This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 27th, 2013 at 3:45 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
I want to be…Alice von Hildebrand..
There is so much wisdom that emanates from this woman, it’s like trying to contain a waterfall in a paper cup.
From a piece she wrote titled, Thank You Benedict XVI:
From the moment the future Pope left his beloved Regensburg until Feb. 28, 2013, he accepted a mission which was not of his own choosing. Let me repeat emphatically: He did not like the limelight. He was never tempted by ambition. He did it in obedience, but an act of obedience which was to him, a subtle form of crucifixion.
When one studies the history of the Church, one thing is striking: the amazing variety of personalities and also the high percentage of Popes who were canonized. Something remarkable when one thinks that to be in a position of authority exposes people to all sorts of temptations.
To be pope places one on a pinnacle of glory, and a very deep prayer life and much divine grace are both needed not to be flattered by this humanly “glorious” position. The greatest Popes never pursued this honor; they accepted it, but never played the political game on order to step into the shoes of Peter. There were many good Popes, faithfully fulfilling their function as Pastors of the Universal Church. Finally there was a very small percentage of unworthy popes and even bad popes, who ruthlessly tried to “grab” the Tiara to satisfy their pride. Some were great sinners: let us remember that Judas – one of the twelve – betrayed Christ.
But his treason did not prevent the birth of the Holy Catholic Church.
One thing is certain: in spite of treason and sinfulness, the Bark of Peter survived the most terrible storms and always will.
When elected almost eight years ago, Benedict accepted the “crown of thorns” in obedience, convinced that he had a mission to perform.
….While grieving deeply that he is stepping down, the call of the hour is to thank him, and to promise that all his sheep will keep praying for someone who has been a blessing for the Church.
+PAX
February 27th, 2013 at 5:06 pm
Carolyn, Thanks for sharing this. I caught a little this morning of EWTN’s profile of Pope Benedict with lots of footage from “Bavaria” where he lived. Thankfully, it will take the rest of my life to read all the profound theological writings he has given us, so while I’ll miss seeing him on TV, i and so many others will continue to benefit from the wisdom he has left in print for us.
February 27th, 2013 at 11:25 pm
Colleen..Always good to see you stop by : ) I agree that he has left us a virtual treasure in all his writings and I look forward to reading as many as I can. I will miss him terribly.. It’s so unsettling to think we will have a new pope soon.
Prayers going up for for the cardinals and the conclave.
Blessings always +
February 28th, 2013 at 2:15 am
Oh Caroline, I just love Dr. Hildebrand too! She is so brilliant, yet there is something almost girlish about her as well. Her teachings on femininity are sublime. I loved when she and Mother Angelica got together years ago. They were a riot
I caught beloved Benedict’s Wednesday audience (re-broadcast) today. He was wonderful…I will miss him so much. In 2005, I was praying God would entrust us to Cardinal Ratzinger, but this time, I really don’t know much about any of the likely candidates. So, I’m just praying for a Saint.
Hope we won’t have to wait too long. Love and hugs xoxo
February 28th, 2013 at 3:14 am
Patricia, Every time I see her on EWTN I tape it and re watch it 2 or 3x.. She is the textbook definition of not politically correct. She and Ben Carson could be fast friends. : ) Miss Alice is all about truth, logic, wisdom and obedience to Christ.
I don’t know that we have another in the wings quite like her.
This is the strangest week I’ve experienced in a long time. Such an unsettled feeling. I’m completely leaning on the Holy Spirit and the Blessed Mother.
Thinking of you and holding you up in prayer.
Blessings always and hugs +