A New Pontificate of Hope

Cardinal Mahony offers some reflections on Pope Benedict XVI, the Mass of Inauguration, and the future.

As I return to Los Angeles, filled with gratitude to God for this extraordinary spiritual experience, I plead with you, the Catholic People of Los Angeles, to join me in surrounding Pope Benedict XVI with our prayers, our love, our support, and our loving trust.

Yes, once again Peter is at the helm of the Church. We are not orphans, we are not alone. Peter is there to lead us forward in the next great chapter of the history of the Church, the Body of Christ.

For many years to come!

Humility

This is just a note of encouragement. Sometimes it's so easy for Christians, and indeed for anyone who desires to walk by faith, to get all tied up in the concerns of the world and forget the spiritual reality at work all around us. I plead guilty on that. How could I ignore something so beautiful? Well, because of my own selfishness and sin, of course. It's that which turns my world in on me and makes me the center, instead of Him who we profess.

The concerns of the world are important, but we must never walk as though we are merely left to fend for ourselves. There are times for mourning and times for weeping, but regardless of what happens, be happy and hopeful.

From the letter of St. Paul to the Romans (Ch. 14:8)

Sive enim vivimus, Domino vivimus, sive morimur, Domino morimur. Sive ergo vivimus, sive morimur, Domini sumus.

For if we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.

Therefore, let us act with courage and integrity if we truly profess Christ, crucified and risen. We are not our own; rather, we have been baptized into Christ. Therefore, we belong to Him, and we belong to Him together.