Gänswein About Benedict XVI: Resignation Was "Amputation" -- About Francis: "I wait every day anew, what will be different today"

Update 18:41 GMT, Monday, Dec 9:  Msgr. Gänswein has denied that he made these statements as was reported in La Stampa and Radio Vaticana.  See recent report from Kath.net.

(Vatican / Cologne) Curial Archbishop Georg Gänswein, the personal secretary of Pope Benedict XVI. refers to the surrender of the German Pope as "pain". This he said in an interview published on last Thursday with the Hamburg weekly Die Zeit. The resignation of Benedict XVI. , he had experienced as "amputation". The years as personal secretary to the reigning Pope had been very intense: "I left eight years of blood and also tasted blood, sometimes."

Archbishop Gänswein continues to speak of Benedict XVI. as "Holy Father". This does not alter the basic fact: "There is only one Pope."

He feels today in his two roles as though he is torn  between two worlds.  For a year Archbishop Gänswein has been Prefect of the Papal Household, as he serves the new pope. At the same time he is also secretary of Benedict XVI., who lives retired at the monastery Mater Ecclesiae. "I have the impression of living in two worlds," he is quoted by Die Zeit. And with a view to the reforming activities of Pope Francis: "I wait every day anew, what will be different now."

The decision of Pope Francis, not to live in the papal apartments in the Apostolic Palace, but the guest house Santa Marta of the Vatican,  Gänswein considers as an "affront" against Benedict XVI. Especially because the Pope from Argentina said that the apartment in which the popes lived before him makes him "gloomy", and anyway, he wanted to live "among people". In the meantime, the new pope and his Prefect of the Papal Household could even share a joke with each other, as Gänswein confided to the weekly paper.

Text: Giuseppe Nardi
image: Papa Ratzinger

Trans: Tancred vekron99@hotmail.com

Link to Katholishes....

AMGD

Graz Professor Demands Death Penalty for Pope

Graz (kath.net) Richard Parncutt, professor of Systematic Musicology at the University of Graz, recently called for the death of Pope Benedict on the official University home page a few days ago.  He  finds the Pope responsible for the deaths of millions of AIDS victims in the future.  After complaints the text was removed.  According to the "Kurier" the Dean of the Psychology Faculty, Helmut Konrad, as responded recently and distanced himself from the text. "Inhuman expressions have been directly removed.  Personal views, which are not in conjunction with scientific work, will not be tolerated on the University website."

Parncutt did not directly explain his inhumane comments and has at present has made a prepared statement to all who feel themselves to be insulted by the text.   His proposal had been completely inappropriate.  After the Christmas break,  Parncutt will be invited to a discussion with the University administration.  Disciplinary steps will follow.  The Professor has also asked for the execution of those who deny global warming.

Link to kath.net...

Pope's Brother: Benedict XVI Still Feels Fresh

Regensburg (kath.net/KNA)  Pope Benedict XVI. is in good health and "relatively fresh" according to his brother Msgr Georg Ratzinger.  Bayrischen Rundfunk (BR) said the earlier leader of the "Regensburg Cathedral Circle" in an interview on Christmas, that the Pope is in good health.  "My brother is still relatively fresh, he is holding up in work and that -- I believe -- already helps to stay fresh and not mentally damed up."  The limitations of age are bearable for the Pope.  Pope Benedict XVI has difficulties with mobility, but in age everything is "a bit more difficult".

Georg Ratzinger, who himself will be 89 years old on the 15th of January, will celebrate Christmas with the Monastery Chapter in St. John's in Regensburg.   On the 28th of December he will be traveling back to Rome he says.  He has already picked out a gift for his brother.  Among several CDs is a selection of the H Sharp Mass of Johann Sebastian Bach, which the Pope wanted.  The gifts can't measure up in the midst of the Christmas festivities.  "He has everything what he needs and to attend to rarities -- that doesn't go at my age any more and real rarities are also too expensive", says Ratzinger.

The evenings on the end of December and the beginning of January, which Georg Ratzinger spends with his brother in the Vatican, are not very impressive, says the one time Cathedral Kapellmeister.  Thus the learned church musician plays the piano for the closes circle of Papal colleagues, among whom two are cloistered nuns, and the secretary sings Christmas songs.  Cookies and punch are brought along too.

