Saturday, March 30, 2013

I'm not Catholic, but . . .

I really don't understand the heat that the new pope is receiving about washing feet of two young women.  I don't get it.  Again, I'm not Catholic so some clarity here (constructive, please) would be wonderful.

I think that it is wonderful that he is willing to take on a church that was (sorry) seemingly a hot mess for a while with all of the ick and garbage that was coming out.  He seems to be a very humble man and that by his example, perhaps people can see that life is about living and being a servant, not about the person with the most toys winning at the end.

He is an example that extravagances are unneeded and that instead of lavishing upon ourselves, we should move forth and share among the masses.  Again, I'm looking at this from a non-Catholic point of view, but to say that I don't pay attention to the pope would be a lie.  My grandmother LOVED Pope John Paul.  I recall her love for him and how she spoke of him.  No big offense to Pope Benedict, but I don't believe that my grandmother would have been as enamored with him.

So please explain, if you can and if you would choose to, how a humble man who requires literally very little and is willing to move amongst the masses minus the popemobile and all, how he can be criticized for being who he is and how he is conducting business.

Be constructive and be kind, please.

3 comments:

Rach said...

I don't understand why they're giving him grief. Truly. It seems to me those children are just as deserving. The thought is the 12 apostles were men THEREFORE the twelve whose feet he washed should be men. Why? Why does it matter? I loved the Vatican's statement regarding the matter.

The Vatican Press Office responded Friday to "questions and concerns" related to the pope's washing the young offenders' feet, calling it a "simple and spontaneous gesture of love, affection, forgiveness and mercy."

"When Jesus washed the feet of those who were with him on the first Holy Thursday, he desired to teach all a lesson about the meaning of service, using a gesture that included all members of the community," the office said in a statement. "... To have excluded the young women from the ritual washing of feet ... would have detracted our attention from the essence of the Holy Thursday gospel, and the very beautiful and simple gesture of a father who desired to embrace those who were on the fringes of society."

Bailey's Leaf said...

Thank you for the clarity. My MIL is upset because he won't ride in the pope mobile and she thinks that he is putting his life at risk. I told her that he took public transport where he lived before. BUT HE'S THE POPE!

Rach said...

See, and I keep thinking it's incredible that this beautiful spirit wants to reach out and touch as many as he can.

Have I mentioned I'm IN LOVE with this man?? :o)