Like most Catholics, I woke on the morning of Feb. 11, 2013, to a different sort of alarm.
Nothing in my past — indeed, very little in history — had prepared me for what I found in the news that day.
To many people, the Pope resigning seemed an impossibility, like a square circle.
But that wasn’t my particular problem. As a theologian, I knew it could be done. In fact, the conditions had been publicly rehearsed by no less an authority than Benedict XVI in interviews with the media.
A pope’s resignation was not my problem. My problem was with this Pope resigning.
He has been part of my life since early in my adulthood. I discovered Joseph Ratzinger’s work while I was still a Presbyterian minister. His books were a secret pleasure, and they showed me (and later my wife, Kimberly) the way home to Rome.
As a Catholic, I was profoundly influenced by his biblical theology and his use of “covenant” as an interpretive key to unlock the mysteries of faith and the secrets of Scripture. I’ve written many books, but few authorial moments have pleased me so much as the day I presented the Holy Father with a copy of my book Covenant and Communion: The Biblical Theology of Pope Benedict XVI.
On the morning of Feb. 11, and well into the evening, I found almost unbearable the thought of this man fading from my life.
And I felt this, I believe, in communion with millions of Catholics. He has always been there for us. He has always been present.
At the Second Vatican Council, he was there, and he played an active role, not as a bishop, but as an expert adviser to one of Europe’s most influential bishops. Young Joseph Ratzinger played an important role in the drafting of two key Council documents.
Through the 1960s, he was present as one of the world’s leading theologians. It was Joseph Ratzinger who emerged as the most articulate voice of the authentic teaching of the Council.
He never tried to steal the spotlight, but he was always there for us.
As a professor, he was there for his students, too. He was a theologian who raised up a generation of brilliant theologians. And he has remained a fatherly presence in their lives, extending his influence through their work and now through the work of their students as well.
It was a life he loved, but he gave it up when Pope Paul VI called him to be a bishop and then created him a cardinal.
While he had been a powerful presence to his fellow theologians, in the 1970s and 1980s, he became a universal Churchman — a presence for the whole Church, speaking plain sense at a time when nonsense abounded.
He was there for all of us, speaking up, with the gentleness of true authority.
He was always there for Blessed John Paul II. He was that pope’s most trusted adviser and his dear friend. Repeatedly, the Polish Pope refused the German cardinal’s resignation.
When John Paul went to glory, the identity of his successor seemed self-evident to the cardinals who met in conclave. Since then, Pope Benedict has been a presence in the world — a witness, a judge, a counselor. A father. Our Holy Father.
When I awoke on Feb. 11, the thought that he would no longer be there seemed unbearable.
Yet he will be there.
It’s not as if he’s retiring to the Cayman Islands to avoid the taxman. He’s retiring to a monastery to give the rest of his days to prayer — for us. For you and me.
As a theologian, I have a certain reverence for theology — the science of sciences, the science of God — and so I respect Pope Benedict’s accomplishments in the field we share.
As a Catholic, I honor the office of bishop as I should honor the persons of the apostles themselves.
How can I begrudge the man his decisive movement into the contemplative life, which is an anticipation of the life of heaven?
He will be there for us. He will be there for me.
I know what we’ll all be giving up for Lent this year. Yet I know it will be our gain.
‘He Resigned To Become’ a Saint’
On April 29, 2009, Pope Benedict XVI did something rather striking, but that went largely unnoticed.
He stopped at the town of L’Aquila, which had been struck recently with a bad earthquake, and visited the tomb of an obscure medieval pope named St. Celestine V (1215-1296).
But the Pope did much more than say a brief perfunctory prayer.
Without a word of explanation, after several minutes of prayer, he removed his pallium from around his shoulders and placed it gently on Celestine’s glass-encased tomb.
A pallium is a sacred garment, like a long, stiff scarf, which happens to be the primary symbol of the pope’s episcopal authority as bishop of Rome. And he left it atop Celestine’s tomb.
Fifteen months later, on July 4, 2010, Benedict went out of his way again, this time to visit and pray in the cathedral of Sulmona, near Rome, before the relics of this same saint, Pope Celestine V.
Few people, however, noticed at the time.
Only now, we may be gaining a better understanding of what it meant. Both acts were more than pious gestures.
