A Sunday Morning Thought to Start the Week Off Right
The St Patrick's Day parade took place yesterday, here in the Archdiocese of New York, since our patron saint's feast day lands on a Sunday this year. But today is nevertheless St Patrick's Day and so our family, despite our non-Irish background, will celebrate in our fashion with some Irish song, food and drink. Maybe we'll even watch that great movie, The Quiet Man, if we can all manage to get together in one place long enough.
Of course, we remember that it's the fifth Sunday of Lent, as well as the first Sunday in the reign of our new Pope Francis I.
Last Sunday, we talked about how Benedict - having already resigned and retired from public life - remained a target for the media and others who hold not good intentions for our Holy Church. And now that we have a new pope, the initial onslaught on Pope Francis came swiftly.
Sure, that first giddy day when he was elected passed in relatively good spirits. In fact, the only sour notes I picked up were from disaffected Catholics - you know, the sorts who make you wonder why they bother calling themselves Catholics. But right away, we began hearing about how Pope Francis, when he was head of the Jesuits in Argentina, colluded in some way with the military dictatorship responsible for the torture and death of so many thousands who opposed the regime. The fact the the charges were brought up previously and were vociferously denied at the time didn't play much role in the reports, of course. (In fact, you may remember how - within days of being elected pope, Benedict was accused of being a a willing collaborator with the Nazi party before and during World War II.)
And please don't be surprised if more such accusations - about what, who knows? - are slung at this man in short order. For those who hate the Church, the Pope is the Big Prize.
If you've ever been the subject of slander, you have an idea how being unjustly accused feels. I don't know how Pope Francis feels, but I know how I've felt the few times I've been subjected to this sort of thing. Perhaps (unlike me) he handles this in an evenhanded, meek manner in imitation of Our Blessed Lord (again, unlike me). In any case, we should pray for him and for Our Holy Mother Church as he and she come under assault from those who want to see both Pope and Church disappear from this world.
And so, as we draw closer to Holy Week, when Catholic hearts and minds focus on the Savior of us all who redeemed us in His suffering, let's remember to pray for Pope Francis and our Holy Catholic Church. You can be sure the attacks will increase. But you can also be sure that the Risen Lord and His Holy Church will claim the ultimate victory.
Of course, we remember that it's the fifth Sunday of Lent, as well as the first Sunday in the reign of our new Pope Francis I.
Last Sunday, we talked about how Benedict - having already resigned and retired from public life - remained a target for the media and others who hold not good intentions for our Holy Church. And now that we have a new pope, the initial onslaught on Pope Francis came swiftly.
Sure, that first giddy day when he was elected passed in relatively good spirits. In fact, the only sour notes I picked up were from disaffected Catholics - you know, the sorts who make you wonder why they bother calling themselves Catholics. But right away, we began hearing about how Pope Francis, when he was head of the Jesuits in Argentina, colluded in some way with the military dictatorship responsible for the torture and death of so many thousands who opposed the regime. The fact the the charges were brought up previously and were vociferously denied at the time didn't play much role in the reports, of course. (In fact, you may remember how - within days of being elected pope, Benedict was accused of being a a willing collaborator with the Nazi party before and during World War II.)
And please don't be surprised if more such accusations - about what, who knows? - are slung at this man in short order. For those who hate the Church, the Pope is the Big Prize.
If you've ever been the subject of slander, you have an idea how being unjustly accused feels. I don't know how Pope Francis feels, but I know how I've felt the few times I've been subjected to this sort of thing. Perhaps (unlike me) he handles this in an evenhanded, meek manner in imitation of Our Blessed Lord (again, unlike me). In any case, we should pray for him and for Our Holy Mother Church as he and she come under assault from those who want to see both Pope and Church disappear from this world.
And so, as we draw closer to Holy Week, when Catholic hearts and minds focus on the Savior of us all who redeemed us in His suffering, let's remember to pray for Pope Francis and our Holy Catholic Church. You can be sure the attacks will increase. But you can also be sure that the Risen Lord and His Holy Church will claim the ultimate victory.
Comments