always, in the presence of the Lord, in the light of the Lord, seeking to live with that blamelessness, which God asks of Abraham, in his promise.
Building: to build the Church. There is talk of stones: stones have consistency, but [the stones spoken of are] living stones, stones anointed by the Holy Spirit. Build up the Church, the Bride of Christ, the cornerstone of which is the same Lord. With [every] movement in our lives, let us build!
Third, professing: we can walk as much we want, we can build many things, but if we do not confess Jesus Christ, nothing will avail. We will become a pitiful NGO, but not the Church, the Bride of Christ. When one does not walk, one stalls. When one does not built on solid rocks, what happens? What happens is what happens to children on the beach when they make sandcastles: everything collapses, it is without consistency. When one does not profess Jesus Christ - I recall the phrase of Leon Bloy – “Whoever does not pray to God, prays to the devil.” When one does not profess Jesus Christ, one professes the worldliness of the devil.
Walking, building-constructing, professing: the thing, however, is not so easy, because in walking, in building, in professing, there are sometimes shake-ups - there are movements that are not part of the path: there are movements that pull us back.
This Gospel continues with a special situation. The same Peter who confessed Jesus Christ, says, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God. I will follow you, but let us not speak of the Cross. This has nothing to do with it.” He says, “I’ll follow you on other ways, that do not include the Cross.” When we walk without the Cross, when we build without the Cross, and when we profess Christ without the Cross, we are not disciples of the Lord. We are worldly, we are bishops, priests, cardinals, Popes, but not disciples of the Lord.
I would like that all of us, after these days of grace, might have the courage - the courage - to walk in the presence of the Lord, with the Cross of the Lord: to build the Church on the Blood of the Lord, which is shed on the Cross, and to profess the one glory, Christ Crucified. In this way, the Church will go forward.
My hope for all of us is that the Holy Spirit, that the prayer of Our Lady, our Mother, might grant us this grace: to walk, to build, to profess Jesus Christ Crucified. So be it.
Non Governmental Organization
Non-Governmental Organization. He was basically saying, with morals, with our Catholic teachings, the Catholic Church is nothing more than an advocacy.
Non-Governmental Organization. An example would be a body that is a member of the United Nations, but not a country. IIRC, they have non-voting status.
No offense, but is anybody else concerned about him being a Jesuit?
Aren’t the Jesuits the “secret agents” of the church.
Reminds me of a former KGB officer getting control of the newly democratic Russia. Again, no offense, just curious.
Yeah ... he's probably an albino monk assassin in disguise.
< snort >
Do you also believe that the “Protocols of the Elders of Zion” is real as well?
Not a Catholic; but really like what he said there.
Seriously, Dude?
Man, I hate how the media has warped perception of the Church..
I think he means the kind of non-governmental organization that is a world-wide charity, like the Red Cross, or maybe the Rotary Club or March of Dimes or OxFam.
He’s saying that without a focus on Christ, the Church would just be some big charity organization.
Thanks for the homily - good, and important stuff.
-— Not a Catholic; but really like what he said there. -—
Yes. Very wise. A good sign.
Not a Catholic either, but Christianity is a Christ-centered point of view. Luther and Calvin protested when the Catholic leadership lost that focus.
The church is about life everlasting. The government is all about temporary control.
Isn’t it slick how the devil lies?
They are of their father the devil, who is a liar and the father of lies.
The Jesuits aren’t secret guys. They teach at universities and are out there in public. They also have a wide spectrum of points of view. If you wanted them to get organized like the KGB, it would be like herding very smart and stubborn cats.
Thanks for posting this.
When I read this I feel like I get exactly what he is saying and whom he is addressing: the bread alone faction.
There are those in the Church and other Christians who teach that all that matters is social work, feeding and clothing, etc. This includes the marxist liberation theology branch. They say such things as “we need to go beyond Jesus.”
To these types, the gospel is superfluous at best, not necessary, even counter productive.
I hear Pope Francis addressing them in this statement.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.