Pope Benedict XVI… Such sadness after reading the declaration of his abdication.
A high ranking “papabile” Cardinal (NOT Cardinal Ratzinger) at the time – some ten years ago – publicly condemned Pope John Paul II’s being in a wheelchair. Had I been next to him, I think I would have smacked him down hard enough that he himself would never be able to get out of the wheelchair that would then become part of his existence. He said this:
“John Paul is such an embarrassment to the Church. He’s in a wheelchair! He can hardly talk! He must be removed. We [some Cardinals] are doing something about this. There are others who could be elected to the papacy. We need to do this now.”
He didn’t say this on just one occasion, but many. You could see hubris rearing its ugly head. I actually think he thought he could do something. I have my own thoughts about the last months of Pope John Paul. Anyway, I’m sure you would agree that there was just a wee bit of electioneering going on there. Needless to say, he was utterly dismayed at the election of Pope Benedict XVI. Hah!
Instead, Pope John Paul gave the entire Church and the world hope with the brave manner in which he faced being ever more imprisoned in his ailing body, but with such a young, enthusiastic — Be not afraid! — attitude. He embodied the sign of contradiction, the cross, the essence of the Catholic Church, giving hope to all who suffer, that their sufferings are not despised and to be hidden as embarrassments, but are the very glory of the One who was ripped to shreds and crucified out of love for them, for all of us. Those who are sick have the highest quality of life, and it must be shown to be such in this world of cowardice before the cross, in this culture of death which would put someone “out of their misery” like any horse with a broken leg. John Paul was at his best in his suffering.
Cardinal Ratzinger knew this, was utterly taken by this, and became all the more extremely devoted to his beloved “papa” on this earth. A good friend in the Roman Curia witnessed this many times, and was in awe of this dedication of Cardinal Ratzinger. He repeated this to me on many occasions. Pope Benedict well knows that this is part of what it means to be the Bishop of Rome, however much he is loves his privacy, however much he doesn’t want to become a spectacle. He knows that our weakness manifests Christ’s strength, and that it is Christ Jesus who would make of any of us a spectacle even to the angels, who rejoice when we, ever so weak, manifest the very strength of Christ Jesus.
And there is nothing that would have hurt Cardinal Ratzinger more than to hear the diabolically evil statements of some of his fellow Cardinals that his great hero, John Paul II, would have to be removed as an embarrassment to the Church. We are all imprisoned in these weak bodies of ours. But there is great quality of life in this imprisonment, is there not? It is Christ Jesus Himself shining out from within us, proclaiming to the whole world that God loves us, the greatest testimony we could ever give to another, from the least known person dying in their poverty and pain to the very Supreme Pontiff himself. Jesus liberates us from this prison of infirmity by providing us with His every youthful enthusiastic life, and then providing us with eternal life, where all such infirmity falls away. Perhaps you may remember my guest post on These Stone Walls, entitled, “When Jesus Was In Prison.” Both John Paul II and Benedict XVI served and serve Christ Jesus, not the opinions of the media, not the hubris of ladder climbers.
But let’s see what now Pope Benedict says of his own health and the reasons for his abdication. The full text of that abdication is here. But in this post, I would to do an analysis of the words he used about his health, which are not really about his health so much as other circumstances. My entire life’s training is analyze such texts. Let’s see what we really have here.
After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. [That is, just like John Paul II in his latter years, but the times have changed since then...] However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith [This is a most extraordinary statement for someone who has followed every single important case in the Roman Curia since 1982... every last one...], in order to govern the bark of Saint Peter [He's not being assisted as he should be. I know for a fact that the buck is being passed to him on extremely serious, extremely complicated matters by those who glibly couldn't give a damn about doing an adequate work for the Lord Jesus...] and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary [He witnessed how the Roman Curia, including the Secretary of State, was willingly out of control when John Paul was infirm, and knows that this is coming upon him...], strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me [He could do it then, but not now, because of the circumstances extraordinarily different from those in John Paul II's last years].
