Communion of Saints

" Dear brothers and sisters, so it is that day after day the Church offers us the possibility of walking in the company of Saints. Hans Urs von Balthasar wrote that the Saints constitute the most important message of the Gospel, its actualization in daily life, and therefore represent for us a real means of access to Jesus. The French writer Jean Guitton described them "as the colours of the spectrum in relation to light", because with their own tones and accentuations each one of them reflects the light of God's holiness. How important and useful, therefore, is the commitment to cultivate knowledge of and devotion to the Saints, alongside daily meditation on the Word of God and filial love for Our Lady! " ~ Pope Benedict, Audience, 20 Aug 2008 https://www.vatican.va/content/benedict-xvi/en/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20080820.html

O how I loved our "Papa Benny"!!!  He was a scholar of exceedingly great gifts, yet his demeanor was an icon of gentleness.

As Cardinal Ratzinger, this kindly, gentle scholar was under the authority of his Pope and so cannot be held responsible for forbearance against the pedophiliacs as often charged. On becoming our leader, we all sighed with relief as he finally began to address the issue. Most of the worst offenders were silenced and moved to positions where they could no longer prey on the innocent.  The financial antics of those running the Vatican Bank also ceased.

As a teacher, few have attained his heights.  His writings inspire me very much. Of his encyclicals, my favorite is that on Christian hope, Spe Salvi.

While I grieved upon his resignation, I applaud his humility in recognizing that the problems before Mother Church were best fought by another.  In his retirement, this Papa was ever prudent, supportive, and helpful ... 

...At the end of his Pastoral Rule, Saint Gregory the Great urged a friend to offer him this spiritual accompaniment: “Amid the shipwreck of the present life, sustain me, I beseech you, by the plank of your prayer, that, since my own weight sinks me down, the hand of your merit will raise me up”. Here we see the awareness of a pastor who cannot carry alone what in truth he could never carry alone, and can thus commend himself to the prayers and the care of the people entrusted to him...           ~ words of Pope Francis' Funeral Homily.

May he rest in peace. Funeral mass of Pope Benedict

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My Sicilian grandmother, mother of my mother, was named "Santina" i.e. the little saint. By this name, she had as patrons the full Communion of Saints from Mother Mary our Queen to the lowliest whose names are known only to Almighy God.  As I am named for my grandmother, I claim them, too.