The Pope traveled to a drug and addiction rehabilitation site run by Franciscan religious.
His words are compassionate for those who have been through the mill, for victims, but very hard hitting again for those who participated in their victimization and for those who need to something to help these people. (Edited and with my emphases.)
…
2. The Church of today needs a renewed awareness of its task to draw the world’s attention to the voice of him who says: "I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (Jn 8:12). It is the Pope’s mission to renew in the hearts of people everywhere that light which does not grow dim, because it seeks to illumine the depths of every soul that seeks the true good and peace that the world cannot give. All that this light needs is a heart open to the desire for God. God does not force us, he does not oppress our individual freedom; he simply asks for openness in the inner sanctum of our conscience, through which pass all our noblest aspirations, as well as the affections and disordered passions which tend to obscure the message of the Almighty.
3. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me" (Rev 3:20). These are divine words which penetrate to the depths of our souls and shake us at our deepest roots.
At some stage in people’s lives, Jesus comes and gently knocks at the hearts of those properly disposed. Perhaps for you, he did this through a friend or a priest, or, who knows, perhaps he arranged a series of coincidences which enabled you to realize that you are loved by God. Through the institution which has welcomed you, the Lord has given you this opportunity for physical and spiritual recovery, so vital for you and your families. In turn, society expects you to spread this precious gift of health among your friends and all the members of the community.
You must be Ambassadors of hope! Brazil’s statistics concerning drug abuse and other forms of chemical dependency are very high. The same is true of Latin America in general. I therefore urge the drug-dealers to reflect on the grave harm they are inflicting on countless young people and on adults from every level of society: God will call you to account for your deeds. Human dignity cannot be trampled upon in this way. The harm done will receive the same censure that Jesus reserved for those who gave scandal to the "little ones", the favourites of God (cf. Mt 18:7-10).
Whew! I think we all know what that means.
Harm little ones… wind up in hell.
Matthew 18:7-10:
7: "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the man by whom the temptation comes!
8: And if your hand or your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life maimed or lame than with two hands or two feet to be thrown into the eternal fire.
9: And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better for you to enter life with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into the hell of fire.
10: "See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven.
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The Holy Father really seems to be having the time of his life down there. He’s admonishing the Bishops, calling all to repentence, denouncing the Culture of Death, and all the while has a huge smile on his face! Viva il Papa!
Those are great moments of this pontificate so far. The speech in the Cathedral
of São Paulo, although directed to the Bishops of Brazil, could be directed to
many Episcopal Conferences arround the world. To me that speech is right next
in importance to the unforgettable and remarkable Christmas Adress of 2005 to
the Roman Curia.
In this Brazilian trip, Pope Benedict is hitting hard on the important topics,
and he is making great speeches day after day, without any interruption.
Viva il Papa! Ad multos, multos annos!
Minutes ago, the Holy Father, at the start of a meeting with the faithful
for the recitation of the Holy Rosary in the Basilica of the “National Shrine”
of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception “Aparecida”, the largest Marian
basilica in the world, awarded the GOLDEN ROSE to the shrine of the Patroness
of Brazil.
Golden Rose
A precious and sacred ornament made of pure gold by skilled artificers, which the popes have been accustomed for centuries to bless each year, and occasionally confer upon illustrious churches and sanctuaries as a token of special reverence and devotion, upon Catholic kings or queens, princes or princesses, renowned generals or other distinguished personages, upon governments or cities conspicuous for their Catholic spirit and loyalty to the Holy See, as a mark of esteem and paternal affection. . .
The custom of giving the rose supplanted the ancient practice of sending to Catholic rulers the Golden Keys from St. Peter’s Confessional, a custom introduced either by St. Gregory II (716) or St. Gregory III (740). A certain analogy exists between the rose and the keys, inasmuch as both are of pure gold blessed and bestowed by the Vicar of Christ upon illustrious children of the Church, and further, both partake somewhat of the nature of a reliquary — the rose containing musk and balsam, the keys filings from the Chair of St. Peter. (Excerpt from Catholic Encyclopedia)
Deacon John
Very cool about the Golden Rose – following up on his grant of the Rose to Jasna Gora last year. It seems like shrines of the Blessed Virgin are targeted for this honor now, and fittingly enough.
Perhaps we can get His Holiness to visit Detroit and confer a Golden Rose on Assumption Grotto – or to St. Paul where he can confer it on the Maria Hilf Shrine at St. Agnes…
More about the Golden Rose–
Apparantly Paul VI never once awarded it in his entire pontificate. John Paul II, in his long pontificate, only gave it out to three places, one of them being the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes. Benedict XVI has awarded it once prior to Aprendicida, to the shrine on Poland that has the image of Our Lady of Czetechowa (and my apologies to any Poles who might read this, as well as to the Servant of God John Paul II, for my butchering of the spelling of that Polish name).
Habemus Papam!
Here is a photo of the Golden Rose:
http://64.62.190.196/scry/index.php?v=image&i=0&p=Dia12/VISIT57253.jpg
Tim, how about the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in DC? Or the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico?