After Thoughts on Benedict XVI

The media coverage of Pope Francis had been tremendously positive, even with the liberal mainstream. Yet, there is something odd about it. There is a subtle distortion in the picture so as to discredit the predecessors. There are only three bloggers who corrected the false innuendo in their blogs. There is even a hashtag of #everyonesPope. I should be happy but the way things are presented it almost looks like they are heralding a NEW POPE and a NEW CHURCH. Curious, indeed. It could be just my overly active rational and creative mind. Anyways, Cardinal Ratzinger has lots of enemies and as his coat of arm is, he sure was treated like a beast carrying the burden of the Church.
However, this got me thinking again of the papacy of Benedict XVI. Why did I feel a sense of something beautiful being taken away? There is no Tridentine Mass yet within my reach, so I am not a Traditionalist. I am not even a Mozart person, this Ipod is filled with Himig Heswita. Yet, BEAUTY is how I would describe it. Yes... because it is about TRUTH. It is Truth. Beauty is the very face of Truth and Jesus was visible and became personal in the Church.
There is one other thing I realized about Benedict XVI's papacy. Although it is all about Jesus, while Mary is always mentioned in the end as a model, companion and intercessor; And I am not even sure if the religious organizations would consider him a Marian Pope like JP2 and Pope Francis. He may even be perceived as an enemy of the over the top Marian movements. Yet, looking at Benedict XVI's papacy, his actions were in obedience to the wishes of Our Lady of Fatima. The Eucharist was received kneeling down and taken by the tongue. He brought back reverence and the Divine in the Liturgy. His fight for doctrinal faithfulness. His cleansing of the clerical life and the consecrated nuns. Everything was put in place and in motion. It just needs to continue and not be derailed.
Benedict XVI, in spite of, hindrances was actually taking orders from our Mother Mary. He didn't have to talk so much about Mary because he became like Mary pointing to Jesus. He became like Mary pierced with a sword in the heart, yet pondering all in his heart.

Reality Check. The happenings in the past weeks had been distracting of Lent. We again focus on the Cross and allow Jesus to be part of our history.

"our Blessed Mother came from heaven, offering to implant in the hearts of all those who trust in her the Love of God burning in her own heart." - Benedict XVI

Benedict XVI, Indeed, the Glory of Olives

Pope Benedict XVI was elected April 19, 2005. The Holy Week that year was marked by the grave illness of Pope John Paul II who died the eve of Divine Mercy Sunday. In hindsight, media and Vaticanists say, he was the easy choice. Yet, then, noone was really thinking out loud that Ratzinger was a strong papal candidate. He was a "politically incorrect" choice. He had many enemies and he was far removed from the charismatic image of Pope John Paul II.

If people were surprised at the election of Pope Francis because they don't know him. In 2005, people were surprised at the election of Joseph Ratzinger because they knew him. Tears of joy flowed as the Latin name of Joseph was mentioned. The Holy Spirit was undaunted by the media and the culture. That was truly the work of the Holy Spirit. Rarely would the Holy Spirit interfere with the politicking of humanity but will, inspite of it, not allow any Church teaching to be contrary to the Truth and God. It is Divine Justice that the Truth will always be made available throughout the ages.

Joseph Ratzinger was born on Holy Saturday, April 16. Thus, the Lenten Season and the Passion of Christ would hold a special place in him. His book, Jesus of Nazareth, vol2 on the Passion of Christ was one of his most popular book.

"And when they had said an hymn, they went forth to the mount of Olives. And Jesus saith to them: You will all be scandalized in my regard this night; for it is written, I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep shall be dispersed. But after I shall be risen again, I will go before you into Galilee." (Mark 14:26-28 DRA)

Benedict XVI, even as prefect of CDF, has desired for retirement. Yet, he had to stay in the Garden of Gethsemane and say "Not my will, but Your Will be done". The labor of the Sun made the Olive grove ripe and ready, Benedict XVI like an oil press was set to share his mind, heart, and strength to the world.

