A quick and admittedly clumsy dive into the background of this newly minted pontiff—the first American pope in the Church’s long history—offered little solace to traditionalists.
From a great US group - Catholics for Catholics: "For one thing, he was elected yesterday, May 8th, on the anniversary of the apparition of Saint Michael at Mt. Gargano where the archangel famously defended the local Christians from pagan invaders in 663. Secondly, Pope Leo XIV chose his new name with a nod to Pope Leo XIII who composed the Saint Michael Prayer after receiving a powerful apparition from this great Archangel.
Is this all by chance? It could be but I don’t think so. I do believe that Saint Michael is working hard behind the scenes. As we begin this new era for the Church, let’s be close to this warrior for God, asking him to pray for the protection of Pope Leo XIV and the Church." A ray of hope!
With Jesus's coming, He ended the need for Prophets. The Israelite's didnt necessarily listen to the Prophets themselves and continued to be in trouble with God. One reason he sent Himself as Jesus. One of many reasons. Thanks to Jesus, we KNOW how its going to end
You call Benedict XVI a modernist. Even if it is a trivial question, I will ask it anyway: can you point me to examples of facts or circumstances that confirm this assessment?
What occurs to me is that many of our holiest Saints have lived under decadent or confused Papal administrations and yet have remained of the saintly to the last that is our destiny. We always pray and hope for a faithful saintly Pope of course but our Sainthood, the only thing that really matters to God or to us. is always an entirely personal matter, unique only to us. Our God is not unaware of any of the implications of the election of a particular Pope and in fact allows all of them good or evil. Neither our Salvation nor Sainthood depend upon him. Nor does our evangelization of others. Our desire should always be to attend the Person, the needs, and the desires of our God alone, for His sake alone, no matter authorities are placed over us just as our Savior did. We have no control over the determinations and whims of the Vatican hierarchy, or the veracity their proclamations but we can in any moment attend only the pleasure of our God. In this manner we have complete control over our personal sanctity and the exercise here on earth of the constructs of our Sainthood. No Pope, however influential he may be, has any control over our exercise of these most salient dispositions of our existence that are expected of us by our God. If we are sustained day in and day out as we live within the Communion of intimacy with our God, the need I first became aware of in my childhood catechetical training many years per Vat II, nothing, not even the most decadent or confused Papal or ecclesiastical authority has the power to assail our mutual union with our triune God. Rarely do we encounter anymore the teaching of our Church regarding the Communion of Saints of which we are all members, joined through immersive union with our God with the Heavenly Host. No matter who our benefactors may, or may not be here on earth, the only ones that actually count are those who reside in Heaven with us within in the destiny of unique Sainthood in which we can become participants today when we allow. If we can be truly heartened in our struggle here on earth, it will not be by the election of the "right" Pope. It must be instead that we have become aware finally of the permeating nearness to us of the God we serve and of the army of His Benefactors, the Saints and Angels to Whom we have been joined in Communion who pray with us and defend us before our God every step of the way.
He who goes in the Pope comes out a cardinal is a proverb for a reason.
I have also heard that he conducted a Eucharistic procession during the COVID-19, sticking to the exact letter of the law.
Meanwhile:
Let us pray for Leo, the Pope.
May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and may the Lord not hand him over to the power of his enemies.
May your hand be upon your holy servant.
And upon your son whom you have anointed.
Let us pray.
O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in your mercy, upon your servant, Leo, whom you have appointed to preside over your Church; and grant, we beseech you, that both by word and example, he may edify all those under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting.
According to St. Robert Bellermine, if a Catholic becomes a heretic, they CEASE to be Catholic. Since the Second Vatican Council CONTRACTS Catholic Dogma, if they SUPPORT the council are your “prelates”, Catholic?
Thank you for this honest, balanced, and not-too-polemical post. Pope Benedict XVI had strong modernist tendencies, but I do believe he had a pastoral heart. I think this shone through even under the cover of academic or semi-formal language, including within Summorum Pontificum. I don't buy the party line that SP was some kind of temporary concession to hook TLM-attendees into Novus Ordo culture.
We need to pray that Pope Leo XIV — also not a traditional Catholic — is disposed in a similar way.
it would have made for a very awkward first papal address to a crowd that largely knows the nicene creed and recites it at most masses throughout the year. it's also the easter season - makes sense to emphasize the resurrection.
From a great US group - Catholics for Catholics: "For one thing, he was elected yesterday, May 8th, on the anniversary of the apparition of Saint Michael at Mt. Gargano where the archangel famously defended the local Christians from pagan invaders in 663. Secondly, Pope Leo XIV chose his new name with a nod to Pope Leo XIII who composed the Saint Michael Prayer after receiving a powerful apparition from this great Archangel.
Is this all by chance? It could be but I don’t think so. I do believe that Saint Michael is working hard behind the scenes. As we begin this new era for the Church, let’s be close to this warrior for God, asking him to pray for the protection of Pope Leo XIV and the Church." A ray of hope!
