Two years ago today, Pope Benedict XVI abdicated.
My posts from that sad, remarkable day, HERE.
Fr. Z’s really old O Antiphon Page
Fr. Z’s Podcasts RSS Feed
About this blog…
“This blog is like a fusion of the Baroque ‘salon’ with its well-tuned harpsichord around which polite society gathered for entertainment and edification and, on the other hand, a Wild West “saloon” with its out-of-tune piano and swinging doors, where everyone has a gun and something to say. Nevertheless, we try to point our discussions back to what it is to be Catholic in this increasingly difficult age, to love God, and how to get to heaven.” – Fr. Z
Coat of Arms by D Burkart
YOUR RECENT COMMENTS
- on WDTPRS 21 Dec. – O Oriens – The Winter Solstice and thoughts on time: “So, St Peter’s and the Sphinx have something celestial in common!”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1204 – What … is THAT?: “The problem with the previous solutions is that they allow Black’s Bishop to move (“any move”, they say). But if…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1205 – completed: “Burch’s nomination is sending all the best people into a spittle-flecked nutty. You just know our President-elect has made a…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1205 – completed: “thank you Fr. Z for the Titan video. that had escaped my notice until now. it does one good to…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1204 – What … is THAT?: “I think I saw that robot thingy priest in either THX138 or Logan’s Run…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1204 – What … is THAT?: “I feel bad for them. An emotional maturity issue I suspect. We need strong men, they need strong men. A…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1203 – RANJITH!: “I’ve wished Ranjith were Pope ever since 2012, when he said (and I’m paraphrasing), “I wish this SSPX regularization would…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1204 – What … is THAT?: “You may find a lack of cards from Canada this year. Our postal service is on strike. Haven’t had mail…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1203 – RANJITH!: “amenamen, I think you have the right moves, but they’re in the wrong order. Play 1. Qg3+ first. After f4xQ,…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1205 – completed: “Amazing news about Brian Burch! And, to be honest, I’d much rather read a book by H. E. Cupich about…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1205 – completed: “How long before His Eminence Cupich has to deal with crowds like that before Pilate in “Life of Brian”? Hanging…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1205 – completed: “While to move and mate in…. in… two! How long did it take you? In Oslo the Chess Champions Tour…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1203 – RANJITH!: “Prayers for Mrs. Z. You mean Scripture is correct! The Earth is the center of the universe! Well, I guess…”
- on Daily Rome Shot 1204 – What … is THAT?: “What the heck was that in the video? I’m sure it wasn’t a blessing. Grade-A, 100% bull cookies, to use…”
ABORTION PILL RESCUE NETWORK
Everyone, work to get this into your parish bulletins and diocesan papers.
Federated Computer… your safe and private alternative to big biz corporations that hate us while taking our money and mining our data. Have an online presence large or small? Catholic DIOCESE? Cottage industry? See what Federated has to offer. Save money and gain peace of mind.
I am an affiliate. Click and join or at least explore! If you join, I’ll get credit.
Polls
Loading ...Donate using VENMO
GREAT BEER from Traditional Benedictine Monks in Italy
CLICK and say your daily offerings!
A Daily Prayer for Priests
NEW OPPORTUNITY – 10% off with code: FATHERZ10
Fr. Z’s VOICEMAIL
Nota bene: I do not answer these numbers or this Skype address. You won't get me "live". I check for messages regularly.
WDTPRS
020 8133 4535
651-447-6265
Good coffee and tea. Help monks.
I use this when I travel both in these USA and abroad. Very useful. Fast enough for Zoom. I connect my DMR (ham radio) through it. If you use my link, they give me more data. A GREAT back up.
Help support Fr. Z’s Gospel of Life work at no cost to you. Do you need a Real Estate Agent? Calling these people is the FIRST thing you should do!
They find you a pro-life agent in your area who commits to giving a portion of the fee to a pro-life group!
This blog has to earn its keep!
PLEASE subscribe via PayPal if it is useful. Zelle and Wise are better, but PayPal is convenient.
A monthly subscription donation means I have steady income I can plan on. I put you my list of benefactors for whom I pray and for whom I often say Holy Mass.
In view of the rapidly changing challenges I now face, I would like to add more $10/month subscribers. Will you please help?
For a one time donation...
To donate monthly I prefer Zelle because it doesn't extract fees. Use
frz AT wdtprs DOT comPLEASE RESPOND. Pretty pleeeease?
Loading ...WDTPRS POLL
Loading ...Great WINE USE COUPON CODE: fatherz10
Use my code for a discount
Loading ...
I cried that day after being convinced it wasn’t a hoax. I became Catholic after his election, discerning during his first three years and converting in 2009. He will always be my Papa.
I agree Pope Benedict will always be my Papa Also!
I can’t be put into words the emptiness one feels in there heart and how much we miss His Holiness…..Grando Papa, like S. John Paul II!
