May 6, http://www.tribtimes.org
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William Zambrano MD
May 5, 2025, 2:55:34 PMMay 5
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(Psa 31:14-15) But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my God. My lots are in thy hands.
CRISIS MAGAZINE: On Our Knees in Hope: The Conclave, the Papacy, and the Call to Prayerful Reverence
FIRST THINGS: On the Eve of a Conclave of Great Consequence: Some Reflections by George Weigel
DENVER CATHOLIC: Archbishop Chaput: What the Church Needs in the Next Pope
YOUTUBE: The Real Factors Shaping the Next Pope | The Conclave Crew: Ep. 1 Arroyo Grande with Raymond Arroyo
FR. ROBERTO M. CID: Papal Sweepstakes
During these days before the beginning of the conclave that will elect the new pope, media outlets offer us a sort of papal sweepstakes, with candidates, celebrities, favorites and the like. Setting aside the ever present, repetitious and nauseating sociological reduction of the Church that leaves no room for mystery or the action of the Spirit, it is truly striking to see the superficiality, ignorance of history and sheer lack of professionalism shown by so many communicators and commentators.
We must never forget that first and foremost the Church is a supernatural reality whose head is Christ. Animated by the Holy Spirit, she journeys through time towards the consummation of history in God. What is essential in her life is communion with Christ together with Peter, not uniformity.
Needless to say, in the Church there are nuances, controversies, differing criteria and cultural diversity. There may also be power struggles, cabals, cliques, ambition and vanity because in her there is grace and sin: the grace of God and the sin of men. Grace, however, always carries the day, as St. Paul explains in Romans 5:20.
Through the history of the Church there have been holy popes and those that were not so holy, as well as some that left a lot to be desired. Whoever may be that ends up being elected in the conclave that is about to begin on May 7, he will be Peter. We may or may not find him friendly. He may or may not be charismatic. He may or may not have many academic degrees. He may be affable and extroverted or circumspect and introverted. He may hail from the same place that we do or not. Beyond all these issues, he will be our universal shepherd and the Vicar of Christ on earth. This last consideration is the only one that matters.
The papal sweepstakes played by the media may be the subject of a conversation over a cup of coffee, material for a moment of leisure or an inconsequential chat but does not affect in the least the life of the Church. It may be useful to them who wish to sell newspapers or attract an audience. Let us not fall in the fatuous mediocrity of the media. What is much more interesting than participating in the papal sweepstakes offered to us is to actively participate in the conclave. Undoubtedly, we can influence the election in a decisive way through our fervent prayers for the cardinals and for the next pope.
The Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
1. Antony said, 'Now I no longer fear God, I love him, for love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).'
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfmin...@roadrunner.com
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May 6, 2025(Psa 31:14-15) But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord: I said: Thou art my God. My lots are in thy hands.
CRISIS MAGAZINE: On Our Knees in Hope: The Conclave, the Papacy, and the Call to Prayerful Reverence
FIRST THINGS: On the Eve of a Conclave of Great Consequence: Some Reflections by George Weigel
DENVER CATHOLIC: Archbishop Chaput: What the Church Needs in the Next Pope
- Clarity and Conviction: The next pope must clearly articulate Catholic doctrine, avoiding ambiguity. Chaput argues that the Church’s teachings on contentious issues like marriage, family, and sexuality should be presented with confidence, as they are rooted in reason and scripture, not merely tradition.
- Evangelical Zeal: The pope should inspire a renewed sense of mission, encouraging Catholics to live out their faith boldly in a world increasingly hostile to Christianity. This includes fostering a culture of evangelization to counter secularism and moral relativism.
- Moral Authority: The pontiff must embody personal holiness and integrity to restore trust in the Church, especially after scandals and internal divisions. A pope who lives simply and authentically can model the Gospel’s call to humility and service.
- Global Perspective: With Catholicism’s center of gravity shifting to the Global South, the next pope should continue to engage with diverse cultures while unifying the Church around universal truths. Chaput notes the importance of a leader who can navigate the tensions between progressives and conservatives.
- Courage to Confront Challenges: The pope must address internal issues like clericalism and external pressures like cultural decline. This requires courage to uphold the Church’s countercultural stance on issues like abortion, gender ideology, and consumerism without compromising for societal approval.
YOUTUBE: The Real Factors Shaping the Next Pope | The Conclave Crew: Ep. 1 Arroyo Grande with Raymond Arroyo
FR. ROBERTO M. CID: Papal Sweepstakes
During these days before the beginning of the conclave that will elect the new pope, media outlets offer us a sort of papal sweepstakes, with candidates, celebrities, favorites and the like. Setting aside the ever present, repetitious and nauseating sociological reduction of the Church that leaves no room for mystery or the action of the Spirit, it is truly striking to see the superficiality, ignorance of history and sheer lack of professionalism shown by so many communicators and commentators.
We must never forget that first and foremost the Church is a supernatural reality whose head is Christ. Animated by the Holy Spirit, she journeys through time towards the consummation of history in God. What is essential in her life is communion with Christ together with Peter, not uniformity.
Needless to say, in the Church there are nuances, controversies, differing criteria and cultural diversity. There may also be power struggles, cabals, cliques, ambition and vanity because in her there is grace and sin: the grace of God and the sin of men. Grace, however, always carries the day, as St. Paul explains in Romans 5:20.
Through the history of the Church there have been holy popes and those that were not so holy, as well as some that left a lot to be desired. Whoever may be that ends up being elected in the conclave that is about to begin on May 7, he will be Peter. We may or may not find him friendly. He may or may not be charismatic. He may or may not have many academic degrees. He may be affable and extroverted or circumspect and introverted. He may hail from the same place that we do or not. Beyond all these issues, he will be our universal shepherd and the Vicar of Christ on earth. This last consideration is the only one that matters.
The papal sweepstakes played by the media may be the subject of a conversation over a cup of coffee, material for a moment of leisure or an inconsequential chat but does not affect in the least the life of the Church. It may be useful to them who wish to sell newspapers or attract an audience. Let us not fall in the fatuous mediocrity of the media. What is much more interesting than participating in the papal sweepstakes offered to us is to actively participate in the conclave. Undoubtedly, we can influence the election in a decisive way through our fervent prayers for the cardinals and for the next pope.
The Desert Fathers: sayings of the Early Christian Monks: Charity
1. Antony said, 'Now I no longer fear God, I love him, for love casts out fear (1 John 4:18).'
Prayer request? Send an email to: PrayerR...@aol.com
"Have ANY Catholic Question? Just ask Ron Smith at: hfmin...@roadrunner.com
This month's archive can be found at: http://www.catholicprophecy.info/news2.html.
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