Thank you for your helpful thoughts.
The problem is, the Church needs prophets, but all we get are clerks.
God gives us exactly what we need.
With Jesus's coming, He ended the need for Prophets. The Israelite's didnt necessarily listen to the Prophets themselves and continued to be in trouble with God. One reason he sent Himself as Jesus. One of many reasons. Thanks to Jesus, we KNOW how its going to end
You call Benedict XVI a modernist. Even if it is a trivial question, I will ask it anyway: can you point me to examples of facts or circumstances that confirm this assessment?
Lovely reply.
Thanks for your time. I'll definitely check it out.
What occurs to me is that many of our holiest Saints have lived under decadent or confused Papal administrations and yet have remained of the saintly to the last that is our destiny. We always pray and hope for a faithful saintly Pope of course but our Sainthood, the only thing that really matters to God or to us. is always an entirely personal matter, unique only to us. Our God is not unaware of any of the implications of the election of a particular Pope and in fact allows all of them good or evil. Neither our Salvation nor Sainthood depend upon him. Nor does our evangelization of others. Our desire should always be to attend the Person, the needs, and the desires of our God alone, for His sake alone, no matter authorities are placed over us just as our Savior did. We have no control over the determinations and whims of the Vatican hierarchy, or the veracity their proclamations but we can in any moment attend only the pleasure of our God. In this manner we have complete control over our personal sanctity and the exercise here on earth of the constructs of our Sainthood. No Pope, however influential he may be, has any control over our exercise of these most salient dispositions of our existence that are expected of us by our God. If we are sustained day in and day out as we live within the Communion of intimacy with our God, the need I first became aware of in my childhood catechetical training many years per Vat II, nothing, not even the most decadent or confused Papal or ecclesiastical authority has the power to assail our mutual union with our triune God. Rarely do we encounter anymore the teaching of our Church regarding the Communion of Saints of which we are all members, joined through immersive union with our God with the Heavenly Host. No matter who our benefactors may, or may not be here on earth, the only ones that actually count are those who reside in Heaven with us within in the destiny of unique Sainthood in which we can become participants today when we allow. If we can be truly heartened in our struggle here on earth, it will not be by the election of the "right" Pope. It must be instead that we have become aware finally of the permeating nearness to us of the God we serve and of the army of His Benefactors, the Saints and Angels to Whom we have been joined in Communion who pray with us and defend us before our God every step of the way.
Wow ! Wonderful points !
He who goes in the Pope comes out a cardinal is a proverb for a reason.
I have also heard that he conducted a Eucharistic procession during the COVID-19, sticking to the exact letter of the law.
Meanwhile:
Let us pray for Leo, the Pope.
May the Lord preserve him, give him a long life, make him blessed upon the earth, and may the Lord not hand him over to the power of his enemies.
May your hand be upon your holy servant.
And upon your son whom you have anointed.
Let us pray.
O God, the Pastor and Ruler of all the faithful, look down, in your mercy, upon your servant, Leo, whom you have appointed to preside over your Church; and grant, we beseech you, that both by word and example, he may edify all those under his charge; so that, with the flock entrusted to him, he may arrive at length unto life everlasting.
Through Christ our Lord.
Well said, as usual. A balanced approach. But I don’t think Pope Leo XIII was canonized (third to last paragraph).
Thank you! Was an honest mistake! Appreciate the correction.🙏✝️
🔥 Semper Fortis! 📯🗡️🩸
One day at a time....
....Lord have mercy!
Holy Prophet and Seer Saint Isaiah, pray for us!
Christ is RISEN! 🌐 ☦️ ⛪ ⛲ 🔔 🕊️
According to St. Robert Bellermine, if a Catholic becomes a heretic, they CEASE to be Catholic. Since the Second Vatican Council CONTRACTS Catholic Dogma, if they SUPPORT the council are your “prelates”, Catholic?
Time will tell. . .
Well what d ya know !
So good to see you hang out in the same place as me … makes me feel less alone .
Thank you for this honest, balanced, and not-too-polemical post. Pope Benedict XVI had strong modernist tendencies, but I do believe he had a pastoral heart. I think this shone through even under the cover of academic or semi-formal language, including within Summorum Pontificum. I don't buy the party line that SP was some kind of temporary concession to hook TLM-attendees into Novus Ordo culture.
We need to pray that Pope Leo XIV — also not a traditional Catholic — is disposed in a similar way.
Blessings and appreciation from Sydney Australia.
I pray for the grace to carry my cross with joy. Somehow not fearing it does
not seem enough ? Though as a woman I can only trust I am not being grandiose .
He literally proclaimed the resurrection...
would you prefer that he recited the nicene creed verbatim? read the entirety of john's gospel? what would have sufficed?
it would have made for a very awkward first papal address to a crowd that largely knows the nicene creed and recites it at most masses throughout the year. it's also the easter season - makes sense to emphasize the resurrection.
Exactly!