How has Pope Francis impacted your spirituality so far?

[ndeparis88]

I guess it would be hard to put a specific bead on how the election of Pope Francis has made a difference in my faith life. While I am a late comer to this thread, I would still like to add, or maybe repeat the impact that has taken most on my heart. I haven’t really read up on him. But I see his humility displayed on a daily basis and it is extremely moving. I will never stop admiring Pope Emeritus, I did not mind that he was an introvert he will always be to me the little Pope that did. I think he set a good stage for Francis.

While Benedict seemed more outwardly a theologian, Pope Francis is more warming. His meekness he conveys even with the highest station in the Church is such a joy. riding back with the boys sitting on the couch instead of the chair, and most of all silencing the crowd when he asked people to pray for him. It’s new, and He is new, but as much as I try to find a false image or looking for reasons to say it is a facade, I can not for the life of me. If it is God’s plan to make the Church small, and poor, to bring back the sheep lost in an empty space of relativity and depravity, and chooses to do it with the man who is pope yet washes the feet of the people, then let God’s will be done. No matter what generation we have been in, someway some shape some form we are always the punch line. People don’t seem to get the Church has nothing of the world to change into, because Jesus doesn’t need to change, he doesn’t need to get with the times. the Church is not here to put a fluffy spin on things.

 

[Sirach2]

Do you all feel it? Oh my, I have been overwhelmed by your posts tonight! I don’t even know what to say. Welcome home to all who have found their heart’s desire and returned to Christ Jesus and our Church. May He bless you with abundant peace and many gifts of grace to cling always to your newly restored faith. Thank you so much for joining our thread and opening your heart to us.

 

[abinjoy]

I think while thanking God for giving us a new Pope we should not forget Pope Benedict.It seems that media is trying everything to portray as Benedict as a "bad"pope and Francis as a “good” one.Every article I read has some sort of comparison between the two.No other Pope has suffered some much in the hands of the media(even after resignation)

 

[crazzeto]

I think while thanking God for giving us a new Pope we should not forget Pope Benedict.It seems that media is trying everything to portray as Benedict as a "bad"pope and Francis as a “good” one.Every article I read has some sort of comparison between the two.No other Pope has suffered some much in the hands of the media(even after resignation)

Its important we pray for Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI, he was a wonderful Pope who gave the church so much in terms of completing the process of the renewal of the liturgy as well as promoting the latin liturgy. Perhaps most importantly will be the books he wrote while Pope and the interest generated in the books he wrote prior to becoming pope. God gave us a great gift indeed!

 

[JReducation]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/246464_520035948040107_1958264201_n.png

That’s an awesome graphic. Where did you find it?

I guess it would be hard to put a specific bead on how the election of Pope Francis has made a difference in my faith life. While I am a late comer to this thread, I would still like to add, or maybe repeat the impact that has taken most on my heart. I haven’t really read up on him. But I see his humility displayed on a daily basis and it is extremely moving. I will never stop admiring Pope Emeritus, I did not mind that he was an introvert he will always be to me the little Pope that did. I think he set a good stage for Francis.

You don’t have to stop admiring the Pope Emeritus. They are different people. One can admire more than one person. I love Benedict XVI’s gentility, his mind, and his kindness.

Every time that I come to this thread, I’m reminded of something else. On another thread, someone commented that the Holy Father stands to preach. I’m not sure if they were making an observation or expressing disapproval. I knew the answer to that right away. As I remembered the answer, I was impacted by his fidelity to his religious vocation. I pray that I may be so faithful.

Jesuit and Franciscan bishops rarely if ever, use the cathedra, because they are not supposed to be bishops. They become bishops out of obedience. Rome has to order them to accept it. While they’re obliged to perform all of the duties of the bishop, they are not obliged to accept the outward signs of the bishop. That’s how you get a Cardinal O’Malley, Archbishop DiNoia, Cardinal Perl and a few others who wear their habits, not the cassock. Franciscan and Jesuit bishops who stand to preach and who go by simple names such as Father Jorge, not Cardinal Bergoglio or Cardinal Sean, not Cardinal O’Malley.

