I have been thinking a lot about our two beloved Church Shepherds, Pope Emeritus Benedict and Cardinal Pell who just recently passed away. Two HOLY men who suffered beyond comprehension. We're not supposed to presume anything but the way I see it, they have joined the ranks of the saints. It got me thinking: there have been many Holy Popes in my lifetime: so I decided to write a little about them beginning with Pope Pius XII ( I was born during his pontificate )
Pope Pius XII was followed by Blessed Pope John 23, Pope Paul VI, Pope John Paul I, Saint Pope John Paul 2, Pope Benedict VI, and Pope Francis. So there you have it. I love Holy Mother Church and our Shepherds who you chose to lead us. Thank you, God!!
Pope Pius XII— March 2, 1939-Oct. ...Died: October 9, 1958. I remember Pope Pius XII very well. Mom and dad and ou Catholic teachers had great respect for our Holy Father. We had religion every day, of course: we studied the Baltimore Catechism until we knew the answers by heart, and I still remember the preparation for receiving the sacraments was reverent and thorough and not mamby pamby like I suspect it is now. We were told about sin, mortal and venial. I don't even think they talk about sin with the children anymore. Does anybody know?
Each month our teacher would walk us to our Parish Church for confession to prepare us for the first Friday when once again our teacher would take us to church for mass and Holy Communion. I remember Communion breakfasts after mass in the church basement with hot chocolate and raisin buns. Our Lady of the Annunciation in Hull for Grades 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 and Saint Joseph School in Ottawa for grade 2 ( our family moved a couple of times )
Religion classes with prayer and Church teaching, knowledge of the mass, and all the sacraments were most important. We were in a Catholic school after all. The Faith of our Fathers is a gift, a treasure to be cherished. We were encouraged to make a holy lent........ by fasting, daily mass, and depriving ourselves of something we liked i.e. television and candy...........
At the time, and since I was just a kid I don't think I appreciated the good teachers we had who were examples of Faith in Action
Below is a Catechism exam from when I was 10 yrs of age and in grade 5, Just saying............ ( are our children taught the Catechism anymore? )
