1. Most of you Cardinals know what kind of hell went on during the last conclave. I was told by one who would know. The one relating this was most likely excommunicated for his efforts. How shameful. If you think you can pull that kind of politicking again, take a good hard look at who was chosen. God was not amused with the politicking. This is not about politics and how nice it would be for you to feel you have power to destroy the Church. God will hold you accountable for your vote. Note well who does up the politicking in the next weeks. You know who not to vote for.
2. I know what our dear Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, still gloriously reigning, has had front and center on his desk for a number of weeks. I think the level and amount of betrayal caught even him off guard. And he’s right, the amount of energy it would take to handle such a crisis of betrayal now right around the world is superhuman. Personally, I think he still is the right man for this, right here, right now. He’s such a gentleman. Seeing such betrayal smacked him down, hard, because he’s such a gentleman. So, you’ve been warned. There is no one more capable of handling these things than Pope Benedict. Don’t think you’ll have an easy time of it. Remember this:
Proper justice rendered even going against political correctness is the only way.
Having said that, know that we’ve all been praying for you for a long time, knowing that our Lady was preparing someone for years, for decades.
Accompany me, Father George David Byers, S.S.L., S.T.D., as I begin life as a Catholic Priest-Hermit by choice. Holy Souls Hermitage is dedicated to the sanctification of my fellow priests, bishops, deacons & seminarians going through the purgatory of this life or the next. Prayer and sacrifice go up, of course, for both Benedict XVI and the next Successor of Saint Peter. 
Forgive my ignorance Father, But what exactly is the Pope been dealing with on his desk and could you please elaborate about the last conclave? I’m trying to make sense of all of this. I am saddened to hear about Benedict and love him dearly!
Wow, Fr. Byers. I have no idea what this post means but it is scary.
Some know. That’s enough. They’re warned.
I feel we have lost the wisest man among us. I hope what Pope Benedict was faced with did not influence his shocking, and shockingly brave, decision. What he was facing will emerge, somehow or other, and I fear what will happen without his guidance.
Rory: Well put. I’m sick to my stomach…
Father, in response to your latest comment, does that mean that you don’t think the Holy Father is resigning due to health issues?
We can only pray, and do what is in our capacity to do, to see that proper justice is rendered.
Jenna: He puts it exactly, of course. He doesn’t feel he has the strength to continue in a way that is needed for the Church right now.
May his soul be content, his heart light, Bless him for all time, a great man.
I believe after reading much about him as a man, he never really wanted the job, never sought it, yet humbly accepted and did his best, and wonderfully so. I also believe that his witness of his close friend JPII’s decline and death weighs on him, being he is a very private man he does not want the attention and speculation
I pray we are presented with a new pope with a strong hand and a warm heart for I feel that Benedict has been battling factions in the “Vatican” and the church as a whole that did not like his ideas and have wearied him greatly, including the resistance to the Old Rite, the dragging of feet so to speak in the acceptance of the Anglican Ordinate and I really do believe a systematic effort to kill the unification of the SSPX.
Hopefully the new Pope will have the courage and will to bring factions in line and do as he wishes and maybe as he orders. Benedict preferred to lead by example which works for those who are willing to follow but sometimes a shepherd must use his staff to discipline the wayward sheep so to speak. (spoken as a dairy farmer who faces the not so willing to be led on a daily basis)
Also I read that his doctors have insisted no more long foreign travel, World Youth Day may also be a factor in his timing as well ?? Not the decision as a whole but the timing.
May he be content and face his declining years peacefully
And after all he is German, a practical and stoic race, may he have peace in his decision
German Egyptian: Now that’s an idea! A cattle prod used repeatedly instead of, say, burning at the stake!
Yeah, Fr, what an “electrifying” idea.
I’ve been whacked by one of those “damned” things, bring you right to your knees, hard!!
The mind wonders, nuns on the bus. OK off to confession, bad thoughts baaaaaad thoughts, snicker, baaaad
First I was just sad… but now perhaps I should also be filled with righteous anger? Pope Benedict has been a true and faithful servant and leader. I will miss him terribly. I will trust the Holy Spirit with the job of finding our next shepard and continue to pray for dear “Papa Benny.” It seems we’ve been given a very important Lenten intention to fast and pray for.
Meredith: Yes. I think we have to go through a process of grieving. I’ve already been angry, and, of course, blamed myself for not praying enough for him.
This is the best comment I have heard yet. TY.
The hope is that the Pope will be a figurehead and that committees will make the decisions. I don’t think Pope Benedict was a very compliant subject. He knew how to Pope and he tried to do what the Holy Spirit commanded. So many sinister characters surrounding him put up roadblocks.
