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1. Rita Biesemans

   3 months ago

   THE CHURCH IN GETHSEMANE
   -----------------------------------------------
   The Ship of Peter is torn apart
   Martyred in its Holy Teaching
   It sinks and sinks, no work of art
   The bottom though never reaching
   
   Dissidents are screaming loud
   Leaving behind an awful niff
   Pretending to be proudly stout
   Gearing the Ship into a cliff
   
   Jesus shows His wounded Heart
   Smitten with a deadly dart
   Peter the Rock in desolation
   Deploring severe desecration
   
   Wake up, you Christian Brother
   Show now your truthful face
   With Mary our Heavenly Mother
   We'll reach that Peaceful Place
   
   In allegiance to the Holy Father
   United in prayer and fasting
   No victory will claim, but rather
   Satan's defeat be everlasting.
   
   Rita Biesemans, 01-02-2011

2. rafaelmarie

   4 months ago

   I was watching EWTN in which mean of faith were gathered stating that how courageous and humble was Benedict in resigning.
   
   While hearing their conversation, I couldn't help but watch, video clips of Cardinal Ratzinger assisting St. John Paul II during services, bent over and barely able to speak, carrying out his duties courageously, even though he was criticized for being too weak to carry out his duties.
   
   But he did so even unto his death bed. And I ask myself the question, which example is truly courageous, the one in which a Pope is lauded to resign, or the one in which a Saint is criticized and persecuted by not resigning?

3. Robert

   4 months ago

   He'll be remembered fondly, we made it snow once, well yesterday

4. Bill Sr.

   4 months ago

   An outstanding and a spiritually enlightened factual perspective of our beloved Benedict XVI.
   God Bless you Paul Kokoski

5. John Bosco

   4 months ago

   God Bless Paul Kokoski!
   
   He had the courage to indicate the current status of Catholic church,
   
   to quote
   
   "Pope Benedict XVI's decision to abdicate the ministry of Bishop of Rome, Successor of Saint Peter, comes at a time when there is a ferocious battle going on within the Catholic Church and a rising tide of hatred towards authentic Christianity from outside."
   
   "Errors and influence of the progressives, atheists, and other dissidents."
   
   "but for his intense suffering in protecting the faith from wolves in sheep's clothing. He will be known as one of the greatest of Catholic martyrs."
   
   Un quote
   
   Deo Gratias!
   John Bosco, Chennai, India.
   

6. Mathew Thankachen O.Praem

   4 months ago

   I agree fully the view expressed by Paul in this short article. His every sentence speaks volumes. To supplement his view May I add my title, Pope Benedict, an "Interior Pope",( not Imperial) as the opponents digs out from historical grave.
   
   Pope Benedict XVI, the Interior Pope.
   I heard my mobile ringing. On the other side was Abbot Benzes Thomas, asking me for further details as he was on move in the train. I could not believe for some time. Immediately I switiched on the BBC news. The news of the ‘resignation of the Pope’ was confirmed. It took some time for me to recover. A few months back, one of my friends from Vatican met me. He told me how badly his health was deteriorating. In this fast changing world, he can’t ‘catch up’ with his ‘pace maker’ is understandable. However, the media goes on “banging” and “branding” him as a “failure pope” to solve any credible issues of the Church and society like “ending celibacy”, “issues of contraceptives, family planning, and ordination of women and so on”. Critics and some historians paint him with “Imperial” while forgetting blissfully of his “Interior”. The world knows him as Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, a “super intellectual” from the worldly point of view. But the “man within is different”. He is the “mystic of the century”. When he became the Pope in 2005, many, even within the Church Circle had premonition that he would be the most “Conservative Pope” the Church ever had, but his reign proved otherwise. His motto was “that all may be one” as his master wished. The declaration of the year of ‘Priesthood, year of Faith and New Evangelization” was an effort to gear towards it. Although his speech at Regenberg was criticized by some of the Muslim scholars, later he has been warmly welcomed by the Arab. He brought back the consertive group who left the Cathoic Church under the leadership of Archbishop Levbre in reaction to Vatican II. The Pope created autonomous Vicariates to those Aglicans in the US and Britains who wished to embrace Catholic Church. Such historical developments in the contemporary church indicate and vindicates that his papacy is an expression of “interiority of the Divine will”. And no wonder, he was eulogized as a great theologian. The sourace of theology is Revelation and it is possible only for a man of “child like nature” or “interiority”. In him met scholarship and insight. In the Bible we see Jesus thanking the Father for “revealing to the little children”. Thre very fact he was a man who could enjoy “music and art” is a sign of such “vibrant heart”, attuned to “reception”. As a matter of fact, “contemplation and interiority” is the very nature of his self. In a way, he is prone more to “prayer and meditation” than “administration of material matters” which his office equally demands. The scandal of ‘Vati-leaks’ could be viewed in this light. The bsic nature of such character is one of “recoiling within without any complains”. Any developments negative or positive are taken to the heart with more “self reflection than other reflection”. Such personalities will be too poor to “withsanad the vices of the world and its tricks and politirics”. The only way left is to “withdraw to the source of contemplation” as Jesus did “to a lonely place, the “interior Castle”, “Porta Fidei”. As an “interior pope”, he was not much interested in “Travelling” or appearing before media. Serene and composed, he grappled any issues of the Church in such a way, even his opponents had to bend their knees. His simplicity sometimes, taken it for granted as his ignorance and his sensitivity to fellow Cardinals his weakness. Had he been “given spiritual boost”, by those around, for every Divine intervention comes through human agents, the symbol of papacy in him could have prolonged while those around could carry out the duty and offices. However, he is too sincere to the root that he cannot put up with any rivalry. It is this sheer sincerety that prompted him to take such decision to entrust the office in the hands of those more capable in body and spirit. When many Rulers even in our Democratic society wanted to still hold on to Power and Position till their last breath is gone, the resignation of the Pope vindicates the modern papacy, unlike in the past and as assumed by the critics is not “ Imperial” and “ Royal” with “ Maximus”, (Supreme), but one of “ Diaconic( service) with humility. The very fact that his “Butler had access to his privy” and “despite his confession and imprinsonment”, he was pardoned by the Pope rings the new bells of papacy in line with Jesus who came to “serve and not to be served, and to pardon sinners”. Just like, human nature is ever in transition and change, so too papacy and Church is ever in change. It is unfair to attribute “stigmas” of the past to the present Church. No doubt, ihe Church is “anchored on Faith and Morals, Word and Tradition”. The moment papacy reconciles with the immoralirty of the world, it loses its credibility and authority. It is proved in the recent British Parliamemnt that passed the Bill on ‘Homo sexual marriage’ despite staunch opposition from the Anglican Church, for a Church that tolerates to the extent of Ordaining homosexual priets and bishops ceases their authority and credibility to advice the socity or parliament. It is this “intrinsic interiority, authority” that he was able to present the Church with a “blend of reason and faith” to the modern man. Seen in this light, his “interiority” made him “more human, natural, rational’ than “imperial and autocrat”. His mysticism was not a “withdrawal from the world”, rather an “involvement” that “enlightened the world” to understand it in the light of faith and reason
   
   Mathew Thankachen O.Praem.
   
   

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