Pope Benedict XVI
Right now I am so full of adrenaline I think I could explode. Thank you Lord for Pope Benedict XVI. All of the news build up about Cardinal Ratzinger appearing to be favored I took with a large grain of salt. I have had nothing but admiration for this man as I have read his books since coming into the Catholic Church. His insights and understanding about the problems the Church faces in the modern world are excellent. His book on the liturgy, which I think should be required reading, is magnificent in his presentation of what should be the "reform of the reform" when it comes to the liturgy. His announcement as Pope to me is like Charlie Brown finally getting to kick the football that Lucy was holding. How many times did we hear "enter a pope, leave a cardinal" or that probably somebody who we don't even expect will be elected pope. I am currently in the middle of his book "God and the World" which is a fairly long book where he answers questions put to him by Peter Seewald. Reading the answers he gave I often though what a magnificent pope he would make.
Of course besides having this wonderful man as Pope we get the added bonus of him really annoying the dissidents. Probably one of the quietest place on earth was the offices of the National Catholic Reporter. For myself I was jumping up and down and screaming with excitement when his name was announced. All those who had hoped for changes in the doctrines of the Catholic Church now know that it isn't going to happen any time soon. No matter though who was elected this would have been true, it is just that they now realize it and once again will have to fallback to "maybe the next pope." position
Before I started reading Catholic blogs I had been following Christopher Blosser's Cardinal Ratzinger Fan Club, which for some reason is unavailable (possibly all of a sudden having millions of hits might have something to do with it). I am all for the Pope Benedict XVI fan club.
Here is a post I did before that included our new Holy Father is his superhero persona as "Magisterial Man."
Known as 
hahaha!! VIVA IL PAPA!!!! POPE BENEDICT XVI!!
I'm right there with you, Jeff. I think people in my office are wondering why I'm bouncing up and down in my chair right now.
Just for those of you who missed it, in Pope Benedict XVI's address, he employed the papal "we" and referred to his predecessor as "John Paul the Great"!!
Son #4 points out that the conclave was still under the supermajority rule (two-thirds of the votes are needed to elect). Two-thirds on the third ballot - so much for the Church swinging back pendulum-fashion from the orthodoxy of the previous papacy.
Jubilate! Vivat Benedictus XVI!
Deo Gratias.
I think it is only fitting to celebrate the election of Pope Benedict XVI with a beer held aloft.
I reiterate, Deo Gratias
All I can say right now is: VIVA EL PAPA!!!
I'm extremely happy, I nearly danced with joy with the announcement of our dear Ratzi being elected Pope Benedict XVI. Thank you God, you really heard my prayers!!
Bwahahaha... take THAT, you liberal facists!!!
What a wonderful blessing our Lord has given us this day.
I expect that we shall hear wailing and gnashing of teeth before too long, though.
Jeff, I too, was interested in what our fellow brothers and sisters at NCR were up to...as you say...still quiet...
Perhaps, they are seeking input on how to call for a recount - maybe they'll appeal to the Florida Supreme Court or something?
Cardinal Ratzinger is a great pick!
However, I've checked the message boards at AOL and all the Catholic Haters are going on and on about him being in the Nazi Youth when he was a kid. How to answer?
"I've checked the message boards at AOL and all the Catholic Haters are going on and on about him being in the Nazi Youth when he was a kid. How to answer?"
How about the fact that he freely admitted to being involved, but that it was against his will? (it was mandatory during Nazi reign). Or the fact that he was able to leave the Nazi Youth because he was studying in the Seminary?
May God grant our Holy Father Benedict many blessed years!
I started crying and dancing around my living room when I heard, but there's no one here to jump up and down with and hug. So I think I may have to go into campus and find some other excited people. I'm ecstatic.
Q: How do we know that Ratzinger was the best choice?
A: Andrew Sullivan is pitching a fit.
Hee!
Now, let us all rise and join in singing the recessional hymn, Andrew Sullivan's all-time favorite, "Our God is a Persuadable God."
Praise unto the Holy Spirit! And may his years be long!
YEEEEEEEHAW!!!!! VIVA IL PAPA!!!!! I can't believe the conclave actually elected the man! I'm so happy at the moment I could burst! Where's that old CD, time to fire up "Can't Touch This" because it's Hammer Time!!!
