Please listen to Father Broom's talk on this fascinating topic
Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen
expressed the three fundamental desires of the human heart: to know, to love
and to live. According to Aquinas the
object of the mind is “Truth”; the object of the will/heart is “love”; the
purpose of life is “Beatitude”—happiness with God forever, fullness of life in
heaven.
Many today assert that there is no
such thing as absolute truth. Pope
Benedict XVI coins this false-philosophical system as “The Dictatorship of
moral relativism”. This philosophy
espouses the view that truth is not absolute but changes, varies, and
fluctuates according to the historical time-frame, the social mores and the
individual’s subjective interior state of soul.
The Catholic Church vehemently
disagrees with “Moral Relativism”. Absolute Truth does exist. Where can it be found? Not so much where is
it to be found, but rather “In whom” is it to be found? That Person is Jesus Christ who said, “I am
the Way, the TRUTH, and the Life.
Before ascending to heaven Jesus said
that He would be with us always even until the end of time. If He
ascended into heaven, then where is He (Jesus) and the Truth to be found? Simple and to the point--- in the Catholic
Church.
Jesus is the invisible Head of the
Church reigning in heaven, but before leaving the earth in His glorified body,
He provided a visible head for us and that is in the person of the Holy Father,
the pope.
Jesus said that you are Petra/Rock
and on you I will build my church and
the gates of hell will not prevail against you. Whatever you bind on earth will
be bound in heaven and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
(Mt 17). Then after the Resurrection,
the miraculous catch of fish in Lake Galilee, and after feeding the Apostles
breakfast, Jesus took a walk with Peter.
In the course of this walk on the
seashore of Lake Galilee Jesus asked Peter three times if he really loved him
and Peter responded in the affirmative.
Jesus commanded Peter to tend his sheep.
Once again Jesus was affirming the role of Peter to be Jesus’ successor
once Jesus left, ascending to heaven.
St. Peter was the first Pope of the
265 that would follow him. The Pope is
the successor of Christ, the Holy Father, the Supreme Pontiff (Bridge builder),
the “Sweet vicar of Christ on earth” (St. Catherine of Siena). He is the visible head of the Mystical Body
of Christ, the Church.
St John Bosco had many dreams, but
most likely the most famous of all the dreams was that of the Ship in the midst
of a storm at sea. The ship also is
surrounded by enemy ships ready to attack and sink the Ship. The Captain is on
the helm of the ship, with his eyes peering into the distance. All of a sudden two huge pillars ascend from
the midst of the tempestuous sea, one slightly higher than the other.
On the top of the smaller pillar
could be seen Mary, under the title of Our Lady Help of Christians. With hands folded in the greatest gesture of
reverence she is contemplating in adoration the other pillar upon which is
enthroned the Most Blessed Sacrament of the Altar, the Body, Blood, Soul and
Divinity of Jesus Christ.
The Captain directs the Ship in
between the two pillars, anchors it and the Ship and its crew are safe and
arrive safely ashore.
We are in the midst of the sea with
so many temptations from the devil, the flesh and the world. The danger of sinking and drowning is always
a possibility.
SHIP. We must stay in the ship, the
bark of Peter, the Catholic Church. This is our sure refuge as was the ark of Noah
that we read in the book of Genesis. The Church has gone through tough times in
its 2000 years of existence, but it is still afloat. The key is to stay in the Ship, to stay close
to Jesus in the person of the Holy Father, the Pope, and not to focus so much
on the problems as to keep focusing on He and she who can help us to solve all
of our problems—both Jesus and Mary.
THE TRUTH! How can we know the truth then? Simple. The Truth is in the Person of Our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, but His voice and will is clearly manifested
through the Pope’s teachings.
Therefore, when the Holy Father the
Pope teaches all that refers to all regarding Faith, Doctrine, as well as
morality then the Holy Father cannot err; in other words, he is infallible.
Then it is that we actually hear the voice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
This knowledge of the ultimate source
and expression of the Truth should fill us with great peace, tranquility and
security. Jesus said that the “Truth
will set us free.” The devil is the
Father of lies but Jesus is Truth incarnate.
What then is our duty and obligation
towards the person of the Holy Father the Pope?
The following!
1.
Pray for the Pope. He is our spiritual Father appointed by
Jesus Himself to lead us the sheep of his flock to the heavenly grazing grounds
forever. Why not attend Mass and be
united yourself with the priest who prays for the Pope in every Mass celebrated
throughout the world and while at Mass offer your Communion for the Pope.
2.
Read the teachings of the Pope. Encyclicals, Apostolic letters, Apostolic
exhortations, discourses, Catechisms, discourses made during Papal visits. The website “Zenit.com” is the official
website of the Vatican in which you can have quick and easy access to all of
the teachings of the Vicar of Christ.
3.
Defend the Pope. When the Pope is being unjustly attacked---
this is more common now than ever—make it a point to stand up for the Pope and
to defend him. If someone were to attack
your mother or father, I imagine you would be quick to the defense of those you
love most.
4.
Portrait of the Pope. In my room as well as in my confessional I
have displayed in two prominent places the person of Blessed Pope John Paul
II. This I do for two reasons. First, for the simple reason that I honestly
love all the Popes, but especially the one who ordained me a priest and was
Pope during 26 years of my life. Second, to instill in people knowledge and
respect for the Pope.
5.
Love the Pope. Jesus loves the Pope; Mary loves the Pope;
the angels and the saints love the Pope.
Why not follow in the footsteps of the saints and God Himself and
cultivate a tender and loving attitude of filial devotion to the Pope. Long live Jesus! Long live Mary! Long live the Pope!
