Charlotte Was Both: Watch and Listen

I am indebted to that delightful curmudgeon, Diogenes, who posts the Off the Record column on Catholic World News for pointing me to this beautiful essay by Amy Wellborn.

She begins by recounting the story that appeared recently on the habit of the Holy Father of speaking extemporaneously to the faithful gathered for his General Audiences. She then ties this in beautifully with his coming trip to the United States:

Here is what is important to me about this. It is not the Pope’s intelligence, or even the still-lively and absorbing mind of a man in his 80’s.

It is that what Benedict is moved to break from the text and emphasize is the reality of Jesus Christ for you and me, today, in this moment. Over the next two months, before the Pope arrives in our country, there is going to be a constant battle, it seems to me, to communicate clearly and authentically what this man is all about. There are a great number of commentors - even Catholic commentors - who are taking the stage with their own certain proclamations about what Americans should “look for” or what Americans “hope to hear” or what the Pope will “have to say” to us when he comes.

Most of those proclamations are about “clear Catholic identity” or involve metaphors that evoke closed doors, tightening reins and battening hatches.

She then discusses some important points but finishes with this:

I could go on, but I think you get the idea.

For Benedict, Christ is at the center. He is the savior, He is the Light, the Living Water, the Bread of Life. Our joy as human beings comes from living in this faith, our pain from letting our own egos drive us away in the conviction that we know better. This is not a gimmick. It’s not a new communication technique that Benedict and his minions are dreaming up to soften his image or compete with the Protestants or even to avoid hard questions.

Look at us. Seriously. Look at us.

The commentators will scold the Pope, reminding him that we go to Church far more frequently than the blasted Europeans. We give all this money to support the Church throughout the world. We’ve got this highly educated laity, highly involved, committed Catholics.

Watch it, Pope. Be nice to us. Gives us our props. Be grateful.

Don't miss this fabulous essay. Amy is a gifted writer and gives us much food for thought.