Much ink and miles of paper Fr. Glenn Sudano, CFR 16 FEB 06
Reading
Pope Benedict XVI is not for those who only enjoy reading cereal boxes or comic
strips. *Deus Caritas Est * gives us the privilege of entering into the mind of
a great man who clearly presents us with the truth.
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³Nazi
Pope² and ³Vicious German Shepherd² were some of the names European tabloids
used to describe Cardinal Ratzinger upon news of his election to the Papacy.
Even inside Church circles, conservative Catholics took delight that ³liberal
heads would roll.² However, both extremes have been silenced as our newly
elected Pope Benedict continues to shatter the narrow and mean-spirited image
in which he was cast.
It
took only hours after his election for certain media-hungry clerics to begin to
hang black crepe in mourning. For them, the election of Cardinal Ratzinger
marked the end of ³progress² begun at the Second Vatican Council. Now that the
³conservative keeper of the faith,² as he was dubbed, was at the helm, the only
direction they could imagine the bark of Saint Peter now moving was in reverse.
Yes, the ³Watchdog² and ³Grand Inquisitor² would cast a dark oppressive spirit
over the Church.
Much
ink and miles of paper were wasted on commentaries written by so-called
³experts.² The splashy British tabloids which printed such prejudiced lies are
now too old to wrap fish. Their exciting news has now ended up where all lies
belong‹in the garbage.
Oh,
if we could only rewind the tape and ask these network commentators of the last
election this question: ³It is generally understood that a pope¹s first
encyclical in some way reflects the direction of his pontificate‹a particular
overarching theme, if you will. What will the newly elected Benedict XVI choose
as the topic of his first encyclical?² No doubt, the answers would be: ³a
forceful attack against relativism,² ³an argument against modernism,² or ³a
warning against secular tendencies creeping into the Church.² None of them
would have guessed correctly.
Last
week, the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church presented to us his first
encyclical entitled ³Deus Caritas Est , ²that is, ³God is Love.² Those who
personally know this man are not surprised. Why? Because everyone who has
encountered him knows that he expresses a real warmth, tangible kindness and
personal respect for everyone‹especially for those who oppose him. He is,
indeed, a learned, devout, and loving gentleman. How proud and grateful we
should be that he not only is the successor to Saint Peter, but our holy
father. Are we really surprised his first encyclical would be about God¹s love?
Now,
if you agree with my comments, I wonder if you will agree with my
challenge‹namely, to read his writings, perhaps beginning with ³Deus Caritas Est.²
Reading
Pope Benedict XVI is not for those who only enjoy reading cereal boxes or comic
strips. Encyclicals are written to inform and inspire‹not entertain. The
problem is that we live in a culture in which ³entertainment is king.² Even
children no longer recreate; no, they want to be entertained. Why run around
outside and play when you can stay inside, stare at a screen and enter into a
world chock full of fantasy? Why use your imagination when someone else can
provide excitement?
³Deus
Caritas Est² doesn¹t read like Harry Potter or The DaVinci Code‹it is not full
of literary cliffhangers and fanciful half-truths which breed suspicion and
suspense; however, if you are an adult with more than half a brain, you will
have the privilege of entering into the mind of a great man who clearly
presents us with the truth. He doesn¹t tell us what we want to hear, but what God wants us to hear. And shouldn¹t they both be the
same?
Have
you ever heard the expression gi-go? It means ³garbage in, garbage out.² What
we put into our minds will eventually come out in our thoughts, words, and
behavior.
Friends,
the splashy tabloids with their hot headlines and expert opinions are in the
garbage, where they belong.
But
we, we have the gold. Go for it!
Fr.
Glenn Sudano, CFR
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