Holy Father knocked down at Midnight Mass

[JReducation]

JR, I’ve enjoyed reading your posts in my short time here at the forums. And after learning more about you from your post, I can’t even express how much love I feel for you! You’ve inspired me sir, thank God there’s people like you in this world. That’s just darn saintly! Forgiveness truly is the nature of the Catholic faith.

God bless

Please, don’t ever say “saintly”. It is a commandment. I am often reminded of one of our Franciscan saints, Maximilian Kolbe. He was the superior of the friary. The night that the Nazis were marching toward the friary to arrest the brothers, Max had them change out of their habits into secular clothes and run away through a back door. Before they left, he had them kneel for the customary blessing that the superior always gives you before you leave the house. After he had made the sign of the cross over the brothers he said, “Run, but no matter what happens, forget not love.” When the last brother was gone, he calmly went to the chapel, knelt and waited. He thought that he was alone. One lay brother had remained behind.

The brother walked into the chapel and asked Max if he was not going to get out of his habit and leave. Max turned and said, “If I leave, who will pray for the brothers?” The other friar said, “If I leave, who will pray for you?” They were both arrested a few minutes later.

That my dear friends is sanctity. True sanctity is the courage and the will to be someone’s brother even in danger.

As for me, I identify myself with the thief on the cross. I will probably be the one who will have to throw himself at the mercy of Jesus and say, “Remember me.” I know my conscience.

Please pray fo rme.

Br. JR, OSF

 

[Eric_Hilbert]

Second warning.
This is a christian forum and as such, we require charity in our postings.
We are not to play armchair psychiatrist.
Stay on topic or the thread will be closed.

 

[JRKH]

Yes, it is certainly possible to be robbed in Church and taking reasonable precautions is fine. Just so long as we con’t lose sight of being Christian in the process. Christ tells us to give and even give extra, to got he extra mile, to pray for those spitefully use us etc.

Yes Church teching “Allows” such defence. But what is the Ideal? To be Christ like. To imitate Our Dear Lord in our lives. For that we need to embrace and nurture a world view that does not fear, is not paranoid and cautious. Rather it is a view that is Loving, caring, trusting and giving. I trust that God will protect me and those posessions he has entrusted to me. While that does not mean I don’t lock my house etc, it also does not mean I must carry coat or my wifes purse with us up to communion with us.

Where in the Pope’s job description does it require he behave like a standard “public figure”? Remember, he is not a politician who needs to concern himself with re-election nor is he a movie star that need to concern himself with public attention.

Nor is he the only one capable of being pope. Whenever, and wherever the Holy Father is called Home by our Lord, there will be another elected to take up the staff of sheperd on earth.
Security is fine and certainly needed so that the Pope may work. But more important is the ability of the faithful to see and be near the Vicar of Christ.
I am saddened by the need for increased security that has resulted in the Pope being driven around in a “Display Case” Popemobile after the assassination attempt on Pope JPII.

Peace
James

 

[Jordan_Francis]

I was at the Mass. It was a very tense few minutes in there. I was seated closer to the altar, so I couldn’t see what had happened (neither could most people, really). We only heard some people scream and saw the security hightail it to the front of the Church. I was very nervous at first- I thought he had fainted, died or had been attacked [with a weapon].

But then we heard people shout “viva il papa!” and clapping and the procession started again.

Thank God he was alright, though you could tell he was a bit shaken. The Mass was very beautiful, it made for a very unique Christmas for me.

Getting into the Basilica was complete mayhem. It was like the running of the bulls. I am not surprised the security were not able to pick her out and prevent her from entering the Church. However, I would think they would have her on profile and have men scan the aisles of the Church where the Pope walks by.

 

[nsper7]

Yes Church teching “Allows” such defence. But what is the Ideal? To be Christ like. To imitate Our Dear Lord in our lives. For that we need to embrace and nurture a world view that does not fear, is not paranoid and cautious. Rather it is a view that is Loving, caring, trusting and giving. I trust that God will protect me and those posessions he has entrusted to me. While that does not mean I don’t lock my house etc, it also does not mean I must carry coat or my wifes purse with us up to communion with us.

As I have mentioned on other threads, my greatest concern is what the Church “allows” so as not to sin. If the Church allows self-defense and one is in a position to make use of guards and it not be detrimental to their needs (i.e. a politician may sacrifice greater security because they feel it will improve their chances of re-election or their personal popularity…there is a risk inherent in that choice and if they get injured, they have no one to blame but themselves and of course the person who attacked them).

What is wrong with being cautious? Certainly, fear and paranoia are not psychologically healthy, although one has bodyguards and takes precautions in order to minimize their need to be fearful and, if one deal with paranoia issues, no amount of security will reduce that because they we paranoid about even their own protectors.

Nor is he the only one capable of being pope. Whenever, and wherever the Holy Father is called Home by our Lord, there will be another elected to take up the staff of sheperd on earth.
Security is fine and certainly needed so that the Pope may work. But more important is the ability of the faithful to see and be near the Vicar of Christ.
I am saddened by the need for increased security that has resulted in the Pope being driven around in a “Display Case” Popemobile after the assassination attempt on Pope JPII.

In one sense, we are all replaceable, but that does not mean I am going to throw away my life. If the Church allows one to take intelligent precautions and to defend oneself (by “allows”, I mean that it is not a sin to do so), then why worry about some “ideal” which can leave you badly injured, killed, kidnapped, who knows what?

 

[JRKH]

As I have mentioned on other threads, my greatest concern is what the Church “allows” so as not to sin. If the Church allows self-defense and one is in a position to make use of guards and it not be detrimental to their needs (i.e. a politician may sacrifice greater security because they feel it will improve their chances of re-election or their personal popularity…there is a risk inherent in that choice and if they get injured, they have no one to blame but themselves and of course the person who attacked them).

What is wrong with being cautious? Certainly, fear and paranoia are not psychologically healthy, although one has bodyguards and takes precautions in order to minimize their need to be fearful and, if one deal with paranoia issues, no amount of security will reduce that because they we paranoid about even their own protectors.

These are difficult questions that can only be answered in prayerful silence between yourself and Christ.

In one sense, we are all replaceable, but that does not mean I am going to throw away my life. If the Church allows one to take intelligent precautions and to defend oneself (by “allows”, I mean that it is not a sin to do so), then why worry about some “ideal” which can leave you badly injured, killed, kidnapped, who knows what?

I would ask you to seriously re-read what you wrote here and to pray carefully upon it. I do not know hat your personal situation is and so will not comment further on that.
Our Dear Lord told us that we must bcome perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. This alone is sufficient for me to “worry about some ideal” rather than just trying to comply with what the Church allows.
As Father Corapi once said, if we aime for heaven (ideal) and miss there is purgatory. If we aim for purgatory and miss - it’s a long fall into hell.

May God protect our Holy Father and each of us on our journey toward that perfection to which we are called.

Peace
James