More likely, they were profound and symbolic actions of a very personal nature, which conveyed a message that a pope can hardly deliver any other way.
In the year 1294, this man (Father Pietro Angelerio), known by all as a devout and holy priest, was elected pope, somewhat against his will, shortly before his 80th birthday. (Ratzinger was 78 when he was elected pope in 2005.)
Just five months later, after issuing a formal decree allowing popes to resign (or abdicate, like other rulers), Pope Celestine V exercised that right.
And now Pope Benedict XVI has chosen to follow in the footsteps of this saint.
Celestine didn’t resign because he was a saint. He wasn’t a saint because he resigned. He resigned to become a saint.
Scott Hahn is the Father Michael Scanlan Chair of Biblical Theology and the New Evangelization at Franciscan University of Steubenville and founder and president of the St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology.
Benjamin Wiker: Benedict XVI: Doctor of the Church
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Amen, Bro. Hahn, Amen!
Thank you Dr. Hahn for your words! I felt the same. Books like Jesus of Nazareth, Light of the World, his encyclicals really leave a mark in my soul. What a humble man is Benedict XVI! God bless him and yes, please make him a saint! God Bless the Pope!
Truly moving reflection… As always thank you Dr. Hahn for your insigts and for introducing me to Pope Benedict XVI. Although I have always been a Catholic, i guess i have taken Pope Benedict for granted as Pope John Paul II was in my heart for a long time. However after hearing and reading about your conversion story and how the writings of then Cardinal Ratzinger impacted your faith i became curious and tried to learn more about him and i was more than blessed to find out that GOD has indeed blessed us with an amazing “Peter”. I am grateful that GOD has used you so that i can meet our great Pope before he steps down…
Still stunned though.
God has given us great Popes like Benedict XVI, as a right hand, and great theologians like Scott Hahn, as the corresponding left hand. An impending Interegnum period is always a time of uncertainty, especially with lots of private revelations concerning the next Pope. But the “Gates of Hell shall not prevail”, and that is our guarantee that the Church shall always endure. God bless Pope Benedict in his retirement; may the lifting of the yoke of the Papal office lengthen his days in Grace.
A few hours after the news broke I took to the computer to find understanding and consolation. But there was none. Internet seemed full of people looking forward to the next pope, people sharing conspiracy theories, people making fun of the Holy Father, people thinking this decision of his was brave and right. But I couldn’t find the mourners.
Now I know people were muted and stunned for some time. But then Scott Hahn started sharing little things on Facebook. Others followed. And I was so relieved not to be alone. Thank you!
What a beautiful example is this humble servant of God, relinquishing his papacy, the highest position in the world to become a Saint.. I affectionately call him my ‘Valiant German Shepherd’ my ‘Gentle Ben’, referencing the bear on his Coat of Arms and the symbolism of that just blows my mind. I will miss him terribly. What a man!
Thank you for your profound reflection Scott Hahn. I really admire the Holy Pope Benedict on how he come to a decision to resign after much prayer and discernment for the whole Church. I believe he was able to talk to our Triune God with the intercession of Our Lady. Pope Benedict set an example of humble honesty for all Christians and giving more chance for energetic and charismatic for his successor.
I felt—and feel—exactly the same way, Dr. Hahn. It was Pope Benedict’s accession to the papacy, and the knowledge that the “reform of the reform” set in motion by his predecessor would not be just a fluke, that helped me find my way back to the Church. I am grateful beyond words for his leadership and confident that his prayers for us will, if anything, be redoubled before the throne of grace. God grant that his successor may be cut from the same noble cloth!
Pope Benedict isn’t going away..He’s just being put out to pastor…
God bless him, forever!
Thanks for this, Scott. The Pope will be profoundly missed.
We must now pray that the will of the Holy Spirit will not be thwarted at the conclave.
Like all of us, hearing the news that morning, I was shocked!!! But only for about 60 minutes.
Knowing this Pope’s decision to leave was from GOD, still having difficulty with the lump in my throat the size of a tennis ball, I began to pay tribute to this Pope, while yet he lived, not having to wait until they put him in a box.
Thank you Scott Hahn for putting all of this in writing because you have spoken for millions of us.
