My comments first:
I was in my rectory at St. Joseph Church in Macon watching the television around midday when Pope Francis had been elected and we were awaiting his appearance on the loggia of St. Peter’s Basilica. There was a visiting priest plus the other priests of the parish in the rectory’s TV room plus a local television reporter and cameraman.
When Pope Francis arrived on the loggia, I was stunned by my visceral reaction. I saw something in his eyes that frightened me. To me it was a look of an authoritarian realizing the ultimate power he had just received that would enable him to do as he pleases and undo what others had pleased.
Robert Mickens of the NCR clone, La Croix International, named it for me in the excerpt of the article I post below. I did not see stubbornness, though, I saw a “messianic complex”.
Apart from that, Mickens raises the alarm about the pope traveling so much in the next couple of months. He’s an old man by any standard. Mickens could have raised two other issues along with the messianic complex, stubbornness or both. The two other possibilities are that the Holy Father has a death wish and dying for him is the only way out of the mess His Holiness has created in the Church these past 10 years leading to so much polarization, anxiety, apprehension and depression.
Or do his top advisors have a death wish for him and encouraging him to make these long trips to facilitate the end of this papacy? I guess that is better than poison.
Here is Mickens’ commentary. There may be a paywall if you want to read it all:
| Elderly pope begins his last lap with a youth festival in Portugal |
| By Robert Mickens |
Does Pope Francis have a messianic complex? Or is he just stubborn? Perhaps, neither. But at four-and-a-half months shy of his 87th birthday, and struggling with increasingly declining health, he refuses to slow down. This coming Tuesday (August 2) he will travel, with about 70 journalists on his plane, to Lisbon to preside at World Youth Day (WYD) festivities. It is the first of three international trips that are on his schedule in just the next eight weeks. He's supposed to visit Mongolia (yes, you heard that right -- Mongolia!) from August 31 to September 4 and then make the jaunt up the coast to Marseille, the French port city on the northern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, for a September 23-24 visit. Try La Croix International now for just USD 1 a Month! If I were the pope's doctor, or a close friend and confident (which he, like his recent predecessors, does not seem to have), I would have strongly -- very strongly -- advised him not to make the puddle-jump to the Portuguese capital in the height of Europe's hottest summer on record. And I would have certainly tried to talk him out of doing the long-haul to Mongolia where there are like five Catholics. Ok, there are maybe fifteen hundred. And, yes, this is the pope of the peripheries who wants to shower his love on the "little guy" and refocus the world's attention on the forgotten and insignificant place in the world. But that is not what the trip to Mongolia is about. |
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28 comments:
Father McDonald: Very interesting that you saw what you saw when PF appeared on the Loggia. As I recall EVERYONE was parroting the notion that he was a kindly, humble man who seemed at a loss for words. Oh how wrong we all were. As I know now, that was all a façade. He knew exactly what he was doing and frankly, pulled it off at the time. In my opinion, PF was elected by a cabal of cardinals who sought, and are seeking, a completely different church than that which was instituted by Christ himself. PF knew it then and has been empowered and emboldened since to be the unbending dictator that he is. He is the Jesuit who was ousted from his position in Argentina decades ago because of his autocratic behavior. He is the man who has allowed the church to drift into schism to a point where only a similarly determined autocrat can snap it back. He is who he has always been. This travel schedule is going to kill him or at the very least, bring him to the brink. As to why he is doing this, one can only speculate.
Interesting that you say, Tom, that it will take another autocratic pope to set things aright again. I had often mused that if John Paul II and Benedict XVI had been more autocratic and stacked the college of Cardinals with their clones, we wouldn’t be in the mess we are in now.
But in fact, the autocrat, Pope Francis, has paved a way for an orthodox cardinal or bishop to be autocratic in the same way to set the Barque of Peter upright and back in the proper direction.
Normally, one would not consider an orthodox pope to be a dictator as they’re all submitted with humility to the Deposit of Faith and the ongoing magisterium of the Church. They also embraced the trappings of the Church, the hierarchy and the papacy, which points to an institution, not a particular man.
Vatican II’s documents, while not heterodox, in and of themselves, created that viril disease of its so-called “spirit” that has its own viral trajectory. Was this intentional or not? I don’t know,
Pope Pope Francis rules by opinion, confusion and “footnotes” that are like a computer virus destroying foundations and creating new ones. But the new ones are built on a virus, like sand, and won’t stand for long.
A truly humble pope, will submit to the papacy, its trappings and the Deposit of faith and communicate it clearly and without ambiguity. Will that be perceived as autocratic? Maybe, but it isn’t a dictatorship.
