St. Francis of Assisi, poverty of spirit, the liturgy, ecumenism

[R_C]

I have been very distressed between yesterday and today to read many Catholic traditionalist faithful saying that they were worried and even scared about the election of Cardinal Bergoglio.

I will begin to say one thing: if we trust in Christ, then nothing should ever worry or scare us.

Second: he chose the name of the Seraphic Father. That means quite a lot for us who love Holy Church and her Sacred Tradition. Pope Francis will not fail, by the light of the same Holy Spirit that inspired him to choose that name, to reflect the spirituality of St. Francis on these matters.

St. Francis, in bringing to the Church the divine gift of poverty of spirit, did not despise the beauty and wonder of the art and liturgy of the Church, nor diminish the great dignity of the Holy Orders, nor diminish the call of obedience to the bishop and above all else to the Holy Father and to Holy Mother Church.

I want to briefly quote some writings of St. Francis on these matters. I firmly believe that all that he expresses here will be reflected in the reign of Pope Francis.

Care for the vessels and other liturgical objects that contain His holy words

I want to have these most holy mysteries honored and venerated above all things and I want to reserve them in precious places.

Let all those who administer such most holy mysteries…consider how very dirty are the chalices, corporals and altar-linens upon which his Body and Blood are sacrificed. It (the Eucharist) is placed and left in many dirty places, carried about unbecomingly, received unworthily, and administered to others without discernment. Even His written names and words are at times left to be trampled under foot…Are we not moved by a sense of piety concerning all these things, since the good Lord offers Himself into our hands and we handle Him and receive Him daily with our mouth?

Let us, therefore, amend our ways quickly …] the written words of the Lord, whenever they are found in an improper place, should be gathered together and kept in a becoming place.

Know well that in the sight of God there are certain matters which are very lofty and sublime which are sometimes considered worthless and inferior by people; while there are other things, cherished and esteemed by people, which are considered worthless and inferior by God.

Let us pay attention, all brothers, to what the Lord says: Love your enemies and do good to those who hate you, for our Lord Jesus Christ, Whose footprints we must follow, called His betrayer ‘friend’ and gave Himself willingly to those who crucified Him.

Our friends, then, are all those who unjustly afflict upon us trials and ordeals, shame and injuries, sorrows and torments, martyrdom and death.

Blessed is the servant who has faith in the clergy who life uprightly according to the norms of the Roman Church. And woe to those who look down upon them; for even though they may be sinners, nonetheless no one is to judge them since the Lord alone reserves judgment on them to Himself.

We must also visit churches frequently and venerate and show respect for the clergy, not so much for them personally if they are sinners, but by reason of their office and their administration of the most holy Body and Blood of Christ which they sacrifice upon the altar and receive and administer to others.

And let all of us firmly realize that no one can be saved except without the holy words and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ which the clergy pronounce, proclaim and minister. And they alone must administer [them], and not others.

the Lord gave me and still gives me such faith in priests who live according to the manner of the holy Roman Church because of their order, that if they were to persecute me, I would [still] have recourse to them.

And if I possessed as much wisdom as Solomon had and I came upon pitiful priests of this would, I would not preach contrary to their will in the parishes in which they live. And I desire to fear, love, and honor them and all others as my masters.

And all of us lesser brothers, useless servants, humbly ask and beg all those who wish to serve the Lord God within the holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church…that all of us may persevere in the true faith and in penance, for otherwise no one will be saved.

 

[Cath4life]

I have been very distressed between yesterday and today to read many Catholic traditionalist faithful saying that they were worried and even scared about the election of Cardinal Bergoglio.

Forgive my ignorance, but what are they worried/scared about? As followers of Christ, we are not to worry or be anxious?

 

[The_Blunt_Brig]

I’ve heard that he’s never celebrated a Latin Mass all his life. I think that’s it. They want a pope who likes the Latin mass.

 

[Oneofthewomen]

I’ve heard that he’s never celebrated a Latin Mass all his life. I think that’s it. They want a pope who likes the Latin mass.

So? I know many good and holy priests who have never celebrated a Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and more than likely, never will. Does that make them any less good or holy?

 

[Cath4life]

I’ve heard that he’s never celebrated a Latin Mass all his life. I think that’s it. They want a pope who likes the Latin mass.

