Letter: Benedict a model for all of us

Looking back, now, at the great guidance and leadership that Pope Benedict XVI has demonstrated to us in his papacy, I am awed by his humility in his Holy Spirit-inspired wise decision to resign as the 264th successor of St. Peter. Despite whatever frailties he has been experiencing in his elder years that may have diminished his ability to continue serving in this role, the pope has shown great fortitude and strength in acknowledging his need to step down.

This decision by the pope was certainly a painful one, in which he must have certainly struggled. As I studied in my gerontology (study of aging) emphasis of graduate social work in the past, and had learned many years ago per Eric Erikson’s “Stages of Life,” all of us, at some point, have to come to grips with “Ego Integrity versus Despair;” Pope Benedict has certainly shown us his alignment with the former and, through his wonderful encyclicals, teachings and resignation to the Holy Spirit, has certainly guided us on how to cope with and overcome the latter.

Aside from my graduate school studies involving the biological, economic, psychological and spiritual aspects of aging, as well as my professional practice time in the field, they have both taught me that “too often old age is hidden not just from our eyes but even more from our feelings,” as was noted by the late spiritual writer Henri Nouwen; the latter also remarked that “we not only tend to deny the reality of old men and women living in closed rooms and nursing homes, but also the old man or woman who is slowly awakening in each of us.”

So, during this wonderful season of Lent, when one can strive for less of a me-ego emphasis and more humility (“He must increase and I must decrease.” John 3:30) the way our beloved outgoing shepherd has shown us, I’m also praying for the Holy Spirit to guide the church in the selection of the new pope to continue the seamless apostolic succession of leadership for it since St. Peter was chosen by Jesus.

And I give thanks to God for how Benedict XVI has humbly shown us, per the integrity of his papacy, to bring together people of all denominations and walks of faith and to demonstrate being the “servus servorum Dei“ (servant of the servants of God) — a term noted by Pope St. Gregory, Blessed John Paul II and many other previous popes.

Keith John Paul Horcasitas

social worker

Baton Rouge

Comments

1) Comment by mcarter - 07/03/2013

Ovation, I totally agree.

2) Comment by prbeav - 06/03/2013

For others who may want response to "ovation," the preamble to the US Constitution invites We the People to appreciate each other regardless of no-harm, personal motivation and inspiration. People who commit to the preamble's seven goals do not feel animosity toward holding private affairs private. Thus, a Catholic who is among We the People would neither address sins of other religions nor accuse them of "Catholic hating." They would not display personal worship and praise in a public forum, because they would not appreciate such public display by someone of a different faith.>>>>Social theorist Philip Selznick put it this way: "The vitality of a social order comes . . . from the necessities of cooperation in everyday life."

3) Comment by prbeav - 06/03/2013

Mygulfbleedsforu, thanks for the explanation. Maybe my metaphor will work out, though. I hope so, for the hopes of the church and many friends and family who deeply care. The Cardinals need to act fast if that will be.

4) Comment by phil - 06/03/2013

The Pope is gone - long live the Pope. In other words, the Catholic church will survive this and a new Pope will be elected and things will continue on with the church. The Catholic Church has some problems, but overall I believe in the basic principles of the Catholic Church and I doubt that the church will ever do anything that contradicts the basic teachings and rules set by God. God allows us to have free will, and we can choose whether we want to follow God or not. If you do not like the Catholic Church then do not belong to it and do not follow it. It is your choice. I personally choose to follow the Catholic Church even if it is not perfect all of the time. I see some atheists etc are in full force here making comments on this subject. You have used your free will.

5) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 06/03/2013

No, prb, I'm afraid I wasn't being nearly so esoteric, nor even at all metaphorical. I simply mean this: there couldn't be a worse time on the Roman Catholic calendar to *voluntarily* -- because that's what it appears to be -- throw the church into this kind of disarray. For heaven's sake -- so to speak -- they didn't even know what to call him, or where he would live, or if he'd still (?) be "infallible". He chose to do something during the most reverent and holy of Catholic observances that stood the world on its ear. He couldn't wait? He couldn't allow them to figure out the ins and outs first? It had to be done NOW? Not buying it. I suspect he is either running from something or bowing to a demand.

6) Comment by ovation - 06/03/2013

As has been the case in US history, the Catholic hating continues. This has been going on for hundreds of year. The Church never ever claimed to be perfect. "let he who has not sinned cast the first stone.' The sins of the Catholic Church are no greater nor less than the sins of the Protestant, Jewish, Muslim and other faiths of the world. I always find it slightly amusing that when the media wants to portray something as being religous and holy, it uses symbols of the Catholic faith, yet when there is condemnation upon Christian values, they are the hardest on the Catholic Church. I am proud to be Catholic and as a Catholic I know forgiveness and that our journey in life is never complete. I believe that God is constantly forgiving all of our faults, even the non-believers such as some of the writers here. Nothing will change that for me. Don't bother replying to my post because I won't come back to this OPINION section for this letter.

7) Comment by prbeav - 06/03/2013

@Mygulfbleedsforu. I imagined that you are referring to a metaphor: modern Catholicism being resurrected with Church cleansing publicity followed by election of a Pope. Did you have something else/more in mind?

8) Comment by ex-louisianian - 06/03/2013

The emeritus pope Ratzinger, as chief theologian during the JPII reign, argued that endemic poverty, unplanned families, abusive government, and rationed education produce better Catholics. In that light, it's no wonder that a letter writer from Louisiana would find the man praiseworthy.

9) Comment by Mygulfbleedsforu - 06/03/2013

I wanted to just laugh at this letter but it's not funny. And we wonder how the religious can re-elect a David Vitter? And anyway, elder years, diminished ability, frailty, all of which could not wait until after the lenten period and Easter. Is there anyone who truly, deeply does not believe there is a heck of a lot more to this story, that we'll probably never know?

10) Comment by DMJ - 06/03/2013

Yes, thanks "god." Now, hundreds of pedophiles have escaped punishment thanks to the amazing work of former Hitler youth Ratzinger.

11) Comment by Bighug - 06/03/2013

I was going to comment, but chem and prbeav said it better than I would have. I agree with both of them.

12) Comment by chem - 05/03/2013

Benedict is no role model for me, and I would hope for no one else. As both a cardinal and pope, he tried to cover up the pedophile and other sex scandals in the church. Hardly a role model. The Catholic Church has nothing to be proud of either. The church has been involved in some of the worst atrocities in human history. Pope Pious XII, along with the rest of the catholic clergy, looked the other way while Hitler and the Nazis made history. The church even had a pact with the Nazis. Neither the pope nor the Catholic Church is to be looked at as a role model.

13) Comment by prbeav - 05/03/2013

With due respect for private affairs, "And I give thanks to God for how Benedict XVI has humbly shown us, per the integrity of his papacy, to bring together people of all denominations and walks of faith and to demonstrate being the “servus servorum Dei“ (servant of the servants of God) — a term noted by Pope St. Gregory, Blessed John Paul II and many other previous popes.">>>>Since the public consists of a substantial population that is non-theist, meaning they either do not speculate about a god (me for example) or they do not believe in God (me too since God is defined by each individual and I would not deny anyone his God), I assert that this is a private, not a public letter. Anyone who "in integrity" would "bring together people" must appeal to the whole pubic. In America, that focus is available in the US Constitution, specifically in its preamble, which defines We the People as committed to and trusting in seven secular goals. Any but private theistic appeals in America subvert the US Constitution.>>>>I express opinion only in absence of the objective truth.