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This Insights eNewsletter was sent to subscribers on May 3, 2024.
eNewsletter Subject: Only the peaceful soul is effective
In his latest commentary (Mounting frustration in the twilight of the pontificate), Phil Lawler comments on the frustration that must have led eighteen Catholics to issue a call for Pope Francis’s resignation. While acknowledging the many problems with this pontificate, Phil hints in closing that such public statements do not seem to have much practical purpose other than to vent frustration.
My own response to this new statement against the Pope was similar to Phil’s. Even setting aside the seriousness of accusing the Pope of heresy, and the undesirability of papal resignations becoming a common occurrence, it seems obvious that a letter by eighteen professors and pundits, most of them laypeople, demanding that the Pope step down, is so obviously going to accomplish nothing that it is just an exercise in self-indulgence. If I may say so, the situation is too grave for us to waste time venting emotions or, indeed, issuing statements that are well outside the duties of our state in life.
This is why the “Queen of Peace” (that is, Our Lady) is the theme of Catholic Culture’s May fundraising campaign. Simply seeing problems and reacting to them is not enough. Without interior peace, we do not have the clarity of vision to be guided by the Holy Spirit as to how best to serve the Church, or the self-mastery to be part of the solution rather than part of the problem. I am reminded of a quote from Fr. Jacques Philippe (which sadly I can’t find at the moment) to the effect that, if we try to change the world without starting from a place of interior peace, we will only communicate our own lack of peace to others.
This is not only a constant battle within each soul, but one of the fundamental problems to be faced by any Catholic media organization, and so we ask for your prayers this month that we will always operate from a place of peace. And if you want to keep our work going, we also ask that you consider donating to help us meet the $50,000 goal of our May campaign. Regardless of your ability to give, please pray for us and we will pray for you.
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