The law of the Church says that a religious who becomes a bishop continues to be a religious and a member of his community. However, he is free to adjust his life according to the demands of the episcopal ministry. This is what the Holy Father does. He responds to the needs of the ministry, but remains faithful to the Jesuit tradition, which says that Jesuits may not be hierarchs.

I think while thanking God for giving us a new Pope we should not forget Pope Benedict.It seems that media is trying everything to portray as Benedict as a "bad"pope and Francis as a “good” one.Every article I read has some sort of comparison between the two.No other Pope has suffered some much in the hands of the media(even after resignation)

This is true. One the other hand, we must avoid being like the child who’s parent remarries and he continues to protect his other parent’s place in the home. Neither the comparisons nor the protectiveness are good. I believe that Pope Francis is giving us a good example of how to related to the Pope Emeritus.

 

[cheezey]

And also lapsed Catholics.

. I attended Adult Confirmation class that night. I’ve started to attend mass again and I went to confession today after almost two years of not attending church.

I shouldn’t be because it is not a very Christian quality, but I am jealous…
Pope Francis has lifted my spirit and hope and thus upped my determination to be ready for Easter 2014. Three months of too many false and unnecessary starts had me wondering, even of the Church, and I fully admit, I should not have. It is the parish that is the problem (and this is confirmed by many…), not the Church, thus I may need to find a parish that will welcome me that quickly should I need to go elsewhere. And that looks probable.
I also should not be feeling the disappointment that it is not happening this year.
It is very disappointing and it bothers me greatly.
**Pope Francis has already impacted my Spirit as he seems to be welcoming and charitable towards all and I am truly grateful to him…
** I know this thread was intended for those already of the faith. But I am on the way.
Thankyou…

 

[crazzeto]

I shouldn’t be because it is not a very Christian quality, but I am jealous…
Pope Francis has lifted my spirit and hope and thus upped my determination to be ready for Easter 2014. Three months of too many false and unnecessary starts had me wondering, even of the Church, and I fully admit, I should not have. It is the parish that is the problem (and this is confirmed by many…), not the Church, thus I may need to find a parish that will welcome me that quickly should I need to go elsewhere. And that looks probable.
I also should not be feeling the disappointment that it is not happening this year.
It is very disappointing and it bothers me greatly.
**Pope Francis has already impacted my Spirit as he seems to be welcoming and charitable towards all and I am truly grateful to him…
** I know this thread was intended for those already of the faith. But I am on the way.
Thankyou…

Check out the diocisian website or even phone book. Actually one thing I would recommend is see if there are any groups that get together. At least in our Churches in Raleigh we always accept non-Catholics. Being involved in this way, people talk about different parishes, usually not in a gossipy way but none the less you might learn something this way that could attract you towards one parish or another. For instance last night we were talking about the orthodoxy and traditionalism of St. Joseph while discussing the possibility of an EF only parish.

 

[lynnvinc]

Pope Francis has given me great hope of coming back. I haven’t left either the Church or my OCDS Carmelite 3rd order, but my heart has cooled, and not bec of any pope – JPII and BXVI have actually kept me from cooling down more.

I was taught to hate Catholics as a kid in the 50s. My mother used to say they are communists (during the McCarthy era). Later that was actually its great appeal to me (having become disillusioned by American Protestantism as something that just supports or fails to address the evils of modern society). Not modern day industrial Soviet-style communism, but the “give according to your ability and receive according to your need” (Marx actually got that from Acts, the practice of the early Church).

Also as an anthropologist I recognized that as the first economic system – “generalized reciprocity,” which works well in small-scale societies and monasteries…where people can keep informal tabs on each other and put infomal pressures on slackers. Now I’m not saying I’m ready for such a commitment (I’m enjoying my material ownership, money-making capitalist life), just that it is appealing to me, and not the bogyman I was taught to fear and hate.

And there is a remnant of this early Church in Catholicism, lacking in other Christian denominations, the “social justice” aspect. And scholars have found that it does make some difference, Catholics are more into doing right by their brethren, caring for the less fortunate, etc.

