As our beloved Benedict is about to turn 88, his private secretary, Mons. Gaenswein, brings up the subject of death in an interview broadcast last night in Italy. I think two reasons I have not felt particularly distressed when thinking of the inevitable is that I am sure Joseph Ratzinger/Benedict XVI is in God's hands in a very special way, and that St. Joseph, his name saint, is the patron of a happy death. And so I end every daily prayer and thought about B16 with "God grant you more years of a quiet, prayerful and happy life in his service". AD MULTOS ANNOS, SANCTE PATER!
New interview with Mons. Gaenswein:
Benedict XVI at 88 'preparing to meet God',
and Francis is not intimidated by ISIS threats
April 14, 2015
"Pope Benedict XVI thinks about death and is preparing for it - obviously, as he is a man about to turn 88, he thinks of this," says Mons. Georg Gaenswein, private secretary to the emeritus Pope and prefect of the Francis's Pontifical Household.
"We have spoken about this many times, he and I, although he is usually very discreet and reserved. But his attitude is very Christian - to prepare for death means to prepare to meet God, which is, obviously, the conclusive meeting".
Mons. Gaenswein spoke to Mediaset (Italian Channel 4) for the initial presentation of a series called "La Strada dei Miracoli" (The street of miracles) premiering tonight (April 14).
He also spoke about the threats of ISIS against Pope Francis, saying: "The Pope has no fears for himself. He fears for the faithful [wherever they are threatened or actually persecuted], but certainly, the ISIS threat must be taken seriously. He has spoken several times about persons who are persecuted just because they are Christians - they are killed, burned, crucified, or beheaded. For himself, I don't think he has any fear at all of the fundamentalists".
On the question of miracles, Gaenswein said:
At various times we get letters from persons thanking Benedict XVI - because they had asked him to pray for them in a situation of great difficulty or a serious health crisis, which they subsequently overcame. And they say this was thanks to Pope Benedict's prayers... And so they thank him. I think faith produces miracles, and if the prayer is strong, it can produce miracles. I think that is an experience with all believers....
The most important thing about these phenomena is to distinguish the false from the true - a 'mystic' experience from a true miracle. There are also varied cases of apparitions and private revelations...
Personally, I am very cautious. We must not forget that even Lucifer, the angel of light turned Satan, can deceive masterfully.
Therefore, it is best to keep calm, be prudent and trust in prayer...
However, anyone who prays to receive a private revelation or a special experience is looking for something extraordinary rather than trusting in the power of prayer.
Gaenswein also talks of the little free time that he has: "I go to the mountains. Certainly I read, I listen to music... I especially like the songs of Gianna Nannini and Eros Ramazzoti
[popular Italian songwriter/singers who rose to fame in the 1980s - I liked their music, too!]. Of course I would like to take up tennis again, which I stopped after Pope Benedict retired, but I still have not found the time to do that".
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 15/04/2015 22:38]