tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712012.post111698745154244244..comments2023-07-04T10:10:25.205-04:00Comments on Apologia: Remembering the Personal Pope - and his American 'daughter' (in pectus)William Lusehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15928946919078483848noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3712012.post-1116988175822674712005-05-24T22:29:00.000-04:002005-05-24T22:29:00.000-04:00A fine offering. We too had the Pope's picture on ...A fine offering. We too had the Pope's picture on a wooden tripod draped by cloth. One of the cool things is knowing that everywhere in the world there are tripods with a portrait remembering the pope. To be doing the same thing at the same time is one of the measures of Catholicism's solidarity.<BR/><BR/>Also like that phrase containing "hyenic howl". Wish I'd written it.<BR/><BR/>As for Terri, it wasn't a hard case was it? I mean I can easily conjure up a hard case, but this wasn't it. She was neither dying, nor brain dead and it was food & hydration, not a respirator. It's all a bit surreal that she's dead now. The local Vineyard evangelical church had a memorial for her Tuesday night, which I thought was a nice touch. <A HREF="http://poncer.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">TSO</A><BR/>--------------<BR/>Beautiful post, but why was it strange that "Hispanics with lots of kids" were interested in getting a good look at the picture? Maria<BR/>----------------<BR/>Maria, I don't think Bill meant it was strange for them to look, but strange that NO ONE ELSE was looking. He meant it as a tribute to their love for the Holy Father. They were doing what one would expect all of us to do, yet so many do not. <BR/><BR/>Bill, excellent post. I'm in tears, AGAIN. But then, we're not surprised by that, are we?<BR/><BR/>I'm with TSO on this one. The frustrating thing to me is that Terri didn't seem like a hard case at all. I guess it's a measure of how out of step I am with the world at large. <A HREF="http://summamamas.stblogs.org" REL="nofollow">Terry</A><BR/>-----------------<BR/>this post has comforted me on so many levels, but i must admit that i thank you, mr. luse, for finally giving me the comfort that i am not some sick-o deviant with a twisted "priest/pope fetish." <BR/><BR/>i've been raked over the coals on so many occassions for calling His Holiness a "sexy pope." people just didn't get it, but i wouldn't budge because i never could grasp a more appealing phrase. you finally did it for me: <BR/><BR/><I>He was a Catholic woman’s dreamboat, no doubt eliciting from the lips of many the frequent and furtive refrain: “Why are all the good ones already taken?” </I><BR/><BR/>i've been accused of having a "preist fetish" but i always argued, "that's not it, blast it! it's a spiritual security thing!" your explanation is much more eloquent:<BR/><BR/><I>But there is more than one way of knowing a woman, and he had chosen the better way, honoring them all by denying himself the company of any one. It’s one of those mysterious Christian ironies that the world just doesn’t get. A lot of Christians don’t get it either, including me, even as I laud it. But I have seen how women react in its presence.</I> <A HREF="http://summamamas.stblogs.org" REL="nofollow">Micki</A><BR/>----------------<BR/>Dear Bill,<BR/><BR/>At our parish the same was true, but his picture was draped in red. The only ones lingering after Sunday evening or even Monday evening mass were me and a large hispanic contingent, many of whom were openly weeping (men included). It was wonderful to be in such a company--people with real heart and real love for the Holy Father, because I had been in tears throughout both masses and had wondered at the strange homily that told me I wasn't to show this "unchristian" sign of despair. <BR/><BR/>I was, to say the least, annoyed. However, strangely our priest on the first evening (who did not tell us this) also brought Terri together with the Holy Father. It's an obvious connection in many people's minds. They understand the synchronicity.<BR/><BR/>shalom,<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://floscarmeli.stblogs.org" REL="nofollow">Steven</A><BR/>----------------<BR/>Generous comments, all, and I thank you. Maria, Terry caught my meaning perfectly. Sometimes I'm too subtle for my own good. Steven, that "synchronicity" is downright spooky. In time it will be the stuff of legend, but a true one. William Luse<BR/>------------<BR/>Ok, gotcha Bill. *wink*. Maria<BR/>-------------<BR/>Thank you, Bill, for saying all this so well. I was struck when I went to Mass last Sunday that on one side of the church was the picture of the Divine Mercy, and on the other side was the picture of the Holy Father. I think I will always have that picture in my mind.<BR/>The theology of the body is a great gift, and I have only just begun to dip into it. But it helps me to understand that the best pastors are truly priests who are manly men - virile in the best sense of the word. Vir - as in the Latin that we have, alas, abandoned. <A HREF="http://fructusventris.stblogs.org" REL="nofollow">Alicia</A><BR/>----------------<BR/>One of the radio shows had a guest on, but in running my errands I never managed to hear who it was. One of the guest's main points was how JPII embodied masculine piety, something that the Church is sorely lacking these days. I found myself nodding my head.<BR/><BR/>I stand firmly with Smock on this one. There is nothing more lovely than a man praying for his family. I always knew Il Papa was praying for ME, even if he didn't know my name. Mama T<BR/>------------<BR/>Yes, he was, Terry. William Luse<BR/>-------------<BR/>Bill, that was so beautiful. Thank you. Kate<BR/>--------------------<BR/>Thanks, Kate. WL<BR/>--------------------<BR/>Thank you William for speaking from the heart.<BR/><BR/>I have found that only those who can speak from the heart, understand from the heart.<BR/><BR/>It is evident from reading these posts that some hearts opened a little more because of this meditation of yours. But others are still closed.<BR/><BR/>The poor of the world are the ones loved most by Jesus. Why would the faithful poor who know Jesus, not love Il Papa, His Anointed Brother on earth.<BR/><BR/>Before I read this article, I had the thought that He could not bear to be left behind by his sister in Christ. He shared his suffering with her to the Glory of God. Bob W.<BR/>-------------<BR/>Bill, <BR/><BR/>Thanks for heeding the call to the laity to sanctify the world by our presence in it. (Lumen Gentium) Your words! They reach out to all of us who read them. <BR/><BR/>Your words once again call me to meditate and realize that the Pope carried out his call to minister to all of us. It is our call to, by our presence, prayer and actions, bring about changes to our society. <BR/><BR/>Let us all pray for Judge Greer. I pray that the Holy Spirit bring about changes in him on a par with those given to Dr Bernard Nathanson. John Huntley<BR/>---------------<BR/>I don't feel like much of a sanctifier, John, but I do appreciate the kind words. It's enough for me that my words reach people like you, who really do heed the call. William LuseWilliam Lusehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15928946919078483848noreply@blogger.com