So I was ready and eager and called to become a Catholic 44 years ago when I met my Catholic husband, and have never looked back. To whom shall I go? The Church has the words of everlasting life, and keeps them to a better extent.

In the late 80s I received a second calling to a spiritual rebirth and deeper spiritual life in Carmel (St. Teresa, along with St. Francis, was a saint I had greatly admired before converting). Deep spirituality and detachment from the world – the nada, nada, nada of St. John of the Cross.

Shortly after that in 1990, after the usual soul searching & examinations of conscience one goes thru when joining an order, I came to understand along with JPII that mitigating anthropogenic climate change was my (everyone’s) personal responsibility. It’s good God caught me at that moment bec I was ready to sacrifice and become detached from worldly goods. However I found out over the decades that when you seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, all things are added unto you – I’ve found our material life improving and money piling up while lowering our greenhouse gases and concomitant pollution, now by over 60% below our 1990 level. But my great sorrow is I have not had any luck convincing others, esp Catholics, do start on that joyful journey of doing the right thing.

I’d assumed for decades that climate change has got to be a Christian, religious thing we must address, and both JPII and BXVI have been excellent and inspiring on this issue. We didn’t have cable TV, so I’d watch Trinity Broadcasting (Evangelical) – no word at all about environmental issues or global warming.

Then in 2007 we finally caved in and got cable TV (our environmental efforts were making us quite rich enough to afford it), and I was thrilled at long last to be able to watch EWTN, of which I’d heard so much from my Carmelite sisters and brothers. But nearly the first thing I saw was how anti-environmentalist they were (often cloaking it in weak suggestions of being good stewards), including Al Gore bashing, and environmentalist-bashing, hosting known GW denialists, some heavily funded by Exxon and Koch, and failing to mention the environmental theme in BXVI’s 2007 Loretto Agora homily.

And then I got onto CAF several years ago and found even much worse hatred toward environmentalists and a high percentage of climate change skepticism well beyond the stats (Catholics actually are much better than non-Catholics on this issue out in the real world), with some posters suggesting environmentalism leads people to become neo-pagan-totalitarian-economy-destroying-baby-killing-evil-doers, and all sorts of vicious insults that never get moderated.

Now a few spots on EWTN and CAF have been uplifting, but on the whole I’d say they have very much demoralized me (tho I feel I must continue to address this omission of a strong environmental message not to “save the earth,” but to stop harming people, esp the poor thru environmenta wrong-doings). The upshot is they have greatly cooled the great religious fervor I had had, not to mention my previous priest who said he was afraid to mention climate change because of the Rush Limbaugh parishioners (I think he was one ).

So when Pope Francis’s first talks and homilies emphasized greatly creation care, as well as care for the poor and unfortunate, and I spiritual life of simplicity (actually his actions speaking louder than his words), I have been just ecstatic. We also have a new priest, and I recently found out he is into environmentalism – wants to xeriscape his back yard with native plants in this our drought-stricken area and wants our campus Environmental Awareness Club to help out.

The Hound of Heaven ( ewtn.com/library/HUMANITY/HNDHVN.HTM ) will just not quit pursuing me to the ends of the earth!!!

 

[Tampa_Dave]

Pope Francis has given me great hope of coming back. I haven’t left either the Church or my OCDS Carmelite 3rd order, but my heart has cooled, and not bec of any pope – JPII and BXVI have actually kept me from cooling down more.

I was taught to hate Catholics as a kid in the 50s. My mother used to say they are communists (during the McCarthy era). Later that was actually its great appeal to me (having become disillusioned by American Protestantism as something that just supports or fails to address the evils of modern society). Not modern day industrial Soviet-style communism, but the “give according to your ability and receive according to your need” (Marx actually got that from Acts, the practice of the early Church).

Also as an anthropologist I recognized that as the first economic system – “generalized reciprocity,” which works well in small-scale societies and monasteries…where people can keep informal tabs on each other and put infomal pressures on slackers. Now I’m not saying I’m ready for such a commitment (I’m enjoying my material ownership, money-making capitalist life), just that it is appealing to me, and not the bogyman I was taught to fear and hate.

