Pope St. John XXIII

[Fraz94]

Dear Friends,

              Since the Canonization of Pope John XXIII I have been doing a lot of thinking and contemplation on him and what his Canonization means for us and for me in my own personal life as a Catholic- these are my own personal positive reflections and conclusions, if anyone can relate to them then great.

              I have been brought up in a very traditional environment, with traditional values- I have always had a great love and admiration for the Tridentine Mass and have always been taught the traditional Catechism and had a very traditional and conservative stance on the faith and her teachings.  I had always perceived the Second Vatican Council as a bad thing which took away my beautiful Latin Mass and "watered down" the teachings and general understanding of the faith- recently I have come to this great realization and understanding, through St. John XXIII-  I now understand that it is not true the picture many want to give of him, he was not an "ardent liberal", his reasons and why he called the council are noble and very understandable, I think it is wonderful how he was really the first Pope of his time to realize the need for this and to take action- when nobody thought he would accomplish anything "extra ordinary" in his Papacy.  I love how he visited Prisons, went to meet with and pray with other Christians and other faiths- I think it is beautiful how he showed Christ's love in his charming and down to earth manner.  Since our wonderful Pope Francis has come to the chair of Peter I have really understood things in a different way- for the better.  Pope Francis is wonderful, he is doctrinally conservative and has defended the most important things and teachings of our Church, such as when he stated that women could never be Priests etc. 

                   I really love St. John XXIII's cuddly smile and manner, he is really very Christ like and broke down barriers that had never been touched before- he himself said in regards to the Second Vatican Council "I only intended to open the windows of the Church and let in some fresh air, not to blow off the roof" which shows he only had the most noble and correct of intentions for those who criticize him over it.  I know that their are positives and negatives to the Council- there are those who will twist it and use it to justify their liberal teachings and actions but Pope Francis said himself very recently that we need to properly interpret the Council and its teachings, and not abuse it.  I don't want this to turn in to a discussion on the Council but you can't write a Post on John XXIII and not mention it.

                He was so humble and down to earth, he came from a poor family of 13 children and was able to emphasize  and understand the sufferings and worries of the people.  He was 76 when he became Pope (just like Francis) and it is said that he lay awake worrying about things at night but then he would end up saying "Okay God, its your Church not mine, I am going to bed now!" haha.  He clearly had a wonderful sense of humour and understanding of God's love- I love the picture I have posted below of him having a chat and enjoying a cigarette.  He clearly had a very relaxed and comfortable attitude to life and to spreading God's message through being human and by a loving and kind Christian example.

               He was clearly a happy and wide fellow, he knew it and often joked about it- it is said that when he was taken to be robed just after his election that they struggled very much to find a Papal Cassock to fit him, but he took it light heartedly and said that during his first Papal audience on the balcony it was tight!  (so I've heard).  I love how he has been named "patron for weight loss" I think he would have loved that and would have thrown his head back in laughter because he himself never lost any weight!  I will offer some prayers to him for that intention.  I could write for ages on him but I have really come to understand him for what he really was- a Holy, humble down to earth and blessed Pastor who led his Church to the best of his ability and understanding as a Father with love and care.  I think he is an example for all of us to follow- his outlook on life is a model for all Christians to follow!

              St. John XXIII, pray for us

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

When he met the Jewish Community of Rome and as he came down to meet them he said
“I am Joseph your long lost brother” a very humble, holy Pope.

 

[Celtic_Maiden]

A great Pope, but unfortunately he died as I think he would be very upset how the Church threw out some of the beautiful things in the Church, beautiful traditions, it would have been best if the thoughts of VATICAN 11 could have been explained, instead of the Clergy thinking this that and the other, every one doing there own thing, nuns wearing the Habit in four different colours, absolutely no direction in how to interpret the new changes, I remember seeing grown men and women cry at what the local Church’s did, it was like a boat with no rudder and no direction given to the teachings, personally I don’t admire him for the Vatican Council a lot of Catholics left the faith as it looked more like the Protestant religion going into a bare Church, one only has to look at the nuns, one I met the other day had hoop ear rings and dressed like me, trousers, snazzy camisole, and jacket, make up and hoop ear rings. I could go on and on, why they did not change the Mass to be more like they have on EWTN facing the people but some of it in Latin and some in English, as I say to others, obedience is better than sacrifice.

 

[rfournier103]

Pope St. John XIII is one of my four favorite historical figures of the 20th Century. Theodore Roosevelt, General Douglas MacArthur, and Babe Ruth being the others.

I think that anyone who would want to take away from his legacy just doesn’t understand what this man was about. We will never know how the Second Vatican Council would have turned out; or what the Church would look like today if this good and holy man had lived just a few more years. I think he summed it up nicely when he said that he wanted to open the windows; not blow the roof off.

He was a firm believer that you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar; and his pastoral style showed that to be true. He NEVER compromised on doctrine or message, but used the proverbial iron hand in the velvet glove. So gentle was the message; most never knew the iron hand was even there.

Certainly not to take ANYTHING from his predecessors or successors; but I think John XIII has to be regarded as one the finest popes Christ’s Church has EVER had.