Pope Benedict XVI was dearly loved or viciously hated. In his mount of Olives, he was betrayed by people who had access to him. Those that feed him, give him his medicine. Those who knew his iteneraries. Benedict XVI allowed himself to be VULNERABLE, a heroic COURAGE to love and be loved. It was a courage that comes from sanctity, a close relationship with Jesus Christ, who has made Himself vulnerable as a little Babe and a crucified Messiah, naked and nailed to a Cross. With this relationship, Benedict XVI was able to sustain himself even in hostile environment, going to hostile territories, tackling extremely controversial issues.

These are the two olive trees and the two lampstands, standing in the sight of the lord of the earth.[Rev11:4]

Benedict XVI brought into fruition the pre-Vatican and post- Vatican. The continuity that suffered by the fragility of the flower of flowers papacy of Paul VI. It was an era of the flower children (hippies). Paul VI, who was himself fragile, laid out the truth in this fragile times and bore in his head the crown of thorns of the flower. Benedict XVI reconciled the pre and post Vatican II correcting the misinterpretations that had prevailed.
In our disconnect world, Benedict XVI wove in the tapestry the intricate connections of things: Faith and Reason, Charity and Truth, Hope and Salvation, Beauty and God. He was, undoubtedly, of great mind, but it was an intellect not deprived of inspiration.

Benedict XVI was not carrying a branch of olive, he disturbed the peace of one's comfort zone. He courageously addressed the questions of the heart, and it can make one accept or violently reject. Such courage he possessed wasn't a whimsical courage of those who do not care. It was not an angry courage of a self-righteous. It was not an angry courage fuelled by hate. His was a HOLY COURAGE anchored on a Truth he sought, embraced, and nurtured.

I will be as the dew, Israel shall spring as the lily, and his root shall shoot forth as that of Libanus. His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive tree: and his smell as that of Libanus. They shall be converted that sit under his shadow: they shall live upon wheat, and they shall blossom as a vine: his memorial shall be as the wine of Libanus. (Hosea 14:6-8 DRA)

The short papacy of Benedict XVI was amazingly rich. It was a surprise to the world that the pope who lack the stage presence and charm of his predecessor would draw crowds; And his books, homilies, and writings would be read.

Benedict XVI's papacy was the culmination of Benedict XV's papacy. Giacomo Della Chiesa had seen the continuing decimation of Christianity. As a seminarian in Rome, he saw the depopulation of religious life which Pecci was trying to rebuild. As a priest, his assignment in Madrid saw the revolution and overthrow of the regency of Ma. Cristina. Evenmore so in his papacy, apart from being the pope of World War I, Benedict XV was at the bark of Peter when two forces contrived in 1917: The Bolshevik Revolution giving birth to communism and socialism, and the Birth Control League which gave birth to Planned Parenthood - artificial contraception and abortion. It was a battle for Eve and Mary took part in the battle with her apparition in Fatima, Portugal. Benedict XV's papacy was marked with Religion being pushed to the margin.
It was redeemed with the long and energetic papacy of John Paul II who labored to shine even when his own sunset was approaching. Benedict XVI pushed it and religion was back with a voice into the public square and into the digital mission field.

Benedict XVI was God's loving surprise to mankind. Like an Olive Tree who wants to do its part in the Vineyard, yet never wanting attention for himself. Uncomfortable as he was with the media attention he was given, he did not shun it like a renegade. He humbly allowed himself to be used, but always carrying with him the Christ who is foremost his Master, his Love, and his Joy.

It was apt that Benedict XVI would end his papacy like an Olive Tree that withstood the lightning and the storm. He would renounce the papacy but he will not abandon the children. He was like a father who lets go of the bicycle but quietly and prayerfully watch his children. It was the best way to teach.

And like the Olive Trees in the Garden of Gethsemane, he quietly and serenely bore witness to the Love of Christ for the pilgrims to encounter Jesus. Indeed, Benedict XVI's papacy was the glory of the Olives, Gloria oliuæ.