In other words, he would have kept going just like John Paul II, but times have changed quite radically for the worse since that time. It is because of these circumstances quite apart from his health that he has decided to step aside. John Paul gave the witness about the value of suffering, but right now, incisive governance is necessary. I could say much more about those circumstances, but we will leave that to the next successor of Saint Peter, to whom, once again, Pope Benedict XVI will be entirely dedicated.
It is an insult to Blessed John Paul II and to Pope Benedict XVI, still gloriously reigning, to think that Pope Benedict is worried in the least about going through the crucifixion which John Paul II experienced. That would be cynical in the extreme. These Pontiffs are not children. Pope Benedict faces the battle with great fortitude. As I’ve said here and here, Pope Benedict is only intensifying his ministry by becoming a hermit.
Also, just to say, the infirmities experienced by Pope John Paul II are not in any way comparable to any infirmity of Pope Benedict XVI. Not at all. No, no. This is about the circumstances of our present day, so intensified from even eight years ago. If this frightens you, let that fear get you on your knees both in the confessional and in prayer. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of such wisdom. But after that, “Be not afraid!”
Update: What John Paul II and Benedict XVI are all about: The Cross! There are a number of great pictures like this. Can you find any more?
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. 
Exactly – I was devastated – but think he has done the best thing for the Church. What courage, what humility.
Pope Benedict, as well as Pope John Paul II, were/are led by the Holy Spirit. How blessed are they to be able to recognize HIS promptings concerning their lives and the life of the Church.
I am very sad with the news, but am at peace with the Pope’s decision. And….all the garbage we will continue to hear from secular and so-called “catholic” media, do as St. Francis de Sales suggests in his Maxims. “Pay no attention to what your enemies say.” We just need to ignore them and do daily what God calls us to do, while praying for those who either just don’t get it or have set out to destroy the Church.
Father this is all starting to sound a little bit like the novel Windswept House. I myself am also completely convinced that many things are presently attacking the Church but is whatever situation currently weighing on the mind of the Holy Father as serious as the things alleged in that novel? Thank you for your rich spiritual commentary on all that is going on now. I am still reeling from the announcement.
Sean: I knew Malachi Martin personally. I wouldn’t put too much credence in what he has to say. Reality is, as they say, always more…
Thank you dear Father. The famous vision of HH Leo XIII and the statement of HH Paul VI “the smoke of Satan has entered the sanctuary” apparently haven’t yet reached their expiration dates.
I am sure you all remember this photo. The minute I saw it I thought, “Cardinal Ratzinger is being handed his cross; being the next Pope.” I couldn’t help but recall this picture at this time. For me it is a treasure
http://ts3.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4653241480382594&pid=15.1
Awesome, Denise!
Obviously I could very likely be wrong, but I have been wondering if he us going to make the Medjugorje announcement within the next 2 weeks and then let the new Pope not be the one who has to endure the brunt of the upset of the many devotees but can be fatherly and soothing.
All I know is that after hearing this news I have offered at least one 5 decade rosary and a chaplet of Divine Mercy for him. I pray that whoever takes his place will have the same sharp intellect as he does but with the utter intolerance for the enemies of the Faith within the Church that St. Pius X did.
Shame on that Cardinal who spoke so about JPII. I agree with you. I would have wanted to hold him down while you decked him! Perhaps some day Our Lord will do just that. “Whatsoever you do to the least of my people, you do unto me.” Eh?.
After having time to think about the surpassing news I realize that this intrigue is the continuation of the war of Good and Evil. The battle lines were formed long ago in a beautiful garden. While we all like to think of our earthly existence as a ‘nice’ journey, the battle rages on around us. Evil never eases up or rests and Good is always vigilant. God Bless good Pope Benedict XVI.
And don’t forget the Garden of Gethsemane!
Father, what is your feeling about the prophecies that came out of Akita, Japan? I remembered the phrase, bishop against bishop… Allegedly the Blessed Mother said:
“The work of the devil will infiltrate even into the Church in such a way that one will see Cardinals opposing Cardinals, Bishops against other Bishops. The priests who venerate Me will be scorned and opposed by their confreres (other priests). Churches and altars will be sacked. The Church will be full of those who accept compromises, and the demon will press many priests and consecrated souls to leave the service of the Lord.
