In 1st Corinthians 13:2, St. Paul the Apostle powerfully establishes the primacy of love in the life of the Christian: “And if I should have prophecy and should know all mysteries, and all knowledge, and if I should have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.” Because of this primacy of charity, when one reads Pope Francis’ Fiducia Supplicans: On the Pastoral Meaning of Blessings, one is initially heartened at how many times charity is mentioned, and even spoken of as the main motivation for pastoral action and discernment. It is only on reflecting, on thinking about how this “charity” is utilized within the context of the letter, that one begins to be disheartened, for one quickly realizes that Francis’ conception of charity is not only thoroughly modern, but thoroughly secular and at odds with the Catholic tradition.
I would go so far as to say that such a ‘blessing’ is void, ineffective, meaningless; an empty form. A priest has no power to bless what is un-natural, un-Godly.
Well said.
I would go so far as to say that such a ‘blessing’ is void, ineffective, meaningless; an empty form. A priest has no power to bless what is un-natural, un-Godly.