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Pope Benedict XVI in PortugalThe Holy Father was asked if it is possible to see in the Fatima message an allusion to the sufferings that the Church is going through today.
Benedict XVI replied that what can be discovered again today in Our Lady's message from Fatima is the "passion" that the Church is experiencing, and that "is reflected in the person of the Pope."
"The attacks on the Pope and the Church do not just come from outside, but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church, from the sin that is in the Church. This has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way: The greatest persecution of the Church does not come from external enemies, but is born from the sin in the Church.
"And the Church, therefore, has the profound need to learn penance again, to accept purification, to learn on one hand forgiveness, as well as the need for justice. Forgiveness does not replace justice."
Benedict XVI replied that what can be discovered again today in Our Lady's message from Fatima is the "passion" that the Church is experiencing, and that "is reflected in the person of the Pope."
"The attacks on the Pope and the Church do not just come from outside, but the sufferings of the Church come precisely from within the Church, from the sin that is in the Church. This has always been known, but today we see it in a really terrifying way: The greatest persecution of the Church does not come from external enemies, but is born from the sin in the Church.
"And the Church, therefore, has the profound need to learn penance again, to accept purification, to learn on one hand forgiveness, as well as the need for justice. Forgiveness does not replace justice."
Pilgrims walking on their knees in penance.
A penitential pilgrim at Fatima crawling along Lucy's Mile.
"And the Church, therefore,
has the profound need to learn penance again,
to accept purification,
to learn on one hand forgiveness,
as well as the need for justice.
Forgiveness does not replace justice."
-Pope Benedict XVI
Fatima,
11 May 2010
5 comments:
Father, please forgive my ignorant questions but... Do individual acts of pennance do any good for the Church as a whole?
And, if you're not physically capable of pennances such as fasting or walking on your knees, can you endure emotional pennances instead?
Dear Rev. Fr. Michael Mary, F.SS.R. ,
these are times where uneasiness and fear, distress and chaos rule our wavering hearts.
Let's turn our thoughts to Fatima and pray for the Pope, as well as our-self, may see the reassertion of the Spiritual Power of the Church.
---
Dear "Coffee Catholic",
God won't give you more than you can bear - any pilgrim knows the limits of its penance.
---
With All Respect
A.B.
I am becoming more inspired each day by the Holy Father's sermons and messages at Fatima. Here is his beautiful act of entrustment to Mary:
http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/prayers/documents/hf_ben-xvi_20100512_affidamento-fatima_en.html
Wow. Thank you for these images, and the message from the Holy Father. At his coronation speech, Pope Benedict said, "Pray for me, that I do not flee for fear of the wolves." He has kept to his word.
Come to the Basilica Minore in Quiapo and you will always see penitents walking on their knees to the main altar of the Black Nazarene!
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