Pentecost and Pope Benedict XVI

Pentecost and Pope Benedict XVI
In pursuit of the truth – www.cinopsbegone.com – Monday, May 24, 2010

Is there a relationship between the two? I believe there is. You decide. Let’s check out the mindset of this Pope via reference to his classic book, “Co-Workers of the Truth,” Ignatius Press, /92.

“Today ( Sunday, May 23, 2010) we celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, alleluia; on this day the Holy Spirit appeared before the apostles in tongues of fire and gave them his spiritual gifts. He sent them out to preach to the whole world, and to proclaim that all who believe and are baptized shall be saved, alleluia.” (Liturgy of the Hours) +++ Now let’s take some excerpts from the Pope’s book. +++

Truth: “But the individual who thus makes himself lord of the truth deceives himself, for truth shuns the arrogant and reveals itself only to those who approach it in an attitude of reverence, of respectful humility.” Meditation of May 20th – “Co-Workers of the Truth, Meditations for Every Day of the Year.”

Church and Faith: “If the Church were to accommodate herself to the world in any way that would entail a turning away from the Cross, this would not lead to a renewal of the Church… In other words, the Christian Faith is a scandal for every age. That the eternal God takes an interest in human beings and knows us; that the Incomprehensible became comprehensible in the man Jesus; that he who is immortal suffered on the Cross; that resurrection and eternal life have been promised to us mortals – to believe all this is a disturbing challenge for mankind.” May 21st

Faith: “Faith makes demands on our comfort, on what we plan, we propose for ourselves. The sickness of our time is the false idea of freedom that confuses freedom with preference and thinks that life is rich, familiar, and beautiful only when we act and live in a way that gives pleasure to ourselves and conforms to our desires. Psychologists tell us that it is the absence of demands, of challenge of opposition that must counter to human nature that makes us sick, and causes us to confront one another with hostility.” May 22nd

Family: “The original cell of all human society is the family. That is where we learn the fundamental relationships of human society and, consequently, also the ability to God. Only in the family can the togetherness of love overcome the opposition of otherness to true community. It is there that the generations learn to understand one another. On the preservation of the family depends a nation’s capacity for peace? When the family no longer brings together male and female, old and young, the basic human relationships are changed into a battle of all against all. That is why the transmission from fathers to children is the prerequisite for the beginning of the Messianic peace. And the destruction of the family is therefore the most certain sign of the Anti-Christ, the disturber of the peace, disguised as one who brings freedom and peace.” May 23rd

The Holy Spirit: “The love of God that is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit includes the love of neighbors. When Jesus reminded his hearers of the first commandments, he immediately added: “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.’” May 24th. In closing, what is the Pope’s relationship with K. of C.? ghk