I swaped over to the traditional forum and realized it was about the latin mass and being a jesuit. Thanks for the info

 

[FlaviusGratian]

How has anyone heard about how ecumenism will look under his papacy? In my opinion we need a pope who would be willing to come right out and say that the Protestant churches are false distorted versions of the truth and all other religions are false religions under the influence of the “Evil One” as the CCC says.

I did, however, see him in a picture being “blessed” by a protestant “minister” which worries me a bit. I don’t believe that is heresy, but it does send a bad signal to those churches, as if we condone their heresy and distortions.

Anyways, those are my two cents. I heard (wikipedia told me) that he was warm towards Jews.

Anybody hear anything else about ecumenism from him?

 

[Mrs_Sally]

So? I know many good and holy priests who have never celebrated a Mass in the Extraordinary Form, and more than likely, never will. Does that make them any less good or holy?

It is strange to me. He has been a priest for 43 years. He has done more for the church than probably all of us posters combined. I just can’t understand judging him unworthy based only on the fact that he celebrates the Ordinary Form.

 

[Eufrosnia]

How has anyone heard about how ecumenism will look under his papacy? In my opinion we need a pope who would be willing to come right out and say that the Protestant churches are false distorted versions of the truth and all other religions are false religions under the influence of the “Evil One” as the CCC says.

I did, however, see him in a picture being “blessed” by a protestant “minister” which worries me a bit. I don’t believe that is heresy, but it does send a bad signal to those churches, as if we condone their heresy and distortions.

Anyways, those are my two cents. I heard (wikipedia told me) that he was warm towards Jews.

Anybody hear anything else about ecumenism from him?

I think the Pope has to make sure people realize that Protestants and other religions are actually in error. Also, that the faithful Catholics realize the importance of the Church and why we are doing ecumenism to begin with.

IF that were done, then slip ups like the kneeling to a Protestant minister can be handled without much collateral damage or misleading/confusing faithful.

Ecumenism is certainly needed i.e. that we need to bring all in to the Catholic fold. It is a matter of informing the faithful as to WHAT ecumenism is, WHAT the goal is, and WHY all religions are NOT the same.

The biggest issue I have with ecumenism is honestly having Catholics then come up to me after an ecumenical event and telling me that the Church considers all roads lead to heaven or that we must RESPECT all religions. I agree that we must respect all peoples but not all religions. False religions and errors are just that. As long as Catholics are taught enough to not fall in to this line of thinking, I think we can easily approach ecumenism.

The other issue is perhaps with the knowledge of Catholics as well. It is one thing for the Church hierarchy to do some types of ecumenical work while it is another thing for laity. I fail to see the merit in sending an ill prepared group of parishioners to a Bible study with the Protestant pastor down the road or a prayer service at the Mosque/Protestant Church etc. We just end up losing Catholics that way. Even worse is having young children do ecumenical work. We lose them fast too because at a rebellious age, they can find the other side attractive.

So those things should also be considered in my opinion.

 

[R_C]

I’ve heard that he’s never celebrated a Latin Mass all his life. I think that’s it. They want a pope who likes the Latin mass.

I’ve read that when Pope Francis was Cardinal Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, he disposed on his own initiative and only 48 hours after Summorum Pontificum, that the Parish San Miguel Arcángel of Buenos Aires be dedicated to offer the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite every Sunday. Its pastor, Fr. Dotro, stated: “I will offer one every Sunday. The Cardinal asked me to do so.”

I don’t know if and how other bishops or cardinals acted with such expedite decision to bring the Latin Mass to the faithful, but I’d say it certainly doesn’t seem like he dislikes it…!

 

[R_C]

I did, however, see him in a picture being “blessed” by a protestant “minister” which worries me a bit.

I bring this post to your attention for some clarification on that matter.

 

[ProVobis]

It is strange to me. He has been a priest for 43 years. He has done more for the church than probably all of us posters combined. I just can’t understand judging him unworthy based only on the fact that he celebrates the Ordinary Form.

FWIW, I found it interesting that he pursued a career in chemistry (he has a masters) until about the time of Vatican 2. He went to the seminary as the Mass was being reformed in the 60’s and then he was ordained when the OF was promulgated in 69, when many priests were leaving.

I know of a priest who has a masters in physics and has fought with his bishop to say the Latin Mass. So I don’t know what to conclude about the sciences and their effects.