Pope's Renunciation and the Sede Vacante Homes

While the Pope's renunciation of the papal office shook many, the subsequent reactions were of love and gratitude. But there were a good number, too, that felt abandoned or even betrayed. The breakdown of marriage in society had brought forth wounded individuals, growing up with no fathesr; They were hit the most by Pope Benedict XVI's move to renounce the office. The news struck them in a wound that never fully healed. It was for them a revisit of painful memories of a father walking out on them.

It is quite understandable that they will go through emotions of anguish, grief, forsaken, and a list of many questions. They cast doubt on past statements of love.

The Catholic Church is a family... a home and we look up to the Pope as a spiritual father. Pope Benedict XVI, in spite of, what mainstream media would like to portray, had becoming an endearing father to Catholics. His simple, lack of theatrics, and almost self-effacing personality made people listen to his words undistracted. It was heart speaks to heart.

His renunciation may, then, can even become an avenue of healing for the fatherless members of Christendom. He didnot disappear in thin air. He was able to say his goodbye, thank you, and he asked forgiveness. He prayed, discerned what is best for the flock. He said he is not abandoning you and me. He will still be in spiritual closeness thru prayers. He will continue to suffer with Christ and His Church.

Those final days of Pope Benedict XVI's papacy were touching. There is pain and sadness in losing the physical presence of one who is loved, but there is that serenity, joy, and gratitude because he gave much and that remains.

May the renunciation of Pope Benedict XVI, now Bishop Emeritus of Rome bring healing to the many who in their personal lives had an absentee father. And amidst our activism in women's rights, may we realize the equal importance of men and fathers in family life.

Thanks Pontifex

S Augustine said of S Ambrose, “He was one of those who SPEAK the TRUTH, and speak it well, judiciously, pointedly, & with BEAUTY & POWER of expression”.

I could say the same thing of Pope Benedict XVI. I wish many more listened or read his writings, in stead of, reading just headlines and the anti-Catholic groups.

It was a poignant moment seeing him leave the Vatican Apartment. A tinge of sadness as he will be missed, but there is also a joy. A joy because Jesus instituted a Church that is a family. Truly God loves us that we became adopted and heirs and it has been made visible by the Church.

The Wound Speaks

The timeline of @Pontifex, Pope Benedict XVI, is filled with vicious words. Some are just trying to be wise guy. Some just wanted to pass their time trolling personalities.There are those who truly are wounded people and their wounds speak.





Those who were abused as children. Women and homosexuals who experienced brutality from other people. No one is really spared from woundedness. We can not compare wounds because it hurts just the same. Their wounds are real and can not be undermined. It may have happened a long time ago, perpetuators may have been dead or banished, but the wounds continue to bleed and hurt them.





They seek justice, wherever or whoever can give it, but they cannot find it. Why? Because there is NO JUSTICE THAT WILL SATISFY AN UNHEALED WOUND. Even the death of the assailant can not bring their wounds to just compensation because the wound continues to hurt.





Unfortunately, healing does not come easy. The defensive wall of mistrust, apathy, anger, dissent can only be eroded in small pieces at a time. Seeking justice is futile for an unhealed wound, thus, it often ends in depression and self-destruction.. We hold on to the wound and keep it afresh so it can continually shout to the world "it's real", "it hurts". So how can one find healing?





I don't know if the Pope would have time to read the replies on his timeline. But going in a very public forum, even though virtual, opened himself up to such vicious attacks. I am pretty sure, he had expected it as it was already something he had encountered as Cardinal. The gesture, however, is admirable. The Pope joining the tweet arena had allowed himself to be vulnerable; And vulnerability is an openness to love and be loved.
It leaves one the possibility of being wounded but at the same time it leaves one to the possibility of healing. Punch all you can but I will just embrace it all.



The followers and respondents of the Pope, often in anguish, cynicism, dissent, and disrespect are also venting out a wound that had continually fester them. They are in a defensive and unconciliatory mode but this could also be a break through.



