Contemplatives have been called upon in a special way to offer profound prayer as the Cardinals prepare to gather in conclave to elect a Pope suceeding Pope Benedict XVI.
The Visitation Order and we Visitandines can uniquely prepare by meditating on our Holy Founder’s reflections on the papal succession, as documented in his book, The Catholic Controversy.
We continue to offer excerpts from our Founder, St. Francis de Sales, to you for your own reflection.
He entitles Part 2, Article 6, Chapter 9 of the Catholic Controversy as:
THAT SAINT PETER HAS HAD SUCCESSORS IN THE VICAR-GENERALSHIP OF OUR LORD. THE CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR SUCCEEDING HIM.
Were St. Francis de Sales speaking about our Church’s situation today, he could not be more clear and precise!
He says, “Let us see what conditions are required for succeeding to an office. There can only be succession to one who, whether by deposition or by death, gives up and leaves his place ; whence Our Lord is always head and sovereign Pontiff of the Church, to whom no one succeeds, because he is always living, and has never resigned or quitted this priesthood [or] pontificate ; though here below, in the Church militant, he partly exercises it by his ministers and servants, his authority, however, being too excellent to be altogether communicated. But these ministers and representatives, as many pastors as ever there are, can give up and do give up, either by deposition or by death, their offices and dignities. “
St. Francis de Sales, writing over 400 years ago, readily implied that the Pontiff might leave an Office by deposition. He also reminded us that Jesus Christ is the Sovereign Pontiff of the Church.