Benedict the Builder Pope Resigns His Office. His Work Will Continue in a Restored Church and a New Missionary Age

2/12/2013

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Millennium.

I remember that first homily: "Dear Ones, this intimate recognition for a gift of divine mercy prevails in my heart in spite of everything. I consider this a grace obtained for me by my venerated predecessor, John Paul II. It seems I can feel his strong hand squeezing mine; I seem to see his smiling eyes and listen to his words, addressed to me especially at this moment: 'Do not be afraid!'

He emphasized the work of authentic ecumenism proclaiming: "Thus, in full awareness and at the beginning of his ministry in the Church of Rome that Peter bathed with his blood, the current Successor assumes as his primary commitment that of working tirelessly towards the reconstitution of the full and visible unity of all Christ's followers. This is his ambition, this is his compelling duty."

Pope Benedict XVI has been anything but a caretaker. He has been a rebuilder of foundations. I believe he will go down in history as one of the great popes. He continued the pastoral visits of his predecessor with amazingly fruitful travels around the world. The youth of the world flocked to World Youth days and his genuine love for them - and they for him - was evident. He pastorally and decisively dealt with serious matters concerning the need for a purification of the Church.

He has been exactly what he told us he was when he began his service, a "simple, humble worker in the vineyard of the Lord" Notice how little fanfare accompanied his historic resignation! Clearly, to this successor of Peter, it is simply not about him, but about the Lord whom he serves. His diminutive size and humble manner reveal the holy heart of this man totally given over to the Lord. He is so refreshingly counter cultural in this age of narcissism and self love.

He is a scholar of the highest order, yet has been able to communicate with simplicity and beauty because he is a man of deep prayer. He has given continual teaching to the faithful - including some of the finest hagiography in centuries - during his Wednesday Catecheses. He made Church history, when Motu Propio, he released of the Apostolic Constitution on Groups of Anglicans which has begun the healing of the divided Western Church. The fruits of these Ordinariates will be recounted by future historians as among the most important events in the Third Millennium of the Church.

He earned the great respect of Patriarchs and leaders of the Orthodox Church and made progress toward some form of communion between Eastern and Western Christianity which could make the Third Millennium a millennium of communion. He championed the re-christianizing of Europe and passionately promoted the New Evangelization of the Church - even establishing a new Pontifical Council on the New Evangelization. He has been a champion of the New Ecclesial movements and helped to ensure that they are rooted in the heart of the Church and received as gift for the missionary work of the Church in this hour.

He has doggedly defended the Christian roots of the West and defended religious freedom as a fundamental human right. He has engaged the Islamic world with great charity and courage on the ground of dialogue in truth. He began the Courts of the Gentiles outreach engaging atheists and agnostics.

The Church has been truly blessed to have Pope Benedict XVI at the helm of the Bark of Peter as she sails into the Third Christian Millennium. I am sure that as the news of this historic resignation sinks in I will return to write and reflect, along with many others. For now, I ask all of our readers to pray for Pope Benedict XVI and for the Church which he has led with such beauty, simplicity, depth and grace. But even more importantly, I ask you to pray for His Successor.

How desperately the Church, and the world into which she is sent, needs another Champion at the helm. I know that the Lord will hear these prayers because, after all, this is His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against her. (Matt. 16:18) And, Benedict the Builder Pope secured the Firm Foundations so that the work of Jesus Christ may continue through His Mystical Body on earth.

- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: Pope Benedict XVI, resignation, Papal resignation, Vatican Church history, papal, New Pope, Vicar of Christ, successor of Peter, Joseph Ratzinger, Deacon Keith Fournier