“The demon will be especially implacable against the souls consecrated to God. The thought of the loss of so many souls is the cause of My sadness. If sins increase in number and gravity, there will no longer be pardon for them.
“Pray very much the prayers of the Rosary. I alone am able to still save you from the calamities which approach. Those who place their confidence in Me will be saved.”
Marie-Louise: I myself have experienced all that you cite. One bishop who really despised me proclaimed that devotion to Mary was a fetish.
I would hazard a guess that the cardinal who wanted rid of Blessed Pope John Paul II was Cardinal [[... edit ... (and wrong) But no more guesses, as that's not the point here. Sorry... ]]
How very sad. It’s chilling to remember the Akita visitation took place in the early 1970s. And there is a link to Pope Benedict, who allowed the Japanese bishop to proclaim the message, while he was still a cardinal.
But, Mary-Louise, this is an occasion to praise our Lord. Why? Because we see more clearly just how far our Lord had to reach to get us, which means we have the opportunity to praise Him in humble thanksgiving with all the more reality. And if He deigns that we suffer and be betrayed by this or that Judas, so be it. As the Master, so the disciple. We can always thank our Lord in all situations. But we must stay the course in His grace.
Interesting what you say about Cardinal Ratzinger. Yikes!
Father, I first of all want to thank you for being such a good son of Mother Church. I have been reading other so-called Catholic blogs, and I am amazed and saddened how the persons in charge of these sites allow commentators to spew venom toward Blessed John Paul the Great and Pope Benedict XVI. One person actually wrote that he/she hopes that the Church will not get another liberal, modernist pope like John XXIII, Paul VI, or John Paul II. A medical doctor chimed in the Pope Benedict XVII did nothing to counter the sexual abuse by some clergy. One can only wonder what spirit possesses these people.
Bill: I saw that. I like to keep things at the hermitage rather quiet. Sometimes I’ll let things through, but only with comment. Some others do let more through, hoping that other readers will tackle the offenders. If that doesn’t work, I know that they get banned, etc. Some sites, though, let all sorts of venom drown out any discussion. But this is just a quiet hermitage!
Thank you, Father, for explaining this. I think it sounds like he means exactly what he said. I’m sure he thought and prayed about it for a long, long time. God bless him for always putting the good of the Church first.
It breaks my heart to think he has been going through this personal hell for so long….and he hung in there for so long….
http://www.taylormarshall.com/2013/02/photos-pope-benedicts-symbolic.html
Thanks for bringing new perspectives to Pope Benedict’s abdication and what it means to us and to the Church and also to Benedict himself.
On Tue, Feb 12, 2013 at 9:01 AM, HOLY SOULS HERMITAGE wrote:
> ** > Holy Souls Hermitage posted: “ Pope Benedict XVI… Such sadness after > reading the declaration of his abdication. A high ranking > “papabile” Cardinal (NOT Cardinal Ratzinger) at the time – some ten years > ago – pu”
Amen and Amen!
I have only just been introduced to this website and am so thankful for it. I believe satan has entered the Vatican andourpoor Holy Father has come under heavy attack. I jave Polish and Bavarian heritage and so these two wonderful men were so very close to my heart. My grandparents would have been so proud of them both but also very saddened by this terrible sitiation. May the Blessed Trinity and Our Blessed Mother bless and protect Benedict XVI all the days he has left on this earth.
Father, here are a few more pictures.
http://ts4.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4538939504787819&pid=15.1
http://ts1.mm.bing.net/th?id=H.4807959083286904&pid=15.1
Let God almighty bless our church.
Dear Father,
I became a practicing Catholic one year ago. I do not understand the controversy surrounding the Curia and the Pope. Could you explain it?
jo: Matthew 6,22-23 // Luke 11,34 Those who want to see something good will do so. Those who don’t, wont.