Another significant pilgrimage —that has gone unremarked in its relations to VII and “the world of modern thinking”— to Manoppello on September 1, 2006 to see the relic associated with the Holy Face ‘rediscovered’ just 50 years earlier. The devotion to the Holy Face was approved by Leo XIII back in 1885, its feast day set by Pius XII for, wait for it: Shrove Tuesday, this year 2-13-13, the day after the Pope’s announcement, known in Germany as Fasching and in Switzerland as Fassnacht, the eve of start of the Lenten Fast. Pope John XXIII had a special devotion to the Holy Face ” “Digits Dei est hic” (“The finger of God is here.”) that perhaps guided his steps at VII?
http://www.holyface.org.uk/content/popesendorsement.htm
He was called to his heavenly reward and the work continued - methinks Pope Benedict XVI feels in his bones that reposing in a sepulchre of his own making is a work of mercy for the Church in this Year of Faith. Indeed a young lady from C-&-L has an online project dedicated to the rediscovered Face for the Year of Faith:
http://raffackfav.wordpress.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epACTwQuxgE
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Another significant pilgrimage —that has gone unremarked in its relations to VII and “the world of modern thinking”— to the acheiropoieta of Manoppello on September 1, 2006 to see the relic associated with the Holy Face ‘rediscovered’ just 50 years earlier. The devotion to the Holy Face was approved by Leo XIII back in 1885, its feast day set by Pius XII for, wait for it: Shrove Tuesday, this year 2-13-13, the day after the Pope’s announcement, known in Germany as Fasching and in Switzerland as Fassnacht, the eve of start of the Lenten Fast. Pope John XXIII had a special devotion to the Holy Face ” “Digits Dei est hic” (“The finger of God is here.”) that perhaps guided his steps at VII?
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He was called to his heavenly reward and the work continued - methinks Pope Benedict XVI feels in his bones that reposing in a sepulchre of his own making is a work of mercy for the Church in this Year of Faith. Indeed a young lady from C-&-L has an online project dedicated to the rediscovered Face for the Year of Faith:
[URL]
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Website for contributions in time for the Rimini meeting this summer, here:
http://raffandcompany.wordpress.com/category/veronica/
I share with you this morning one of the most beautiful tributes of love and gratitude to our Holy Father, in a letter from the Father General of the Discalced Carmelite Order. It is not just a tribute but also much for us to meditate upon as we pray for our beloved Holy Father.
We thank you from our hearts, Your Holiness!
Communicationes
P. SAVERIO CANNISTRÀ | ROME-ITALY (15-02-2013).- We feel the need to tell you this after news of your resignation from the papal ministry reached our family of Discalced Carmelites with lightening speed, from north to south, from east to west. Your words have profoundly moved us.
Among our flood of feelings, the one that stands out over all others is gratitude. Like so many millions of faithful in all parts of the world, we also, members of the Teresian Carmel, nuns, friars, and seculars, want to express our great and deep appreciation.
In these years of your service to the Church from the See of Peter, we have seen in you an open door to cross through to belief in Jesus. We can never thank you enough for this, with all the warmth and passion inherited from our Holy Mother Teresa. Our heart, which daily received your tender and profound proclamation of the Gospel, has allowed itself to be captured by your words of Father and Teacher. With joy and faith we have walked along the way to which they invited us, tasting the beauty of the faith more each day. Allow us today, Holy Father, to contemplate your life and your example in the light of the verses of Saint John of the Cross: “Now I occupy my soul and all my energy in his service; I no longer tend the herd, nor have I any other work now that my every act is love.”
In your message you told us that now your service to the Church will be expressed specially by prayer. How well we in the Teresian Carmel understand the value and greatness of this service! Allow us to accompany you in this new journey in search of the Beloved.
We want to tell you in all simplicity that we still need you, and if we can no longer enjoy your words, we are counting on your silent love, your hidden prayer, and your fraternal intercession. For us, God will transform the weakness you experience today into power capable of inspiring our efforts as Christians and religious.
It is God who traces out pathways, and certainly his ways are not our ways. Your Holiness, we wanted to have you with us always, to continue hearing your Shepherd’s voice that would reassure and encourage us to pass through the dark valleys of this life. Know that we are sorrowfully living your decision to retire, but in your words we feel the resonance of those Jesus spoke to his disciples: “If you loved me, you would indeed be glad, because I go to the Father.” We are sure that like Jesus, you also, Holiness, in retiring, communicate to us the Spirit that has accompanied you from the vernal mornings of your infancy to the evenings of these last years.