Holy, holy, holy LOL
My oldest daughter was with me when we watched the announcements of the last two papal conclaves. She likes to remind me of them--much to my chagrin. According to her, she says that I began whopping and jumping up and down when I saw the announcement of Ratzinger. She then reminds me that I just stood glaring at the screen at the announcement of Jorge Bergoglio.
I remember the election of "Francis" a lot more clearly. It was later in the day when the announcement was made. The first red flag was seeing Cardinal Daneels on the balcony. The second was the demeanor of the newly elected, little-known, Latin-American Cardinal. The third red flag was his choice of name: Francis. In his very first act as pope he was already trying to dupe the faithful.
Aware that my children were with me in the room, I tried to restrain my reaction, but I can remember repeating to myself, "Something is very, very wrong. This just ain't right."
I stand by those words.
For reasons inexplicable, I was live-streaming St. Peter's square, February 11, 2013, at the precise moment that mighty lighting bolt struck the dome. The feelin of dread has never left me. Pray the Memorare daily!
My initial reaction was in line with 99.9 percent of reactions that I had encountered in person and online. That is, Pope Francis had exuded holiness and humility.
However, one's first reaction to a person may be inaccurate.
Father McDonald, myself, as well as additional folks here (unless I am wrong), do not know Pope Francis personally. However, those closest to Pope Francis have confirmed repeatedly that he is a holy, humble man. I place stock in the testimonies in question of said folks.
But in regard to Pope Francis' character:
Pope Benedict XVI, among those who are/were close to Pope Francis, is the person I, without hesitation, trust to have told the truth about Pope Francis.
Pope Benedict XVI assured us that Pope Francis is a holy man of outstanding character. In addition, Pope Benedict XVI insisted that Pope Francis is an excellent Pontiff who possesses outstanding theological depth.
Perhaps the most powerful example of Pope Benedict XVI's tremendous positive opinion of Pope Francis is found in Pope Benedict XVI's final book that was published posthumously. Having ended his earthly life, Pope Benedict XVI could have said this or that in regard to Pope Francis.
The following is that which Pope Benedict XVI had declared, via his posthumous book in question, in regard to Pope Francis:
"At the end of my reflections, I want to thank Pope Francis for everything he does to constantly display the light of God, which, even today, has not faded. Thank you, Holy Father!"
Father McDonald, thank you for the privilege to post my opinions to your blog.
Father McDonald, have a blessed Sunday.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
More repulsive than usual and an insult to our intelliegence
Father McDonald said..."A truly humble pope, will submit to the papacy, its trappings..."
Pope Benedict XVI refused to have availed himself to the following Papal trappings:
He refused to wear the Papal Tiara. He refused to have been carried aloft via the sedia gestatoria. Did his rejections of said Papal trappings mark Pope Benedict XVI as an arrogant man?
Pope Saint John Paul II refused also to have donned the Papal Tiara. He rejected also the use of sedia gestatoria. He believed obviously that the rejection of a Papal trapping was legitimate.
Anyway, did Pope Saint John Paul II's humility take a hit as the result of his above-mentioned rejections of Papal trappings?
Conversely, Pope Saint Paul VI had utilized the Papal Tiara, as well as sedia gestatoria.
Does that mark Pope Saint Paul VI as having been more humble than Popes Saint John Paul II, as well as Benedict XVI?
Pope Blessed John Paul I adhered to the use of the sedia gestatoria Papal trapping. In that regard, was he more humble than Popes Saint John Paul II, as well as Benedict XVI?
Thank you.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald said..."A truly humble pope, will submit to the papacy, its trappings..."
Pope Saint John Paul II had made clear that it's legitimate for a Pope to not submit to this or that Papal trapping. Pope Saint John Paul II had done so via:
-- HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II FOR THE INAUGURATION OF HIS PONTIFICATE
St. Peter's Square Sunday, 22 October 1978
"In past centuries, when the Successor of Peter took possession of his See, the triregnum or tiara was placed on his head."
"The last Pope to be crowned was Paul VI in 1963, but after the solemn coronation ceremony he never used the tiara again and left his Successors free to decide in this regard."
"Pope John Paul I, whose memory is so vivid in our hearts, did not wish to have the tiara; nor does his Successor wish it today."
"This is not the time to return to a ceremony and an object considered, wrongly, to be a symbol of the temporal power of the Popes."
"Our time calls us, urges us, obliges us to gaze on the Lord and immerse ourselves in humble and devout meditation on the mystery of the supreme power of Christ himself."
"He who was born of the Virgin Mary, the carpenter's Son (as he was thought to be), the Son of the living God (confessed by Peter), came to make us all "a kingdom of priests".
"The Second Vatican Council has reminded us of the mystery of this power and of the fact that Christ's mission as Priest, Prophet-Teacher and King continues in the Church. Everyone, the whole People of God, shares in this threefold mission.