According to the end of the book, our side wins in the end…..
Rory O Callaghan: I feel we have lost the wisest man among us.
Agreed.
I just feel… Suffering? The overwhelming shock has hit, and what seems to occur is an overwhelming sorrow.
May Our Lord watch over him, and may the Blessed Virgin constantly pray for him.
God Bless.
(Catholichistorian)
Father George, God made sure, despite tremendous efforts to overset his plans to give the church a holy pope in our Holy Father Benedict. God is in control. Father your powerful petitions, sacrifices and prayers have allowed our Holy Father to stay in his position much longer than even he could have hoped for when he was elected in 2005. Even then he was aware that he was surrounded by wolves ready to devour him. Our Holy Father is a brave soul who is serving the Church with all his might and soul, through God,s grace. I feel something serious is amiss and God is directing the course of events unfolding. I am so grateful for all the masses and prayers you have offered for our dear Pope. When we love someone and feel we are loosing them, we often blame ourselves for perceived weakness…but when we are following the Will of God, everything is as it should be according to God’s plan. We have to keep in mind that the Holy Father and holy Mother Church is under the protective mantel of Mother Immaculate whom we honour today. Be at peace Father. We’ll all pray that God’s Will prevail in these unfolding events. I trust enormously in the Emergency Chaplet of the Immaculate Conception that you taught us. A prayer definitely for these times. God bless you Father George.
Cathe: I’m so nothing. I can’t imagine the terrible suffering such a decision brings on the Holy Father himself. He must be absolutely crushed, even in the midst of trusting our Lord and Blessed Mother.
I am confused! I pray that what ever is on the desk will be resolved by holiness and Gods Will. From reading the Posts of These Stone Walls I suspect that there is evil in sheeps clothing in the Vattican and around the world in our Holy Catholic Church. Pray every, one, Pray.
Prayers for our Holy Father. This news is indeed crushing, even terrifying. Father Byers, I can’t help but think of Holy Mother Church being in a state of crucifixion at this time, remembering the fourth prayer of St. Bridget, where all the Members of Christ’s Body were distended to such a degree, that never was their “pain like unto Thine.” In this time, I can’t help but think that anyone is subject to this suffering more than the Holy Father. Father, I agree with you, Pope Benedict XVI is the right man at the right time. His announcement will surely herald a plethora of commentary to crush him more. By these fruits, many will be known, but, neither bread nor wine are made without crushing. Lord Jesus, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, Have mercy on us!
I am very sad at this, but I believe the Holy Father is doing the right thing. No doubt, through is discernment on this issue, he concluded that God’s will was for him to station himself in prayer, penance, and contemplation right in the heart of the evil and allow someone stronger physically to take up the sword that must be wielded in public. I don’t know what God has in mind for the Church right now, but I do know that we must redouble our efforts this Lent to sacrifice for whomever the next Pope will be in addition to thanking God for Pope Benedict.
First abdication in 600 yrs I am told. I watched the youtube video of him reading the announcement- He seems alot healthier than I expected. JP2 appeared much more feeble towards the end, yet stuck it out.So there may be other pressures at work here. It seems strange to me that he would step down now at the beginning of Lent, rather than wait until after Easter. Feb 28 to Easter is only 31 more days, and would have given more time for preparation. (a bit worrisome to me.) How does a father resign his paternity? I can’t help but feel we have been somehow abandoned here, I am waiting for some other shoe to drop. Our Lady of Fatima, ora pro nobis.
When I saw the headline this morning I wondered if there wasn’t a lot more to this story that meets the eye. I’ve always suspected there is plenty of scheming and intrigue going on in the Vatican. I doubt it is anything new. I suspect it is the same kind of insidious conspiracy that has been going on since the Garden of Eden -modernized no doubt, but still brewed in the depths of hell.
While individuals may pay the ultimate price and all will suffer, the Body of Christ will prevail. Jesus said so. It’s imperative that we pray for each other (the Pope included) but remember what Pope John Paul taught “Be not afraid. ” In the Divine Mercy message Jesus taught us to say “Jesus I trust in You.” I suggest we make this our constant prayer and mean it.
Joisy Goil: We always trust. This is the only way that Pope Benedict could do what he is doing. He had a great example of that trust in the last conclave, not because he was elected, but because someone else was not.
However, if someone who is diabolically against the Church does get elected, this does not mean that we should trust less. It only means that we have an occasion in which this trust is to be deepened and strengthened. Yikes!