And there is a remnant of this early Church in Catholicism, lacking in other Christian denominations, the “social justice” aspect. And scholars have found that it does make some difference, Catholics are more into doing right by their brethren, caring for the less fortunate, etc.

So I was ready and eager and called to become a Catholic 44 years ago when I met my Catholic husband, and have never looked back. To whom shall I go? The Church has the words of everlasting life, and keeps them to a better extent.

In the late 80s I received a second calling to a spiritual rebirth and deeper spiritual life in Carmel (St. Teresa, along with St. Francis, was a saint I had greatly admired before converting). Deep spirituality and detachment from the world – the nada, nada, nada of St. John of the Cross.

Shortly after that in 1990, after the usual soul searching & examinations of conscience one goes thru when joining an order, I came to understand along with JPII that mitigating anthropogenic climate change was my (everyone’s) personal responsibility. It’s good God caught me at that moment bec I was ready to sacrifice and become detached from worldly goods. However I found out over the decades that when you seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, all things are added unto you – I’ve found our material life improving and money piling up while lowering our greenhouse gases and concomitant pollution, now by over 60% below our 1990 level. But my great sorrow is I have not had any luck convincing others, esp Catholics, do start on that joyful journey of doing the right thing.

I’d assumed for decades that climate change has got to be a Christian, religious thing we must address, and both JPII and BXVI have been excellent and inspiring on this issue. We didn’t have cable TV, so I’d watch Trinity Broadcasting (Evangelical) – no word at all about environmental issues or global warming.

Then in 2007 we finally caved in and got cable TV (our environmental efforts were making us quite rich enough to afford it), and I was thrilled at long last to be able to watch EWTN, of which I’d heard so much from my Carmelite sisters and brothers. But nearly the first thing I saw was how anti-environmentalist they were (often cloaking it in weak suggestions of being good stewards), including Al Gore bashing, and environmentalist-bashing, hosting known GW denialists, some heavily funded by Exxon and Koch, and failing to mention the environmental theme in BXVI’s 2007 Loretto Agora homily.

And then I got onto CAF several years ago and found even much worse hatred toward environmentalists and a high percentage of climate change skepticism well beyond the stats (Catholics actually are much better than non-Catholics on this issue out in the real world), with some posters suggesting environmentalism leads people to become neo-pagan-totalitarian-economy-destroying-baby-killing-evil-doers, and all sorts of vicious insults that never get moderated.

Now a few spots on EWTN and CAF have been uplifting, but on the whole I’d say they have very much demoralized me (tho I feel I must continue to address this omission of a strong environmental message not to “save the earth,” but to stop harming people, esp the poor thru environmenta wrong-doings). The upshot is they have greatly cooled the great religious fervor I had had, not to mention my previous priest who said he was afraid to mention climate change because of the Rush Limbaugh parishioners (I think he was one ).

So when Pope Francis’s first talks and homilies emphasized greatly creation care, as well as care for the poor and unfortunate, and I spiritual life of simplicity (actually his actions speaking louder than his words), I have been just ecstatic. We also have a new priest, and I recently found out he is into environmentalism – wants to xeriscape his back yard with native plants in this our drought-stricken area and wants our campus Environmental Awareness Club to help out.

The Hound of Heaven ( ewtn.com/library/HUMANITY/HNDHVN.HTM ) will just not quit pursuing me to the ends of the earth!!!

I visited the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Washington, DC last year. The Third Order Carmelites were very nice people. I am very impressed with the writings of Teresa of Avila and John of the Cross, to say the least. You are blessed to be affiliated with such a wonderful Order.

 

[choliks]

I think we will see Ignatian Spirituality, particularly the Spiritual Exercises, unfold before our eyes as we journey with Pope Francis.

 

[ATeNumquam]

Pope Francis has given me great hope of coming back. I haven’t left either the Church or my OCDS Carmelite 3rd order, but my heart has cooled, and not bec of any pope – JPII and BXVI have actually kept me from cooling down more.

I was taught to hate Catholics as a kid in the 50s. My mother used to say they are communists (during the McCarthy era). Later that was actually its great appeal to me (having become disillusioned by American Protestantism as something that just supports or fails to address the evils of modern society). Not modern day industrial Soviet-style communism, but the “give according to your ability and receive according to your need” (Marx actually got that from Acts, the practice of the early Church).

