The Strongest Man In The World?

[I_Believe]

It has to be Pope Benedict XVI. He is bearing a Cross. And it has to be awful heavy.

No Pope has inherited such a filthy world to lead. No Pope has had to deal with the degree of anti - Catholicism we endure. Radical clerics boast of Islam crushing the Vatican and praise 911. Yet Americans and even non catholic Christians join the atheists in fueling the hatred of Catholicism.

Even some Catholics themselves ignore BXVI. Even some of his Bishops. At worst, some Catholics will not call him Pope.

Unlike any Pope before him, he has been scorned and cursed on the internet since the moment he became Pope. Every word he speaks in public is examined and declared offensive by someone somewhere. Every single day, since day one.

The internet allows the world to see the division among Catholics. It allows easy access to the numbers. Mass attendence today versus 1958. Number or priests and their ages. To those who don’t know or accept the promise of our Saviour, it can appear that the Church is caving. The Church is pro life, yet the numbers show many Catholics feel otherwise.

What an easy target we have become.

We must increase our prayers for our Holy Father tenfold, and we must make it a priority to seek out our family members and friends who have lapsed into indifference, and get them back to the Faith. Whatever it takes, we must try.

 

[stmaria]

Pope Benedict carries a great burden. His homily for his inauguration clearly shows that he is aware of this great task. He also acknowledges that there are those who are against him

MASS FOR THE INAUGURATION
OF THE PONTIFICATE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20050424_inizio-pontificato_en.html

" And now, at this moment, weak servant of God that I am, I must assume this enormous task, which truly exceeds all human capacity. How can I do this? How will I be able to do it? All of you, my dear friends, have just invoked the entire host of Saints,represented by some of the great names in the history of God’s dealings with mankind. In this way, I too can say with renewed conviction: I am not alone. I do not have to carry alone what in truth I could never carry alone. All the Saints of God are there to protect me, to sustain me and to carry me. And your prayers, my dear friends, your indulgence, your love, your faith and your hope accompany me. Indeed, the communion of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went before us and whose names we know…My dear friends at this moment I can only say: pray for me, that I may learn to love the Lord more and more. Pray for me, that I may learn to love his flock more and more – in other words, you, the holy Church, each one of you and all of you together. Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves. Let us pray for one another, that the Lord will carry us and that we will learn to carry one another."

 

[I_Believe]

Pope Benedict carries a great burden. His homily for his inauguration clearly shows that he is aware of this great task. He also acknowledges that there are those who are against him

MASS FOR THE INAUGURATION
OF THE PONTIFICATE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI
HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20050424_inizio-pontificato_en.html

" And now, at this moment, weak servant of God that I am, I must assume this enormous task, which truly exceeds all human capacity. How can I do this? How will I be able to do it? All of you, my dear friends, have just invoked the entire host of Saints,represented by some of the great names in the history of God’s dealings with mankind. In this way, I too can say with renewed conviction: I am not alone. I do not have to carry alone what in truth I could never carry alone. All the Saints of God are there to protect me, to sustain me and to carry me. And your prayers, my dear friends, your indulgence, your love, your faith and your hope accompany me. Indeed, the communion of Saints consists not only of the great men and women who went before us and whose names we know…My dear friends at this moment I can only say: pray for me, that I may learn to love the Lord more and more. Pray for me, that I may learn to love his flock more and more – in other words, you, the holy Church, each one of you and all of you together. Pray for me, that I may not flee for fear of the wolves. Let us pray for one another, that the Lord will carry us and that we will learn to carry one another."

Thank you. I hadn’t read that yet. I hope many here do read it.

 

[Deacon_Ed_B]

The Holy Father has my total support and daily prayers for his well being and success of his ponbtificate.
prayers & blessings
Deacon Ed B