Benedict XVI

No matter how low your opinion of the Church might be right now, the opinion of Jesus Christ matters most.

Until we get to the bliss of heaven, much of what we experience in the Church may look a lot like the up-and-down, back-and-forth seasons of marriage: “in sickness and in health, for richer and for poorer, in good times and in bad.” – Pat Gohn, All In I get it. In the wake of more…

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This makes me think… about how the Resurrection of Jesus changes human existence

The Christian faith stands or falls with the truth of the testimony that Christ is risen from the dead. … Only if Jesus is risen has anything really new occurred that changes the world and the situation of mankind. Then he becomes the criterion on which we can rely. For then God has truly revealed…

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This just in: Now it’s “Pope emeritus” for Benedict XVI!

Here’s the story from NEWS.va.  In short: Benedict XVI will be “Pontiff emeritus” or “Pope emeritus”, as Fr. Federico Lombardi, S.J., director of the Holy See Press Office, reported in a press conference on th final days of the current pontificate. He will keep the name of “His Holiness, Benedict XVI” and will dress in a…

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Here’s my tribute to what I will miss about Pope Benedict XVI, and what I’ve learned from him

From my column at Patheos this week on the intersection of Benedict, the Catechism, and the hope of heaven… I have a first edition English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church in hardcover. Ever since my great awakening to my Catholic faith in my teen years, I’ve been reading about our faith, and…

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This makes me think… about the genius of Benedict, and the clarity of his teaching…and the meaning of life

Benedict XVI is a biblical scholar and an expert in Augustine’s writing and teaching. This section of his encyclical, Spe Salvi, is simple and profound, much like Augustine himself would teach. ::: 27. [I]t is true that anyone who does not know God, even though he may entertain all kinds of hopes, is ultimately without…

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UPDATED* — “Pope emeritus”! After his abdication, what do we call Pope Benedict? His Holiness, Benedict XVI, Bishop Emeritus of Rome.

He’ll need a new Twitter handle too. I’m suggesting @BXVIBER. Don’t stop writing, Holy Father. We’ll need your tweets so we can read your new blog. I can’t wait til he posts his first Lisa-Hendey-esque style tweet with the “View from my Office”… *UPDATE 2.26.2013.  News from the Vatican is that they are going with…

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Among Women 157: Going through the Change… Benedict XVI’s announcement & the Midlife Madres II

Change happens… it happens in life, and last week, a soon-to-come change was announced for the papacy. Midlife women know all about changes… from the body to the soul! Join me for Among Women this week as I share my first thoughts on Benedict XVI’s stunning announcement to leave the Chair of Peter, as well…

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Amazing news from an amazing pope… smack dab in the Year of Faith, let us continue be faithful!

Today our beloved Holy Father, Benedict XVI, announced the stunning news that he is going to resign the papacy on Feb 28. Smack dab in the Year of Faith, we will now have  a conclave to elect a successor, taking place in the heart of Lent. We as a Universal Church have another excellent reason…

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This makes me think… how futile it is to rely on my own power, when God’s power is so abundant…

[Describing the parable of the mustard seed, Benedict XVI preaches… ] it breaks open to give life to a sprout that can break through the ground, coming out into the sunlight and growing until it becomes ‘the greatest of all shrubs’: the seed’s weakness is its strength, its break open is its power. Thus the…

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This makes me think… about Mary

The angel says to Mary: “The power of the Most High will cover you with its shadow.” It ‘a reminder of the holy cloud that during the Exodus journey, stopped over the Tent of meeting, the ark of the covenant, which the people of Israel brought with them, and that indicated the presence of God…

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