(no subject)
So. Here ends the saddest week in a long time. So much for Easter rejoicing.
I feel a little selfish being sad about the pope's passing. I have no doubt that he was ready for this and that he's in the presence of God right now. And blah blah blah. But I can't help worrying about the Church. These are really big shoes to fill. I don't think we'll ever have a pope as widely loved as this one (I say this like I've ever even seen another pope) and...gosh, I don't know. Maybe (hopefully) it's just from this perspective, here in America, where just about everyone on TV is like "I'll miss him, even though he was totally wrong about a lot of things". Maybe Catholicism is faring better in the rest of the world. I think about that saying, 'Is the pope Catholic?' and part of me is answering 'Yeah, but he's the only one left'. And I know this is unfair, especially for someone like me to say, someone who has met just as many genuine Catholics as unCatholics. And I know that Jesus promised to take care of us...I was reading that part in Matthew where he says the gates of hell won't prevail against the Church to keep my spirits up. And it's not like the next guy is from hell or anything, just for not being John Paul II. I'm just worried. I knew he couldn't stay forever, but (this is my 16-year-old pseudo-wisdom again) he has done so much for the Church, more than I think anyone else can do. I mean, look at all of us teenagers who love him. He gave us a special place in the Church. And even Americans are mourning him. Even the American media has been respectful. To paraphrase something that I read in a community: I never met him, but I loved him because he would have loved me. So many of us felt a personal attachment to him...someone who we'd never even seen in person, but it's like he loved us. :-) He will be sorely missed.
Missions were great. I didn't really think so when I was there, but now that I've been back a week, I'm glad I went.
I'm going to see Oklahoma on Friday and get $1 off my ticket by buying from Mirmie! Tell me if any of you wanna come with so you can share in this great deal. :-)
I feel a little selfish being sad about the pope's passing. I have no doubt that he was ready for this and that he's in the presence of God right now. And blah blah blah. But I can't help worrying about the Church. These are really big shoes to fill. I don't think we'll ever have a pope as widely loved as this one (I say this like I've ever even seen another pope) and...gosh, I don't know. Maybe (hopefully) it's just from this perspective, here in America, where just about everyone on TV is like "I'll miss him, even though he was totally wrong about a lot of things". Maybe Catholicism is faring better in the rest of the world. I think about that saying, 'Is the pope Catholic?' and part of me is answering 'Yeah, but he's the only one left'. And I know this is unfair, especially for someone like me to say, someone who has met just as many genuine Catholics as unCatholics. And I know that Jesus promised to take care of us...I was reading that part in Matthew where he says the gates of hell won't prevail against the Church to keep my spirits up. And it's not like the next guy is from hell or anything, just for not being John Paul II. I'm just worried. I knew he couldn't stay forever, but (this is my 16-year-old pseudo-wisdom again) he has done so much for the Church, more than I think anyone else can do. I mean, look at all of us teenagers who love him. He gave us a special place in the Church. And even Americans are mourning him. Even the American media has been respectful. To paraphrase something that I read in a community: I never met him, but I loved him because he would have loved me. So many of us felt a personal attachment to him...someone who we'd never even seen in person, but it's like he loved us. :-) He will be sorely missed.
Missions were great. I didn't really think so when I was there, but now that I've been back a week, I'm glad I went.
I'm going to see Oklahoma on Friday and get $1 off my ticket by buying from Mirmie! Tell me if any of you wanna come with so you can share in this great deal. :-)