Count on our poor prayers. It is the only way we can express our thankfulness for the mission you have carried out with courage, dignity, firmness, and above all, true humility. Your testimony encourages us to offer our lives in a moment of such great need for the Church. As Saint Teresa said, “Happy the lives lost for such a purpose!”
We commend your intentions to Mary, Queen and Mother of Carmel, who always leads us to Jesus, in whose favour we want to live
Scott,
A beautiful article, you articulated what is on the heart of many of us. What an unselfish act by our beloved Pope. It was good to see you at the Men’s Conference in Phoenix last week!
Deacon Bill
I appreciate Dr. Hahn’s assurances. Pope Benedict XVI is just 8 years older than I. But I saw him as my father in many ways. If he had been ill and we knew he was dying I think I could take that better, but resigning is difficult. It will be a joy to know that he does not have the weight of office that has sort of harmed this dear man. But, the thought they he is joyfully praying and meditating, writing books and articles does lessen the very real sense of loss I feel. I love Blessed John Paul II but with Benedict there is a closer emotional attachment. God will take care of His Church, I trust in that totally, but still I will feel a loneliness that I have never felt for a Pontiff before. God bless our Holy Father and return him to a level of health and strength so that he can enjoy life for the rest of His days.
Now, will you fathers and grandfathers priorities? Thank you Holy Father from G’ma linda.
Thank you Pope Benedict! We love you! Our prayers are with you!
I was filled with fear and apprehension when Pope Benedict XVI resigned from the papacy. I was so scared that people may take his resignation against the catholic Church, the Church that I love and revere. But when I read Dr Scott Hahns reflections on the popes resignation, my apprehension was alleviated and I began to understand why? I also began to see Pope Benedict in a new light. The fact is, I thought no one could replace Blessed Pope John Paul II. In my mind Pope Benedict could not replace a holy man such as John Paul II. However, Dr Hahn has opened my eyes and my mind to the truth about Pope Benedict. He is indeed a holy man who was chosen by God to be the successor of St Peter, to whom the key to heaven was entrusted. How could I have thought otherwise. God bless you Pope Benedict. In His wisdom, God has chosen a different path for you and you have obeyed.
For the past 40-50 years the Catholic Church has been lost: Pope Benedict XVI put us back on the road home. Let us all be in prayer with Pope Benedict XVI that our beautiful church will never again lose its compass…
Thank you Scott Hahn for expressing so beautiful what I hold in my own heart for our Holy Father.
Revnc
We have been so blessed with the Popes we have had in my lifetime. My boyhood was in the time of (Venerable) Pope Pius XII - he it was who planted in my mind the idea of sanctity. He was regarded by us all as a saint - and a brilliant one at that. He will be canonized. Then came John XXIII, already beatified. Then there was Paul VI - he profoundly impressed me, and he too is on the way to canonization. Then there was John Paul I, whose Cause is under way. Pope Benedict has described him as truly a saint. Then there was Blessed John Paul II. Then there came Benedict XVI, obviously a saint too. Let’s hope next month the Cardinals pick another saint in the making. We have all been blessed over the last decades of the Church, the Church leading to and following the Second Vatican Council. There has rarely been a time in the history of the Church that has seen such a high standard of Roman Pontiffs. Praise be to you, Lord Jesus Christ!
Thank you for this reflection. After the sadness started to wear off upon hearing this, I began to think of all of the people who were saying they did not understand how Pope Benedict could do this and how disappointed they are. I heard people also asking how a holy Father couldmdo this to his family. It then occurred to me that many times when fathers (and mothers too) get to a time in life that they can’t really do much physically, this is the time they pray for for families. I fully believe that is what our Holy Father will be doing. What joy and thankfulness we should have knowing we will be having him do this for us!
The news of Pope Benedict XVI resignation on February 11th 2013 left me dumbfounded for the first twenty four hours. I just did not know what to make of it. Why resign? For what purpose? To serve whose interest? To what end? Whose will?
Indeed i am astounded at the ease with which most catholic journalists, writers, bloggers and indeed clergy have taken it all in their stride. It is as if was just another day at the office.
