I mentioned before of a startling vision my dear and very holy friend who died two years ago had of Rome. A priest sitting nearby at the same conference had the same vision. Prelates carousing in all manner of excess in one group and other priests dressed like pilgrims in dark garments prostrate in prayer on the stones of St Peter's and a conflagration growing closer and closer. The jolly partying prelates were clueless. She said the dread that came over her was terrifying. The priest (whom she did not know but realized by the horror on his face that he had seen the same thing)confirmed her vision in every detail.
Putin praises Benedict as 'defender of traditional Christian values' https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/0...t-as-defender-of-traditional-christian-values
perhaps the pope emeritus' prayers of intercession were what prevented divine intervention from descending on Rome (in its apostasy), within 9 months we will see the synod that can consolidate the abomination of desolation within the Holy Church; and perhaps the third secret unfolds before our eyes.
This makes a lot of sense. I think he may well have been the equivalent of Abraham's "10 good men" who could have saved Sodom.
“Jesus, ich liebe dich!” Jesus, I love you. These were the final words that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI uttered before he died, a powerful final expression of love and faith. The news was first reported by Elisabetta Piqué (my wife), the Rome correspondent, in La Nación, the Argentine daily, which published it online this evening.” https://www.americamagazine.org/voices/gerard-oconnell
Funerals can often be a time of Crisis for families. A time of stopping talking and rows. https://www.crisismagazine.com/opinion/a-storm-is-coming-when-benedict-dies A Storm Is Coming When Benedict Dies Benedict is like the oldest living member of the family, a relic from another era who represents a lost generation in a time where all the sons of the family view the past as the greatest enemy. Kennedy Hall Perhaps you can relate to the following scenario. It is often the case that families are dysfunctional, even if well-intentioned and not altogether bad. But, fallen human nature being what it is, the relationships between siblings and relatives are complex and often contentious. Never is this dysfunction more apparent than during a crisis (which is why so many families suffered from deeper dysfunction when the cult of 2020 began). One of those times of great crisis for a family is when the patriarch of the family is set to die. When the patriarch is set to die, it means that a whole era of history is set to die with him, which is, of course, very sad. In addition to the sadness of losing the leader of the family, there is the added reality that, when he dies, it will be necessary to divvy up the inheritance—if there is any—and handle the affairs. In the best of scenarios, everything is taken care of in an airtight fashion with no room for backstabbing and politicking by greedy siblings. However, when there is confusion about the role of the executor, or if there is more than one executor, then unless the dysfunctional family is suddenly imbibed with an overflow of fraternal charity, the family will likely crumble to pieces after the patriarch is gone. That rebellious and absentee sister who magically reappeared to spend time beside Dad when he was dying—worried he would forget to leave her some cash if she didn’t—is ruthless when her inheritance is at stake. That brother who has sullied his dad’s legacy is all too eager to step into the role of leader, even though he has the spine of a mollusk. And poor mom is heartbroken and in no place to deal with her bratty, grown-up children, let alone the guilt of realizing she raised them that way. Needless to say, after Dad passes on, what is left in his wake is a storm of epic proportions that rips the family to pieces. This is what—I believe—will happen after Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI dies. The Church can be compared to many things, and one of those things is a family. And the fictitious family we just considered could also be called the Roman Curia. Although Benedict is “Pope Emeritus,” he still is in many ways the patriarch of the Church. Confusion about this era of two men dressed in white notwithstanding, Benedict is like the oldest living member of the family, a relic from another era who represents a lost generation in a time where all the sons of the family view the past as the greatest enemy. Now, before I continue, I believe it is necessary to speak honestly about Pope Benedict; but, at the same time, there is no sense in being overly polemical, especially given the sensitive nature of the end of a man’s life. That being said, it must be considered that Pope Benedict—no matter how well-intentioned—is more like the father of that dysfunctional family we described than not. What I mean to say is that it is entirely possible that he is, in many respects, a good man—even a great man in some ways—while, at the same time, he was without the ability or willingness to fix the deep dysfunction in the family he inherited. I am not saying that one man, even the pope, could single-handedly defeat the decades-old modernist onslaught in the Church. But if I were to think of a pope