I thought that I was the only one jumping up and down and doing a little ditty of a dance!
I'm expecting some heads to roll and some excommunioncations to be decreed soon!
See, even he declared John Paul II as the Great! Yeah!
I'm not (yet) a RC, but its looking better and better from this Episcopalians" perspective.
However, I prayed for the former Cardinal Ratzinger to be elected.
I too am very happy, and thankful to Our Father for blessing the entire world with this man.
He was a blessing to us at A Place to Stand in Plano TX, and will always have our thanks and prayers.
Congratulation to all of you, and please pray that we too will be able to find a person like him to lead the Anglicans.
I'm' just elated. What a wonderful selection, what a wonderful papa he will be to us all that have been wandering in the liturgical wilderness known as the U.S. Catholic Church.
He will be villified, and I just think it's too bad.
Praise God for our new Pope, Benedict IV! I am surprised and delighted by his election. May God protect him and give his the wisdom and courage to lead the Church in this age.
Let us never stop praying for this chosen man of God; he will receive much criticism (already has in my neck of the woods).
I'm so happy. All thanks be to God. We must pray for our holy father, Benedict XVI.
As to the Nazi nonsense, this appeared yesterday in the Jerusalem Post, a rightish Israeli paper, to which you can send any questioners:
Ratzinger a Nazi? Don't believe it
(requires registration; see bugmenot.com for access)
Salient paragraph:
"As the Sunday Times article admits, Ratzinger's membership in the Hitler Youth was not voluntary but compulsory; also admitted are the facts that the cardinal – only a teenager during the period in question – was the son of an anti-Nazi policeman, that he was given a dispensation from Hitler Youth activities because of his religious studies, and that he deserted the German army."
I started cheering when Cardinal Estevez said,
"Dominum Josephum . . ."
Awesome.
Praise God!
I certaintly agree with that, and just take a look at my blog to see that.
Today I cannot help but think to a local news story that occurred about 5 years ago. A hospital in a small city 25 miles away became part of a Catholic healthcare organization.
Well, the local Planned Parenthood types were up in arms because abortions would no longer be offered at the hospital.
A priest representing the healthcare organization agreed to attend a "community" meeting to listen to concerns. At the start of the meeting, one of the PP types denounced the Church and stated nothing would change until Pope John Paul 2 and Cardinal Ratzinger died.
Can't help to think how this individual feels today.
dpt - I know there are people in the chancery in my home city who were waiting for JPII to kick off so that a more "reasonable", "progressive" pope could "finally" be elected.
I imagine a lot of chanceries in North America, Europe, and the Antipodes had to close early today. And a lot of sick days tomorrow. And not exactly in celebration.
Ooooh - I forgot - I'll have to go check the website of the diocesan paper to see if the editor had an anuerism when he found out . . . (trying very hard to not go the schadenfreude route). Welcome to reality, is what I say.
Anne: we know from the media that both Popes John Paul II and now Benedict XVI are divisive.
Mind you, it is not their critics that are divisive but the 'big bad' men on Peter's throne.
"I've checked the message boards at AOL and all the Catholic Haters are going on and on about him being in the Nazi Youth when he was a kid. How to answer?"
Try this: "Yeah, and St. Peter denied Christ three times. And St. Paul had many Christians beaten up, and approved the murder of St. Stephen! Oh, and guess what, St. Peter and St. Paul are probably the greatest and primary leaders of the Church? Not to mention that St. Peter was our first pope, too!"
Come on in, Gloria, the orthodoxy's fine!
So happy so happy so happy . . .
I haven't even looked at Andrew Sullivan's site - too much temptation to do verbal victory jigs all over his comboxes. I did visit the site of someone who was being very sour over at the Ragemonkey. Get this - she calls her site "Finding God In All Things", and she put up a post consisting almost entirely of furious copulative profanity directed at the princes of the Church. She said she was "so out of the RCC!" so I just commented "Bye!" I suppose she'll put a hex on me now.
I was practically dancing at the office today, too -- and I'm Protestant! May his days be long and blessed.
