A very short while back, I stopped opening, reading and contributing to the many threads and discussions here and elsewhere about the latest Pope Francis “thing.” I only opened this one because Br. JR had started it, and I do follow his teachings pretty closely.
To the original question posted by Brother, I have no clue. I’ve tried to understand and sympathize with Lucky and McCall and others who have calmly tried to explain their concerns or worries. But though I do keep them both in daily prayer (as Lucky once asked), I truly don’t “get” where they are coming from.
Others, have been much less charitable in their criticisms, and this, I confess, has finally just made me too distressed. The complaints seem to be very fear-based. There is fear that these changes, though small, will lead to some big doctrinal changes. Or that the media will misinterpret them. Well, of course the media will. The Media could care less about God Himself, much less Catholicism! I just don’t worry about that stuff, myself. The Church is led by the Holy Spirit - I trust that implicitly. The first and most important pope as a convert was Bl. JPII. He told us not to be afraid. I really believe him. All will be well. I feel that in my bones. Mine was not an easy conversion, but when I finally fell off my horse, I really had the Holy Spirit knocked into me. Besides, I have enough to worry about for my own salvation without worrying about a sandwich being anything more than just… a sandwich.
Perhaps the problem with not understanding, appreciating and allowing Pope Francis to live his life as a Religious and still be a Pope lies in not entirely understanding what being a Religious means? I read a lot about the Saints who were Religious when I was going through my own conversion from Jew to Christian. But I’m still learning so much from Brother JR.
I sense that the Rules of a Religious order are not the same as say, driving laws. You can make a right on a red in California. You can’t in NJ (or couldn’t the last time I drove there). The rules of the road varied by location, local conditions and what works best for a certain place. But Religious Rules are internalized, taken for life and are meant to change the essential “you.”
Now, the Church teaches us that the Religious Life serves a great purpose for the individuals who are chosen by God and freely choose to accept that path. It also teaches us that the Religious Orders serve the Church by their prayer, their works and their example. No doubt that example is the sticking point for many. Personally, I find it freeing. But then, I’ve been told that over the years, I have myself become rather monastic in my personal life and knowing that others feel the same call to simplicity is rather a relief.
So that’s my meanderings on the subject. Now I will probably return to ignoring most of these, "oh dear, look what the Pope’s done now) threads because they really do upset me.
Sorry so long, but I’ve been mulling all this over for a long time and it felt good to put it into words.
Praying for all of us!
