Posted on 03/14/2013 1:39:29 PM PDT by marshmallow
We need a new pope with the steel of St Francis
Whats in a name? Evidently a great deal. When we heard the name Francis as that chosen by the new Pope, everyone was startled it had never been used before and then reassured; after all, St Francis of Assisi must be everyones favourite saint. Obviously I am a little partial to him as he is my own patron, but in the worlds eyes he manages to be very attractive all that love of animals and nature while not seeming uncompromisingly Catholic. It is, however, a mistake to see St Francis in this sanitised and sentimental way, just as it would be a mistake to see Pope Francis as just a man whose origins are humble (his father was an Italian immigrant and railway worker) and who clearly loves the poor. Piers Paul Read, in an article in last weeks Herald, spoke of the new pope needing the quality of rigeur a character of steel in defending Church teaching. St Francis had this rigeur when necessary, and so, from what I have read, does Pope Francis.
Not only that, as a Jesuit, the choice of name might also have been influenced by the example of St Francis Xavier, the great missionary Jesuit who died of a fever on the island of Shangchuan while waiting for a boat to take him to mainland China, a nation he longed to convert. So our new Pope has two significant saintly traditions attached to him: simplicity and renewal of the Church from its tendency to worldliness and the longing to bring the good news of Christ to the far corners of the earth.
Naturally enough, the media is scrutinising the new Popes life in order to understand his personality.
I’m kind of surprised that no pope chose the name Francis until now.
Me too. I mean sixteen “Benedicts” and not one “Francis”?
“So our new Pope has two significant saintly traditions attached to him: simplicity and renewal of the Church from its tendency to worldliness and the longing to bring the good news of Christ to the far corners of the earth.”
From the actions and homily of his first days (see link below) - I think these are both correct. After reading his homily and his humbleness - I already really like this guy!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2996908/posts
So very, very true; embarrasing really.
“Whats in a name?”
I don’t know, but in high school, I was pretty impressed by Brother Frederick Anthony. “FA” had taught school on the south side of Philly and apparently in a reform school, too. He was an RN, so he knew just how long and hard to hold onto your nose until it got black & blue without any residual gangrene. He whacked me in the head a time or two with one of those huge Biology books when I wasn’t paying attention.
“Isn’t that right?”
“Yes”
“What’s right?”
“What you said.”
WHACK
He was proud of showing off his Bermuda shorts under his cassock (?), sort of a plaid pattern.
But the Pope is a Jesuit...and I'm pretty certain he took his name to recognize St. Francis Xavier.
I went to an all girl Catholic High School. Every year, a Jesuit Priest came to the school and lectured us for three days.
A very moralistic lecture it was...to the extreme. I went home and destryoyed all my patent leather shoes. (Every old Catholic girl will remember that one.)
Wll the gays and nuns march together to Rome?? Both groups drive us nuts. We have lost our right to peace and quiet.
I was just thinking yesterday when I read a thread about Fred Phelps brutality on his older sons. They a little younger than I am and times were different. I know so many fathers who whacked the heck out of their kids and no one thought a thing of it.
My father only spanked me once and it didn’t hurt anything but my feelings but my mother could get brutal, she wanted to hurt you and I wasn’t about to act like I was hurt so she whacked on some mmore.
My first grade teacher was always whacking people with rulers but I got nothing compared to what my husband got in a little rural school, they were torturers. He always swore that when he was grown he was going to kill his former principal and the only thing that kept him from, at least, beating him to a pulp was decorum and reputation because he was an old man already.
Those people would be in jail today and I’m not upset that there is little corporal punishment in schools. They’ve gone to far, as usual, but there was no need for all of that.
Really? No, I don’t think so. I am an “old Catholic girl”, and I never heard of that nonsense about patent leather shoes until about 20 years ago. Some people just love to ridicule the clergy and the religious of the Catholic Church.
St. Francis Borgia became the Superior General of the Jesuits, and in that position, he sent missionaries all over the world.
Many people think that the newly elevated Pope took his Papal name from St. Francis of Assisi, but that would make little sense, especially in light of his Jesuit origins.
St. Francis Borgia is a very interesting choice in and of itself, and while it was not at all the same story as St. Francis of Assisi, still many people can draw inspiration in a different and unique way.
I got picked up by my ankles and held upside-down in school, but can’t recall being whacked. I was a nice kid. Got whacked at home a number of times but that’s that. One soon learns what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Just go with the flow.
Phelps, on the other hand, is a monster.
Sweathearts, where you been all my life? I’m just one of those guys who drove the Nuns and Brothers crazy in high school. I even took a course in Home Economics. On the girl’s side of the building!
St. Francis Borgia was a direct descendant of the last Spanish-speaking pope, Alexander VI.
Our First American Pope
Pope Francis I clear on denying Communion to those who facilitate in abortion
Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Profession: Servant of the Servants of God
EDITORIAL:Pope Francis I bridges conservative and progressive currents
New Pope Francis called homosexual marriage a machination of the Father of Lies
Pope Francis Is First Catholic Pontiff From The Americas; He Is Known As A Humble Intellectual
New Pope lived simple life in Argentina
"Lowly, And Yet Chosen," Enter Pope Francis (some phenomenal firsts with this election)
10 Facts about Pope Francis
Vatican Web Site Updated
Full Text of Pope Francis Opening Address to Catholic Faithful
9 things you should know about Pope Francis
Pope Francis I promises to be strong pro-life world leader
New Pope celebrated Hanukkah as well as Christmas
New Pope- enemy of Catholic tradition
As Cardinal, Pope Francis condemned abortion even in rape cases
Profile: New pope, Jesuit Bergoglio, was runner-up in 2005 conclave
Jorge Mario Bergoglio elected pope, takes Francis as name
Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio: a Profile
HABEMUS PAPAM!!! (Live Thread)
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.