Staying, remaining faithful implies an outgoing. Precisely if one remains in the Lord one goes out of oneself. Paradoxically precisely because one remains, precisely if one is faithful one changes. One does not remain faithful, like the traditionalists or the fundamentalists, to the letter. Fidelity is always a change, a blossoming, a growth. The Lord brings about a change in those who are faithful to Him. That is Catholic doctrine. Saint Vincent of Lerins makes the comparison between the biologic development of the person, between the person who grows, and the Tradition which, in handing on the depositum fidei from one age to another, grows and consolidates with the passage of time: «Ut annis scilicet consolidetur, dilatetur tempore, sublimetur aetate».
--from an interview with 30 Days
This Pope just might be awesome. :) Another great quote, from his address to journalists today, during which he explained his choice of the name Francis. Immediately after his election, Cardinal Claudio Hummes, archbishop emeritus of Sao Paolo, had urged him: "Don't forget about the poor." This statement sparked the thoughts that led to his choice of a name:
Immediately with the thought of the poor, I thought of Francis of Assisi. I thought of wars--while the vote counting continued, until the end of all the votes--and Francis, the man of peace. That was how the name came into my heart: Francis of Assisi. And for me, the man of poverty, the man of peace, the man who loves and guards creation--at this time when we have a relationship with creation that is not so very good, right? And the man who gives us this spirit of peace, this poor man. How I would like a church that is poor, and for the poor!It is no coincidence that our first three children have middle names associated with Sts. Francis and Clare. :)