Link to kath.net...

Clemency for the Pope's Butler

Rome (kath.net/as)  Pope Benedict XVI has offered clemency for his former butler, Paolo Gabriele and released him from punishment.  The Pope imparted this to him during a visit to Gabriele's cell.

It was approached as fatherly gesture to a person, who had familiar contact with the Pope daily for several years, says a note from the Secretary of State.

Gabriele may not work any longer in the Vatican.  He also may not continue living in his home.  The Holy See however trusts in the honorability of his rethinking and is seeing to it that he is offered the possibility to take up again living in peace together with his family.

"Nostra Aetate" Masks the Evil of False Religions

Edit: the Holy Father seems to be doing exactly what many thought the SSPX would have been unable to do. Surely, these criticisms are timely and apt.

The Pope Criticizes the Conciliar Texts

The Pastoral Council talks about false religions "only positively and leaves out the sick and distorted forms of religions, which are historically and theologically of significant consequence."

Konzilsväter des Zweiten
 Vatikanums.
© Lothar Wolleh (1930-1979), Wikipedia, CC-SA-BY

(kreuz.net) Today, the in the Vatican, the seventh volume of the "Collected Writings" of Joseph Ratzinger was published.

Within are contained the publications of Fr. Joseph Ratzinger during the Pastoral Council (1962-1965).

The forward of the volume was written by Pope Benedict XVI on the 2nd of August in Castel Gandolfo.

Born of Clerical Euphoria

He enthused about the opening of the Council on October 11, 1962.   That had been -- with a solemn procession of over 2,000 Conciliar Fathers -- a dazzling day:

"This was a moment of an extraordinary expectation.  Something great had to happen."

The Pope mentioned that John XXIII. (+1963) summoned the meeting, "without asserting its concrete problems or programs."

What is Modernity?

The Pope wrote about the progression of the work of the so-called XIIIth Schema, from the Pastoral Constitution "Gaudium et Spes" -- about the Church in the World of Today.

The Conciliar Fathers wanted to revise the "ambiguous" concept of "World of Today".  The goal of that had been to ascertain the relation of the Church to so-called modernity.

The Pope objected: "In order to clarify, it would have been necessary, to more precisely define the essential and constitutional elements."  Actually that was not successful in Schema XIII.

Benedict XVI. wrote that "Gaudium et Spes" allegedly accomplished more important expressions for the understanding of "world" and "important contributions to the question of the Christian ethic".  Actually this clarification in the nature of modernity has not been presented.

Benedict XVI. believed therefore that the encounter with the "great themes of modernity" had taken place in the highly controversial "declaration on religious freedom" and in "Nostra Aetate" --  to the documents on non-Christian religions.

Religion Was Left to the Area of the Subjective

For the "Declaration on Religious Freedom" the Holy Father wrote that the Conciliar Fathers  thought that the "teaching of tolerance, as it was initially developed by Pius XII., in view of the development of philosophical thought and the self-determination of modern states" was no longer sufficient.

It has become a freedom to choose a religion, to change and practice.

The Pope saw a difficulty in this, that "it could appear as if the modern statement on religious freedom presupposes the unapproachability of reality for people and restricts  the basis of religion in the area of the subjective."

The Problem Masked

The document on non-Christian religions, "Nostra Aetate",  is denoted by the Pope in all seriousness as "precise and extraordinarily compact".

At the same time he saw in the "in itself excellent text" a "weakness":

"The document speaks of religion only positively and ignores then the sick and distorted forms of religion, which historically and theologically are of great significance: the Christian faith was for that reason from beginning to the end and inside out also critical of religion."

Pius XII would not Recognize the Church

Finally, the Pope asserted that the Conciliar Fathers would not have wanted to create any other Church and -- supposedly --- also could not have created: "For that we have neither the power nor the mandate."

Because it can't be, what may not be, the Pope views "the hermeneutic of break" as absurd.  It is "against the Spirit and against the wills of the Conciliar Fathers."

All the same, it is a fact that Pius XII.  would not recognize, what remains of it, his Church.

Link to kreuz.net...