Also as an anthropologist I recognized that as the first economic system – “generalized reciprocity,” which works well in small-scale societies and monasteries…where people can keep informal tabs on each other and put infomal pressures on slackers. Now I’m not saying I’m ready for such a commitment (I’m enjoying my material ownership, money-making capitalist life), just that it is appealing to me, and not the bogyman I was taught to fear and hate.

And there is a remnant of this early Church in Catholicism, lacking in other Christian denominations, the “social justice” aspect. And scholars have found that it does make some difference, Catholics are more into doing right by their brethren, caring for the less fortunate, etc.

So I was ready and eager and called to become a Catholic 44 years ago when I met my Catholic husband, and have never looked back. To whom shall I go? The Church has the words of everlasting life, and keeps them to a better extent.

In the late 80s I received a second calling to a spiritual rebirth and deeper spiritual life in Carmel (St. Teresa, along with St. Francis, was a saint I had greatly admired before converting). Deep spirituality and detachment from the world – the nada, nada, nada of St. John of the Cross.

Shortly after that in 1990, after the usual soul searching & examinations of conscience one goes thru when joining an order, I came to understand along with JPII that mitigating anthropogenic climate change was my (everyone’s) personal responsibility. It’s good God caught me at that moment bec I was ready to sacrifice and become detached from worldly goods. However I found out over the decades that when you seek first the kingdom of God and His Righteousness, all things are added unto you – I’ve found our material life improving and money piling up while lowering our greenhouse gases and concomitant pollution, now by over 60% below our 1990 level. But my great sorrow is I have not had any luck convincing others, esp Catholics, do start on that joyful journey of doing the right thing.

I’d assumed for decades that climate change has got to be a Christian, religious thing we must address, and both JPII and BXVI have been excellent and inspiring on this issue. We didn’t have cable TV, so I’d watch Trinity Broadcasting (Evangelical) – no word at all about environmental issues or global warming.

And then I got onto CAF several years ago and found even much worse hatred toward environmentalists and a high percentage of climate change skepticism well beyond the stats (Catholics actually are much better than non-Catholics on this issue out in the real world), with some posters suggesting environmentalism leads people to become neo-pagan-totalitarian-economy-destroying-baby-killing-evil-doers, and all sorts of vicious insults that never get moderated.

Now a few spots on EWTN and CAF have been uplifting, but on the whole I’d say they have very much demoralized me (tho I feel I must continue to address this omission of a strong environmental message not to “save the earth,” but to stop harming people, esp the poor thru environmenta wrong-doings). The upshot is they have greatly cooled the great religious fervor I had had, not to mention my previous priest who said he was afraid to mention climate change because of the Rush Limbaugh parishioners (I think he was one ).

So when Pope Francis’s first talks and homilies emphasized greatly creation care, as well as care for the poor and unfortunate, and I spiritual life of simplicity (actually his actions speaking louder than his words), I have been just ecstatic. We also have a new priest, and I recently found out he is into environmentalism – wants to xeriscape his back yard with native plants in this our drought-stricken area and wants our campus Environmental Awareness Club to help out.
quote]

Thanks so much for sharing this - I appreciated every word, and feel much as you do about so many things you have expressed.
I too care about the environment - we are meant to be stewards of God’s creation, meant to care for the earth (Genesis), whether we believe fully in climate change or not. Also, I can never be happy with a Catholicism that has no concern for the poor, the disenfranchised, those who find themselves falling through the cracks, whether by their own fault or not. There but for the grace of God… And if I am materially blessed (well, I’m not wealthy but have no financial worries) then I must share what I have and seriously examine what I acquire and why.
I have struggled with CAF - puzzled by what seems a bitter, critical and uncaring attitude on the part of some; I’ve come and gone several times because I felt uncomfortable and alien (partly because I’m not American), but somehow since the election of Pope Francis I find many kindred spirits once more

 

[Sirach2]

Father Mark made a very moving comment tonight as he hosted *Life on the Rock. *The program is focusing on the events of Pope Francis’ election, reliving the highlights and savoring the moment.

