M
m134e5
Guest
Our increasingly materialistic and nihilistic world tells us that either we are everything, or everything is nothing. The Church responds that Jesus, who is singularly everything, promised eternal happiness with Him to those who love Him and that He gave us the Church to help us obtain that happiness. Those who love and strive to live Christ’s example of humility and simplicity, and who have found in the Church the hope, peace, and charity she promises love her deeply for it.
Recent decades have seen questionable, and at times even heretical, things done in the Church in the name of simplicity or humility. The thought of the Church reliving the 1970’s, with all the insanity that seemed to be rampant at the time, is frightening to many. Because of this, even authentic simplicity and humility can make people suspicious. Pope Francis is quickly developing a reputation for his simplicity and humility, and for now the world loves him for it.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said, “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort- you were made for greatness.” This statement echoed the Church’s answer, God’s endless love, to the world’s cynicism, nihilism, and materialism. Reminded of this love, and that we were made by and for Him, we also recall that He is stronger than anything- including poverty, suffering, and even death. The empty promises of the world are everywhere, and are therefore easy to find. This is why the Church must be in the world without conforming to it.
Expressing our fears can help us to overcome them, so doing so doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It is important, however, that we always acknowledge that the Holy Spirit truly is in charge- if not, then why are we here? Sadly, many of the posts I have read here seem very suspicious of the new Holy Father. Why be suspicious? Many people have twisted the virtues he demonstrates into a sales pitch for modernism and materialism, but that does not make those virtues or those who practice them bad. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit has given us Pope Francis! Let us love him, pray for him, and be thankful for him. Papal primacy is not conditional on whether or not we, the laity, like or understand his decisions. Let us trust in the Holy Spirit, through Pope Francis, to guide the Church in truth.
Recent decades have seen questionable, and at times even heretical, things done in the Church in the name of simplicity or humility. The thought of the Church reliving the 1970’s, with all the insanity that seemed to be rampant at the time, is frightening to many. Because of this, even authentic simplicity and humility can make people suspicious. Pope Francis is quickly developing a reputation for his simplicity and humility, and for now the world loves him for it.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI once said, “The world promises you comfort, but you were not made for comfort- you were made for greatness.” This statement echoed the Church’s answer, God’s endless love, to the world’s cynicism, nihilism, and materialism. Reminded of this love, and that we were made by and for Him, we also recall that He is stronger than anything- including poverty, suffering, and even death. The empty promises of the world are everywhere, and are therefore easy to find. This is why the Church must be in the world without conforming to it.
Expressing our fears can help us to overcome them, so doing so doesn’t have to be a bad thing. It is important, however, that we always acknowledge that the Holy Spirit truly is in charge- if not, then why are we here? Sadly, many of the posts I have read here seem very suspicious of the new Holy Father. Why be suspicious? Many people have twisted the virtues he demonstrates into a sales pitch for modernism and materialism, but that does not make those virtues or those who practice them bad. Furthermore, the Holy Spirit has given us Pope Francis! Let us love him, pray for him, and be thankful for him. Papal primacy is not conditional on whether or not we, the laity, like or understand his decisions. Let us trust in the Holy Spirit, through Pope Francis, to guide the Church in truth.
