History is replete with pivotal moments. Moments that allowed evil to flourish or for good to triumph. Turning points that were not immediately obvious to all, but were to some. When Germany invaded the Rhineland and the allies turned a blind eye in the name of peace, war was made almost inevitable. How many people recognized it at the time? When the U.S. fled in Somalia, how many realized that were inviting the terrorists to hit us here? When Pope John XXIII revealed fifty years ago that he would convene a Council, how many of the hopeful understood what would be unleashed in the name of that council? A prescient few seemed to know, but most had no idea how pivotal were the times and actions.
What do all these pivotal moments have in common? To a point, in each of these incidents, the side of good deluded themselves that they acted, or failed to act, in the name of peace. In hindsight it is obvious that what made these moments pivotal was the clear signal to the enemy of weakness. This weakness, whether to live up to treaty obligations to push Germany back, stand and fight when the going got rough, or to give into the spirit of aggiornamento in an effort to bring peace. In all three instances, the enemy sensed real weakness, was emboldened, and seized its moment.
Since becoming Pontiff, Pope Benedict has been focused on unity. Not unity through compromise, but real unity through charity and clarity. He has focused his efforts on our Orthodox brethren and of course the SSPX. I, like the Pope, believe we (and they) are better off in the Church than outside of it. But we always knew this effort would be painful.
The Pope was widely attacked when he made available to the priests and the faithful the Tridentine Mass through his Motu Proprio. That move was misunderstood (purposefully and inadvertently) by many. But the Pope weathered the storm and was stronger for it. But that was only Phase I. Phase II is proving to be much more difficult.
Without a doubt there was always going to be protest of the lifting of the excommunications. We all expected the tried old America/Tablet/Commonweal crowd to throw up a hue and cry to a compliant media that this was more evidence that the Pope wants to bring back the dark ages. We all expected that. I don’t think many of us expected what has transpired in the last month.
All the usual suspects used the occasion of Bishop Williamson’s egregious comments to attack the Pope, but this unfortunate incident went way beyond the confines of the Spirit of Vatican II coffee klatches. The backlash went wide and far with enemies of the Church hanging every ridiculous word out of the mouth of Williamson around the neck of the Pope. Even heads of State publicly rebuked the Pope for what, in actuality, was an act of mercy. There would no such mercy for the Pope.
In the midst of the uproar over the SSPX, the knives came out again for the Pope when he decided to appoint an orthodox and well known conservative priest, Maria Gerhard Wagner, as auxiliary Bishop of Linz Austria. The liberal establishment and other enemies of the Pope screamed bloody murder and made threats about dividing the Church.
Fr. Wagner, amidst all this uproar, asked the Pontiff to withdraw his nomination for the Episcopacy in Linz. Sadly, it seems, the Pope has acceded to that request. Rorate Caeli, reporting on this incident, titles its post as “Capitulation.”
Capitulation. The enemies of the Pope, internal and external, will rightly see this capitulation as victory. There is now blood in the water and the sharks can taste it.
I think that what comes next may end up being one of those pivotal moments. Does the Pope retreat in the name of peace virtually ensuring that his agenda of unity is dead in the water or does he stand defiant in the face of these withering attacks? Pivotal.
Let me add one more thing. I have spoken about the enemies of the Church and the Pope, but let us no forget about the Enemy. The Devil, it seems, is pulling out all the stops to derail the Pope. I think there is a reason for that. I think that if the Pope succeeds with what he is trying to do, it will have long lasting effects on the Church and the world. Likewise, his failure may also set back the cause of unity and Tradition for years. The Devil does not want him to succeed. I suspect that now may very well be the critical moment.
Please pray for the Pope that he has the faith, courage, and strength to withstand these attacks. To bend but not break. To see his quest through to the end. To see these attacks for what they are. If we are ever to have peace again in the Church and in the world, now is the time to stand and fight. Much may depend on it.
February 16, 2009 at 3:39 am
“…let us not forget about the Enemy.”
Once, while putting together the final details on a theological conference, one of the professors in attendance said something I have always remembered: “We’ll know we’re doing God’s work when we see the devil.”
