Saturday, March 29, 2014

Have Pity on a Broken Man


"Who is speaking to you? A poor man, a phenomenon of smallness.
I tremble, my brethren and children. I tremble because I am feeling
things so to say that are immensely larger than I am.... But I am
the successor of St. Peter. Accept me. Do not despise me. I am
the Vicar of Christ."—November 11, 1973 at the Lateran Cathedral

6 comments:

  1. Did the real Pope Paul escape from the Vatican dungeons and speak these words, or did you type the wrong date?

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    Replies
    1. Oops, fixed!

      Perhaps Pope Siri would find my mistake distasteful, too!

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    2. Sorry, but I don't understand what you mean...

      Kyrie eleison

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    3. SMN was referencing a conspiracy theory that posits the "real" Pope Paul was kidnapped and replaced by a duplicate who had different ears and a different nose. I countered with a reference to the "Siri thesis," a load of bollocks which suggests Cardinal Siri of Genoa was elected Pope in 1958 and 1963 only to be thwarted by the violent forces behind John XXIII and Paul VI.

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    4. Yes, I had understand that. I meant why had you posted that papal homily. Was it a warning against that conspiracy theories, or just a request for remembering and prayer for him? I have surely misunderstood your message.

      Kyrie eleison

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    5. The context of this homily was addressing that 33% of priests had left the priesthood and Mass attendance dropped in half since he was elected Pope a decade earlier. Despite being the man who finalized the Pian revolution I think Montini was haunted by his conscience and at the end was very sorry. Rather than harbor anger toward him we ought to pity him and pray for his soul.

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