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Pentecost: Greek pentekoste, "fiftieth day"
Triptych: In art, three painted, carved, or
otherwise decorated panels that are hinged together
"Pentecost Triptych": Information update in three paragraphs
This service is being continued at the
Information and Communications Blog
Pope John Paul II
The gift of Pope John Paul II to the Catholic church surely cannot be
forgotten. His was an extraordinary papacy - one that surely will impact not
only this generation, and not only of Catholics, but also of non-Catholics and
non-Christians as well. Much, truly much, can be said about this special
pontiff, the one who broke the 455 straight Italian-occupancy of the chair
of St. Peter. His papacy paved the way towards a new light and new direction
in the Church - but still one keeping to the spirit of Vatican II.
Together with the death of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the death of Pope John
Paul II is the death of a Catholic generation - a generation who has known the
importance of mission and holiness in Christian life. Truly many have followed
the good example these two have shown through their missionary, holy,
serviceable, prayerful, strong and gentle, compassionate and just, and
generous lives totally given to the service of God.
John Paul has left us with this great spiritual legacy that it is enough for
this generation to see it as their guide even without his earthly presence.
With the many encyclicals and documents that were written and published
during his time, we can be guided by the Light that inspired him to be truly
firm in our stance for pro-life.
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What kind of Pope do we need now?
Many are looking towards Arinze, the Nigerian cardinal or to Hummes,
the Brazilian cardinal, to guide the Catholic church in our present times.
Many Internet articles tell us that Arinze would be a good Pope for today
because of the 90 million strong Catholics in Nigeria. On the other hand,
others say that Hummes would be good for the whole Latin American
church - which as we know represent truly a big population of the whole
global Catholic peoples.
In the papacy of John Paul II, it was necessary that his very conservative
stance was needed in order to quell the many dissenting voices of Catholic
leaders. It was a grace of the Lord that he was able to keep the tradition
of so many long-lasting institutions in the Church: like the only-male
clergy and priesthood, the vital and important element of celibacy in the
sacrament of holy orders, and the many traditional teachings in the Church
which call us to be pro-life.
With the present election of a Pope, many are saying that we do not need
another Pope to take such a long stay in the chair of Peter and that we
need a "transition" Pope - someone who will help us get into the direction
the Spirit is really calling us to be and to do in the Third Millenium.
For this "transition" Pope, what would probably be good would be a moderate
Pope. Or better still, someone moderately conservative. For someone moderate
or moderately conservative, the much polarized and divided Church can be
made "to see eye to eye" and dialogue among the much divisive issues that
are tearing our unity apart.
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The call of the Spirit is unity
We do not know who will be the next Pope. Perhaps it will be the Nigerian
cardinal. Perhaps it will be the Brazilian cardinal. But what usually happens
is what is most unlikely. Isn't it that when Pope John Paul II's name was
announced, many said, "who?". And some commented, "he isn't Italian?"
What is important is that we pray that the College of Cardinals will be
docile to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as the previous College of
Cardinals was when they were choosing the man to take the chair of St.
Peter, before John Paul II was elected. It was not the College of Cardinals
that really elected Pope John Paul II but it was really the Holy Spirit
who guided the minds and hearts of the College of Cardinals to choose a
man who would fill the shoes of the fisherman to whom Jesus entrusted
the keys of the kingdom. In the same way, this same College of Cardinals
will be praying - and really praying intensely - so that they may be guided
by the Holy Spirit to choose the man who would lead well the Catholic
church and make it the light of the nations - the special vocation and
unique calling asked of it for the sake of the world. Now that the Holy
Father instituted the Light Mysteries for us in the praying of the rosary,
perhaps we can take our rosaries this Thursday and pray the mysteries
that will help the College of Cardinals see the Light that will anoint
the man who will take the chair of St. Peter.
Dennis-Emmanuel Cabrera
April 7, 2005
(revised, June 19, 2005)
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