Points to Ponder:
"If I say that I am a Catholic, I go to Mass every Sunday but then I don't talk to my parents, I don't assist my grandparents, I don't assist the poor, I don't go to see the sick, so it's not a testimony, it's no use...
So one is no other than Christian parrot, words, words, words, who knows if you will remember that song. Christian witness is done with three things: the word, the heart, the hands." [Pope Francis (circa January 16, 2017)]
Monday, December 16, 2019
I found it interesting that on the anniversary of one of my personal favourites from the old web essay writing days{1} is an article that treats to a certain extent on the same subject that work went over; namely, the subject of authentic dialogue. Without further ado...
Pope Francis wants the world to know about his Jesuit spiritual director
Here is just a taste to whet the appetite a bit...
"...He said he first came to know Father Fiorito in 1961 after returning from his Juniorate in Chile. At that time, he was a professor of metaphysics at the Colegio Massimo, the Jesuit house of formation on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, but he gradually began to dedicate himself totally to spirituality and the giving of the Spiritual Exercises.
'From then on, I began to confide in him, he became my spiritual director,' Francis stated. He described Fiorito as 'a man who spoke little, but had a great capacity for listening, a listening [that is] capable of discernment, which is one of the pillars of dialogue.'..."
Note:
{1} I refer to the essay titled On the Intricacies of Dialogue -A Commentary published sixteen years ago today.
Pope Francis wants the world to know about his Jesuit spiritual director
Here is just a taste to whet the appetite a bit...
"...He said he first came to know Father Fiorito in 1961 after returning from his Juniorate in Chile. At that time, he was a professor of metaphysics at the Colegio Massimo, the Jesuit house of formation on the outskirts of Buenos Aires, but he gradually began to dedicate himself totally to spirituality and the giving of the Spiritual Exercises.
'From then on, I began to confide in him, he became my spiritual director,' Francis stated. He described Fiorito as 'a man who spoke little, but had a great capacity for listening, a listening [that is] capable of discernment, which is one of the pillars of dialogue.'..."
Note:
{1} I refer to the essay titled On the Intricacies of Dialogue -A Commentary published sixteen years ago today.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Points to Ponder:
(On Bad Priests)
"[It] is my intention that they be held in due reverence, not for what they are in themselves, but for my sake, because of the authority I have given them. Therefore the virtuous must not lessen their reverence, even should these ministers fall short in virtue. And, as far as the virtues of my ministers are concerned, I have described them for you by setting them before you as stewards of... my Son's body and blood and of the other sacraments. This dignity belongs to all who are appointed as such stewards, to the bad as well as to the good.
...[Because] of their virtue and because of their sacramental dignity you ought to love them. And you ought to hate the sins of those who live evil lives. But you may not for all that set ourselves up as their judges; this is not my will because they are my Christ's, and you ought to love and reverence the authority I have given them.
You know well enough that if someone filthy or poorly dressed were to offer you a great treasure that would give you life, you would not disdain the bearer for love of the treasure, and the lord who had sent it, even though the bearer was ragged and filthy... You ought to despise and hate the ministers' sins and try to dress them in the clothes of charity and holy prayer and wash away their filth with your tears.
Indeed, I have appointed them and given them to you to be angels on earth and suns, as I have told you. When they are less than that you ought to pray for them. But you are not to judge them. Leave the judging to me, and I, because of your prayers and my own desire, will be merciful to them." [Catherine of Siena: From The Dialogue (circa 1378) translated by Suzanne Noffke, O.P., New York: Paulist Press, 1980, pp. 229-231]
(On Bad Priests)
"[It] is my intention that they be held in due reverence, not for what they are in themselves, but for my sake, because of the authority I have given them. Therefore the virtuous must not lessen their reverence, even should these ministers fall short in virtue. And, as far as the virtues of my ministers are concerned, I have described them for you by setting them before you as stewards of... my Son's body and blood and of the other sacraments. This dignity belongs to all who are appointed as such stewards, to the bad as well as to the good.
...[Because] of their virtue and because of their sacramental dignity you ought to love them. And you ought to hate the sins of those who live evil lives. But you may not for all that set ourselves up as their judges; this is not my will because they are my Christ's, and you ought to love and reverence the authority I have given them.
You know well enough that if someone filthy or poorly dressed were to offer you a great treasure that would give you life, you would not disdain the bearer for love of the treasure, and the lord who had sent it, even though the bearer was ragged and filthy... You ought to despise and hate the ministers' sins and try to dress them in the clothes of charity and holy prayer and wash away their filth with your tears.
Indeed, I have appointed them and given them to you to be angels on earth and suns, as I have told you. When they are less than that you ought to pray for them. But you are not to judge them. Leave the judging to me, and I, because of your prayers and my own desire, will be merciful to them." [Catherine of Siena: From The Dialogue (circa 1378) translated by Suzanne Noffke, O.P., New York: Paulist Press, 1980, pp. 229-231]
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