Saint Augustine and the Vandals
- Donald R. McClarey
Donald R. McClarey
Cradle Catholic. Active in the pro-life movement since 1973. Father of three, one in Heaven, and happily married for 43 years. Small town lawyer and amateur historian. Former president of the board of directors of the local crisis pregnancy center for a decade.
In one ancient miniatures table top game system I used to play, the Vandals were the only army throughout history (among hundreds of choices) where the entire army could be classified as fast knights. How’s that for a nerdy comment?
EWTN says that the Pope was visibly moved while visiting the ruins of Hippo. I believe it’s fake emotion: he’s Democrat first and Pope last. Sorry. After everything this past week, I have lost all trust in him.
I have no doubt LQC that the Pope was moved and as an Augustinian has a genuine devotion to Saint Augustine. Few of us are all one thing or another. Most of us are bundles of contradictions.
How’s that for a nerdy comment?
🙂
EWTN News used to be honest, until it got to be too difficult. The same is true for most main stream catholic publications. Was it that they felt overwhelmed? Or was the prospect of ostracization too frightening?
David:
I suppose you’re right, Donald. But after everything I have learned about Pope Leo XIV – especially his Twitter account as Robert Prevost now deleted – makes me very angry. I am sorry for my comment, but frankly, that’s how I feel. Anger never does me any good and hypocritical Democrats like him make me very angry.
Of course, it’s not the fault of the Vandals that there is no bishop of Hippo today.
That honor belongs to a different set of conquerors. Conquerors that history has not quite forgotten, but the history of that conquest conveniently is.
Perhaps Leo will also reflect on the nameless Catholic martyrs that experienced that conquest. May he be aided by their intercession!
It seems, (and reading the news it’s always hard to weigh reports accurately)…. that the word Sanctimonious is beginning fit, at least the previous pope didn’t do that!
CCC 2477 – Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty: of rash judgment who, even tacitly, assumes as true, without sufficient foundation, the moral fault of a neighbor; of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them; of calumny who, by remarks contrary to the truth, harms the reputation of others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them.
2478 – To avoid rash judgment, everyone should be careful to interpret insofar as possible his neighbor’s thoughts, words, and deeds in a favorable way.
Pinky makes a good point … All you people making negative comments about the President’s memes should go to confession! 😀
Pinky, I know that I will be called for stating such a thing on the Last Day.
I typed the statement very carefully, reflecting prayerfully on what I thought to say. .
I also know, that many will be called for not saying anything! -when they should have! On the Last Day.
David, from one Catholic to another, I think you miscalibrated. I’m not sure anyone will be judged harshly on the Final Day for failing to call the pope “sanctimonious” in a comments section.
Well, you’re wrong. Everything will be known, God will make that possible.
What’s the benefit of calling the pope “sanctimonious” in a comments section? What good deed is being performed?
For Pinky: Truth!
And if the Pope is sanctimonious – and we don’t know his heart – do you think God put one of us on earth at this moment for the purpose of being a modern Joan, rallying a nation for the Church, except “the nation” being a comments section, and “the Church” being bad-mouthing the Pope’s character?
Do you think at the Last Judgment, Jesus will welcome us into heaven for feeding Him, and clothing Him, and insulting Him? And we’ll say, when did we feed or clothe or insult you? And He’ll say “Whenever you fed or clothed the poor or treated the Pope with disrespect, you did it to Me. Come inherit the kingdom.”?
Are we sure David’s comment referred to the Pope? There’s plenty of sanctimony to go around, it seems. Specks, planks, potato, potahto … But, then again, who am I to judge?
The Pope holds a big office Pinky and with a big office comes big criticism, something most Catholics understood throughout the history of the Church. The Reformation, understandably, caused a rallying around the Pope among Catholics, but any good can become an ill if it goes too far.
Don, I can certainly recognize that historical theme and its accompanying risk. It would also be fair to note that the Enlightenment, the American Protestant anti-monarchical tradition, and the nature of internet zingers incline us toward being overcritical and anti-authority. We deal with a lot of trends and risks. Prudence is the right course. If we’re skeptical of an Augustinian pope’s devotion in Hippo, we’re almost certainly failing in one direction.
Cardinals(3) /60 minutes, Trump-baited, Hippo-tears in 72 hours -what are the odds?