Few people seem to appreciate the gravity of this unexpected renunciation of the papal office. The question all catholics should ask themselves is this: was the election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger as pope in April 2005 the will of God or not? If it was not the will of God, should we then rejoice and be glad that a usurper has voluntarily quit the chair of St. Peter or should we be sad that we were careless, sleeping and not praying and watching, such that a usurper could be elected in the first place to the chair of St Peter (and of course such instances have occurred from time to time in the past).
If the election of Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger was the will of God, which majority of us catholics affirm, why resign from the Petrine ministry? On health grounds? On old age grounds? On the stress of post-modern era grounds? On energy level grounds? On mental drive grounds?
But let’s wait a moment. Is there any limit to power of our God? Is there any limit to the power of the Lord Jesus? Is Jesus of Nazareth still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow? Can catholics not pray to the Lord Jesus to give good health to the pope? Can we not pray to the Lord Jesus to renew the youth of our pope like that of an eagle? Can we not pray to the Lord Jesus to increase the energy levels and drive of our pope? Can we not ask the Lord Jesus to send his holy angels to protect our pope from all unbearable stress of the post-modern age?
Can it be said that we catholics - especially the laity - have failed in our duty to look after the pope? Had we prayed enough, fasted enough, did penance enough would Pope Benedict have felt the need to make the grave decision he has now made? Would the church have come to this pass?
How I wish the pope had confided earlier in us. How I wish he had challenged us to ask the Lord Jesus to give him all the prerequisites he needed to complete his apostolic tasks to the end. Rather than resign how I wish he had reduced his foreign trips to zero. Rather than resign how I wish he had reduced his sermons to five, ten minutes of key points. Rather than resign how I wish he had reduced his public exposure to minimum. Rather than resign how I wish he had appointed more able and more loyal assistants to the roman curia. Rather than resign outright how I wish he had signed a resignation latter to come into effect in the case of mental incapacity.
Did Moses resign his commission? Did Samuel resign his commission? Did Elijah resign his commission? Instead the Prophet Elijah dehydrated, hypoglycemic and in great distress in the wilderness cried to God to take his life. And the Almighty God sent his holy angel with bread and water to bring relief to Elijah; and strengthen the prophet continued his journey.
Furthermore did the old man St. Simeon of Jerusalem resign? Did St Anna (the prophetess) of Jerusalem resign? Did Sts Peter and Paul resign?
Is it possible for the Lord to load us with a burden that we can not bear? Is the yoke of the Lord hard and difficult? Is the burden of Lord heavy and crushing? Should those of us in distress flee from the Lord Jesus?
Is the resignation of Pope Benedict an act of courage to be emulated more often by future popes or is it a one-of f event to be seen maybe once every 600 years?
No matter what the spin doctors churn out over the next couple of weeks, to say the resignation is a happy event is to stretch it more than a little bit. I personally wish for the reversal of the resignation but if that is judged to be impossible then the time is right to begin to pray for divine intervention in the election of a new pope.
It was in the 1880s that Pope Leo XIII got a divine message that the enemies of the people of God are on the march but some people think that was mere superstition. Well the enemies of the church are definitely on the march again.
O God arise and scatter the enemies of your people! O God arise and scatter the bones of the enemies of your Holy Roman Catholic Church!
Chris Awo. I too am confused and saddened by his resignation. We mus pray for a Traditionalist to complete the job he started. God bless you! And pray, GOD blesses the USA soon!
Thanks Mr. Hahn, now we see that Pope Benedict XVI did think of this for QUITE some time! I didn’t know he went to the tomb of Celestine V, and especially that he left his pallium! - I just bought a book called, The Pope Who Quit, about Celestine V. (I’m just starting to read it.)
What a lovely article Dr. Hahn - you said exactly what I was feeling. And it helps to see so many of you all who feel the same. I came into the Church in 2006, Benedict XVI’s first Easter as Holy Father, after many years of knowing his work and feeling the ever-increasing call “home”. I pray he will regain strength and have some time for prayer and writing - and the concerned daughter in me cannot help but hope we will hear news of him in his retirement and of his well-being. Based on my observations of the Italian and Vatican press, I think its likely! I agree with the Father who remarked in a previous post that there is a certain emotional attachment to Benedict for me and many of my convert peers - we love him dearly. This is a result of his towering intellect and spirituality which even a scared new Catholic can feel radiating. God Bless him always and thanks to all on this comment thread for affirming my feelings about all this.