"Perhaps in the past, the tiara, this triple crown, was placed on the Pope's head in order to express by that symbol the Lord's plan for his Church, namely that all the hierarchical order of Christ's Church, all "sacred power" exercised in the Church, is nothing other than service, service with a single purpose: to ensure that the whole People of God shares in this threefold mission of Christ and always remains under the power of the Lord; a power that has its source not in the powers of this world but in the mystery of the Cross and Resurrection.
"The new Successor of Peter in the See of Rome, today makes a fervent, humble and trusting prayer: Christ, make me become and remain the servant of your unique power, the servant of your sweet power, the servant of your power that knows no eventide. Make me be a servant. Indeed, the servant of your servants."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
True humility is wearing what is given to you, to include papal trappings. Many think giving up the tiara by JPII and Benedict was a mistake, at least at the coronation. Benedict was slowly but surely bringing back the trappings of the papacy. The beautiful rolling stand he used to process into Mass in his later papacy was a step in that direction, a motivation of it, so to speak. John Paul had one too, that had the chair on it and elevated.
Adaptation, not motivation.
Father McDonald said..."True humility is wearing what is given to you, to include papal trappings. Many think giving up the tiara by JPII and Benedict was a mistake, at least at the coronation. Benedict was slowly but surely bringing back the trappings of the papacy."
Father McDonald, I respect your appreciation of Papal trappings. I respect Papal trappings that Popes Blessed John Paul I to Francis have eschewed. I would be fine with the tremendous Papal Coronations of the past...the wearing of the Papal tiara, as well as use of the sedia gestatoria.
But as Pope Saint John Paul II had made clear via his inaugural 1978 A.D. homily that I had posted (awaiting your approval), times change. The Church adapts to changing times. That which, in Holy Mother Church, was appropriate during this or that time may be apply to today.
Pope Saint John Paul II:
"In past centuries, when the Successor of Peter took possession of his See, the triregnum or tiara was placed on his head. The last Pope to be crowned was Paul VI in 1963, but after the solemn coronation ceremony he never used the tiara again and left his Successors free to decide in this regard.
"Pope John Paul I, whose memory is so vivid in our hearts, did not wish to have the tiara; nor does his Successor wish it today.
"This is not the time to return to a ceremony and an object considered, wrongly, to be a symbol of the temporal power of the Popes."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald said..."True humility is wearing what is given to you, to include papal trappings."
Father McDonald, I believe that in regard to Catholicism, true humility consists in reading, then adapting, to the times. That is more appropriate in regard to humility than remaining attached to something that, for example, according to our holy Popes, has run its course within the Church.
Father McDonald, when you and I were baptized, the TLM had been "given" to us. But beginning in earnest with Pope Venerable Pius XII, our holy Pontiffs, as well as Conciliar Fathers, had concluded that the Roman Liturgy to that time had run its course.
Father McDonald, this morning, you did not offer the Mass that you had given decades ago.
Instead, in humble fashion, you offered this morning the reformed, primary Mass that has been deemed appropriate for today's Latin Church.
In that manner, Pope Francis' rejection of this or that manmade Papal "trapping" is not arrogant. Popes Benedict XVI, as well as Saint John Paul II, were not arrogant in regard to their rejections of Papal trappings.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Our holy Popes for decades have moved us far beyond mere manmade Papal trappings.
Example:
Beginning in earnest with Pope Venerable Pius XII, who had elevated Monsignor Bugnini to initiate the following:
Our holy Popes from the 1940s to date, have, in regard to that which has regarded the Latin Church's primary Mass, have moved us beyond the TLM.
In regard to the Latin Church's Good Friday Prayer for Jews, Pope Benedict XVI did not remain in line with that which he had been given.
Popes Francis, Benedict XVI, as well as Saint John Paul II, have not/did not adhere to that which had been given to them in regard to Popes for centuries who had rejected prayer and worship with non-Catholics.
As our holy, humble recent Popes have "cancelled" the above, then I find it difficult to believe that a Pope who has "cancelled" a manmade Papal trapping has acted in arrogant fashion.
Again, it is a simple matter of our Popes having adapted to the times.
Pax.
Mark Thomas
Father McDonald said..."Benedict was slowly but surely bringing back the trappings of the papacy. The beautiful rolling stand he used to process into Mass in his later papacy was a step in that direction, a motivation of it, so to speak. John Paul had one too, that had the chair on it and elevated."
Father McDonald, the above-mentioned refused to wear the Papal Tiara.
A mechanical, rolling chair is far removed from that of a Pope, carried by men, atop a throne.
