Posted on 08/06/2002 5:10:58 PM PDT by nickcarraway
One picture told it all: At Toronto's airport, the world's eye caught little ten-year-old Georgia Rae Giddings as she emotionally burst into tears after Pope John Paul II embraced her. For the next hour, she recalled the moment repeatedly before crowds of journalists. "When I stood in front of the Pope, I just got dizzier and dizzier," she said.
"Out of Step" with the Contemporary World
She's not the only one. Many of the million or so attending the World Youth Day celebrations reported the same phenomenon.
Most people would be astonished to hear that the Holy Father might be the most beloved person in the world among young people. After all, we're always told the Catholic Church's message is irrelevant, outmoded and - worst of all - square. Cynics charge it has nothing meaningful to say to today's fun-loving, hedonistic youth.
According to the press, polls repeatedly show the Pope's relentless opposition to contraception, abortion, homosexuality, pornography, pre-marital sex, easy divorce and other fruits of the sexual revolution is anathema to the modern and fashionable. (It goes without saying that no one knows the mind of the modern and fashionable like the media.) The Holy Father, they conclude, is out of step with the contemporary world.
A Rebuke to the Modern Age
Okay, then how do you explain nearly a million kids at the Pope's World Youth Day? And where else would the gathering of that many youngsters be termed a "disappointing" turnout?
Perhaps it's because young people's love for the Holy Father is a direct rebuke to the modern age, and thus to its primary megaphone, the modern journalist. No institution has been a more powerful force for secularism, materialism or sexual freedom than the media.
Most reporters today are alienated from religion, looking at faith as little more than an ancient superstition. They don't understand it, so they don't cover it - unless a "religious" story involving scandal or human weakness pops up. That they comprehend.
In listening to World Youth Day participants speak, their deep affection for the Holy Father is clear. The same words keep popping up over and over to describe him - "radiance," "hero" "world's role model," "leader of youth," "our rock," "following in St. Peter's footsteps," and "the person closest to Jesus."
Thus, reasons for the Pope's youthful legions are quite simple: When young people see the weary, lined, rugged, leathern visage of the Holy Father, they see the face of love. Not love the way Hollywood loves them - as walking wallets, rear ends in movie theaters, pairs of ears to listen to the latest CDs - but real affection, from someone who sees them rightfully as precious individuals with eternal souls. And when the Vicar of Christ's deep, aged, honeyed voice is intoned, it seems they're hearing the very Words of God.
An Inexhaustible Treasure of Grace
This, then, is the Papal appeal to the young: faith, as the steadfast leader of the Church, the eternal Bride of Christ; hope, offering refuge for the restless heart; and love, from a elderly man walking in persona Christi. Of these, as St. Paul says, the greatest is love.
This is what Georgia Rae Giddings reacted to. After telling the Pope she loved him, he tenderly stroked her head and whispered gently that he loved her too, the perfect personification of Cardinal Newman's great motto of "Heart Speaketh to Heart." It's hard to imagine any other world leader reacting this way to the presence of an unexpected young stranger - so fearless, so compassionate, so Christlike.
No wonder kids love him.
Catholicism may be known as the Old Faith, it's the Young Faith too, with a remarkable, time-tested ability to outlive every fad that mocks it as passe. Each Catholic generation discovers anew the richness and power of their ancient religion, finding within it an inexhaustible treasure of grace and beauty, boundless as the sea. Once that discovery is made, as a million young pilgrims recently learned, no worldly interest can ever again quite satisfy.
Once the issues surrounding juridical communion with Rome are clarified, I predict that it will eventually enjoy the esteem and influence which once were the Jesuits'.
LOL.You've got a thorough grasp of the situation.
Perhaps restornu has a better grasp than I do.
Some folks think I'm easily taken in. ;-)
sitetest
I don't think I have displayed any more animus for the SSPX than you have for the Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church and Her pope that the Holy Spirit selected to guide Her. The fact is, that it has been your calumnies that begat these exchanges. No one has begun a thread hailing the popularity and universal love for Bishop williamson, followed by me popping in to debunk his followers as sentimental groupies. You, sir, are reaping what you have sowed.
You assume to know what they believe.
I know what traditional Catholics believe. I am one. Many Catholic Freepers are. The SSPX is infamous for alienating their most natural allies with their contempt for anything associated with the pope's church. They will even label them neo-Catholics or neo cons to differentiate themselves. They love to think that they are the elite and the few who possess the truth. They come across as smug, arrogant, paranoid, insulting, demeaning, defensive, stubborn, dishonest, untrusting,hypocritical, inconsistent,conspiritorial, objectively stupid people (present company excluded, of course). I used to sympathize with their cause until I actually learned more about the history of their movement and came in contact with some of the members and was able to observe what kind of fruit was ripening. There is no doubt that a rabid hatred for the Roman church is developing in that sect. With every passing year, with every stillborn attempt at reconciliation, with every defamatory essay, pastoral letter, or sermon the recalcitrance grows more profound. I know what a traditional Catholic is and in my view the SSPX just play acts at it.
The truth is, you wish to demonize them.
The SSPX demonizes itself. If you don't want the SSPX to have a negative image you should be very, very quiet.
You and others like you spread these myths around to marginalize them--which only confirms them in their faith.
They are marginalized by their own doing. It is childish to blame others and juvenile to think that marginalization is confirmation. Sheeesh.
I can understand that. You are biased against the pope. He didn't comply with his inferiors wishes. The SSPX was born with that enmity. It is difficult for you to see things objectively.
I honestly trust the pope knows what he is doing. I think the pope has been wonderful for the church as a whole. Ten years from now books will not be written condemning him for anti-semitism or personal sin. His encyclicals have been thoroughly consistent with the magesterium. The pope is older, wiser, better educated, more experienced, more traveled, and much more holy than I am. I am afraid that I am not in a position to judge the pope's motives or actions. I can only assume that he is fulfilling his duty to bring the gospel of light to the entire world and to all peoples. If his methods are unrecognizable to you as Catholic, then you should read about the early Jesuit missionaries and their methods." All things to all people." They certainly appeared unorthodox as well, but now it could be considered a part of tradition
OK, I accidentally woke up a 1/2 hour ago and it is a bit past 5:00 AM in the east - looks like you guys recharged the batteries for a bit last night and then came back refreshed? What time is it where you are?
How can that possibly be? For over a quarter of a century, I have been told by the schismatics that "we are growing by leaps and bounds." Are there any universal standards for "leaps and bounds?"
I agree with you. I think the false religion of the ssspx should have been invited also :)
Ahhhhh, first thing on a Saturday morning...freshly baked Donatism
Thanks for taking the time to post that. Isn't that a GREAT word..fun to say and use
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.