The pope was not the one who abused them, forced them to have abortion, or hurt them. Yet, he remains to be the priest, the Catholic layperson, the Catholic parent who abused them, neglected them, and hurt them. But one CANNOT be angry at the world and the wrong people forever. And slowly the walls breakdown and the people truly capable of loving them can reach out and let healing start.



HEALING LEAVES A SCAR but IT CAN NOT HURT YOU anymore. And often the justice we really seek is, no more than, being able to be there for the unhealed wounds still shouting loudly in our world.


And we cannot forget our WOUNDED MESSIAH, Jesus Christ, who took all the thorns and scourges for our sins.. the Wounded Healer who will be there for us and our woundedness.

Words Speak to My Heart

This is the homily of Pope Benedict XVI on Christmas Eve of 2010. It's so beautiful and it speaks to my heart.

Homily Christmas Eve 2010
(zenit.org)
by Benedict XVI

Dear Brothers and Sisters!

"You are my son, this day I have begotten you" – with this passage from Psalm 2 the Church begins the liturgy of this holy night. She knows that this passage originally formed part of the coronation rite of the kings of Israel. The king, who in himself is a man like others, becomes the "Son of God" through being called and installed in his office. It is a kind of adoption by God, a decisive act by which he grants a new existence to this man, drawing him into his own being. The reading from the prophet Isaiah that we have just heard presents the same process even more clearly in a situation of hardship and danger for Israel: "To us a child is born, to us a son is given. The government will be upon his shoulder" (Is 9:6). Installation in the office of king is like a second birth. As one newly born through God’s personal choice, as a child born of God, the king embodies hope. On his shoulders the future rests. He is the bearer of the promise of peace. On that night in Bethlehem this prophetic saying came true in a way that would still have been unimaginable at the time of Isaiah. Yes indeed, now it really is a child on whose shoulders government is laid. In him the new kingship appears that God establishes in the world.

This child is truly born of God. It is God’s eternal Word that unites humanity with divinity. To this child belong those titles of honour which Isaiah’s coronation song attributes to him: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Is 9:6). Yes, this king does not need counsellors drawn from the wise of this world. He bears in himself God’s wisdom and God’s counsel. In the weakness of infancy, he is the mighty God and he shows us God’s own might in contrast to the self-asserting powers of this world.

Truly, the words of Israel’s coronation rite were only ever rites of hope which looked ahead to a distant future that God would bestow. None of the kings who were greeted in this way lived up to the sublime content of these words. In all of them, those words about divine sonship, about installation into the heritage of the peoples, about making the ends of the earth their possession (Ps 2:8) were only pointers towards what was to come – as it were signposts of hope indicating a future that at that moment was still beyond comprehension. Thus the fulfilment of the prophecy, which began that night in Bethlehem, is both infinitely greater and in worldly terms smaller than the prophecy itself might lead one to imagine.

It is greater in the sense that this child is truly the Son of God, truly "God from God, light from light, begotten not made, of one being with the Father". The infinite distance between God and man is overcome.

God has not only bent down, as we read in the Psalms; he has truly "come down", he has come into the world, he has become one of us, in order to draw all of us to himself. This child is truly Emmanuel – God-with-us. His kingdom truly stretches to the ends of the earth. He has truly built islands of peace in the world-encompassing breadth of the holy Eucharist. Wherever it is celebrated, an island of peace arises, of God’s own peace. This child has ignited the light of goodness in men and has given them strength to overcome the tyranny of might. This child builds his kingdom in every generation from within, from the heart. But at the same time it is true that the "rod of his oppressor" is not yet broken, the boots of warriors continue to tramp and the "garment rolled in blood" (Is 9:4f) still remains.

So part of this night is simply joy at God’s closeness. We are grateful that God gives himself into our hands as a child, begging as it were for our love, implanting his peace in our hearts.

