Holy Optimism about These Times by Bill Huebsch Leader: (Leader trial, in these or similar words :) Friends, we are called to develop an inner sense of optimism about the times in which we live, drawn from our belief that the Holy Spirit speaks in our lives. Let us pray for the grace that God is leading us to what is good. Prayer: Oh Divine Source of Wisdom and Insight, help us to in the Spirit who is active in our midst. us to discern what is of you so that we might follow it earnestly and trust in it fully. Amen. The First Reading (Read aloud, or invite a reader to do so.) On being elected pope, John was very conscious that he had a rare opportunity to assist the peoples of the world to live together in peace and to advance the cause of the gospels. He strongly desired that his pontificate be one known for compassion and the open arms of Christ to the world, on which he meditated daily. The idea of calling a council, only the twenty-first such gathering in the nearly 2000 year long history of the Christian church, therefore, seemed to him to be that program of work which would meet his desires. But the idea did not arise in him without proper discernment and development. It was not a revelation” which came to him. “private For many years in Rome, since the beginning of the reign of Pope Pius XII, there had been talk of a council. Early in his own pontificate, Pope John had talked about it with a few close advisors. Some were in favor, others opposed. John kept the idea top secret for several months, speaking only to those who could help him be certain the council was of God, and not an ego trip of his own. He wished to submit to the Lord’s will, and to be of great care in discernment. He had learned to test ideas that came to him in prayer, but when tested and found to be of God, to trust them and to organize his life around them. He knew self-deception was possible, even for the pope, and was careful not to allow that to interfere. Ideas for him were to be evaluated according to their persistence and the inner sense of rightness and peace they produced. In this way, he was well practiced in the Ignatian School of the Spiritual Exercises.
Holy Optimism about These Times by Bill Huebsch Leader: (Leader in these or similar words :) Friends, we are called to develop an inner sense of optimism about the times in which we live, drawn from our belief that the Holy Spirit speaks in our lives. Let us pray for the grace that God is leading us to what is good. Prayer: Oh Divine Source of Wisdom and Insight, help us to in the Spirit who is active in our midst. us to discern what is of you so that we might follow it earnestly and trust in it fully. Amen. The First Reading (Read aloud, or invite a reader to do so.) On being elected pope, John was very conscious that he had a rare opportunity to assist the peoples of the world to live together in peace and to advance the cause of the gospels. He strongly desired that his pontificate be one known for compassion and the open arms of Christ to the world, on which he meditated daily. The idea of calling a council, only the twenty-first such gathering in the nearly 2000 year long history of the Christian church, therefore, seemed to him to be that program of work which would meet his desires. But the idea did not arise in him without proper discernment and development. It was not a “private revelation” which came to him. For many years in Rome, since the beginning of the reign of Pope Pius XII, there had been talk of a council. Early in his own pontificate, Pope John had talked about it with a few close advisors. Some were in favor, others opposed. John kept the idea top secret for several months, speaking only to those who could help him be certain the council was of God, and not an ego trip of his own. He wished to submit to the Lord’s will, and to be of great care in discernment. He had learned to test ideas that came to him in prayer, but when tested and found to be of God, to trust them and to organize his life around them. He knew self-deception was possible, even for the pope, and was careful not to allow that to interfere. Ideas for him were to be evaluated according to their persistence and the inner sense of rightness and peace they produced. In this way, he was well practiced in the Ignatian School of the Spiritual Exercises. trial,
VAT401_Story_of_Vatican_II-Outline-and-Handouts.docx