I've been formulating a post for a while but I spent the weekend slightly obsessed with watching all the Pope's Visit video. A couple of things surprised me:
1. The absolute vitriol directed against Catholics. It's kind of scary. I was just so upset to see people holding up signs against priests. I even formulated an imaginary confrontation for if I ever run into protesters who paint all priests as "evil". Basically walking up and demanding, "How Dare You?!" How dare you slander all priests like that. There have been people shown to be lying about abuse. Seriously. So, that means we should look at all victims as liars. Right? Because by painting all priests as abusers/molesters that's what you'r saying. What a load of crap. I've known amazing priests who are so hurt by that kind of accusation.
Then of course, there are people who bring up the selling of indulgences, the inquisition, the crusades et al. , C'mon seriously??
2. Then there are the whiners on EWTN. God Bless Mother Angelica but really, does she need Raymond Arroyo (who I admit I am not a fan of) whining for her? Apparently Mr. Arroyo and his co-host priest (whose name escapes me) were informed that Tim Russert (NBC), and Wolf Blitzer, and John King (I think) of CNN were included in a 10 person audience with Pope BXVI and got blessed medals. Hey...uhm....Raymond and others if you're such good Catholics than you know:
Jealousy
Jealousy is here taken to be synonymous with envy. It is defined to be a sorrow which one entertains at another's well-being because of a view that one's own excellence is in consequence lessened. Its distinctive malice comes from the opposition it implies to the supreme virtue of charity. The law of love constrains us to rejoice rather than to be distressed at the good fortune of our neighbour. Besides, such an attitude is a direct contradiction of the spirit of solidarity which ought to characterize the human race and, especially, the members of the Christian community. The envious man tortures himself without cause, morbidly holding as he does, the success of another to constitute an evil for himself. The sin, in so far as it defies the great precept of charity, is in general grievous, although on account of the trifling matter involved, as well as because of the lack of deliberation, it is often reputed to be venial. Jealousy is most evil when one repines at another's spiritual good. It is then said to be a sin against the Holy Ghost. It is likewise called a capital sin because of the other vices it begets. Among its progeny St. Thomas (II-II:36) enumerates hatred, detraction, rejoicing over the misfortunes of one's fellow, and whispering. Regret at another's success is not always jealousy. The motive has to be scrutinized. If, for instance, I feel sorrow at the news of another's promotion or rise to wealth, either because I know that he does not deserve his accession of good fortune, or because I have founded reason to fear he will use it to injure me or others, my attitude, provided that there is no excess in my sentiment, is entirely rational. Then, too, it may happen that I do not, properly speaking, begrudge my neighbour his happier codition, but simply am grieved that I have not imitated him. Thus if the subject-matter be praiseworthy, I shall be not jealous but rather laudably emulous. Taken from here
So I very much enjoyed much of the Holy Father's homilies (even if I'm still not sure about him). I have great respect for an 81 year-old man who continues on with as packed a schedule as his was last week.
This was a bit longer than I anticipated. I'm going to watch my guy on The Daily Show and go to bed. I'll continue to formulate the post that I really want to put up.
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