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS959US959&sxsrf=AB5stBjNSpqnEfKw9AJSxTvqnJvPjILh6g:1690736354434&q=sedia+gestatoria&tbm=isch&source=lnms&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwi2-sHe87aAAxWWmWoFHWQCBroQ0pQJegQIDRAB&biw=1372&bih=609&dpr=1.4#imgrc=UBDjM65aHx4DZM
Pax.
Mark Thomas
I was the "visiting priest" in the room. I had been at the hospital three or four blocks from your rectory anointing a parishioner who had had a home DIY accident. In the hospital I had seen the broadcast of the white smoke, so I hurried to your rectory to join the watch party.
Funny, I don't remember your reaction being in any way negative...
FRMJK, I was shocked and appalled by my reaction, thus I kept it to myself. I am no longer shocked or appalled and no longer o
Hold anyone to include the pope on any kind of pedestal, high or low.
When PF appeared on the Loggia, I sat there stunned reacting to his reaction.
I was at work and my exact words to whomever was watching with me as "I don't know about this".
Not patting myself on the back to have been proven right, but, always rely on your the reaction provided by your gut - it's more right than not.
When PF appeared on the Loggia, I sat there stunned reacting to his reaction.
I was at work and my exact words to whomever was watching with me as "I don't know about this".
Not patting myself on the back to have been proven right, but, always rely on your the reaction provided by your gut - it's more right than not.
My exact words at his election is "Something does not feel right"
So, it looks like most of us are agreed that the election of PF was a day that lives in infamy.
Then there's the prolix poster talking to himself.
Isn't it amazing.... I get pilloried for presuming to know what's going on in people's minds, what their true motivations are.
But, from a picture on a television screen of a South American cardinal no one has ever heard of, without hearing him speak a word. folks here conclude that he is, "Not Right," "Infamous," "Stunning," "Dreadful," "Not Humble," "Dictatorial," "Autocratic," "Schismatic," "Frightening," and "Authoritarian."
Y'all are just flat-out amazing....
As for "Trust your gut," that's what George Armstrong Custer said right before he said, "CHARGE!"
FrMJK, you should not rule out intuition or gut reactions. However, one should wait until facts corroborate intuition. 10 years and many corroborating facts later, we can confirm our intuitions. Even Ultra progressive Mickens does it for us. I knew a mom who would not let her children be allow with a certain family friend as her motherly intuition told her something but no evidence to prove her feelings. That man is now in prison for the sexual abuse of his own children!
"I have a gut feeling" sounds a lot to me like, "Hold my beer," or "Watch this."
I suspect you and many others confuse - here I go again, making assumptions! - your preferences and biases, not to mention outright misunderstandings of doctrine, with Schism, Heresy, and Apostasy.
For many here, "I don't like what he's doing," becomes to "He's defecting from the Apostolic Faith!" Of COURSE your so-called intuitions are confirmed. There was no other possible outcome since he did not pat you on the head and tell you what a good little boy or girl you are and give you a treat.
Fr. Allan J. McDonald said...
"FrMJK, you should not rule out intuition or gut reactions. However, one should wait until facts corroborate intuition."
100%.
Fr. Michael J. Kavanaugh said...
"Isn't it amazing.... I get pilloried for presuming to know what's going on in people's minds, what their true motivations are."
Presuming to know etc. is a human characteristic.
Mostly, I tread lightly, or keep it to myself until facts prove/disprove.
Occasionally, I/we mis-judge. I find my intuition to be more on-point than not.
With Father McDonald's permission...off topic...but it involves Robert Mickens:
Robert Mickens, four days ago, via twitter, posted the following:
"Bugs Bunny made his official debut 83 years ago today (July 27, 1940 A.D.) in A Wild Hare.
"This cultural icon, loosely based on Clark Gable, appeared in 150 movies between 1940 and 1964..."
To be serious in regard to Bugs Bunny: Mel Blanc, "The Man of a Thousand Voices," supplied Bugs Bunny's voice.
In 1961 A.D., Mel Blanc, following his horrific automobile accident in Los Angeles, had fallen into a coma. Every attempt to awaken Mr. Blanc had failed.
But Noel Blanc, Mel Blanc's son, reported that Bugs Bunny saved Mel Blanc's life.
-- Exclusive: Mel Blanc's son shares how Bugs Bunny saved his father's life during coma
https://ew.com/podcasts/bugs-bunny-saved-mel-blanc-life-coma/
"As Noel describes...brain surgeons tried to find signs of life in his dad. They called Mel's name. Nothing. Then, looking at the TV above Blanc's bed playing Looney Tunes, they instead pivoted to calling out for Bugs Bunny.
"[The doctor] finally says, 'Bugs, can you hear me?'" Noel says.
"To which Mel responded, "Yeah, what's up doc?" in character.
Mel Blanc recuperated, even taking jobs while he was in a full-body cast."
Pax.
Mark Thomas
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