Today is the Anniversary of Summorum Pontificum and The Feast of the Holy Cross

Edit: Those of us who are Traditionalists wish to thank the Holy Father for the generous Motu Proprio related to the Immemorial Mass of All Ages. Today is not only the great feast of the Holy Cross, but it's also the anniversary of Summorum Pontificum:

Quaecumque vero a Nobis hisce Litteris Apostolicis Motu proprio datis decreta sunt, ea omnia firma ac rata esse et a die decima quarta Septembris huius anni, in festo Exaltationis Sanctae Crucis, servari iubemus, contrariis quibuslibet rebus non obstantibus 

We order that everything We have established with these Apostolic Letters issued as Motu Proprio be considered as "established and decreed", and to be observed from 14 September of this year, Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross, whatever there may be to the contrary.

A h/t goes to the Messa in Latino blog for the information... It clarifies that this legislation is superior to all others related to the Liturgy surrounding the Novus Ordo and would forbid such Calvinistic practices as Communion in the hand.

The Mass of All Ages:

Pope Smiles Upon Altar Girls and Women Priests?

Edit: earlier last year, the Holy Father was talking about ordaining women to the office of Reader. Cardinal George, last week, was apparently encouraging a woman that he would discuss the office of Deacon for women when he went to Rome.

This week, the Holy Father addresses a co-ed group of altar servers and disturbingly says, addressing both the boys and the girls present:

“And, if one day you feel called to follow the path to the priesthood or religious life, respond generously,” 

Fact: Diocese, parishes, Catholic religious societies, which don't have women serving on the altar during Mass are not in demographic free fall. There is no vocations crisis there.

As the Church continues to make concessions to the irrationality of the zeitgeist, She will continue to falter and be the willing victim of the media and their political masters. Wherever the Church resists these forces, like feminism, Marxism, and so forth, She is strong.

CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (CNS) -- Marking the feast of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, Pope Benedict XVI said Christians must not bow to the pressure of the powerful who demand a denial of Christ or of the truth he taught.

"The truth is the truth and there is no compromise," the pope said at his weekly general audience Aug. 29, the day the church remembers St. John the Baptist's beheading.

An estimated 2,500 people gathered in the town square just outside the papal summer villa in Castel Gandolfo for the main part of the pope's audience.
Link to CNS...

 H/t:: The oblivious Deacon's Bench...

Pope's Angelus Address: Comparing Judas to LCWR?

Edit: who could he be referring to in this passage?  He describes the Bread of Life narrative as many of His disciples follow him no more because they did not understand what he said accept in a "material sense",  few remain behind, for, as St. Peter affirms, "thou hast the words of eternal life".   There was another, easily comparable to certain parties within the Church today, who were less sincere than those who didn't believe and left and those who believed and stayed.  

There was one who stayed and did not believe, like the LCWR nuns.  It's difficult not to see in their refusal to be sincere "the mark of the devil":

Finally, Jesus knew that even among the twelve apostles there was one that did not believe: Judas. Judas could have left, as many of the disciples did; indeed, he would have left if he were honest. Instead he remained with Jesus. He did not remain because of faith, or because of love, but with the secret intention of taking vengeance on the Master. Why? Because Judas felt betrayed by Jesus, and decided that he in turn would betray Him. Judas was a Zealot, and wanted a triumphant Messiah, who would lead a revolt against the Romans. But Jesus had disappointed those expectations. The problem is that Judas did not go away, and his most serious fault was falsehood, which is the mark of the devil. This is why Jesus said to the Twelve: “One of you is a devil” (John 6.70). We pray to the Virgin Mary, help us to believe in Jesus, as St. Peter did, and to always be sincere with Him and with all people.

Link to the Angelus Address.... 

The Pope Chastises Liberal Priests

Will Pope Say Upcoming Pontifical High Mass in Rome?

(Rome)  The past five years the existing parishes, groups, societies and movements have shown themselves to be strongly alive.  The various traditional lay groups in Rome founded  the Coetus Internationalis Pro Summorum Pontificum. The first concrete accomplishment of Coetus Internationalis is the formation of an international pilgrimage of Tradition to Rome, which will take place during Pope Benedict XVI's proclaimed year of faith.  The public statement for the event has planned for the 10th of September.  The international pilgrimage of the Pro- Summorum Pontificum -- groups will conclude on the 3rd of November with a Pontifical High Mass in St. Peter's  Cathedral.

