B16 Teaches Us How to Live

Last updated on: February 11, 2013 at 10:02 am by Kathryn Jean Lopez

B16 Teaches Us How to Live 2013-02-11T10:02:11-05:00 Kathryn Jean Lopez

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I’ve been saying this morning that if John Paul II showed us how to die, Pope Benedict XVI is showing us how to step aside in humility and love. But it is so much more than that even. He shows us how to live.

The pope’s resignation statement is extraordinary. And it’s not the resigning itself that is the most important part for each one of us. Maybe you’ve read it. Maybe you just know the headline. Regardless, read it again. Especially this:

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. I am well aware that this ministry, due to its essential spiritual nature, must be carried out not only with words and deeds, but no less with prayer and suffering. However, in today’s world, subject to so many rapid changes and shaken by questions of deep relevance for the life of faith, in order to govern the barque of Saint Peter and proclaim the Gospel, both strength of mind and body are necessary, strength which in the last few months, has deteriorated in me to the extent that I have had to recognize my incapacity to adequately fulfill the ministry entrusted to me.

This is a man of the deepest faith. With the fullest knowledge of the world and its realities. And yet he knows with some certainty what God wants of him. What the world needs of him. It takes tremendous prayer to be able to have some peace and certainty to make a move like this.

This is a lesson to us. One as profound as the walk through suffering and death Blessed John Paul II took with us.

This is what George Weigel and I were talking about last week when JPII’s biographer talked about our call to friendship with Christ.

In that interview book, Light of the World, the Holy Father told journalist Peter Seewald:

As far as the Pope is concerned, he too is a simple beggar before God—even more than all other people. Naturally I always pray first and foremost to our Lord, with whom I am united simply by old acquaintance, so to speak. But I also invoke the saints. I am friends with Augustine, with Bonaventure, with Thomas Aquinas. Then one says to such saints also: Help me! And the Mother of God is, in any case, always a major point of reference. In this sense I commend myself to the communion of saints. With them, strengthened by them, I then talk with the dear Lord also, begging, for the most part, but also in thanksgiving—or quite simply being joyful.

This is the Christian life. We are not alone. And the world does not rely on us, but on Him. And so we are faithful. We pray that, every hour of everyday, He increases, as we decrease. Never running away, always following the lead of the Trinity.

And so Pope Benedict XVI is.

Uncategorized

Pope Benedict XVI

resignation

Previous Post

February 10, 2013

The Object of My Affection, 2013 Remake

Next Post

February 13, 2013 What Is a Pope?

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category B16 Christian Persecution Christianity Today Culture Good Links/Must Read HHS Mandate Holy Land Must Reads Prayer Religious Liberty Uncategorized

Select a Month July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What did Stephen see as he was being stoned?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Angels descending Heaven opened and Jesus standing at the right hand of God The face of God A bright light from heaven