What Would You Most Like Pope Francis To Do?

[CaptFun]

Dear Pope Francis!

These suggestions are from my heart and look to the future with hope. They are not criticisms of the past … but important things we can do much better quickly.

1. Holy Reverence 2. More access to the Sacraments 3. Quicker welcoming of new members. :hug3:
2. Tabernacle centered behind the altar in all Churches … elevated above “Bishop’s or Presider’s Chairs”. Honored with genuflections and visible as the holiest focus (THE LORD!) from the time one enters the sanctuary of the Church.

Isaiah 6:1 … ** I saw the* Lord seated on a high and lofty throne,*** with the train of his garment filling the temple.

2 Seraphim were stationed above; each of them had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two they veiled their feet, and with two they hovered aloft.

3 “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts!” they cried one to the other. “All the earth is filled with his glory!”

4 At the sound of that cry, the frame of the door shook and the house was filled with smoke.

5 Then I said, "Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips; yet

my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"

This MAIN thing is needed. To emphasize the Lord as KING for one hour per week. Reverently. HE is the host (and must have the foremost place … as it once was everywhere). There need be no controversies. Pronounce it. Call it a penance if need be. Neglect of, or seeming demotion of the Eucharist is confusing and out of order. Despite the finest of intentions behind past “modernizations”. Centered tabernacles with the Holy Eucharist reserved best demonstrates this well known priority:

Catechism of the Catholic Church450 From the beginning of Christian history, the assertion of Christ’s lordship over the world and over history has implicitly recognized that man should not submit his personal freedom in an absolute manner to any earthly power, but only to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Caesar is not “the Lord”.

“The Church. . . believes that the key, the center and the purpose of the whole of man’s history** is to be found in its Lord and Master.”**

This is best demonstrated with the Blessed Sacrament front and center unambiguously preeminent rather than off to the side, in the back, hidden from view, or otherwise treated as “just one of the holy things” in the Church rather than OUR LORD!

1. Ordain more good priests. Speed up the process without being lax. Promote tested and willing single Deacons; Accept older men with established credentials. Retain retired priests to dispense the sacraments.

And Teach the faith. If teaching must be delegated … set some standards, and give the teachers some back up. Gently correct the secular incursions and worldly values that sometimes replace the basic message of Jesus.

With all due deference to the business aspects of the parish and diocese … NO one else can hear confessions and say mass. This is a suggestion in good faith and happy expectations and might even be a great relief to all you clergy.

1. Open the doors of the church. Phillip baptised the Ethiopian the same day he met him!
   RCIA classes are good and wise … but LONG delays in welcoming members with many classes (often done at the convenience of the program rather than working with the willing Catechumen) looks exclusive and unfriendly.

There ought to be at least ONE express lane like program per diocese where catechumens can take a concentrated battery of classes and become members of the Church. A public honoring of “New Catechumens” could coincide with parish ceremonies at Easter Vigil (like a graduation day) later. We have lost some people whose work schedules don’t jibe with parish class schedules. Can we accomodate our new members better (as it was in my Diocese not so long ago)?

1. Keep doing what you are doing. Lead with love and enthusiasm. Show your Love for Jesus Christ always. Invite all to Christ. Be Courageous and gentle. Let Him lift your head in the hard times. We love you. < Maybe we should have made THAT number one.

THAT was cathartic!

 

[joicejoseph]

I hope thate the pope will make The seminary formation very strict and more than The theoretical knowledge seminarians should be given real life experiences…

 

[CaptFun]

On a briefer note … I love that you took the name of Francis:

youtube.com/watch?v=S4P8hDrBdCQ < St. Francis is commissioned by the Pope (who had a dream of a humbly clad friar who kept the walls of the Church from falling). Pope played by Sir Alec Guinness.

From Zefferelli’s “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” a beautifully made movie!

 

[Cavaradossi]

Publicly condemn usury.

I would be happy to see this. Usury is one thing with which all Christians have simply grown too complacent.

 

[maklavan]

Restore the Traditional Latin Mass completely in the Latin Rite.

That would drive millions of Catholics away.With the Pope coming from South America, a
greater emphasis on the vernacular is likely.

 

[MissRose73]

Restore the Traditional Latin Mass completely in the Latin Rite.

That would be a good thing for sure, or at least ensure its even more widely available and encourage it.

 

[ephesians4]

Condemning the behaviour is an attempt at subtle homophobia, but it does not wash.

How much significance do you expect our LORD God, or any Christians, to give to the fact that it “doesn’t wash” with you?

 

[agnes_therese]

Sarah, you have it exactly right. I think it’s just habit – there are more Popes with a number than not.

I’ve seen Pope Francis referred to as Pope Francis I several times now on here.

