Pope Francis: Silence Reveals the Mystery of God's Plan [Catholic Caucus]

Zenit News ^ | December 20, 2013 | Pope Francis I

[annalex]

There was much controversy over the hypothetical "lies! I have been cheated!" that His Holiness allows, "perhaps", Our Lady "had the urge to say".

This is the complete homily.

[Trapped Behind Enemy Lines]

He should practice it as well at times.

[mlizzy]

Very little is said that’s important. Silence is a very good thing. We have a lot to learn from Mary.

[annalex]

See this vituperative thread: "Lies! I Was Cheated" -- Pope Francis' Daring Statement About Mary

A few points.

1. Temptation is not sinful. Our Lady was tempted and Our Savior was tempted.
2. Concupiscence is a disordered appetite. Natural appetites such as hunger, thirst, or intellectual appetite for analytic review of past assumption is not concupiscence. The Pope allows that Mary, perhaps, was tempted to review her understanding of the promise of Archangel Gabriel; that does not contradict the absence of concupiscence in her.
3. The Pope concludes that whatever temptation Our Lady experienced, she emerged from it in silence and "with this silence she left this mystery so that it could grow and flourish in hope". Note also that the homily is on the value of silence. In this passage the Pope is teaching us that we, too, should address temptations with silence. The Pope is not teaching that we should call God names nor that Mary did.
4. Homily is oral speech, not a written and polished encyclical. Some compared the homily with Redemptoris Mater by John Paul II. Let us not forget that the comparison is between two very different literary styles.

[annalex]

Correction: It is not the complete text — I don’t think it has been published, — but at least it reports on the entire homily.

[annalex]

LOL.

[annalex]

Very little is said that’s important.

I agree, but look at the mountain of anger that this little homily produced among some "Catholics".

[ebb tide]

You think it’s funny?

[savagesusie]

LOL.

Perhaps I am wrong to think “silence” is only good for reflection and if there is no wisdom to “reflect” upon—silence is pretty meaningless.

Could Mary’s “silence” be understanding (reflection) God’s Will and giving a humble “Yes!”. Reflection on her own humble origins and the incredibility of such a situation, and a complete awe of the greatness of God being given to her at that moment.

My dislike for this pope increases with his lack of silence. He really need to reflect on what he “says”. This off-the-cuff thin theology is not worthy of the Pope and the platform of the Catholic Church.

[Tax-chick]

Very little is said that’s important.

Language - and an immortal soul - is what sets us apart from the apes. The key factor in predicting a child's educational success is the number of words he understands by age 5. Sure, don't say anything ... and permanently truncate your children's development of their potential.

I'm willing to stipulate that most of what I say is unimportant, but the fact that I'm saying it - in polysyllables, in English, Spanish, French, Latin, and Greek - is extremely important.

[annalex]

Yes, it is a funny remark. This pope certainly has a propensity to stir controversy every time he opens his mouth. That is called Latino personality, I think.

[ebb tide]

Then why do you get in a huff when Catholics challenge him on his ramblings?

[annalex]

Yes, but wouldn’t you say that it is precisely because we have the faculty of speech that silence attains its value?

Here His Holiness offers the shocking speech that was unsaid: “Lies! I was cheated!” It is precisely the absence of that speech that separates Our Lady in the fullness of her grace from us sinners.

[annalex]

I don’t get “huffs”. You challenged; I showed your challenge to be false.

[ebb tide]

In your dreams.

[annalex]

The gentle reader can examine this thread: "Lies! I Was Cheated" -- Pope Francis' Daring Statement About Mary, and judge for himself.

[Tax-chick]

How did Jesus learn to talk if His parents didn’t speak?

As for the Pope’s recent comments, I read them and said, “Eh, I don’t think that really works.” We’re allowed to do that. He’s reflecting on the Gospels, and sometimes one does that and then says, “No, I guess not.”

[mlizzy]

It is precisely the absence of that speech that separates Our Lady in the fullness of her grace from us sinners.

Exactly!

I know the quieter I am, the more I pray, the more meals I make, the better our family rides [and glides].

[ebb tide]

How did Jesus learn to talk if His parents didn’t speak?

How did the apostles speak in multiple languages after Pentecost?

[Tax-chick]

I didn’t know you still had young children at home. My husband expects me to talk to him, too. If I try being silent, I get a lot of, “Is something wrong? Are you mad at me?”

I’ve probably completely messed up the whole thing, and it’s too late to fix it now. Cebu and all that.