But this joy is also a prayer: Lord, make your promise come fully true. Break the rods of the oppressors. Burn the tramping boots. Let the time of the garments rolled in blood come to an end. Fulfil the prophecy that "of peace there will be no end" (Is 9:7). We thank you for your goodness, but we also ask you to show forth your power. Establish the dominion of your truth and your love in the world – the "kingdom of righteousness, love and peace".

"Mary gave birth to her first-born son" (Lk 2:7). In this sentence Saint Luke recounts quite soberly the great event to which the prophecies from Israel’s history had pointed. Luke calls the child the "first-born". In the language which developed within the sacred Scripture of the Old Covenant, "first-born" does not mean the first of a series of children. The word "first-born" is a title of honour, quite independently of whether other brothers and sisters follow or not. So Israel is designated by God in the Book of Exodus (4:22) as "my first-born Son", and this expresses Israel’s election, its singular dignity, the particular love of God the Father. The early Church knew that in Jesus this saying had acquired a new depth, that the promises made to Israel were summed up in him. Thus the Letter to the Hebrews calls Jesus "the first-born", simply in order to designate him as the Son sent into the world by God (cf. 1:5-7) after the ground had been prepared by Old Testament prophecy. The first-born belongs to God in a special way – and therefore he had to be handed over to God in a special way – as in many religions – and he had to be ransomed through a vicarious sacrifice, as Saint Luke recounts in the episode of the Presentation in the Temple. The first-born belongs to God in a special way, and is as it were destined for sacrifice. In Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross this destiny of the first-born is fulfilled in a unique way. In his person he brings humanity before God and unites man with God in such a way that God becomes all in all. Saint Paul amplified and deepened the idea of Jesus as first-born in the Letters to the Colossians and to the Ephesians: Jesus, we read in these letters, is the first-born of all creation – the true prototype of man, according to which God formed the human creature. Man can be the image of God because Jesus is both God and man, the true image of God and of man. Furthermore, as these letters tell us, he is the first-born from the dead. In the resurrection he has broken down the wall of death for all of us. He has opened up to man the dimension of eternal life in fellowship with God. Finally, it is said to us that he is the first-born of many brothers. Yes indeed, now he really is the first of a series of brothers and sisters: the first, that is, who opens up for us the possibility of communing with God. He creates true brotherhood – not the kind defiled by sin as in the case of Cain and Abel, or Romulus and Remus, but the new brotherhood in which we are God’s own family. This new family of God begins at the moment when Mary wraps her first-born in swaddling clothes and lays him in a manger. Let us pray to him: Lord Jesus, who wanted to be born as the first of many brothers and sisters, grant us the grace of true brotherhood. Help us to become like you. Help us to recognize your face in others who need our assistance, in those who are suffering or forsaken, in all people, and help us to live together with you as brothers and sisters, so as to become one family, your family.

At the end of the Christmas Gospel, we are told that a great heavenly host of angels praised God and said: "Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom he is pleased!" (Lk 2:14). The Church has extended this song of praise, which the angels sang in response to the event of the holy night, into a hymn of joy at God’s glory – "we praise you for your glory". We praise you for the beauty, for the greatness, for the goodness of God, which becomes visible to us this night.

The appearing of beauty, of the beautiful, makes us happy without our having to ask what use it can serve. God’s glory, from which all beauty derives, causes us to break out in astonishment and joy. Anyone who catches a glimpse of God experiences joy, and on this night we see something of his light.

But the angels’ message on that holy night also spoke of men: "Peace among men with whom he is pleased". The Latin translation of the angels’ song that we use in the liturgy, taken from Saint Jerome, is slightly different: "peace to men of good will". The expression "men of good will" has become an important part of the Church’s vocabulary in recent decades. But which is the correct translation? We must read both texts together; only in this way do we truly understand the angels’ song. It would be a false interpretation to see this exclusively as the action of God, as if he had not called man to a free response of love. But it would be equally mistaken to adopt a moralizing interpretation as if man were so to speak able to redeem himself by his good will. Both elements belong together: grace and freedom, God’s prior love for us, without which we could not love him, and the response that he awaits from us, the response that he asks for so palpably through the birth of his son. We cannot divide up into independent entities the interplay of grace and freedom, or the interplay of call and response. The two are inseparably woven together. So this part of the angels’ message is both promise and call at the same time. God has anticipated us with the gift of his Son.

