Pope Benedict XVI

Adieu To Pope Benedict XVI.

I have lived under the pontificates of six popes--Popes Pius XII,  Blessed John XXIII, Venerable Paul VI, John Paul I, Blessed John Paul II and Benedict XVI.   Since the pontificate of  Pope John Paul I lasted only 33 days, I never got to know much about him.  The other five I grew to know, respect and love.  The much unjustly maligned Pope Pius XII navigated the Catholic Church through the difficult WWII years and 1950s.  The loving Pope John XXIII initiated the revitalizing Vatican II Ecumenical Council.  Pope Paul VI, the Italian working man's pope completed the Ecumenical Council and kept the Catholic Church on target giving us one of the prophetic encyclicals--"Humanae Vitae".  The athletic, charismatic philosopher Pope John Paul II  who gave so much to the Church; one of his great contributions regarding human dignity, human sexuality, love and marriage being his book "Theology of the Body".  And last but definitely not least, the shy professor with one of the greatest theological minds of the 20th-21st centuries, Pope Benedict XVI.

Though I grew to love and respect all the popes, the pope I have grown closest to and loved the most is Pope Benedict XVI.  Why?  I guess it's because I know him the best, even though I have never seen him in person.  I have read the book "My Brother The Pope" and some of his writings.  Among these are: "Breakfast With Benedict" (a collection of one page meditations), chapters from his two books collection of reflections on the Church Fathers titled simply "The Fathers" and lastly I'm in the process of reading his trilogy titled "Jesus of Nazareth".

Another reason I'm very close to Pope Benedict XVI could be our Bavarian connection.  Pope Benedict, as you probably know, is from Bavaria.  On my Father's side I am 2nd generation American--actually many of my uncles and aunts were born in Bavaria.  On my Mother's side I believe I'm 3rd generation American and her grandparents were from the German state bordering Bavaria.  In addition I lived eight years in Germany and have made several trips to the Bavarian region.

I really regret Pope Benedict's decision to relinquish his position as Pope, but I do understand his reasoning.  I am thankful that the Holy Spirit chose him to be our Pope during the confused atmosphere following the Second Vatican Council and despite his timidity his sound, logical, clear direction allowed all who listened to him to come to better know Jesus and His Church.

Pope Benedict  XVI, thank you for being a faithful, loving, gentile yet firm "prime minister" of Jesus' Church.  I pray that God continues to bless you.  You will remain in my prayers till I die or you're canonized.  Once again--Thank You!

A Short reflection in prparation for Lent which for Latin rite Catholics begins this Wednesday, February 13th.

As we prepare to enter the sacred season of Lent it's a good time to reflect on one of the most common of prayers recited by Catholics as well as by many of the other Christian faiths; specifically "the Sign of the Cross".

Blessed Alcuin who lived from around 730 a.d. and died in 804 a.d. notes:

"Infinite Wisdom has chosen the cross because a slight motion of the hand is sufficiant to trace upon us the instrument of the divine torture--the bright and powerful sign that teaches us all that we have to know and serves as a sign against our enemies."

A few years ago I read the book "The Sign of the Cross" by Bert Ghezzi, copy written in 2004 and published by Loyola Press. I learned from this book that the making and praying this prayer is one of the most ancient in Christiandom; in another publication I read that reportedly the early Christian martyrs made the sign of the cross just preceding their executions in the various arenas
differentciating themselves from the non-Christians being executed.

A close reading of two of Saint Paul's letters (Ephesians 1:13 and Galatians 6:17) indicates to some the existance of this prayer in his lifetime. I understand that the earlist specific description of the Sign of the Cross was by Tertullian whose approximate dates of birth and death are 160 and 225 a.d. respectively.

The Sign of the Cross was a common prayer throughout Christandom up to the Protestant Reformation when it was discouraged as superstition. The misuse of this prayer is at fualt. As early as the 5th-6th century Saint Caeserius (ca. 470-543 a.d.), the bishop of Arles (modern day France) warned against abusing the pray/sign. Martin Luther however, retained the prayer and encouraged in his "The Small Catechism" "As soon as you get out of bed in the morning, you should bless yourself with the sign of the Holy Cross and say: 'May the will of God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit be done. Amen.'"

In the Latin rite Catholic Church when a person makes the Sign of the Cross today the short prayer is: "In the Nanme of The Father, and The son and The Holy Spirit. Amen." This is a profound prayer and we may wish to pray it often throughout the day, especially during the Sacred Season of Lent. Another short prayer warranting reflection and recitation is "The Glory Be". This short prayer is: "Glory be to The Father, and to The Son and to The Holy Spirit; as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen"

(Some of the above thoughts are my own though most were prompted by Bert Ghezzi's book--which I recommend reading, it's only 120 pages long--The the quotes of Blessed Alcuin and Martin Luther are found in his book.)

Sub tuum Praesidium--Just A Thought

The following is an e-mail I sent to my "Family & Friends" addressees on February 6, 2010. I think you may still find it interesting.

When I was in college my well respected history professor stated that the "Cult of Mary" or the "Cult of the Virgin Mary" developed during and from the European "Age of Chivalry". I believe his understanding was in error and that the European "Age of Chivalry" was a natural fruit of the Christians' devotion to Mary--the Blessed Virgin.

Just this past month I cam across the prayer "Sub tuum Praesidium", the earleist documented known prayer to Mary, circa the year 300. The prayer goes as follows:

"We turn to you for protection, holy Mother of God. Listen to our prayers and help us in our needs. Save us from every danger glorious and blessed Virgin."*

I believe the medieval respect for Mary was projected to all women and womenhood. It seems to me, that we as a culture, have lost this respect.

*(Added: On Wikipedia it dates the prayer (hymnn) to approximately 250 and it includes four slightly different translations--one from Greek, two from the Slavonic Church and one from Latin.)