Pilgrimage and High Mass should be an expression of gratitude for the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum, and provide a large public for the classical form of the Roman Rite.  It is said in Coetus Internationalis, that a personal gesture is hoped for from Pope Benedict.  The unspoken hope for some is that the Pope himself will celebrate it himself for the first time as head of the Church.  It would in any case be the first High Mass in the old Roman Rite, that has been celebrated in St. Peter's Basilica.  On the 17th of May 2011, Cardinal Walter Brandmüller celebrated a Mass at an event for Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum in Rome. The German Cardinal didn't celebrate over the crypt of St. Peter, but at the altar behind St. Peter's chair.

According to internal Vatican statistics the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass said according to the Motu Proprio Summorum Pontificum is said in about 1,500 locations with the Old Mass. In addition there are also 700 Mass locations of the Priestly Society of St. Pius X which aren't included in the statistics.

The lay group which has brought life to the pilgrimage, Coetus Internationalis Pro Summorum Pontificum, belong to ...the Italian umbrella organization of Summorum Pontificum.

Link to katholisches....

Edit: also, Southern Orders thinks that a Papal Mass in the old Rite would be too complicated to pull off. There's some truth to this for we were told by a priest that it would require almost a year of planning to put together the event.

Vatican Leaks and the Dark Nights of Benedict XVI

"It is important to have friends around one's self"  

(Vatican)  He is called Luigi Martignani and is a Capuchin.  He is employed to the Investigation Committee of the Vatican State Secretariat, whose mission from the Pope should uncover the Vaticanleaks scandal.  What is meant are the confidential documents which have been skimmed from the Vatican and manipulated by the press.

Pope Benedict XVI has approached the incident not without concern.  From his circle much is hear that the Pope is very distraught over the document theft and the breach of trust associated with that which come from his closest associates.  At yesterday's lunch with the Cardinals, which the College of Cardinals gave in honor of his 85th birthday, he said these words not accidentally:  "It is important to have friends around you."  Then he continued:  "In my life I have experienced wonderful times, but also dark nights.  Even the nights were necessary, and today, surrounded by Cadinals, my friends, I feel myself sure in this company.  The evil will master the world, and does this either through violence or by presenting itself as good.  In this manner, it destroys the moral foundation of society."

Margignani must operate on another level.  He is the operative arm of Cardinals Herrnaz, Tomko and De Giorgi, who are directing the investigation.  Their mission is to find out who the person responsible for the theft of documents is, whom Journalist Nuzzi has given the code name "Maria" in his tell all book.  The journalist insists, that behind this is not only one person, rather several.  In the Vatican ne suspects that behind this statement by Nuzzi is a distraction in order to protect his informant.

The figure of the secret traitor is naturally a no recent occurrence.  Every Pontificate had its leak.  The deceased Doyen of Vaticanistas, Benny Lai wrote many times in his Vatican diaries about this.  For the most part it was the doing of one person within the Leonine walls who's been allotted "strong protection", which can be so strong, that even when he himself is unseen, it is not said that he can be far from his post.  Lai maintains that for the collection of information he relied on all imaginable methods available. "We ourselves paid 10,000 Lire every month to Riccardo Galeazzi Lisi for that reason, ( Lisi was the doctor of Pius XII)  so that he could inform us about the course of the Pope's health."   As Pius XII discovered that Galeazzi Lisi betrayed him, he did not dismiss him, but said, "If he wants to remain in the Vatican, he should stay, but arrange for it so that I will no longer see him",  said the Pope.  And the corrupt Archiatros thanked him not, rather arranged to take photos of the dying Pope with a hidden mini-camera.

The history must be repeated, however.  The mole of 2012 can at least not count on that.  He is not in any case shut out, that even he, once detected, will stay in his position.  Even with his improvised camouflage he will be discovered.  The Vatican Gendarmes have already made their investigation. The mole had access to the archives of the State Secretariat and that the part in which Msgr Gänswein, the private secretary of Pope,  which correspondence addressed  to himself and the pope was filed after their dispatch. The circle of people is very small.

Text: Palazzo Apostolico/Giuseppe Nardi
Bild: Palazzo Apostolico
Trans: Tancred

Link to original, katholisches...