It’s never good to give the Enemy too much thought but like wise never a good thing to forget and it’s good that you brought up the point. Know that this “closet Catholic”, this Protestant, will also be praying for the Church and the Pope and their success.
February 16, 2009 at 6:01 am
May the Holy Father reward him with a red hat, instead.
February 16, 2009 at 6:17 am
This isn’t nearly as big a deal as you’re making it out. Benedict has no choice. He cannot compel Fr. Wagner to accept the episcopacy. He has to accept the request to withdraw the appointment.
The problem here is Fr. Wagner, not Benedict. Fr. Wagner was asked to step up to the plate and serve, and he took the coward’s way out in the face of opposition. It’s probably best that he requested the appointment to be withdrawn, because he clearly isn’t up to the job. Benedict ought to appoint somebody more Traditional and more courageous.
~cmpt
February 16, 2009 at 1:06 pm
It is hard for me to comment here, but I’m going to keep it short. I strongly believe that the Holy Spirit is guiding our blessed Pope Benedict (may God bless him and grant him 100 years!) And if this is true, the gates of hell will not prevail against him.
February 16, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Sometimes what seems to be a retreat, is merely a reordering of the troops.
How do you catch a shark? With blood bait. B16 is tactically brilliant. I can’t wait to see what he does with this!
February 16, 2009 at 2:16 pm
I have recently come into the Catholic faith, though I haven’t been baptized or confirmed yet- I will dedicate a rosary every day to strengthening and guiding our Pope in these increasingly dark times.
February 16, 2009 at 3:10 pm
There is much confusion: on http://www.kath.net we can read per yesterday that Gerhard Wagner asked to take back his nomination; according to the Diocese of Linz, the Vatican accepted.
However, neither the Austrian Nuntiature nor the Vatican have confirmed this report. The statement was made towards the press.
As per today, the Vatican still has not received a petition to take back the nomination. Therefore, the Holy Father has not made any decision. This report comes from ANSA (Italian News Organisation). Again, reported on http://www.kath.net
Could this just be another media frenzy? According to the above source the reports all come from the Diocese of Linz, the Vatican has made no statements so far.
However, it is absolutely obvious that the Holy Father is right smack in the middle of spiritual machine gun fire. The German speaking press is full of filth – the likes of which I have never seen!
This is currently the Holy Father’s Calvary – the blood sweating, flagellation, mockery, crowning of thorns, crucifixion….. and then eventually the resurrection.
We absolutely have to step up our prayers and our fasting for him and the whole Church as well as the those of society so seriously misguided. The Holy Spirit will guide our Holy Father!
Your recent story of “holding the bucket” comes to mind – was it Matthew or Patrick?
February 16, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Let us say, with Banquo (Macbeth II.iii),
“In the Great hand of God I stand, and thence / Against the undivulged pretense I fight / Of treasonous malice.”
— Mack
February 16, 2009 at 7:07 pm
If Fr Wagner asked to be passed over because he wanted to take pressure off the Pope, we shouldn’t jump to the conclusion that Wagner played the coward.
S. Murphy
February 16, 2009 at 9:19 pm
This is the first I’ve heard of this story, but I tend to agree with Christopher.
I also like Kimberly’s “strategery” theory… 😉
February 16, 2009 at 9:39 pm
I think Fr Wagner’s decision was wise. Only 4 priests in all the diocese stood behind him. With this kind of hostility – hatred even – how could he have done his pastoral work? The quiet work of those 5 priests in their parishes might in the end achieve more for the good of the diocese.
Elise B.
February 16, 2009 at 10:02 pm
For those suggesting that I am overstating what is at stake, please see the following post at Rorate Caeli
Austrian Bishops in open revolt
April 12, 2010 at 10:17 pm
"I have spoken about the enemies of the Church and the Pope, but let us no forget about the Enemy. The Devil, it seems, is pulling out all the stops to derail the Pope."
How ironic that The Devil is fighting child rape. I'm sure the Devil and the Pope will have long conversations about it in hell.