The Truth about Pope Benedict XVI

Recently the secular press, especially the New York Times, has viciously gone after Pope Benedict XVI accusing him of complicity in the clerical abuse scandal.

Here are a few well written responses that uncover the rest of the story:

Let's Get the Story Straight

Hatred of the Church

Multiple Links

Joe Catholic Hits 21

Today Joe Catholic, just one month shy of its one year anniversary, celebrated a major milestone.  We broke through the twenty mark.  We had twenty-one men present for today's sessions.  That is incredible!  I expected a lower than normal turn out because of the Easter holiday. Instead, you set a new mark.  It is a testimony to your dedication to learn more about your faith and your willingness to be open to the Holy Spirit.  Praise God!  

Mystagogy - Living the Mysteries

Most Catholics are not familiar with the term "mystagogy."  The term is most closely associated with the RCIA process and the period of time following the Easter Vigil leading up to Pentacost Sunday.  It is a period of finishing, of filling in the gaps for "unfinished" Christians.  Truth is, we are all unfinished Christians and we could all do with some finishing, some additional catechesis.  This is precisely the role ministries like Joe Catholic and Why Catholic? serve.   

The catechesis is aimed at helping us grow in our faith.  More specifically to arm us with the knowledge to better utilize the sacraments - the real mysteries.  Mystagogy is really all about living the sacraments.  It's about walking the walk, in our every day ordinary lives.  It's answering the universal call to holiness.  

Blessed Mother Theresa said we are "called to blossom exactly where we are planted."  St. Josemaria asserts God is calling "ordinary Christians immersed in the bloodstream of society...to be saints and apostles, in the very midst of our professional work." 

As Catholics, we have the fullness of the Christian faith; we have the seven sacraments and apostolic succession.  We have a responsibility to act on this, for as scripture says, to those who much is given, much is required.  We have a duty to our family, friends and co-workers to know our faith, so we can share, and more importantly, live our faith.

We can remember the acronym CARE.  Continuous Adult Religious Education.  Use this website as a launching point to your continued development beyond what you learn at the sessions.  Start by reading any of the books on the recommended reading list.  Visit some of the links.  The Catholic Information Services has a wealth of online training.

Finally, I recommend one additional book - Living the Mysteries: A Guide for Unfinished Christians, Scott Hahn

John Paul The Great

John Paul II reigned as pope between 1978-2005.  He travelled more than any other previous pope.  He was a prolific writer and oversaw the canonization of numerous saints. JP2, as students called him at World Youth Day, was known for his strong devotion to Mary - he prayed all the mysteries of the rosary daily and even instituted the new luminous mysteries.   John Paul II is partially credited for the fall of Communism and is closely associated with the Divine Mercy devotion.

The Full Story

George Weigel's Witness to Hope

Encyclicals with Study Tool

Pope John Paul II Cultural Center

DIVINE MERCY

Simply put the message of Divine Mercy is that God loves us and His mercy is greater than any of our sins.  We are called to live the ABC's of mercy. ASK for his mercy.  BE merciful. COMPLETELY trust in his mercy.  In living a life of mercy we must be merciful to others.  We can do this in three ways - prayer, words and deeds.

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

PLENARY INDULGENCE

How to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet

The Mercy Hour

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA

The Mercy Pope

St. Faustina