The Wolves, the next Pope, the Hermit Pope Emeritus and this Donkey Hermit: A note on Masses at Holy Souls Hermitage

A wolf on Holy Souls Mountain near Holy Souls Hermitage

This is an early morning picture of a wolf on Holy Souls Mountain, just a few hundred yards from the hermitage. Usually they hunt in packs, gaining in daring and in cunning in proportion to their numbers, much like NCReporter or that bitter pill, the Tablet. They loudly proclaim how dangerous they are in their arrogance. But because of this, the would-be prey often has time to seek protection. So, while these fellows are dangerous, they are not terribly dangerous.

Meanwhile, an individual out in the open like this also signals danger, as this means he’s desperate for a kill. But because of being in the open, the would-be prey often has time to seek protection. Nothing really then to worry about with packs or loose individuals.

And then there are other kinds of wolves, for example, what is called the Senate and People of Rome — Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) — a society governed not by natural law or as inspired by Judeo-Catholic principles, but rather by the gods, projections of relativism, a society whose downfall was to condone that their rulers effectively be above the law, allowing them to be lax with criminals while at the same time being persecutors of the innocent. This reminds me of quite a number of governments and societies today. But the diabolical nature of so much of the political intrigue we have come to know so well in the culture of death is so clearly dangerous that there is little danger of falling into such a vortex that would otherwise consume one in all political correctness. One need but recognize what is before oneself. The real danger here would be from the bad example, the evil “guidance” of the packs of wolves, such as at various “Catholic” universities and seminaries, or from the lone wolves, such as the renegade theologians who set out to undermine the Catholic Church as much as possible.

This is at the first station of the Way of the Cross, the Via Crucis, the High Stations in Lourdes, France. I took this picture a few years back when I was chaplain there.

And then there are the wolves who really are dangerous, for they seem to live in safe, regimented, controlled circumstances, so that, to all appearances, they behave in a predictable manner. I think of about half of the Roman Curia, and many others at the Diocesan and Parish levels. One would in fact be safe in such a situation, if one would remain wary: Can this wolf run at breakneck speed and jump up and over the fence, or dig under the fence when no one is looking? Is one to be paralyzed in fear should one wolf, or, indeed, very, very many wolves, all of a sudden jump over the fence, dig under the fence and, indeed, simply knock the fence down?

Paralyzed in fear? No, not at all. Not if one has a trusty donkey nearby. Donkeys, mind you, are the best shepherds, for they have no hesitation to put themselves in danger in order to kick the wolves to death. Benedict was one such donkey, for the bear on his coat of arms was actually playing the role of the donkey that the bear had killed. And Benedict XVI, not long after his election, called himself that donkey, a fact in which then Archbishop Burke rejoiced in a long article that he wrote. Yes, donkeys can certainly kick the wolves in the face:

This donkey, that is, this hermit, at Holy Souls Hermitage, wishes to do a service for Pope-Emeritus Benedict XVI, who asked us to pray that he not flee for fear of the wolves. In abdicating, he has not fled. Rather, he has gone into the fray all the more, as a hermit. Hermits never leave the flock untended, but are rather more intensely available for the good of all.

Some hermits are magnificent, such as Saint Jerome and, presently, Pope-Emeritus Benedict. The hermit writing this article is simply a donkey. But donkeys can do a service, at least for their fellow hermit-donkeys. This hermit wishes to kick the wolves in the face on behalf of all, but first of all in service to Pope Emeritus Benedict and in service to the next Successor of Saint Peter. To do this, this hermit-donkey makes the following resolution:

Although I’ll honor the Masses that I’ve already been given to offer, and others that come my way by way of Church law or the constitutions of my religious congregation, I’ll take no more Mass intentions other than for our Pope-Emeritus, for as long as he shall live, and for the next successor of Saint Peter.

I think we can all agree that there is a need. I hope ye are not disappointed with this. I know many of you have had me offer Masses for priests and bishops and Cardinals and, indeed, for Benedict XVI. But I must say that I am very much taken now by the idea that all the Masses, inasmuch as possible, at Holy Souls Hermitage, will be offered for the Successor of Saint Peter, and any one of them who is Emeritus. Donkeys are like this. There’s no getting around it. Today’s ad orientem picture: