Pope Benedict XVI to resign, citing age and waning energy

[Dawn Marie]

Pope Benedict XVI to resign, citing age and waning energy

Pope Benedict XVI said Monday that he will resign at the end of February because he no longer has the strength to fulfill the duties of his office, news services reported.

Benedict, 85, is the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years. His decision means that for the first time in centuries, there will be a living former pope looking on as his successor leads the Catholic church.

“After having repeatedly examined my conscience before God, I have come to the certainty that my strengths, due to an advanced age, are no longer suited to an adequate exercise of the Petrine ministry,” Benedict said in a statement issued by the Vatican at midday in Rome (6 a.m. Washington time).

Link

[Birgitta]

Now is the time to increase our prayers, that we may receive a new Pope who is friendly towards Tradition and will somehow negate V2.

[Dawn Marie]

God's will be done+

[Dawn Marie]

A sign from above? Lightning strikes Vatican hours after Pope's sho...

11 Feb 2013 21:47

The lightning touched the roof of St. Peter's Basilica, one of the holiest Catholic churches, hours after Benedict XVI's shock announcement

[bernadette szczepkowski]

Perhaps we should reflect on the upcoming 100 year anniversary of the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima to the three children! Did not  Our dear Mother  say to Sister Lucia that the "consecration would be done late, but not too late"?

Then let us pray very much for this Holy Father and whoever will be elected. God's plans continue to unfold.

 

[3n21tr41n50ql]

Oh Bernadette! Fantastic post. Yes, yes, and YES!! Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Blessed Mother of Fatima, the Immaculata will intercede for us. She told us Herself: in the end My Immaculate Heart will triumph!

Talk around e-town is prayers that the Pope's final act before resigning will be the Consecration of Russia to Her Immaculate Heart! Pray that it might be so!

[Cathleen]

You know, I was thinking the same thing.....remembering the promises of Our Lady to Sr. Lucia.   We have to have hope and trust.  But I agree with Bill's sentiments....pray that it might be so!  :-)

[Dawn Marie]

Resignation of the papal office

 

2-11-2013

Pope Benedict XVI has given unheard of news by telling us that he is going to resign his office in the next two weeks. Although unheard of in human memory, this is has certainly occurred centuries ago throughout the long Church history. Pope Celestine V was canonized for his personal sanctity although he had to abdicate when he realized that he was inept for the papal office. The latest to abdicate did so to put an end to the Western schism of several popes.

Perhaps one of the reasons why the present pope went ahead with this unusual move was that he had been an eyewitness of the last year(s) of John Paul II where the pope had been indeed unable to assume much of his function, leaving the power in the hands of cardinals of the Curia. We know that the pope’s health has been fast deteriorating and it is probably good that he lets the next person take over for the Easter celebrations.

Peter the Apostle came to Rome and acted as the first Vicar of Christ for about 25 years staying in Rome until he shed his blood in the Vatican Circus under Nero, interred 60 feet below the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica. After him came Linus (most likely designated by St. Peter himself) and then an uninterrupted line of popes as the lawful successors of Peter. These successors have been designated as Supreme Pontiffs due to their election as the Bishop of Rome by the Roman clergy – today’s cardinals, who all hold a title to a church in the diocese of the Eternal City.

It was crucial for the visibility of the Church government that the Holy See rest in the hands of an appointed man - and although for various reasons and at different times the bishop of Rome has had to reside in other places - he was always still the official ruler over the diocese of Rome.

The authority of these successors of St. Peter is supreme as the pope alone has universal and total jurisdiction over all baptized. A striking example of this authority occurred at the end of the first century when St. John the Evangelist was still alive and enjoyed great authority around Ephesus. Yet Pope Clement I had no scruples in definitively sorting out a debate which arose very near St. John’s field of apostolate.

All Catholics recognize the power of government, of sanctifying and of teaching entrusted to the pope which he imparts onto the bishops and from them to the priests and laity. The Faith teaches us also the realm of his infallible teaching, basically given him to preserve and expose the constant Church teaching on faith and morals.

In our days of terrible misuse of Church authority, and especially as we see so many bishops and higher Church members consciously or unconsciously, actively or silently letting heresies hold sway in the rank and file, it is our duty to recall that the solution to the crisis of faith and morals will be found only by a reformation “in capite et in membris” (both in the head and the members).

Far from us the thought of embracing sedevacantism which cannot solve anything and has not benefit for any soul. Reality is more complex than throwing away the validity of a papal election. The reality of the Church crisis explains well enough the mystery of the Passion of the Church. It renders sufficient account for the fact that human side of the Church at times seems to utterly disfigure Her divine office.

The prayers of all traditionalists, very much attached to the person and office of the pope, will be raised to the Holy Ghost in this holy season of Lent so that the Church may raise a leader worthy of Her who will have the strength of character and holiness of view to lead Peter’s Barque out of the rapids and reefs she has suffered lately.

SOURCE

[bernadette szczepkowski]

Wouldn't that be miraculous, that the Holy Father would be in a monastery in solitary retreat to prepare for the

consecration of Russia right before the conclave?

This idea is not that far-fetched. Our Lady can obtain all the graces necessary for this to happen!

Besides, it will make a chapter come true in the wonderfully inspiring novel "Russian Sunrise"

[michael kelleher]

96 years since our lady asked for the consecration of russia ; Bernadette you have a good point

 

[Dawn Marie]

John Vennari has started a blog about the Pope's resignation and for events that will follow.  He has some interesting items.

BLOG HERE

[Dawn Marie]

[Dawn Marie]