FROM SCOTT HAHN Facebook Page -
"For decades, Benedict has preferred a highly biblical language and reflected deeply upon Holy Scripture, far more fully than Catholics characteristically do.
Benedict may carry in his mind more erudition about more eras of history and more cultures than all but a handful of others on earth. But in his writings on the life of Christ, he writes for you and me, not the experts.
The pope's scholarly writings have been planted like time bombs in the history of the next two generations, or more. They will keep exploding with light as readers slowly think them through.
In 1992, Josef Ratzinger was elected to the French Academy as the successor of Russian nuclear physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov. In 2004 Ratzinger debated the most public atheist philosopher in Europe, Jürgen Habermas, in Munich. To the surprise of many onlookers, most critics gave higher marks to Ratzinger in that courteous, respectful, and unsparing give-and-take.
Cardinal Ratzinger and John Paul II were like brothers. They reserved time on Friday afternoons to go deeply into theology and the situation of the church now and in the future. My friends in Rome tell me that, powerfully popular as Pope John Paul II was among the people, Benedict - by his shyness, diffidence, and respect for others - quickly became even more so.
The church in the near future is going to sail through very heavy and often antagonistic waters. It will probably continue to shed many members in the more developed, more pagan, more progressive nations. But on the great sea of humanity, these nations are few, dispirited, and losing influence. In the expanses of Africa and Asia, especially China, thirsty souls are coming eagerly to drink of the cool waters of quiet truths, by the millions.
Benedict has helped deepen the wells from which to take their fill."
Excerpts from Michael Novak, "Benedict: The Quiet Pope, the Scholar"
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/catholic_stories/cs0590.htm
Benedict may carry in his mind more erudition about more eras of history and more cultures than all but a handful of others on earth. But in his writings on the life of Christ, he writes for you and me, not the experts.
The pope's scholarly writings have been planted like time bombs in the history of the next two generations, or more. They will keep exploding with light as readers slowly think them through.
In 1992, Josef Ratzinger was elected to the French Academy as the successor of Russian nuclear physicist and human rights activist Andrei Sakharov. In 2004 Ratzinger debated the most public atheist philosopher in Europe, Jürgen Habermas, in Munich. To the surprise of many onlookers, most critics gave higher marks to Ratzinger in that courteous, respectful, and unsparing give-and-take.
Cardinal Ratzinger and John Paul II were like brothers. They reserved time on Friday afternoons to go deeply into theology and the situation of the church now and in the future. My friends in Rome tell me that, powerfully popular as Pope John Paul II was among the people, Benedict - by his shyness, diffidence, and respect for others - quickly became even more so.
The church in the near future is going to sail through very heavy and often antagonistic waters. It will probably continue to shed many members in the more developed, more pagan, more progressive nations. But on the great sea of humanity, these nations are few, dispirited, and losing influence. In the expanses of Africa and Asia, especially China, thirsty souls are coming eagerly to drink of the cool waters of quiet truths, by the millions.
Benedict has helped deepen the wells from which to take their fill."
Excerpts from Michael Novak, "Benedict: The Quiet Pope, the Scholar"
http://www.catholiceducation.org/articles/catholic_stories/cs0590.htm
2 comments:
Very interesting and true!
This was a really nice post. Nothing over the top or too eloquent. Just nice. Thanks.
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