“God will not let us down…” –Msgr. John Esseff
Pope Benedict XVI has resigned as Supreme Pontiff
effective Feb. 28, 2013. Read the full
text of Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration. It has been over 600 years since this occurred in the
life of the Church.
effective Feb. 28, 2013. Read the full
text of Pope Benedict XVI’s declaration. It has been over 600 years since this occurred in the
life of the Church.
Msgr. John Esseff, at the age of 84, is the same age
as Pope Benedict XVI. He has been a
priest in the Diocese of Scranton, PA for sixty years as well as an exorcist
for forty years. He was friends with, and a confessor to, Mother Teresa, and had a special connection with St. Padre Pio. Upon this historical occasion of Pope
Benedict’s announced resignation, Esseff offered his insight and prayers. For the complete audio, go to his
website, Building a Kingdom of
Love .
as Pope Benedict XVI. He has been a
priest in the Diocese of Scranton, PA for sixty years as well as an exorcist
for forty years. He was friends with, and a confessor to, Mother Teresa, and had a special connection with St. Padre Pio. Upon this historical occasion of Pope
Benedict’s announced resignation, Esseff offered his insight and prayers. For the complete audio, go to his
website, Building a Kingdom of
Love .
Calling Pope Benedict’s announcement a
decision of love, Esseff reflected on the enormous burden of the papacy during
these very dark times in our world. He called it an office that was once a place of
honor, but now more and more, the weight has increased due to the gathering
darkness all around the world where leadership is failing us.
decision of love, Esseff reflected on the enormous burden of the papacy during
these very dark times in our world. He called it an office that was once a place of
honor, but now more and more, the weight has increased due to the gathering
darkness all around the world where leadership is failing us.
“He has been so marvelously guiding us
through these dark and difficult days, but now he sees [the office] as
something that he is unable to continue,” said Esseff. “As he reminds us, this ship is Christ. The leader
and the truth of the Catholic Church in the world is Christ.” Esseff stated that
we should keep in mind that this Church we belong to, is headed by Jesus and we
have his promise that it will never go astray, that even the gates of hell
would not prevail.
through these dark and difficult days, but now he sees [the office] as
something that he is unable to continue,” said Esseff. “As he reminds us, this ship is Christ. The leader
and the truth of the Catholic Church in the world is Christ.” Esseff stated that
we should keep in mind that this Church we belong to, is headed by Jesus and we
have his promise that it will never go astray, that even the gates of hell
would not prevail.
Pope Benedict is the most perfectly trained
theologian that we have had for centuries, according to Esseff. “His mind, his
heart, and his spirit have guided us through some of the most difficult, dark
days that mankind has seen, and now we are about to see in this transition,
that God will not let us down.” He pointed out that the Church does not depend
on any single man, but on Jesus, the true head.
theologian that we have had for centuries, according to Esseff. “His mind, his
heart, and his spirit have guided us through some of the most difficult, dark
days that mankind has seen, and now we are about to see in this transition,
that God will not let us down.” He pointed out that the Church does not depend
on any single man, but on Jesus, the true head.
Esseff said that he believes, that now, Pope
Benedict will enter into a time of suffering for our Church, as an individual
bishop and as part of the body of Christ, so we must pray for him. “We
should thank God for his leadership, for his spirit, for his courage, for his
wisdom, and for the courage he allowed himself, to be so victimized as a lover
of the truth that within himself he can say before God that I now pass this
torch on to another.”
Benedict will enter into a time of suffering for our Church, as an individual
bishop and as part of the body of Christ, so we must pray for him. “We
should thank God for his leadership, for his spirit, for his courage, for his
wisdom, and for the courage he allowed himself, to be so victimized as a lover
of the truth that within himself he can say before God that I now pass this
torch on to another.”
Esseff delivered his message amid some tears
and stressed a deep gratefulness that God gave us a leader who carried such a heavy burden these past years. “Pray for him as he enters into this suffering
and prayer, and pray for the one who will now bear the burden in our dark times,
suffering for a lack of leaders.”
and stressed a deep gratefulness that God gave us a leader who carried such a heavy burden these past years. “Pray for him as he enters into this suffering
and prayer, and pray for the one who will now bear the burden in our dark times,
suffering for a lack of leaders.”
According to Esseff, the last 100 years have
been the darkest years for our Church. He credited Pope Benedict for
beautifully taking us into the 21st Century. In spite of a note of
sadness, Esseff expressed great confidence in the future. “God will continue to
give us holy saints as our leaders in the Church,” he said. “May God bless you, Holy Father, every moment
until you resign and thereafter. And may
God prepare us and bless us in choosing, through the power of the of the Holy Spirit, a holy successor to a holy pope.” Esseff encouraged everyone to join him in prayer, to the Third Person of the
Trinity.
been the darkest years for our Church. He credited Pope Benedict for
beautifully taking us into the 21st Century. In spite of a note of
sadness, Esseff expressed great confidence in the future. “God will continue to
give us holy saints as our leaders in the Church,” he said. “May God bless you, Holy Father, every moment
until you resign and thereafter. And may
God prepare us and bless us in choosing, through the power of the of the Holy Spirit, a holy successor to a holy pope.” Esseff encouraged everyone to join him in prayer, to the Third Person of the
Trinity.
He ended in song and with a final prayer:
“Come, Holy
Ghost, Creator blest,
Ghost, Creator blest,
And in our
souls take up your rest;
souls take up your rest;
Come with your
grace and heavenly aid
grace and heavenly aid
To fill the
hearts which you have made….
hearts which you have made….
“Father, send
us the promised Paraclete through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Mary, spouse of
the Holy Spirit, pray for us and pray for your special son, Benedict XVI.”
us the promised Paraclete through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen. Mary, spouse of
the Holy Spirit, pray for us and pray for your special son, Benedict XVI.”
~~~~~
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