January 4, 2014

"We must form their hearts. Otherwise we are creating little monsters. And then these little monsters mold the people of God."

 "This really gives [Pope Francis] goose bumps."

MEANWHILE: The Pope leaves a phone message: "What can the nuns be doing that stops them answering the phone?... This is Pope Francis... I wanted to give you New Year's greetings. I'll see if I can reach you later. God bless you."

7 comments:

tim maguire said...

For most of my life, we've had brilliant popes about whom we wondered if they cared enough. Now we have a caring pope about whom I wonder if he's smart enough.

Too early to tell which is worse, but my money is on Pope Francis.

rehajm said...

What can the nuns be doing that stops them answering the phone?

This really gives me goose bumps.

Rocco said...

...Otherwise we are creating little monsters.

What's wrong with being a Lady Gaga fan?

William said...

The Order of the Barefoot Carmelites. That's a catchy name for a religious order. How many women have been led to hell by their love of designer shows. If any of the girls on Sex in the City should find God, this is their group.

rhhardin said...

So do not believe the monster when he tells you that he is monstrous because others treat him as monstrous. He is monstrous because he lets the task of becoming human wait upon how others treat him.

- Stanley Cavell

wildswan said...

"This is the last and the greatest treason/ To do the right deed for the wrong reason." TS Eliot had Thomas A'Becket say that in the play Murder in the Cathedral. When you find and determine to hold by a set of values you think are right, it isn't the end of your thinking. No, if you are a real Christian you have to ask yourself daily if you are doing "the right deed for the wrong reason." These questions come up in the culture of Christians. Christians are so beleagered and have been so betrayed in places like Milwaukee that this kind of question is hard to ask. You sure don't hear anything like that from the priests who are so busy trying to score with the liberals that the interior life of faithful Catholics in the pews means nothing at all to them. If I supported immigration reform I'd be considered a good Catholic by these priests and if I opposed abortion I'd be considered a likely bad Catholic by the same group. No more is needed than liberalism where I live. Yet this Pope is saying that we have to get on with a true interior life regardless of circumstances. As if a real catholic culture was growing world wide.

Wince said...

"What can the nuns be doing that stops them answering the phone?"

Cue the harpsicord music.

Convent of Sinners, Nude bathing nuns!

Hey, he asked.