How appropriate that I've discovered this blog and its community on the day our Holy Father Benedict was elected. I'm thilled for our Church, encouraged by the speedy election, and excited to see God's work being done through this shepherd.
I have hopes even for some of our doubters and nay-sayers, that the Holy Father's reasoned teaching on unassailable truths will finally sink in.
Thanks be to God!
Hey, I dropped a comment over at that poor unfortunate woman's site, and it's a doozy. Definitely worth a visit. Keep her in your prayers.
http://progressivecatholic.blogspot.com/2005/04/damnit.html
Wow! I checked that site, AK, and she is REALLY upset (and such language)! I see that she listed "occult" as an interest on her blogfile.
She needs our prayers. I hope she can find peace.
Glad you're all having such a great party rearranging the deckchairs on the Titanic.
It certainly is fun being so gleeful at the unhappiness of others. Is this a virtue that Christ espoused?
To compare the Barque of Peter to the Titanic would go against the words of the Lord Jesus Christ who said that the gates of hell would not prevail against the Church.
"It certainly is fun being so gleeful at the unhappiness of others. Is this a virtue that Christ espoused?"
Christ did not seem too pleased with those who would elevate their opinions over the commands of God.
I'm doin the "Snoopy dance". Over the past couple of days reading rantings like Andrew Sullivan's, my grin has been growing wider and wider. If they don't stop the screeching and whining, my mouth will meet in the back and the top of my head will fall clean off. :)
Habemus Papam! Vivat Benedictus XVI, Pontus Maximus, Defensor Fides!
I think that Ratzinger was the good choice and that the Father had already chosen him. It was up to the cardinals to pray about it and pick the correct man.
I also do miss my Polish pope. Being Polish-American, and 18 when he was chosen, I was ecstatic. Most of the people I work with only know JPII.
May the new pope be blessed and may God keep him in His hands.
RatzingerFanClub is back now, I think -- depending on traffic flow from mentions by the press . . . but if you run into any trouble, pay a visit to PopeBenedictXVIFanClub.com. =)
Is great to find more very happy people like me.
I want to start to see Benedict in TV shows. And im waiting the day he could come to my city.
Viva el Papa! Gloria in excelsis Deo!
MARIHUANA AND THE BIBLE by Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church
. ..We of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church declare that the cup that Christ
baptized his disciples with in the baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire
was in fact a pipe or chillum in which marijuana was smoked. This is a
bottomless cup and soon as it is emptied, it is filled again and passed
in a circle.
We of the Ethiopian Zion Coptic Church revere ganja (marijuana) as our
"holy" Eucharist and "spiritual intensifier" with Biblical, historical
and divine associations for its use.
Ganja is the mystical body and blood of "Jes-us"
n the burnt offering made by fire -- which allows a
member to see and know the "Living God," or the "God in man."
LEGALIZE IT ! NOW
JONSKU MESSENGER
ZCUYON@HOTMAIL.COM
WELCOME TO KNOW !
http://WWW.ANGELFIRE.COM/PSY/PHOSPHOROS
LEGALIZE BLOOD OF CHRIST ! KANEH BOSM !
TRUTH WON !
TELEPATHIC MESSENGER JONSKU
JONI KRISTIAN JOHANNES
25.04 2005
anybody who cares to know what catholicism is all about and why the church would never change it's views/stand on abortion, homosexuality, etc., please read G.K. Chesterton's "Why I Am a Catholic." (Thanks to the American Chesterton Society. Great read) Pope Benedict XVI is certainly the right man for the job.
As an Episcopal Priest who struggles to care for his sheep in an old rite (1928) Prayer Book Parish, I am elated by the election of Pope Benedict. I have read his books with relish and have neither been left unchallenged nor stimulated. I have never had problems with Catholic moral teaching on any level. I must admit that I struggle with what we consider to be additional doctrines regarding Papal Infallibility, the birth of the BVM without taint of sin, and the Assumption. I wonder if there will be room for disagreement on such issues. Benedict's logic is actually quite subtle, and so I hope that there will be room for those of us who are a part of a completely dysfunctional Church and looking for unity with the See of Peter.
VI VA..VI VA...... EL PAPA...... BENEDICTA XVI