in a similar situation—namely Pope St. Pius X—it must be admitted that there were stricter and more effective measures that could have been implemented. Remember, he knew all too well how bad things were. He told us, upon his election, to pray for him that he “may not flee for fear of the wolves.” Benedict knew there were wolfish hirelings masquerading as shepherds; and ultimately, it seems, he was not able to withstand their attacks. I understand that partisans of Benedict might be uneasy to hear him spoken of as if he failed in any capacity, but it is simply a fact that he told us he was worried about fleeing, then he ultimately fled. Benedict is a paradoxical pope, to say the least. Some of his actions and theological writings make him seem like a champion for Tradition. At the same time, some of his works—especially his earlier ones—look like they could have been ghostwritten by Teilhard de Chardin. He is the pope who liberated the Latin Mass; but he is also the pope who didn’t do enough to ensure the Latin Mass couldn’t be supressed by his successor. Personally, I believe that Benedict’s presence in Rome—even if passive and symbolic—has acted as a sort of stopgap against the worst onslaughts of neo-modernism set to be unleashed after his death. As long as he is alive and wearing white, he is like the dying patriarch that his progeny largely despises but to whom at least a bit of honor must be feigned for matters of decorum. When he dies—which will likely happen very soon—all honor and decorum will be a thing of the past. If there is any inclination in Modernist Rome to play nice a bit with Tradition and theological orthodoxy for the sake of a ceremonial hat-tip to the failed experiment of the hermeneutic of continuity, this will be gone when Benedict is gone. When Papa Emeritus is deceased, any faint glimmer of a pre-conciliar era will be officially gone, and the dysfunction inherent in the fraternity of the Church’s hierarchy will be—I believe—on full display. And just like in a dysfunctional family after the death of the patriarch, I imagine there will be numerous spats and splits to follow. Brace yourself.
It seems that even Pope Francis see’s this to based upon part of his homily today when refereeing to Pope Benedict; “Only God knows the value and the power of his intercession, of the sacrifices he offered for the good of the Church.”
From our young, curate, a good and holy priest: “Happy New year Joe, prayers for papa benedict” Such a moving example of the father-son friendship so many priests feel for Benedict. “Papa Benedict” says it all.
EWTN did a Mass for the repose of the soul of the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and will have another one at 8 am. ET tomorrow. They will have a live Holy Hour for the repose of his soul at 3 pm eastern time zone today. Watch Live: EWTN Livestream 24/7 Catholic TV | EWTN
I never knew this was Pope Benedict’s reason for wearing red shoes! Almost prophetic as I do believe he suffered a white martyrdom during and after his Pontificate https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/253209/the-story-behind-pope-benedict-xvi-s-red-shoes
May he Rest in Peace and Rise in Glory. A Great Theologian, a lover and promoter of Catholic Tradition and the TLM, through Summorum Pontificum and Universae Ecclesiae he did more than anyone else to help the Church recover from this Crisis imo. God rest his Good Soul and thanks be to God for Papa Benedict's holy life.
I keep thinking , the last few days of Pope Benedict's , 'Last Testament' and his humility in speaking of his own knowledge of his own failures and failings. He mentioned the same thing when he retired. It reminds me of the words of St Paul , that we work out our own Salvation , 'In fear and trembling'. Philippians 2:12-13 “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. “Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. When Popes are elected they go into a little room to put on the white for the first time. This is called, 'The room of tears', because habitually the new Popes cry their eyes out in there. Why do they cry? Because they know they will have to give a Great account than the rest of us. They will be Stewards of God's Church and when they have to hand the Keys of Peter back over at the end of their lives they will have to give a much greater accounting for, 'To those to whom much has been given, much will be expected'. I love it that Pope Benedict was so aware of this. But most of all I love his last words, 'My Jesus I love thee' . Which show a very warm friendly, loving relationship with Jesus better than anything. I also loved his thoughts of heaven. That it would be like going back again to his childhood in Bavaria when he knew so much unconditional love. That it would be a going home. It reminds me of the words of Jesus: Matthew 18:2-4 2 He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them. 3 And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4 Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
The interpretation of St. Malacy's prophecies remains controversial, prophecies can unfortunately only be verified after they have come true But I had to check again - the lightning strike in St. Peter's dome was actually on the day Pope Benedict announced his resignation. That was certainly not meaningless.