Is he not just Pope Francis

If there’s another Pope Francis in the future, then we would refer to Pope Francis I and Pope Francis II, but until then, shouldn’t he just be referred to as Pope Francis

Or have I got the naming convention all wrong

Sarah x

 

[agnes_therese]

I looked at that picture for a few moments just taking in everything that was going on in it and found the beginnings of a tear welling up inside me.

Again I’m reminded of what Saint Francis is supposed to have said: In all things preach the Gospel, and where necessary, use words.

Of course, I’m one of those people he would see as a threat to the very foundations and fabric of humanity - me being a homosexual marriage supporting atheist an’ all, but still, I like the guy, and I have a feeling, and a hope, he’s going to do good things for the Church, and it’s relations with all people.

I think my feelings about this Pope might be right

I heard he took a bus today

Sarah x

Thank you for giving us your thoughts. I’ve heard similar reactions from non-Catholic friends. I think you’re right, too.

 

[TimSpalding]

Call it acrobatics if you want but doesn’t Greek have different words which have different meanings that translate into the same English word, “love” for example? Same principle applies.

Certainly. Greek has the potential for subtle shades of meaning. But if we’re talking about the Last Supper and the notion of “take and eat” there are no such shades. As Mark has it–and the other synoptics follow him:

“And while they were eating, he took labon the bread and blessed it, and gave it to them and said ‘Take (it) [labete], this is my body.’ And he took [labon] the cup and gave thanks and gave it to them and they all drank from it.”

Now, you can quibble over the Latin, which uses acccipio for the first and third “take,” and sumo for the second, although I can’t see any reason to translate them as any other than “take” here too, with the natural assumption that we’re talking about “taking” not asking for and receiving it on the tongue–a practice that, as every church historian will tell you, developed later.

I’m all for more Catholics to learn Latin. It’s a great language, and obviously deep in Catholic history. But the language of the New Testament is Greek.

1. Strictly speaking, the Greek is “taking the bread [and] blessing it, he gave” (ie., participle, particle, indicative) Greek likes to do this. “He ran and jumped on the bus” would be, in Greek, “running he jumped on the bus.”

 

[einna]

We can’t have women priests because the church does not have the authority to ordain them. The ordination of men only came from Jesus, when he chose the twelve apostles.

That could have been because at the time women were not seen to have the value they have today. If we love and respect Mary so much and see her as another devoted apostles to Jesus, why could the church not decide to ordain women as priests.

I am not saying He will or should, but I believe if Pope Francis or future Popes feel it is going to help the church, they will someday have women priest.

 

[Tampa_Dave]

I have no problem with Mass performed in the vernacular. However, the Latin Mass must be preserved and allowed to flourish at the parish level. Pope Benedict XVI delegated the institution and practice of the Latin Mass to diocesan officials and, thankfully, it worked. I pray Pope Francis leaves the policy in place. Quite honestly, I don’t know what I would do if practice of the Latin Mass is discouraged or, God forbid, disappears from Catholic worship under Pope Francis. We are Catholics, not just any Christian denomination, and Latin rite has been an integral part of Church history and tradition for two centuries.

 

[Mrs_Sally]

I highly doubt that Pope Francis will make any changes to the rules concerning the Extraordinary Form. The rules now seem to be working well. Of course there are places where it isn’t as available (or convenient) as people would like, but that really does depend on the priests knowing it and choosing to say it.

In the US (and I think worldwide) the more traditional and orthodox seminaries and dioceses are getting more vocations. Over time (and soon I think) the last of the “silliness” will stop and priests in general will be more orthodox and all Masses (OF and EF) will be reverant and without the crazies that have sometimes happened in the past.

It is my feeling that many who now hope for the EF will be spiritually lifted at the reverant and correct OF Masses that are increasingly being said as “Benedict’s men” are now being ordained.

 

[einna]

Quote:
Originally Posted by mburn16
I will never understand the obsession with receiving on the tongue only. Jesus told his apostles to TAKE and eat.He broke the bread, and gave it to his disciples saying “take this, all of you, and eat of it”. Is the hand any less dirty than the mouth? If we are so undeserving even to hold the Lord in our hands, how can we be deserving enough to actually consume the host?

Actually, that’s due to the translation into English. Watch Fr. Pacwa’s interview of Bishop Athanasius Schneider and he’ll speak about that.

Reverent reception in the hand was good enough for St. Cyril of Jerusalem in the 5th century, whose orthodoxy is unquestioned. It should be good enough for anybody.

I agree. Although everyone has the right to their own views, there are much bigger things the Church and Pope Francis need to deal with, I hope he doesn’t waste his time on this issue.

 

[OraLabora]

What Would You Most Like Pope Francis To Do?

Listen.

 

[TimSpalding]

Pope Benedict XVI delegated the institution and practice of the Latin Mass to diocesan officials and, thankfully, it worked.

