Pope Benedict Tells the Faithful: The Truth is the Truth and there is No Compromise

By Deacon Keith Fournier
9/2/2012
Catholic Online (www.catholic.org)

Christian life requires, so to speak, the daily martyrdom of fidelity to the Gospel

"We cannot stoop to compromises with the love of Christ, his Word, the Truth. The Truth is the Truth and there is no compromise. Christian life requires, so to speak, the daily "martyrdom" of fidelity to the Gospel - that is the courage to let Christ grow in us and direct our thinking and our actions. But this can only happen in our lives if there is a solid relationship with God. Prayer is not a waste of time, it does not rob much space from our activities, not even apostolic activities, it does the exact opposite: only if we are able to have a life of faithful, constant, confident prayer will God Himself give us the strength and capacity to live in a happy and peaceful way, to overcome difficulties and to bear witness with courage."

Pope benedict XVI addressing the faithful at the Angelus Prayer

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CASTEL GANDOLFO, Italy (Catholic Online) - Pope Benedict XVI addresses thousands of Pilgrims every Wednesday during the Angelus prayer. This "Wednesday Catechesis" is a longstanding tradition of the modern Popes. Between September 5, 1979 and November 28, 1984, His predecessor, Blessed John Paul II, delivered a series of 129 catechetical instructions called Human Love in the Divine Plan, often referred to as "theology of the Body".

Pope Benedict XVI has offered some of his finest instructions on prayer at these Wednesday sessions. He has also given some inspiring accounts of the lives of the great saints - he is one of Church histories finest hagiographers. He is towering intellect but, more importantly, he truly prays - and continually. This Pope is a theologian of the highest order and, I believe, a true mystic.

As a theologian he calls to mind the definition of the early Church Monk Evagrius, "If you are a theologian you truly pray. If you truly pray you are a theologian." The same monk also wrote "A theologian is one who rests his head on the chest of Christ". Pope Benedict is that kind of theologian.

Sadly, his instructions are not yet read or watched by many of the faithful throughout the world. I say sadly because we live in an age when such a possibility could easily happen through our communications technology. One of the reasons I try to bring these instructions to our readers is to expose as many Catholics and other Christians to the apostolic teaching of this successor of Peter for their growth in the Christian life.

On Wednesday, August 29, 2012, the Holy Father led the Angelus prayer from Castel Gandolfo, his summer residence. Thousands gathered. It was the Feast of the beheading of John the Baptizer. His address is an example of both his skills of hagiography (telling the stories of the Saints) and teaching good theology combined. Here are a few excerpts:

*****
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On the last Wednesday of August, we celebrate the liturgical memorial of the martyrdom of St. John the Baptist, the forerunner of Jesus. In the Roman Calendar, he is the only saint whose birth, June 24, and death through martyrdom are celebrated on the same day. Today's memorial dates back to the dedication of a crypt of Sebaste in Samaria, where, by the middle of the fourth century, his head was venerated.

The cult spread to Jerusalem, in the Churches of the East and Rome, with the title of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. In the Roman Martyrology, reference is made to a second finding of the precious relic, transported, for the occasion, to the church of St. Sylvester in Campo Marzio, Rome.

These small historical references help us to understand how ancient and profound devotion to the John the Baptist is. In the Gospels his role in relation to Jesus stands out very well. In particular, St Luke tells his birth, his life in the wilderness, his preaching, and St. Mark tells us about his tragic death in today's Gospel. John the Baptist began his preaching under the emperor Tiberius, in AD 27-28, and his clear invitation addressed to the people who flocked to hear him, is to prepare the way to welcome the Lord, to straighten the crooked streets of life through a radical change of heart (cf. Lk 3, 4).

But the Baptist did not limit himself to preaching repentance, conversion, he also recognized Jesus as the "Lamb of God" who comes to take away the sin of the world (Jn 1, 29), he has the deep humility to reveal in Jesus the true Messenger of God, stepping aside so that Christ can grow, be listened to and followed. As a final note, the Baptist bears witness to his fidelity to the commandments of God with his blood, without ever giving in or turning back, carrying out his mission to the very end. In his Homilies the IXth century monk, St. Bede writes:

"For [Christ] he gave his life, although he was not ordered to deny Jesus Christ, he was ordered not to silence the truth. However, he died for Christ "(Hom. 23: CCL 122, 354). For the love of truth, he did not stoop to compromises with the powerful and was not afraid to use strong words with those who had lost the path of God.