Cardinal Cottier Sees the Anger of Satan in Vaticanleaks

As regards self-destructive powers in the Church and in the Vatican:  Satan is angry, because the Church is alive. A further chapter of "Vatican Leaks" turns. by Armin Schwibach

Rome (kath.net/as)  "Benedict XVI is the structural pillar":  the newspaper of the Italian Bishops' Conference, "Avvenire" entitled its interview on the 21st of February with the former theologian of the Papal House, George Cardinal Cottier (90).  In his address before the Consistory last week the Cardinal expressed himself on the most recent scandal in the wake of "leaks", through a confidential document from various posts of the Roman Curia were to the outside.


Although it seemed that the problems were solved primarily by the security services of the Vatican, the problem and those responsible have been identified, and the story of "Vatican Leaks" will have a sequen this Wednesday on the 22nd of February.  The TV channel "La7", which three weeks ago had broken the story of a letter with revelations of the former Secretary of the Governorate of the Vatican City State, and today's Nuncio to the United States, Carlo Maria Vigano', and his criticism of "corruptoin", he ascribed in the Vatican, will now interview one of the moles in the Vatican.


As far as this, the mole has also to disclose the motives of the "spies" and their number, which is given  in total about 20. What is clearly brought to the fore is that this is not the result of a "media campaign" but that the colleagues of the Pope in the Curia break their oaths of office and wage their own campaigns in the media.[!]  Why is this happening?  From anger or tedium, this is what the "mole" says in an interview with the show "Gli INtoccabili" (The Untouchables).


Probably it goes perhaps something more of what Cardinal Cottier pointed out in his interview with "Avvenire".  Benedict XVI does not allow himself to be daunted by the thunder storm and flood, which has the intention to shake the Church, because: he knows that the foundation will outlast the superficiality of this aspect.  Cottier had already considered the events of the last weeks during the days of the Consistorium and has contended with other Cardinals about it.


On this he has observed that he had not been the only one to have had these thoughts:  "In the past travails around the Church the work of Satan can be seen.  In the sense:  If the Church were only asleep in mediocrity or only concerned with intrigues and rivalries, the devil would not have much to do with it.  If he is interested in causing much disruption, that means that there is a vitaility in the Church, which Satan wants to oppose.  And this vitality is the power of the Faith, it is the Christian life, which advances all over the world these days."


Link to original...kath.net...

Holy Father Recalls Dietrich Hildebrand's Warning About False Irenicism

Pope Benedict XVI delivers the Urbi et Orbi (to the city and to the world) Christmas Day message from the central balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, on December 25, 2011. In his traditional Christmas Day message, Pope Benedict XVI urged the faithful to seek a "spiritual union" with the less fortunate around the world. UPI/Stefano Spaziani 


VATICAN CITY, Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Pope Benedict XVI said Friday at the Vatican the world faces a crisis of faith and warned against indifference to doctrine in the name of religious unity. "Today we see a number of good results caused by ecumenical dialogue, but we must also recognize that the risk of a false Irenism and indifference, quite alien to the mind of Vatican II, demands our vigilance," the spiritual leader of the world's Roman Catholics said Friday at a meeting of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. Irenism was an ideology conceived by Dutch theologian Erasmus that sought to mediate differences between Protestants and Catholics, the Italian news agency ANSA said.

 Read more: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/01/27/Pope-warns-Catholics-to-hold-to-doctrine/UPI-62381327700909/#ixzz1kihInKM8

Edit: A few may remember the words of Dietrich Hildebrand on False Irenicism.  It's clear that the Holy Father does.

"False irenicism is motivated by a misconceived charity at the service of a meaningless unity. It places unity above truth. Having severed the essential link between charity and defense of the truth, irenicism is more concerned with reaching a unity with all men than with leading them to Christ and His eternal truth. It ignores the fact that real unity can be reached only in truth. Our Lord’s prayer ‘that they may be one’ implies being one in Him and must not be separated from His words in John: ‘And other sheep I have that are not of this fold. Them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice. And there shall be one fold and one shepherd.’"

Holy Father Saying Mass Ad Orientem: Video

Edit: was over at the Accion Liturgica blog thanking them and I was attracted for some reason to a site in their blogroll.  It was Hoc Signo where I picked up this beautiful footage of the Holy Father saying a High Mass in the Sistine Chapel ad orientem [facing God in the tabernacle to the east]. He is celebrating the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, which is in the New Calendar, last Sunday.  This is something that we never imagined even in our most beautiful dreams of the Holy Father offering Mass with such gravitas and piety.

