"viva il papa"
"Zeal for Your house consumes Me." —John 2:17
Today we celebrate the anniversary of the dedication of the Cathedral Church of the Pope. Why do we celebrate our unity with the Pope and his church? It is because our unity with the Pope gives us strength and power. Those united to the Pope have an anointing from God that cannot be obtained any other way. Furthermore, our unity with the Pope protects us from deception and confusion.
This will become even more significant as we near the mass apostasy at the end of the world (2 Thes 2:3). In His love, the Lord has not only given us brothers and sisters, but also a spiritual father, the Pope, who helps us grow together and stay together as God's family. The Pope is a special gift from the Lord to us, His Church. We rejoice in this gift. We thank the Lord for the opportunity to submit ourselves to Him by obeying the leaders He sends into our lives, especially the Pope (see Heb 13:17). We thank the Lord for our Pope today. He has spent and risked his life for the Lord and for us. We will pray for him daily and obey him.
Prayer: Father, thank You for each part of the body of Christ, especially for our Pope.
Promise: "The temple of God is holy, and you are that temple." —1 Corinthians 3:17
Praise: The glorious Basilica of St. John Lateran elevates the faithful worshipper to focus "on what pertains to higher realms where Christ is seated at God's right hand" (Col 3:1). Representing all the churches, St. John Lateran testifies to God's promise to be with us always.
Reference: (For a related teaching on The Pope's Vision of God's Plan, order, listen to, or download our CD 50-3 or DVD 50 on our website.)
Rescript: †Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, March 11, 2019
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.