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1 - 10 of 39 Comments

DLL
3 months ago
Lilian
Are you suggesting that because the Pope retiring for the good of the Church,in his opinion,that if Pope Benedict afterwards suffers a stroke,that the church should possibly euthanize him,because modern medicine keeps people alive too long? Is this the new age,politically correct,compassionate way of dealing with the elderly,who may suffer strokes,for instance so as to liquidate them so they are not a problem,as in this case,the old retired,ailing Pope might be to the church? Are you thinking that euthanasia should become accepted as the great new way of the church so it conforms to the times that we are living in today? I think not and the church also thinks not,so forget it. There is no teaching to back that thought in any form of Catholic teaching.
Lilian
3 months ago
Pope Benedict XVI has guided the Church for eight years and is going out of the spotlight. May God bless him. The Church needs to come up with ideas about how to deal with the issue he raised about "modern challenges" in respect of age and personal health problems. For example, Ariel Sharon, former Israeli prime minister suffered a stroke in 2006 and still alive. Should that happen to a Pope, how would the Church handle it? Modern medicine can people alive, but necessarily active.
Rob
3 months ago
I have complete trust that he did what he was divenly inspired to do. He completed what he needed to do.
Paul-Emile Leray
3 months ago
By "cultural utilitarian stew" I didn't mean the horsemeat scandal in Germany now taking place. Not only does it exist in theology/philosophy, now it is explicitly evident at the butcher shop! Now we see what happens when the packaging gets all mixed up. Right there, another lesson to be learned. Let the true theologians/philosophers under the umbrella of the Papacy label the packages in the world of theology/philosophy; NOT CULT-URE. Cult-ure and the passing winds of pop cult-ure and journalism, sensationalism, partisan politics, political ideologies messes things up. Keep the beef and the horses separated. The utilitarian cult-ural stew pot is starting to smell bad. Why not throw in some fish, fresh and salt water alike, some rice and spaghetti, what the heck mix in some vegetables too; brew it all up and then we wonder why cult-ure is sick? Marinate the whole thing with wine, beer, whiskey, vinegar, water, mix it all up and we end up with a cult-ural omelette of moral relativism and utilitarianism resembling the what? The horsemeat scandal! Blend it all together, throw in some cats, dogs, rats and mice, and let us see what happens? After all, isn't this what moral relativism is like? Yes. And to be sure to not offend anyone, add in every last bit of spice known to the human mind and let us see what comes out of the bakery shop. (something that will make you throw up!) The horsemeat scandal. Keep the cattle in the pastures and the horses on the track. Or, the cattle running aound the track with cowboys on top of them and the horses in the pastures. But don't mix and match everything. Why? You never know what will come out of the oven. It might have gone in as beef, to then come out as a horse tasting like chicken with nobody around the table knowing what to make of it. This is, in part, moral relativism. Utilitarianism, in part. A MESS. If it is a rabbit, it is too cute to eat; if it is a cow or bird, then take out the knives and forks and slice the living daylights out of it and if it is a turkey; stuff it. Which CULT in CULT-URE has it right? And on the ocean floor, the truth is still and silent. Deep. Unchanging. (why, because human nature and the human condition doesn't change) And God is God. Man is Man. Yes, there is a difference between God, man, and nature. Who are the masters of the universe? NONE. Economists? The weatherman is more trustworthy. CEOs? DUST. (in the future, as with everyone) Politicians? DUST. ASHES. As the mustard seed seemingly rests in proper soil and conditions, it grows and grows. And who invented the soil and mustard seed? And the sun and rain? Who has a patent, copyright, or jurisdiction over truth? The One. (not us) And The One was, is, will always be; Jesus Christ. As the politicians display their feathers on the stage show of parading peacocks, The One observes and listens. And if anyone wishes to make him laugh? Tell him your plans in great detail. (and then, observe how he writes straight with crooked lines often) A ship out at sea, not a train on tracks. Masters of the universe? Which nutbells dream up these fancy marketing promo slogans? Sophists. Fairy-Sees. And then? The humility of The Cross shrinks them to mustard seeds. (if they are fortunate) Going up, by going down, but first going down is necessary to then rise up to glory. Humility. Being humble. No, the masters of the universe are not on Wall Street. They are often NATURAL and UN-NATURAL DISASTERS on the planet! (one planet) Not the universe. Then, ashes. Dust. Humility goes a long way.
Paul-Emile Leray
Angev Emmanuel Sachia
3 months ago
May God give him a peaceful life till he meets Him to part no more
Harold Olsen
3 months ago
The Pope, one of our greatest, is stepping down due to health reasons. Why are they using the term "resigning?" It makes it sound as though he his stepping down because of some scandal or disgrace. It seems to me that the term "retiring" would be a more proper term. Many anti-Catholics are viewing his stepping down as a result of some of the scandals in the church in past years, most of which happened before Benedict became Pope. Even the brain dead media seems to be implying it.
Anna-Marija
3 months ago
@Joseph: Ditto! May the Lord help us!
Tom McGuire
3 months ago
May God continue to bless a great man, Benedict XVI. As a teacher, his clarity and depth of thought shines light on the way of the future. In Verbum Domini he wrote:

"As the Synod Fathers stated, the expression “word of God” is used analogically, and we should be aware of this. The faithful need to be better helped to grasp the different meanings of the expression, but also to understand its unitary sense. From the theological standpoint too, there is a need for further study of how the different meanings of this expression are interrelated, so that the unity of God’s plan and, within it, the centrality of the person of Christ, may shine forth more clearly."

He knew the centrality of our faith is not the natural law, an ethical system, or an ideology, but the person of Jesus Christ. He made clear human understanding of the mystery of God is always analogical. The work of the future is to grasp the DIFFERENT MEANINGS of the expression "word of God". He now passes on to another the leadership that will guide us in the further study. Deo Gratias.
Jeffrey Caperton
3 months ago
There will be those who will find only negative things to say about his decision, but I feel it was a good decision for the Church as well as him. The office of the Pope is very demanding and Benedict XVI's actions show that he loves the Church so much that he will acknowledge that advancing age and failing health may hinder his effectiveness in such a demanding position. He put the Church before his own ego.

But consider that while he will not be the Pope any longer, we will still have the benefit of one of the greatest modern Christian thinkers in our age. One can hardly open a theology textbook without seeing his name somewhere. I believe he has been exceptional in his capacity as the Pope, but I always felt he was more suited for the academic environment and I hope we will see more of his writing. I offer him fond prayers for his future endeavors.
Leah
3 months ago
I loved this pope. He was good for the Church and the faithful as well. I hope he wasn't being pressured because of his advanced age to resign. Alot of people are thinking he couldn't do as much or go as many places as a younger man can go. I believe there are way's even at his age he could have got his message out and his leadership enacted with the right kind of support. Now having said that, maybe deep within and with much reflection and guidance from the Holy Spirit, he really want's to resign. Maybe he didn't want to be Pope to begin with.

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