We are all so thankful for your brief Pontificate and Pray God Grants you good health and many more years!
Viva Santita!
Very sad day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VGWpzFNmpnQ
Boy, do I miss Papa Benedict. I sometimes fall into wondering if he made a mistake by abdicating, but that doesn’t usually last long. I trust him and I don’t believe he would have done it based solely on his own will. The waters are rough right now, but he is still with us. The work he did as Pope, was visible to us(although I suspect the larger impact of his Papacy will develop with time). The work he does now, may not be explicitly visible, but I would imagine to be efficacious in sustaining the Church and the faithful.
One thing that gives me consolation in his decision is to see the few glimpses that we get of him these days. He looks much stronger and healthier than he did at the time of his abdication.
Funny, but I took his laying of the pallium on the tomb of Celestine seriously, knowing that Benedict is a man of reason as well as grace and reflection. Honestly, I was not, therefore surprised. However, saddened, but trusting that God had led this very good and holy man to do this, I accepted his decision as necessary in the Will of God. We do not understand the whole meaning of this event of resignation, yet.
The story is not over yet…
Supertradmum
You are correct! The story is not over yet…!!!
I found some comfort in these words of Fr. Mark Drew from “The Catholic Herald”:
“It cannot be easy for Benedict to witness everything that is happening in Rome today… It must cause him some chagrin to see some of his orientations for the Church neglected or even reversed, and some of his most trusted lieutenants marginalised while former adversaries are promoted… But he remains serene because he has an unshakeable faith in the Church and in God, who guides her with a steady hand while human leaders come and go. In this respect, as in so many others, we should heed him and seek to imitate him…”
Full article: http://www.catholicherald.co.uk/issues/february-27th-2015/the-pope-emeritus-experiment-is-working/
To your third question of two years ago, “Will (his successor) be a Leo?” May we say the jury’s still out. Although the word, differently spelled, has haunted us all ever since.
I think it should be said that this blog helped very many souls cope with the resignation, and with the transition that is ongoing. Indeed, were it not for this blog, there would have been a near total absence of the kind of level-headed and readily available pastoral care needed to cope with the present uncertainties.
He fled from the wolves but now the wolves are at the hen house.
I miss his papacy very much.
I pray for him as much as I do Pope Francis.
I feel very strongly that he is serenely on standby. I don’t know why I feel that way. There is no reason for my feeling like that at all.
Also, thank you so much Father Z. If not for this blog, I would have been and would be confused and lost a lot.
Oremus: Pater, da nobis serenitas Sicut Benedictus Papa aliam spem quam in sede Petri Cathedram aliquando,. “Deus in cælo, et in terra papa.” Per eumdem Christum Dominum nostrum, Amen
Let us pray, Heavenly Father, Grant us serenity and the hope that another Pope Like Pope Benedict will someday sit in the Chair of St. Peter,. “God in Heaven, the Pope on Earth.” Through Christ our Lord, Amen
A sad, black, tragic day, that only seems more sad, black, and tragic with each day since.
Very sad, but he no doubt knows what he’s doing.
HighMass, Purely as a Latin exercise, may I suggest:
“Da nobis quaesumus, Domine, ut et serenitatem antiquorum dierum regno Benedicto cognoscere prosperemus; et futuro in sede Petri installato, ‘Deum in caelo, Papamque in Terra’ rursus proclamare possemus, per Christum…”
I don’t think it is quite terse enough to be authentically Roman, though, and it still sounds a bit sede vacante-ish, which, i am sure was not intended. Translating from a modern language into Latin, rather than from it, will rarely sound convincing though, alas.
I will never forget that day. That morning my husband listened to the radio as we got ready for the day and told me the news. I said that Popes don’t do that! It seemed like a hoax. I’ll always miss Papa Benedict, but we must have faith that God has a reason for everything and it will be made clear in His time.
At least some things he doesn’t have to directly experience now:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR6kEM__f88
I felt like a long Lent started, even in my personal life, the day he announced his resignation. I’m still waiting for Easter, on both fronts =-(
It was such a sad and depressing day. It is so helpful to read all the comments made and I agree
JBS, your comment is so true.
Thank you Father Z.
asperges
I used Google Translate….No I did not mean that the Chair of Peter is Currently sede vacante-ish…my prayer was that some day we have another Pope Like Pope Benedict…..
As we all miss him so……… :(
Two posts that express my feelings EXACTLY:
A sad, black, tragic day, that only seems more sad, black, and tragic with each day since.
I felt like a long Lent started, even in my personal life, the day he announced his resignation. I’m still waiting for Easter, on both fronts
Kristyn – you and me both. I con/re-verted to the Church in 2007. He is my Pope (like the Venerable Fulton Sheen is “my” archbishop since the Holy Spirit used the two of them to bring me home to God and Church) and I was crushed when he resigned.
I pray for his health and welfare, along with his intentions at every Rosary I pray. Along with the current Pope’s as well.