Sick and tired of opportunities for “deepening trust”. Just makes it harder to get out of bed each day. This won’t help, especially if some blackguard or knave is elected. Gementes et flentes in hac lacrimarum valle, indeed.
Stay the course, Flambeaux. ALL the apostles ran away. John came back. Stay the course. Our Lord teaches us. More on this in another post coming up.
Father, all of this is very unsettling. I wish I knew what you know – all I can do is pray and fast. Regardless of what happens, God is at the helm. Jesus, I trust in You.
I love BXVI and will be very sorry to see him go! I too was walking around stunned, most of today. But, a couple of thoughts: in Lent we are supposed to give up our attachments. Well, here is a Pope who has proven himself able to detach from one of the world’s most powerful positions. Look how he trusts God, with the Church and with the rest of his life!
I also remember how we were all worried about who could possibly fill the shoes of JPII. Maybe we would get a timid caretaker Pope. Instead, we got BXVI! Let’s pray that the Holy Spirit is preparing just right man for the times.
I too love Pope Benedict XVI and don’t want to see him leave. Thanks for being here and sharing Holy Souls Hermitage. Sure do need it now and look forward to the spiritual consolation and guidance. Thanks and God bless you.
Father George,
You wrote –
” However, if someone who is diabolically against the Church does get elected, this does not mean that we should trust less. It only means that we have an occasion in which this trust is to be deepened and strengthened. Yikes!
I agree that when things get bad it is more important than ever to trust in Jesus. Through the years I have read of many things that may or may not come to pass – some were terifying. I taught my sons to never cease to trust in Jesus come what may. The Good shepherd will look after His own. Trust!
Last night on one of the French TV channels a journalist for Paris-Match mentioned the Holy Father having had to work with ‘un college des cardinaux difficile (or difficiles?)’ Until I read your post I had no idea of any difficulties behind the scenes but now it seems that journalists have been aware for some time. Not sure whether the ‘difficile’ referred to the college or the cardinals however although I suppose they both amount to the same thing.
An interview with the Cardinal Archbishop of Paris followed and I was surprised at his reply as to what was important in a future Pope. He rated personality and the capacity to do the job. No mention of deep Faith, theological expertise or orthodoxy at all. He ended the interview by saying that ‘tout est possible.’ Very noncommittal.
A lady interviewed in Notre-Dame wondered why God had not given Pope Benedict the necessary strength to continue – a question which many of us must have thought over the last twenty-four hours.
I think the Holy Father knows something we do not about what is coming, and he knows that the person to deal with it is to follow him. He is being spared that, yet he will see it begin.
The Holy Father clearly is a man of great intellect. My hunch is he is more in control than we think, especially if he views his time on earth as limited. I have trust not only in the Holy Spirit, Jesus and Mary, but in his actions as well.
My fear is that some of the Cardinals may violate their own rules and, like wolves, pack up in political warfare. If the media exposes the politics of the selection process I think the entire process will be reduced to a farce, crippling the Church even more.
I am saying the Rosary frequently that the Holy Spirit protect and guide the Church through all this.
Dear Father, Your post is an enigma. However, oddly comforting. You verify my suspicions that something really evil is going on way beyond what us knuckleheads can even imagine.
Conspiracy theories are not all baloney. Many Popes have vehemently warned us in great detail, over and over, about secret societies and evil influences changing the Church. For instance: “…you must labor and diligently take care that the faith may be preserved amidst this great conspiracy of impious men who attempt to tear it down and destroy it.” –Mirari Vos, Encyclical of Pope Gregory XVI, August 15, 1832. There’s a zillion papal documents, and top of that, prophecies that go way back. Plus its all described in Scripture, both in many OT books and in the NT. Many illustrations of the destruction of the Church – how do so many miss this? LOL
Stick with Mary, she is our Ark. Say the Rosary, wear the Miraculous Medal, the Scapular, consecrate everything to Mary. The same who brought us Christ and carried the Church during the Passion, unto burying the seemingly extinguished God in the tomb, was there at Pentecost with the flourishing Church in triumph.
I pray that Pope Benedict will stay safe under the mantle of Mary. That’s our best shot, prayer and penance. I do wonder if Benedict has chosen the better path – prayer and penance over a public life. We are all up against supernatural intellect, Dominions, Powers. Sometimes when you can’t win, it becomes time to retreat into prayer.
The Church is more than the sum of Its parts. Our holy Church is bigger than a single Papacy or Pope. She has survived without a Pope at times. We will be astonished at how our Church survives – we don’t really understand of what this Church of Jesus Christ consists.