Louder than words!
Yes, I am referring on my past article written as one
and my only commentary to a great theologian, philosopher and historian – Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI, whose gentle moves can crush any mightier boulder that cross its
path.
Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI is the exact person that we
are looking for for this apologetic post.
The
Attribution ‘HOLY’ in the expression ‘Holy Father’
Question: "Nagtataka lang ho ako sa katoliko,nong
buhay pa si pope john paul ang tawag nila "santo papa", bakit nong
namatay na kailangan pang pagbotohan para maging ganap na "santo"?
Ibig bang sabihin nong buyay pa siya "santo santohan lang pala siya"?
Nagtatanong lang ho" [I’m just wondering, why the Catholic, while Pope
John Paul is still alive, they call him ‘Holy Father’, then when he died there’s
a need for voting process to attest that he is ‘Holy’(Saint)? Does it mean when
he still alive, his ‘holiness’ is only a superficial? Just asking]
The precise answer can be found from the presentation
in an ecumenical gathering of Catholics and Orthodox made by Archbishop
Jean-Claude Perisset at the Catholic Theological Faculty of Iasi, East Romania:
The attribution
"holy," in the expression "Holy Father," does not have a
primarily moral content to it, in the sense of identifying the Pope with a
saint canonically recognized as such. For Popes, too, the
process of canonization is required, in order to propose them as
"saints" for the veneration of the faithful.
The qualifier
"holy" underlines the spiritual dimension of this fatherhood
exercised in the name of God; and we have already
said that it does not imply a moral judgment on the person of the Pope.
The expression "Holy Father" was born in the time of the
controversy over lay investiture, and it seemed normal that in its becoming
common usage in the acts of the chancery, the Roman Curia had then wished to
underscore the spiritual and supernatural level of the mission of the Pope by
adding the adjective "holy" — to defend implicitly the superiority of
papal power over imperial power.
Without mistake, this ecclesiastical title “Holy Father”
meant not because he (the Pope) is holy but because the things of Christ
which he administers are holy.1
This is the exact emphasis given by Pope Emeritus
Benedict XVI when he brought back the old forgotten aesthetic papal attire;
from a simple white cassock, symbolizing purity and holiness which has 33
protruding buttons representing each year of Christ’s life (an ancient style
started with Pope Pius V)2 to the resurrection of elegant red Papal
Mozzetta – each has infuse with liturgical and historical language to be share
with. He communicates through clothing.
The message is very clear, it is not for a sumptuous or
conspicuous expenditure was by no means an indication of any lack of humility -
it is an emphasis on the importance of his office rather than of the man
currently occupying it.
The
Investiture Controversy
What is Investiture
Controversy? I will not go to a lengthy historical discussion here, the
most important thing is to cite some major events happened on this period.
Investiture (to appoint) Controversy is a historical event when the Catholic
Church struggle against State Control – it is the struggle between the Pope and
the Emperor (King).
Kings (Ottonian Dynasty who govern the entire Roman
Empire) had thought it is their right, granted by God, to appoint (investiture)
a Pope, as well as the authority to name and depose Church Officials, such as
Bishops and Abbotts. at one time, a king from Ottonian Dynasty changed the official empire
name ‘Roman Empire’ to ‘Holy Roman Empire’ wherein he adds the word ‘HOLY’ to
show his ambition to dominate Italy and the Papacy.3 The Church’s
ecclesiastical leader (headed by the Pope) started to struggle to move the
church back to its roots, to be freed from the grip of imperial secular power –
restoring the autonomy of the church under the jurisdiction of the Pope without
any secular control and manipulation from the Kings.
One major event to be noted was when King Henry IV
believes that the Pope were not independent, rather the election of Pope,
Bishops, Abbots and all Church Officials were under his sole power, a certain
Pope named Gregory VII (the most vocal and strident in this controversy and one
of the great reforming popes, emphasizing the rule on celibacy against those
clerics who practice concubinage) challenged the authority of King Henry IV
over the right to control of appointments (investiture) in Church affairs;
telling that the Pope alone could appoint or depose Churchmen or move them from
diocese to diocese. King Henry IV responded by issuing a letter withdrawing his
support to Pope Gregory VII: “Henry, King
not through usurpation but through the holy ordination of God, to Hildebrand,
at present not pope but false monk”. He further states that: “I, Henry, king by the grace of God, with
all of my Bishops, say to you, come down, come down, and be damned throughout
the ages.” In another situation, King Henry IV installed his personal
chaplain as Bishop of Milan wherein, he knew at hand that the Holy See (the
Pope) had already appointed someone for that position. In response to all
these, the Pope with all his might excommunicates Henry IV!
These events resulted in putting Pope Gregory VII in
exile (Avignon France). In Rome Italy, King Henry IV appointed an immoral man
named Clement III as a Pope. When Pope Gregory VII died, the Cardinals in
Avignon France called a Papal election to elect the next Pope as successor of
Peter, and here Pope Victor III was elected. Clement III in Rome continues his
reign in opposition to four successive popes which were elected in legitimate
election of cardinals as successor to the unbroken line of St. Peter seat:
Gregory VII, Victor III, Urban II, and Paschal II – soon the Church declared
Clement III as Antipope.
The Church took centuries of struggle, a show of
refusal to bow down to any secular imperial power.
In the end, this historical event – the triumph of the
Catholic Church against the rule, control and manipulation of secular
government is what Pope Benedict XVI wants to emphasize when he ‘Dressed’ the ‘Papal
Office’ with beauty, dignity and greatness – like King Solomon of the past; to
show the Splendor of the Church attributes to her Divine Founder – who still relevant
and has a place in public square… now that there is a new wave of threat to her coming
from the power of secularism.
Image credit goes to: http://www.ignatius.com/promotions/benedictservant/downloads/wallpaper2_large.jpg
question posted by Sir Mar on Facebook forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/207791465900439/
question posted by Sir Mar on Facebook forum: https://www.facebook.com/groups/207791465900439/
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