He said he was in Rome for the papal conclave in 2005, but he did not experience the spiritual impact in 2005 in the manner that overcame him when Pope Francis came out on the balcony. He was rather collected during the release of the white smoke, but at the moment of the Pope’s appearance, it surprised him how deeply and warmly he felt at that moment. He was very definitely touched by his demeanor and spirit.

While he won’t be sharing here, I thought it was a lovely idea to post his sentiments. So many of the faithful experienced the same deep spiritual touch from the Spirit that it cannot be denied.

 

[gavchia]

Hi all,

I am new to the CAF and love reading the posts here and and am very late to this topic.

Pope Francis in his early days as the Vicar of Christ, I have to say I love his humility.
That has been overwhelming for me. I certainly wouldn’t want to be a member of his security detail though. Maybe I need to have more faith in our Lord.

As I was sad to see Pope Benedict XVI leave I am happy that the Holy Spirit has given us Pope Francis and I will continue to pray for both of them.

 

[Sirach2]

Hi all,

I am new to the CAF and love reading the posts here and and am very late to this topic.

May God bless with with many new friends and new insights into our beautiful faith. Welcome, in the name of all of us here who also love the pope.

Pope Francis in his early days as the Vicar of Christ, I have to say I love his humility. That has been overwhelming for me. I certainly wouldn’t want to be a member of his security detail though. Maybe I need to have more faith in our Lord.

LOL … I’ll bet they are a bit anxious many times. Pope Francis must have a strong gift of fortitude and fearlessness, plus deep trust in his guardian angel.

As I was sad to see Pope Benedict XVI leave I am happy that the Holy Spirit has given us Pope Francis and** I will continue to pray for both of them**.

I’m surprised at my newfound gift of prayer for our Holy Father. All of my daily masses include him in the intention, whereas I never did that before, at least not specifically.

 

[floresco]

I think that the last month has deepened my understanding of the papacy. I felt a strong sense of personal connection to Pope Benedict. I related to him as a person with whom I share much in common. I am not feeling anything like that toward Pope Francis, although it may develop over time.

This has helped me to understand that the loyalty and obedience that I owe to the papacy is neither based on my feelings nor on the personality of the Pope. Someone asked me the other day what I think of the new Pope. I answered, “He is the Pope.” It is not necessary for him to earn my approval or win my affection.

 

[choliks]

I think that the last month has deepened my understanding of the papacy. I felt a strong sense of personal connection to Pope Benedict. I related to him as a person with whom I share much in common. I am not feeling anything like that toward Pope Francis, although it may develop over time.

This has helped me to understand that the loyalty and obedience that I owe to the papacy is neither based on my feelings nor on the personality of the Pope. Someone asked me the other day what I think of the new Pope. I answered, “He is the Pope.” It is not necessary for him to earn my approval or win my affection.

That may be so, but your honesty and embracing the poverty of your opinions reflect the humility and spirituality of our Holy Father.

 

[shelby_sun]

I can only say that I was questioning my faith in the Catholic Church in a very big way until I found out that Pope Francis was our new Pope. I felt God’s love again being the focus of our faith rather than sin. People used to worry about people going to hell, but in the last several years they feel it is their duty to point out sinners and tell them they are going to hell. I don’t know where that came from, but it is not the Jesuit way.

God loves us all as His children and He will always accept us if we get lost but find our way back to Him. On other threads people are using the Bible and the church to chastize others instead of guiding and loving them back to God. That is not the church I grew up in. We praised a loving, forgiving God, the one Pope Francs speaks of and holds dear. I know for me God has brought me a renewed hope in myself and in my faith.

 

[JReducation]

I think that the last month has deepened my understanding of the papacy. I felt a strong sense of personal connection to Pope Benedict. I related to him as a person with whom I share much in common. I am not feeling anything like that toward Pope Francis, although it may develop over time.

This has helped me to understand that the loyalty and obedience that I owe to the papacy is neither based on my feelings nor on the personality of the Pope. Someone asked me the other day what I think of the new Pope. I answered, “He is the Pope.” It is not necessary for him to earn my approval or win my affection.