The choir is magnificent.

The visual quality improves significantly, so be patient or fast forward.

Like Every Priest, He Faithfully Prays His Breviary

Edit: his breviary is located to the side and it looks like he takes time away from his work to make sure that he prays the hour.

News Updates: Bishop Willimason Stops Appeal Process

Montag, 4. Juli 2011 08:08:02

Pope on the Environment

Vatican. In the poor lands in people suffer material need. In the wealthy regions people are dissatisfied and depressed. Pope Benedict XVI said this at yesterday's Angelus Prayer. With reference to the environment -- not perhaps on abortion -- he lamented, "the aggressive character of destruction, with which the last century has been dominated."

Three New Priests for the Immemorial Mass of All Ages

Germany, on Saturday, Jean-Pierre Ricard of Bordeaux blessed three Deacons for the Priestly Society of St. Peter in the Immemorial Rite as Priests. This was according to the site, 'kath-info.de'. The three new priests are Father Clément Darmet from Tarare near Lyon, Father Guilhem de Labarre from Bordeaux and Father Martin Micheal Klein from Cologne.

Hero Bishop isn't Coming to the Show Trial

German. On Saturday, the manager of the e-mail column of Bishop Richard Williamson, Nicholas Wansbutter, is to stop his appeal in muzzled Germany. The German media reported on it yesterday. Actually, Wansbutter published an disclaimer. Bishop Williamson has been at Ecône in Switzerland for the priestly ordinations last weekend.

From kreuz.net...

The Eucharist -- The Way For the Renewal of the World

Benedict XVI celebrated Corpus Christi in the Lateran Basilica.  Christendom:  the patient and pious logic of love.

Rome (kath.net/as) The Eucharist brings man to Jesus, who in the traces of Christ are capable, to give to one another, and to become a tool of the unity of the human family. This was said by Pope Benedict XVI in his sermon at the Holy Mass of Corpus Christi in the Papal Basilica and Bishops' Church of Rome, St. John Lateran. After the service there was a large crowd of people participating in the Pope's traditional Procession, which concluded with a Eucharistic blessing at the Basilica of St. Maria Maggiore.

In the Eucharist is the complete transformation of the fruits of the earth -- bread and wine -- with the goal, to transform the lives of men and in this way to begin to transform the world, says the Pope, who invited thereon, to think about the mystery of Christ, who through His self-donation on the Cross saved the world and showed the way of salvation.

Everything takes its beginning with the heart of Christ, who thanked and offered God at the Last Super and transformed the meaning of death with the power of his love. From love, Christ took the suffering to death on the Cross and transformed it with an act of giving. This transformation, which the world needs, there it saves it from within, opens it to the dimension of the Kingdom of Heaven. Actually God wants to make this renewal real in the same way for the world, to which Christ is come: "through the way, which Christ is".

For the same reason, God handed over to the world the gift of the Eucharist, to offer the possibility of salvation for every person: "In Christendom it is nothing magic. There are no short cuts", says Benedict XVI., "everything is accomplished by the pious and patient logic of Faith, by which the gentle power of God moves mountains."

For that reason, "God will proceed to renew humanity in history and the Cosmos freeing him from these chains, Whose Sacrament is the Eucharist. Through the consecrated bread and the consecrated wine, in which is body and blood are present, Christ transforms us, so that we are made like Him: he encloses us in his work of salvation and makes us capable through the Grace of the Holy Ghost, to correspond to his logic of the gift to live, as grains of wheat, which are joined to Him and in Him". In this manner these are sewn and ripened in the furrows of history in unity and peace, "which is the goal, to which we are striving after the plan of God."

In order to understand the dynamic of eucharistic Communion, Benedict XVI explained the absolute division from the "Confessions" (VII,10,18) of St. Augustine, as he reported a manner of vision, in which Jesus said to him: "I am the food of grown men, and you shall feed upon me. You will not change me, as the meal is to the body, rather you will be changed as you are transformed into Me."

In the Eucharistic Commuion "we are transformed by Christ Himself, in this manner our individuality is open, freed of its egoism and bound with the person of Christ." So the Eucharist opens man even for others and overcomes all separation.