Always precise and innovative points of view. Congratulations.
ONE OF THE COMMENTS CALLED DR HAHN AND OUR HOLY FATHER- THE RIGHT AND LEFT HAND. THIS IS ESPECIALLY TRUE FOR ME A CONVERT. I “CAME HOME” IN 2009 UNDER POPE BENEDICT. MARCUS GRODI “CAME HOME” BECAUSE OF HIS FRIEND SCOTT HAHN AND I CAME HOME BECAUSE OF MARCUS AND HIS WONDERFUL PROGRAM “THE JOURNEY HOME.” I AM TRYING TO READ EVERYTHING THESE TWO MEN HAVE WRITTEN - QUITE A TASK BUT SO REWARDING.
THANK YOU HOLY FATHER AND DR HAHN
I appreciate your insights, Mr. Hahn. It gives me some comfort to know that Pope Benedict XVI will still be praying for all of us.
My first reaction was more of a selfish nature, as I too thought about how I would miss him, and briefly worried about who would become the next Pope.
Deeper reflection and insightful articles like yours have shown me that the prayers of Pope Benedict XVI will become a more powerful influence in our world even as he retires from it.
As to who will becme the next Vicar of Christ, I trust in the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
Thank you.
Thanks be to God for the Legacy this Pope Benedict XVI has gifted the Catholic Church through obedience to Jesus Christ. I to am a convert who has
returned home safely April 7th 2007, and will not leave come hell or high water. The gates of hell will not prevail against Mother Church because Jesus Christ is Risen from the dead and a new springtime is coming. The series written by the Holy Father called “Jesus of Nazareth” gives clear expression to who our LORD JESUS is in His humanity and divinity has inseparable with continuity of the scriptures and the Church Fathers. Let us continue to pray for him as he continues his faithfulness to our Father in heaven in union with Jesus and Mary. AMEN !
Like millions, I love this wonderful man too. My hope is that he does NOT follow the same path to sainthood as Pope Celestine V, who was basically held captive and abused for the remainder of his life. It’s not a stretch to see how a well seasoned predesessor could be a threat to the insecure successor.
My prayer for our new pope will appreciate and value the wisdom Benedict the XVI can offer to his papacy and take full advantage of it for as long s it is available to him. Two heads are always better than one.
My second hope is that Benedict XVI will soon be reinvigorated and will be able to continue writing and if he wants even make some appearances as he is able. I heard he told his doctoral students he would not be meeting with them any more. This is truly sad for them. He must be so very, very tired.
Dear Father in heaven thank you for the gift of Benedict XVI, to lead us in our journey home. Like a good shepherd, he has poured himself out in service of our Holy Mother church and her sheep.
Now as he steps down, we lift him up in prayer, entrusting him completely to your divine providence. It is our great hope that you will allow our beloved pontiff a most efficatious renewal in body, mind and spirit. Strengthen and invigorate him so that his remaining time earth will be healthy, active, comfortable and peaceful. Surround him with love all the days of his life. Amen.
That is truly beautiful MJ - my thoughts exactly. It breaks my heart to read and hear awful comments made about our Holy Father - and some from Catholic persons! The only consolation I have in all this is that he will be “clear” of much of the nastiness now and can hopefully regain his strength and write some. After all his brother is 3 years older and although has health problems, is still perking along! I read something this morning on EWTN news from the head of the Vatican Press Office suggesting that the unfinished encyclical on faith may come out under another form. Apparently a high-ranking person with Vatican Insider described the text, while unfinished as “beautiful” and said that Benedict XVI manages to express even the most complex and very deep truths using simple language which has a widespread reach which goes beyond all imagination”. It apparently focuses on the centrality of the Paschal mystery to the virtue of faith. Sigh - I am praying hard for him and also hope we hear news of his well-being and life. I am also praying for the new Pope - he will likely be overwhelmed and possibly frightened at the task - will also need prayer and support.
Thank you, Dr. Hahn! I will try to read all that our Holy Father Benedict XVI had written. I pray that all of us will be given by the Holy Spirit grace, strength, patience, time and light to read and read and reflect.
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