Now we look at this great figure, this strength in passion, in resistance to the powerful. Where does this life of rectitude and coherency, this interior strength, completely spent for God and to prepare the way for Jesus, come from? The answer is simple: from his relationship with God, from prayer, which is the main theme of his whole existence. John is the Divine gift that had been long invoked by his parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth (cf. Lk 1:13), a great gift, humanly beyond hope, because both were advanced in years and Elizabeth was barren (cf. Lk 1:7), but nothing is impossible for God (cf. Luke 1:36). ...

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1 - 8 of 8 Comments

Judy Claar
8 months ago
David Carlon. JoAnn,Paul- Emile Leray, Your posts echo my beliefs entirely! Great article Deacon Keith! I picked up on the"Judicial oligarchs and Alchemists..." myself as well. Perfect! As far as the other posts, they seemed to be personally directed to you, Deacon Keith, so I will not comment at this point in time.
The essence of this article, in my opinion, is easily received: "The Truth is the Truth and there is NO Compromise".And, "The Christian Life requires sometimes, Living a daily Martyrdom", or words to that affect. To me it means, there are no ifs, ands, or buts in Living the Truth, the Light, and the Way. There is only Truth. There is No Compromise. The Road is narrow, and few will choose the right Way. It is here before us, if we will only Open our eyes to See; our ears to Hear.
If one gets nothing but these two points, and Live them Daily,They are indeed a member of the Living Body of Christ. Thank you. May God Bless You...
David Carlon
8 months ago
Beautiful! Prayer transports us at the speed of thought into God's presence. It doesn't get any better!
JoAnn
8 months ago
John Siple: Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the reign of God would come, Jesus replied: "You cannot tell by careful watching when the reign of God will come. Neither is it a matter of reporting that it is "here" or "there." The Kingdom of God is within you." Lk. 17:20-21. I hope that answers your question. God bless.
John Siple
8 months ago
A truly informative, lovely article my friend. Please keep writing.
One question, and that is a line telling us we, the Church will usher-in the Kingdom. Is it not when Christ comes again in glory? I'd like to be informed. An Eastern priest told us that he bristles & shudders when he hears us sing, "Let Us Build the Kingdom of God".
Thanks!
val
8 months ago
Satan has deceived the whole world into believing in a god of hate and revenge (Satan). God is precise: It is a woman Rev 12 that delivers the true word John1:1, Rev 12:5, Rev 12:13 who restores Acts 3:21 all things to prepare a people. Not one child of God will be put in a hell fire no matter what their sins. No one will go to a purgatory. It never entered the heart or mind of God to ever do such a thing Jer 7:31, Jer 19:5 and this is proven by the word to the whole world as a witness at http://thegoodtale.blogspot.com . Be a workman; gather all evidence before making a judgment.
Tom McGuire
8 months ago
Paul Hickey,

I would love to read your comments on 'Objectivist Ethics' which informs much of the political rhetoric. Last night Paul Ryan gave some good examples of it in his comments on individualism.

Deacon,

I hear you about abortion, but what about infant mortality? Babies born to African American women in the United States die three times more often than babies born to white women. One of the causes is racism. I find the almost exclusive emphasis on abortion in Catholic discourse one more example of relativism. The application of intrinsic evil is limited in application to abortion. Is not racism intrinsically evil?

In my reading of co-responsibility of the laity which you encouraged me to to, I came across this quote:

Lack of concern for the temporal problems of humanity “would be to forget the lesson which comes to us from the Gospel concerning love of our neighbour who is suffering and in need” (Apostolic Exhortation Evangelii Nuntiandi, nn. 31, 34). It would not be in harmony with the behaviour of Jesus who “went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every infirmity” (Mt 9:35).

I find little or no discussion of this teaching on the "temporal problems of humanity" coming from our Bishops and almost never in homilies on Sunday. Is this not a type of relativism? One picks and chooses according to the current political emphasis.
Paul Hickey
8 months ago
I wish the Popoe and the clergy,as well as the catholic journalist class, would fully explain to the laity what objectivisim and subjectivism is. I see little purpose of quoting relativism or objectivism here if the reader fails to understand what is being conveyed in the sentences.

