Let me begin by extending prayerful best wishes to Benedict XVI on his election to the papacy. My sincere hope is that his reign will be one of apostleship and growth in the Spirit for the Church throughout the world.
There has been some concern, to put it charitably, at the appointment of the former Cardinal Ratzinger to the Chair of St. Peter. Those who feel that his approach in past dealings as the prefect for The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith was hard-line and heavy-handed are characterizing his election as a regressive motion in the history of the Catholic Church. Before too many get too far ahead of the constructs of the theater of their concerns, let’s re-examine some ground rules.
The Catholic Church is the housing of a system of faith and a tradition that has served to be fertile ground for that faith to grow, as well as its believer’s depth of understanding. Now, in order to be what we claim to be, there has to be a maintenance of basic defining principles. If I were to, say, take some imaginary agent that would alter my genetic material so that I became female or morbidly obese, I would not be Joe Plessas - simply put. If the Catholic Church were to alter its doctrinal stance on moral issues, it would not be what it is and has been for 2000 years. Though there have been many assaults on the Church (and sometimes from within) by way of moral practices that were deemed acceptable in their time, She has weathered them and rooted them from Her midst.
I find it interesting that many other world religions have not seen the same criticism for the strength of their convictions in times of adversity. Now, we live in a very adolescent time, one that calls us to define ourselves by what we have and what we do - not what we truly are. When we meet our end - as we all must, like it or not - not one single possession will be able to truly testify to WHO WE ARE. Why must we delude ourselves in such a way? is it easier to contemplate the pursuit of a vain material existence than to really examine what LIFE calls us to? The clarion note announces that selfishness leads to nothing but inexorable want.
The relativism that Pope Benedict has warned against is nothing more than wide moral latitude; a ruse to lead us to paths of false self-definition. As a father figure, he is held by inescapable Truth and Love to guide his children in ways that, though they may find them hard to accept, will eventually draw them to the truth of who they are.
As a weathered defender of the Truth, Benedict will prove an exemplary and worthy successor to the beloved John Paul II.
“Annuntio vobis gaudium magnum:
Habemus Papam!”
Archive for April, 2005
John Paul II found himself at the Gates of Heaven, and was greeted by a beaming St. Peter.
“It’s good to see you, Karol! We’ve been waiting for you, and I, myself, would like to thank you.”
John Paul stepped back in some amazement. “What for, Peter? I should be thanking you.”
“I just wanted to thank you, ” Peter replied, “for keeping an eye on the House for me.”
John Paul was struck by this and couldn’t speak for a moment. St. Peter smiled at him lovingly.
“Oh, Karol, ” he continued, “I forgot to mention: I’ll need those shoes back before we go inside.”
“It has been my privilege and blessing to fill them,” John Paul responded as he knelt to remove those well-worn shoes.
Peter received them graciously, then pausing to examine the shoes with a look of joyous surprise.
“Karol, ” St. Peter laughed and shook his head, “it seems you’ve stretched my old shoes out a bit! They’ll be tougher than ever to fill.”
I love you, John Paul the Great.
In pace requiscat, good and faithful servant.