God anticipates us again and again in unexpected ways.

He does not cease to search for us, to raise us up as often as we might need. He does not abandon the lost sheep in the wilderness into which it had strayed. God does not allow himself to be confounded by our sin. Again and again he begins afresh with us. But he is still waiting for us to join him in love. He loves us, so that we too may become people who love, so that there may be peace on earth.

Saint Luke does not say that the angels sang. He states quite soberly: the heavenly host praised God and said: "Glory to God in the highest" (Lk 2:13f.). But men have always known that the speech of angels is different from human speech, and that above all on this night of joyful proclamation it was in song that they extolled God’s heavenly glory. So this angelic song has been recognized from the earliest days as music proceeding from God, indeed, as an invitation to join in the singing with hearts filled with joy at the fact that we are loved by God. Cantare amantis est, says Saint Augustine: singing belongs to one who loves. Thus, down the centuries, the angels’ song has again and again become a song of love and joy, a song of those who love.

At this hour, full of thankfulness, we join in the singing of all the centuries, singing that unites heaven and earth, angels and men. Yes, indeed, we praise you for your glory. We praise you for your love. Grant that we may join with you in love more and more and thus become people of peace. Amen.

A video highlighting the Pope's message.

In Search of Beauty

We live in a materialistic and consumer oriented world and still it leaves us craving for beauty. There are so many beauty products and equipments. Technology can mass produce beautiful merchandise. There are make-overs, cosmetic surgery, reimaging, reinvention, renovation. Still, we always look at the past as more beautiful - the places were far beautiful then; So, were the actors and actresses then. Fashion, likewise, was beautiful. When people wants to get away, it is to nature unspoilt by humanity and its so called progress.
Much of modernism and consumerism had left us with self-centeredness, hoarding, use, and abuse. We are clueless to what love, truth, and beauty are.
Beauty is the face of love but love isn't just visual and static. It is an experienced reality. The language of love is truth and so the experience of beauty must communicate truth.

Pope Benedict XVI recalling a concert performance of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach -- in Munich in Bavaria -- conducted by Leonard Bernstein. "At the conclusion of the final selection, one of the Cantate, I felt -- not through reasoning, but in the depths of my heart -- that what I had just heard had spoken truth to me, truth about the supreme composer, and it moved me to give thanks to God. Seated next to me was the Lutheran bishop of Munich. I spontaneously said to him: "Whoever has listened to this understands that faith is true" -- and the beauty that irresistibly expresses the presence of God's truth. (Gen Audience, Castel Gandolfo, Italy, Aug. 31, 2011)

St. Augustine in coming to know Christianity. “Belatedly I loved thee, O Beauty so ancient and so new, belatedly I loved thee. For see, thou wast within and I was without, and I sought thee out there. Unlovely, I rushed heedlessly among the lovely things thou hast made. Thou wast with me, but I was not with thee. These things kept me far from thee; even though they were not at all unless they were in thee. Thou didst call and cry aloud, and didst force open my deafness. Thou didst gleam and shine, and didst chase away my blindness. Thou didst breathe fragrant odors and I drew in my breath; and now I pant for thee. I tasted, and now I hunger and thirst. Thou didst touch me, and I burned for thy peace.” (Augustine of Hippo, Confessions)

Malcolm Muggeridge, on the other hand, entitled his book on the life of Mother Teresa of Calcutta as "Something Beautiful for God".

The illusion of beauty that modernism and consumerism offer, so often, degrades the human spirit. It does not celebrate the splendor of the truth. Authentic beauty goes beyond what we see because it leaves an imprint in the heart and soul. It touches the person - the whole person and lifts it higher to greater truths.

And our restless hearts will always impel us to search for beauty.