From my experience, the death of grammer and the parts of speech in our schools, has dumbed down the populace to thse ideas ( subject verb object ) so they fail to grasp the warning within the article... the damage of these new "isms!".

Many readers can not identify the parts of a sentence nad understand what they do to convey meaning!; Subject, verb or object. No longer does the man on the street know the parts of speech, so how can they relate to these philosophical "isms".

As a result, phrases like Moral Relativism ( neo Subjectivism ) is meaningless to many lay catholics. This terms needs to be explained and the concept broken open.

The intent of this article, in part, is to discuss the "Truth", which is objectivism. But who knows this in the modernistic environment? What is Truth? Truth is where the meaning associated with the object of the sentnece is unchangeable. Where the meaning of the object can not be altered by the whims and fancies of the subject... who is man!

Relativism is the opposite of Truth, because is it subjectivism... where opinion and understanding is dependent of the subject ( current man in his current new age) . Everything in this subjectivist worls, has to be remeasured and re examined to give new man his new meaning. The old phrase "Getting with the times" is the cover of subjectivism.. relativism. Maybe even Vat II with its "Aggiornomento" will be seen by history as the entrance of subjectivism and relativism in the Holy Church.

Man, the subject, is now able, nay... now demands that everything is submitted to his new reason, in the new age.

He will not accept the meaning of the object from anyone, certainly not history. So faith is now an individual thing, beleive is personalised... I like that bit, but not that bit, because ui ave a new meaning for object... I have new truth... I am the centre of it all, all object understanding is dependent on ME. The SUBJECT.

It is easy to extrapolate that subjectivism is the death of religion,,, the death of Revealed Religion... This why it is so serious and why the church needs to explian this illness before it can be treated.

I strongly believe that this type of writing, with a lack of explanation, is missing a GOLDEN opportunity to educate people on subjectivism, objectivism and the central problem, Modernism.

Modernism, relativism is reducniog everything to mere opinion..... i.e What the subject thinks on any topic. History and tradition is meaningless.

The subject's individual view, however ill informed or lacking, is just as legitimate as the revelaed Truth or the Natural Law. These foundations of our western civilisation have been jettisoned in the name of this fasle subjectivist freedom, with very few outsdie the philosophy circle really understanding warning the Pope is making to the christian civilisation!!!
Paul-Emile Leray
8 months ago
Dear Deacon,
"Judicial oligarchs and alchemists"...your wording is perfect and on target. It is the nature of truth that it often separates itself from the crowd. Yet, in a mobocracy (democracy), majority rules. How to reconcile this contradiction present? Why do so many billionaires who made their fortunes in the private sector then turn around and support left leaning socialistic policy making? Because they are out to ENSLAVE us, through corporatism and socialism/communism. At the back doors of each of these realities we find practically the same in terms of enslavement, although corporatism offers the illusion people are free by paying them more to be ENSLAVED through less coercion perhaps. What a dynamic Pope we have! Great! And long after the politicians are dead our Catholic Church will still be ALIVE and WELL. I was told to not shout the truth with trumpets. The heck with it! I am shouting the truth with trumpets....a 100 of them all at once! A symphony of trumpets! If one is to be a fool, why not a completely certified one! (haha!) Rich and powerful elites do not wish for people to try living a Christian existential life because they end up becoming radically free. Therefore? Institutions can not silence them and control them. Critical, honest, aware thinkers are often hated by authorities. Why? They risk upsetting the status quo. A democracy is only as good as those making up the citizenry, since the politicians reflect the majority in perception and reality. Since perception affects reality and vice versa, the only way to overcome all this is through Christ. Period. Of course none of us are perfect, but if we keep getting UP we are still standing at the end of each day and week. Your articles are very inspiring, they truly help. Fear results in people becoming passive and submissive. Do not fear the authorities. They are bones, flesh, wrapped in skin like everyone else....then they die. True? True. Then, they end up in a coffin or on top of the fireplace mantle inside an urn. I suggest rereading Jacques Maritain and Carlos G. Valles (SJ)...both great writers to anyone interested. Also, Luis M. Martinez.
Paul-Emile Leray

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