Whoever recognizes Jesus in the Host, "perceives him also in the brother, who suffers, who hungers and thirsts, the alien, naked, sick and imprisoned; and so recognizes every man; he establishes a concrete way for all in one, who are in need". For that reason the gift of the life of Christ a special responsibility of Christian for the building of solidarity, rights, brotherly society: "especially in our time, in the globalization of a larger interdependence, with which Christendom must be concerned, that this unity can not exist without God, that is to say can not be built without true love."

The Gospel is always a goal toward the unity of the human family, "proceeding from the meaning for mutual responsibility, which we recognize in the limits of our bodies, the body of Christ, which we have learned in the Sacrament of the Altar and continue to learn that the common part, that love is the way of true justice."

Link to Kathnet...here..

H/t: priest's secretary...

Holy Father: "Catholicism is Impossible Without Mary"

Vatikan. Yesterday the Pope received a twenty member delegation of the Marian Congregation for men from Regensburg. The Pope reminisced that seventy years before he joined this Congregation as a fourteen-year old - he said in his speech: „We were taken up to the Congregation, but immediately after that the war began against Russia, then the Seminar was scattered and the Kongregation had been scattered to the four winds. “It was, however, made clear to them, „that Catholicism without Mary's meditation cannot be“.

Link to kreuz.net....

Holy Father in Venice: True Love Defends the Truth

Vatican: Yesterday Pope Benedict XVI celebrated Mass in Mestre by Venice. 300.000 faithful and those eager to see him came to the event held in the open air. The Pope warned in his sermon of a hollowing out of the Faith. The Church must courageously defend the Faith and the unity of the Church. The Holy Father journeyed to Mestre and back to Venice via motorboat.

Link to original...

Pope Plans on Using Assisi to Attack Relativism, Says Protestant Theologian

Editor: A protestant theologian who enjoys the Pope's confidence shares the misgivings of many over the Assisi conference. He receives assurances from the Pope.  It seems as though this Pope is finding himself saying those amazing kinds of things on the lips of the first fisherman, "Lord, you have the words of eternal life, where else would we go?"

Pope Permits Criticism of Assisi

Benedict XVI. insists he will point to "Jesus Christ as the only son of God and unmistakable savior".

(kreuz.net) The initiative for the October Asssisi Meeting is "clearly not coming from the Pope".

This was according to the protestant theologian of missions, Peter Beyerhaus [82] for the Catholic monthly 'Kirchliche Umschau'.

Beyherhaus mentions a personal letter of March 4, which he received from Pope Benedict XVI.

Actually, Beyerhaus was critical that the Pope said that he considers the meeting "as obligatory".

Benedict XVI explained in a private letter that he wants to "control the direction of the whole and do everything therefore to make the syncretistic or relativistic progress of the event an impossibility."

At the same time the Pope expressed to the professor, a public response on the Assisi event.

He requested that Beyerhaus, therefore honor his trust "that the Pope stands upon that, what his office is understood as being -- that is, to strengthen his brothers in faith and recognize Jesus Christ as the only son of God and savior and admit it unmistakeably."

The German website of the Society of Pius X speculated about the possible reason for the third Assisi- horror.

The Old Liberal Roman Community 'Saint Egidio', which has organized Assisi as an inter-religious meeting, has "substantial financial resources".

The commentary on the web pages warns that the Church is not moved by lobbyism.

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Editor: This brings to mind the comment heard during the Vatican Council from our present Pope that, 'we need more Luther and less Chardin'. Despite his efforts to extend a hand, and fight relativism at the same time, his efforts are not appreciated by those he seems most eager to help, like the present Lutheran "Bishop" of Brandenberg.

The Pope Will Bless the Protestantic Way of Error

Germany. On his trip to Germany the Pope will "clearly" say, "what was positive that came from the reformation for Chirstendom: namely the concentration upon Christ and the Bible, the freedom of thought and the recognition of the reform ability of the Church." That is what the protestant "Bishop" of Brandenburg, Markus Droge promoted in his interview with the 'Markische Allgemeine'. So long as the Church doesn't recognize Protestantism as "a church in its own sense", the "Bishop" doesn't see any possibility for meaningful new developments in ecumenism.

Translated from little kreuz updates...