Okay, but that’s almost exactly the opposite of what happened. Before Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum, diocesan officials (i.e., the bishop) had the authority to decide whether it would be provided in their diocese. Benedict took this power away from them, allowing Latin masses against the wishes of a diocesan bishop, using his priests and churches. He did the opposite of delegate—he skipped over their heads.

I agree. Although everyone has the right to their own views, there are much bigger things the Church and Pope Francis need to deal with, I hope he doesn’t waste his time on this issue.

There’s a whole school of thought that these are, in fact, the important issues. If masses were all in Latin, altar girls were banned, communion was on the tongue only, you couldn’t have a burger on Fridays, men avoided jeans, women covered their hair in church and Popes wore red shawls and gave homilies in dead languages, churches and seminaries would fill up and we’d all ride the happy bus back to the 1950s, when the church had no problems.(1)

I find this absolutely bonkers. So do most Catholics. But these are widespread views here.

1. Except for in my parish, where a priest was raping young children.

 

[einna]

Okay, but that’s almost exactly the opposite of what happened. Before Benedict’s Summorum Pontificum, diocesan officials (i.e., the bishop) had the authority to decide whether it would be provided in their diocese. Benedict took this power away from them, allowing Latin masses against the wishes of a diocesan bishop, using his priests and churches. He did the opposite of delegate—he skipped over their heads.

There’s a whole school of thought that these are, in fact, the important issues. If masses were all in Latin, altar girls were banned, communion was on the tongue only, you couldn’t have a burger on Fridays, men avoided jeans, women covered their hair in church and Popes wore red shawls and gave sermons in dead languages, churches and seminaries would fill up and we’d all ride the happy bus back to the 1950s, when the church had no problems.(1)

I find this absolutely bonkers. So do most Catholics. But these are widespread views here.

1. Except for in my parish, where a priest was raping young children.

Well, working at a Jesuit high school, no one thinks will be going back to those things under Pope Francis. Time will tell.

 

[Moore11]

That could have been because at the time women were not seen to have the value they have today. If we love and respect Mary so much and see her as another devoted apostles to Jesus, why could the church not decide to ordain women as priests.

I am not saying He will or should, but I believe if Pope Francis or future Popes feel it is going to help the church, they will someday have women priest.

You need to be a student of history. Jesus, when he lived, died, is resurrected and when he instituted a Church had no problem bucking the trends and biases of society. Especially when it came to women. Listen close to this coming Sunday’s gospel reading. Jesus called out the entire Jewish faith on their views on women. He put his life on the line standing up for a woman caught in adultery. He, as GOD, elevated Mary to the position of queen of heaven and by choosing her ordained her as the most holy and pure person ever. (A woman) yet Jesus did not elevate his dear mother to priesthood. He certainly could have. But he specifically did not. At the foot of the Cross Jesus gave “Woman” “Mary” “The New Eve” to one of his priests and charged him with her care and instituted a relationship that has stood for 2000 years. Not only that but contrary to popular belief women today do not have more equality than back then. 1/2 of human abortions are killing females. In China, a woman is less than human, they are sold to sex slaves and lest you think that that only happens in some far away place I would submit to you that in the modern US women are nothing more than sex conquests and thanks to abundant contraception and the separation of sex from it’s Holy purpose, women are brainwashed sex slaves in our society.

Yet, here is Jesus, living in a time where many religions had priestesses. All of His teachings were not contoured for “his time of history” but rather they all seem quite timeless. It would make much more sense for Jesus to go to leper colonies now that we have a cure than back then when it was most certainly taboo. Jesus was killed for being counter cultural yet he did not institute the woman priesthood.

Jesus also did not change the standard that only women can give birth. Part of this reason is that men are not female. If you understood the source and summit of our faith, the Eucharist. What it is and what happens in the Mass you would also understand why what you are saying is not only anti Catholic and Anti-Christ. But also impossible.

 

[PJM]

=mburn16;10480947]I want to see a definite and forceful focus on combating the errant ways of many Catholics in the developed world. While Benedict was very much Orthodox on these matters, I don’t know that he ever had the charisma or energy to really speak forcefully. And I think this is the matter of supreme urgency. It feels too much like we’re losing (or have lost) the underpinnings of a strong and vibrant society.

My friend the Misson God gave to the Apostles [Mk. 16:14-17 & Mt. 28:18-20] was to Baptize nd TEACH exactly what he had taught them. NOT save the world.

What is it specifically you’d like to see accomplished?

God Bless,
PJM

 

[PJM]

=The Curt Jester;10481171]Restore the Traditional Latin Mass completely in the Latin Rite.

After 50 years of the OF, this is no-longer a real possibility IMO.

What can be done is to return a sense of piety [a taught atribute]

And RETURN the emphasis to God centered Worship; which we seem to have gotten away form in the post V II era. IMO

PJM