That may be so, but your honesty and embracing the poverty of your opinions reflect the humility and spirituality of our Holy Father.

I really like the way that you two framed this. It makes perfect sense.

I can only say that I was questioning my faith in the Catholic Church in a very big way until I found out that Pope Francis was our new Pope. I felt God’s love again being the focus of our faith rather than sin. People used to worry about people going to hell, but in the last several years they feel it is their duty to point out sinners and tell them they are going to hell. I don’t know where that came from, but it is not the Jesuit way.

God loves us all as His children and He will always accept us if we get lost but find our way back to Him. On other threads people are using the Bible and the church to chastize others instead of guiding and loving them back to God. That is not the church I grew up in. We praised a loving, forgiving God, the one Pope Francs speaks of and holds dear. I know for me God has brought me a renewed hope in myself and in my faith.

For someone like me, who is very conscious of my sinfulness and my unworthiness to be in God’s presence, much less enter heaven, Pope Francis has reminded me that I’m not bigger than God. My sins are nothing compared to his mercy. Even if my attempts to do penance and to atone for my sins are less than perfect, God can perfect those feeble attempts. I just have to keep doing the best I can.

 

[shelby_sun]

I really like the way that you two framed this. It makes perfect sense.

For someone like me, who is very conscious of my sinfulness and my unworthiness to be in God’s presence, much less enter heaven, Pope Francis has reminded me that I’m not bigger than God. My sins are nothing compared to his mercy. Even if my attempts to do penance and to atone for my sins are less than perfect, God can perfect those feeble attempts. I just have to keep doing the best I can.

Brother on another thread I am being told that by my saving a am unworthy means I am getting into a “sin competition” and that it is a cop out to say I am a sinner. I do not understand that way of thinking, and this it is our duty as Catholic to point out others sins. How do I do that when I am a sinner myself. I have all I can handle to deal with my own sin. It is very discouraging and not something I am used to with the Jesuits. It really has me down. Do you think Pope Francis will guide us in a new way?

 

[JReducation]

Brother on another thread I am being told that by my saving a am unworthy means I am getting into a “sin competition”

Whoever told you this has never read the life of St. Francis of Assisi. He said this about himself all the time and he taught us to say it about ourselves. Maybe they have not studied St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Spiritual Exercises. It’s all about being unworthy.

If someone is bragging that he is a bigger sinner than another, that’s just plain silly. It does not sound as if that’s what you’re saying.

and that it is a cop out to say I am a sinner.

If I were to say “I’m a sinner” and then I continue on my way doing the same thing, because I’m a sinner, it is a cop out. If I’m simply stating a fact, where’s the cop out?

and this it is our duty as Catholic to point out others sins.

Arrogant is as arrogant does.

Fraternal correction is very different from accusing another of sinning. I can point to something that my brother does and say, “That’s not right.” I’m speaking about the act. I’m not accusing him of sinning. In community life we do this all the time. As a superior, I have to do this as part of my ministry to my brothers. As parents, we do this for our children. As spouses we do this for one another.

Some people take this to another level. They make it their business to be on the lookout for the sins of others as an act of charity. I tell you that such charity is false. It is meddling in what is none of our business.

I can call an act a sin, but I cannot accuse the person of being in a state of sin. Only God knows this. The Church does not make such accusations. She is humble, not presumptuous. She points out what is right and wrong without invading.

How do I do that when I am a sinner myself. I have all I can handle to deal with my own sin.

If each of us worked on his salvation, we would preach a sermon so loud that no one could miss it. Instead, we’re negligent with out souls and intrusive in the neighbor’s.

Do you think Pope Francis will guide us in a new way?

I believe that he will. I have to say that this is not a new way. St. John’s letter and St. James letter speak about his loudly. “God is love and he who abides in God abides in love.” Also, "I will show you my works . . . " Paul reminds us, “If we have not love . . . .”

Fraternal correction is gentle and redirects the person, as a parent does for his child. This is love.

Harassment and intrusion in someone’s spiritual life is not love. It’s arrogance.