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Sunday, April 20. 2008

Attended Mass today

The Pope's Mass, at Yankee Stadium, via the miracle of TV. Wonderful.

For us Protestants, it is always a wonder and a privilege to experience a formal RC Mass, and Benedict's homily about obedience was simple, and just right. Benedict is an evangelist.

Posted by Bird Dog at 21:01 | Comments (19) | Trackbacks (0)

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As a former protestant I can tell you that it is that much more wonderful to actually take part in the Mass in full communion with the Church. I've never, ever experienced the deep emotional connection at a protestant service that I do when holding hands with a stranger and reciting the Lord's Prayer, slowly, thoughtfully, reverantly. Many times and unexpectadly I will experience a deep emotional movement which will bring tears...I believe it is the experience of the Holy Spirit touching my sould. I'm not very emotional by nature and almost never cry about anything. Along with asking my wife to marry me, converting to the Catholic faith is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
#1 Phil G on 2008-04-20 21:28 (Reply)
The RCs are definitely on the come-back. The scandals were bad, but, you know, it was people, not the church, that did wrong. The church by its nature is open to people, and some bad ones took advantage. I'm glad the RCs are coming out stronger and better on the other side of this trial by fire. Having two great popes has sure helped.

I note that FoxNews (honored be its name) covered this papal visit in near real-time for three days -- i mean, hours and hours, with their top news peo-ple on board. Something is happening here -- i think Fox has deliberately flooded the world--and its radical Islamist corners-- with imagery of joyous Christians celebrating hope and the sanctity of life, and i think, from the pope's Regensburg speeech, followed by his trip to Turkey when the jihadis were threatening his life and a world explosion if he came, followed by Bin Laden now specifically accusing the pope of launching a crusade, followed by Bush meeting this pope on the tarmac at Edwards AFB which he has not done for anybody during near 8 years in office, is spelling out one great big battle being deliberately fought in defense of Europe, and the west, and the free world, by this pope. It's like, history all over again, as when Suleyman the Magnificent was at the gates of Christendom, and a warrior pope defended his flock.

I'm not RC, but i'm giving 'em three cheers and all the attaboys i've got in me.
#2 buddy larsen on 2008-04-21 00:43 (Reply)
Buddy,

I thought the same thing about Fox. I was delighted, obviously, for the reasons you state, but also for myself as my attitude about the church has not been good. Being able to see his visit unfold with the coverage, I had a change of heart. I'm glad, too.

Now, if all people of faith could be as humble and accepting as the Pope, I might change my mind some more.

Dream on..........
#2.1 Meta on 2008-04-21 10:22 (Reply)
''...I had a change of heart. I'm glad, too.''

that pretty much sums me up too, meta. Old JPII started my change of heart -- something got through to me somehow, through him. I don't know what it was but it 'made me glad, too'.
#2.1.1 buddy larsen on 2008-04-21 11:17 (Reply)
Thanks for the cheers, boo.

Benedictus XVI is a Pope for good reasons, for sure.

The Holy Ghost makes good calls.

The sexual abuse within the church is more than about individual sin, though.

Placing priests back into pastoral positions after individual sins became known is failure "badly handled" that Bishops need to address still, the Church is making bankrupting reparations for and the Pope clearly set it before them again during his visit, as a Church problem.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,351517,00.html
#2.2 Anonymous on 2008-04-21 10:31 (Reply)
It always strikes me as ridiculous.

They have to ditch the funny hats and stuff. He looks like Ming in Flash Gordon, in that chair.

``Your Majesty, we have captured the Earth people.''

Imus hoped he'd come out in a Yankee hat.
#3 Ron Hardin (Link) on 2008-04-21 06:32 (Reply)
Nice one Buddy. The RC is definately the rock of Western civilization and the rock of Christianity without which there'd be scarce if any other forms of Christian churches around.

Ron,
The RC has one foot in this world and the other foot in a higher world. Their dress and manners is both a connection to the past and a pointer to beyond this world. I want the Pope and priest to look different because THEY ARE supposed to BE different.
#4 Phil G on 2008-04-21 06:54 (Reply)
"...the rock of Christianity without which there'd be scarce if any other forms of Christian churches around."

You don't see the problem with that thinking, Phil? There should be only one church. One God, one church, one religion. Then it might all make a little more sense.
#4.1 Meta on 2008-04-21 10:33 (Reply)
I understand, Phil. The trouble is that it doesn't work, or no longer works, except as a tourist attraction.
#5 Ron Hardin (Link) on 2008-04-21 07:41 (Reply)
Speak for yourself Ron
#6 phil g on 2008-04-21 10:12 (Reply)
BTW...Pope Benedict has stated that if the Church has to shrink down to a core of firm believers and be built back up, then that is what he's prepared to do. It ain't about a popularity contest. It's not a fashion show. It's bigger than pop culture and the desire of the modern/post modern that the Church validates their banal and sinful ways. If the robes and funny hats manage to keep these rubes out, then all the better.
#7 phil g on 2008-04-21 10:14 (Reply)
Part of why I converted to RC at a late stage (40 something) is I was tired of being assulted by rock music, business casual pastors, theatre style setting all in an attempt to keep the 'faithful' properly entertained. Hell I might as well be at a real theatre or a real rock concert...the entertainment is much better.
#8 phil g on 2008-04-21 10:19 (Reply)
i just see the clothes and such as the RC uniforms -- like the military -- unit cohesiveness and integration and all that. anything can -- and does -- look silly at times, when the mood is on. the RC message i personally get from the paraphernalia is "this is us".
#9 buddy larsen on 2008-04-21 11:09 (Reply)
The RC church is not about pop culture.
#10 BD on 2008-04-21 11:14 (Reply)
BINGO...and thank God!!!
#10.1 phil g on 2008-04-21 12:44 (Reply)
Opus Dei has all of the transcripts of the Holy Father's addresses here: [ur]http://www.opusdei.us/art.php?p=27395[/url]. And Phil, you may be assailed by kumbayah Mass yet, if you don't choose your parish well.
#11 rightwingprof (Link) on 2008-04-21 13:10 (Reply)
Yes, you're correct. I think the difference between RC and most protestants is that the kumbayah Mass is a bug where as in many prostestant churches it's a feature.
#11.1 phil g on 2008-04-21 14:40 (Reply)
Ooo! An accurate zinger. However, what we have observed nationally is that kumbayah churches are dying, but that churches which respect and adhere to the teachings of Jesus grow and prosper. Kumbayah clergy are those poor souls who had all faith in unseen things like the Holy Spirit drummed out of them in divinity school, and in a futile attempt to be appealing to the unchurched, they totally alienate their own flocks and lose both.

RC and protestant churches which are faithful to scripture are growing rapidly in America, praise God!
#11.1.1 Gwynnie on 2008-04-21 22:46 (Reply)
Peggy Noonan writes a nice piece here:

http://www.nypost.com/seven/04202008/news/columnists/flock_feeling_his_charisma_of_sincerity_107243.htm?page=0

(snip)

"Americans know him now, and seem to have judged him to be what a worldly journalist said in the cathedral as he gazed at the crowd. His eyes went to Benedict on the altar, and he gestured toward him. "He's a good guy," he said, softly."
#11.2 buddy larsen on 2008-04-21 23:44 (Reply)

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