Pope Benedict XVI died on New Year’s Eve.
He had a short reign by modern standards, but he was among the most accomplished theologians ever elected to the papal throne – which is saying a lot.
And like the best teachers of the faith, he summed up his pontificate in his three last words.
The last words of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI as he lay on his deathbed were “Lord, I love you!” according to the late pope’s longtime personal secretary Archbishop Georg Gänswein, Vatican News reported.
At about 3 a.m. on Dec. 31, a few hours before he died, Benedict was alone with a nurse who did not speak German, Vatican News reported. At that time Gänswein and others who were taking turns staying with the pope emeritus had left the room for a moment.
Gänswein recounted that Benedict XVI “in a soft but clearly distinguishable voice said in Italian, ‘Lord, I love you!’”
A simple sentence, but rich with meaning.
Considering the departed’s office, especially.
Not long before his death, B16 gave this statement:
Not long before Our Lord’s ascension, he and Peter, whose heir Benedict was, had this dialogue:
He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.
Pope Benedict’s thoughts had turned to Christ’s office as judge of his life recently. And with good reason.
It’s easy to see how a fitting particular judgment for Peter’s successor would involve Our Lord asking the same question of him that He asked of Peter.
And it’s fitting that Benedict’s last word on this Earth is the defining act and Being of the Word who made the Earth.
“Signore, ti amo.”
Wonderful. May God have mercy on His soul.
I should clarify that I meant that the post and the sentiments contained within were wonderful, not Pope Emeritus Benedict’s death, of course.
Also, on New Years’ Day, I had the displeasure of overhearing two Death Cult talking heads on the radio spouting predictable talking points about Benedict and his papacy. There was complaining about how he handled the sex abuse scandals with the “gimlet eye of a canon lawyer” and wasn’t sufficiently sympathetic to victims or somesuch, along with bromides about how people “made to feel unwelcome” under Benedict were “welcomed” under Pope Francis, or somesuch, along with heresy about how “the Church is the People of God, not the Pope” (translation: “The Church must bow to the Zeitgeist”) along with wishful thinking that Benedict’s death might mean that Francis will be totally free to carry out all those Big Changes that they’ve been eagerly anticipating. Left a bad taste in my mouth, but what can you expect from Regime Media? RTÉ has never found a heretic or dissident crank priest/”member of a Catholic society” that they wouldn’t give a platform to.
In more positive news, Dr. E. Michael Jones reported record Christmas mass attendance in Ireland this year.
God Be Praised!
It might have something to do with this:
https://youtu.be/p1tuBpmBi7E
He is calling laborers for the vineyard.
I think TPTB will be surprised by how many answer.
I had no idea that this was happening. This has brightened my day immensely. Praise God!
Thanks for writing this. I hadn’t seen Pope Emeritus Benedict’s final statement before. When each of our time comes, may we all also be able to make a similar statement.
Prayers to St. Joseph for a holy and happy death
My condolences. I’m currently reading the first volume of His Holiness’ book “Jesus of Nazareth”. I’m enjoying it, recommend it heartily, and plan to get the other two when time and schooling permit.
All three volumes are absolute masterpieces. While I love Holy Father JPII, Benedict’s straightforward writing style was refreshing after struggling through his blessed predecessor’s spiral phenomenology.
Watching “barstool conservative” Dave Portsoy get ratio’d into the stratosphere for committing calumny against BXVI was a good start to the year. Good reminder that there are many self-proclaimed conservatives and Republicans out there that exist as a brood of vipers.
The God’s honest truth is that Christians are going to be increasingly pushed to the margins. Now that Roe has been overturned, there are no Christian battles that Republican leadership is willing to fight. Look how easy the “Respect for Marriage Act” passed with nary an objection from Republican congressman. Even the darlings of the Right such as Trump and Kari Lake were celebrating the gay “marriage” bill at Mar-A-Lago.
But it’s okay. We’re part of the Body of Christ and He has already saved all of us through His death and resurrection. It’s incumbent on each and every Christian to not put our faith in “based” politicians or personalities who “own the libs.” That’s all part of political theater and State permitted discourse.
Whether we’re in a strong, nationalistic Christian theocracy or in a hedonistic, pagan dystopia, it’s incumbent upon all of us to repent, give thanks to God and live in accordance to his Word.
“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Luke 1:38
These are indeed good signs. Another GOP grifter, this one a “based black” also got ratio’d for scolding the party’s Christian base about their objection to murdering children whose parents committed incest.
The sooner Christians internalize that the whole GOP is a scam meant to divert their attention from spiritual warfare to pointless worldly kayfabe, the better.