January 5, 2010
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Back in the Educational Saddle Again
For my English class we had to write a short paper about some public figure that we thought showed qualities that we thought were indicative of a hero. Here is my offering. I a bit proud since I received an A on this one. Not too bad considering that I haven’t been in the classroom as a student for over 25 years.
A True Hero for Our Times
The choice of a hero is both a highly personal thing and something that, as we grow and mature, changes both with experience and the refinement of our character. In my youth singers, actors and actresses paraded through my world as the characters of my personal hero worship. As I grew older, gained experience and became more formed in both my spiritual and emotional being those heroes fell by the wayside and were soon replaced by more permanent characters who continue to inspire me.
Inspiration, for me, is the basis for the choice of a hero, inspiration to imitate the virtues that are displayed by the individual that I have chosen as my hero. What is the definition of a hero though, what makes a hero? Dictionary.com defines a hero as a “man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”. The individual today who embodies this definition for me, whose virtues I wish to imitate, is Pope Benedict XVI. The Holy Father displays many qualities that are enviable, among them confidence, compassion, courage, justice, humility, loyalty, reverence, responsibility, and forgiveness. The chief among these are loyalty, courage, and humility.
Evidenced by his continued and staunch adherence to the teaching of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church in spite of wide spread outcry, the Holy Father remains loyal to Jesus Christ and
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the Church that He founded. As a public figure whose words and actions are constantly in the public eye it would seem easy and tempting for Benedict to sway with the protestations of the liberal crowds and “adjust” the teachings of the church to fit with the more modern attitudes and ideas that prevail. This cannot be though, for in order for the Holy Father to remain true to the vows that he took before God and the Church he must also remain true to the teachings of that church no matter what direction public opinion tries to sway him.
There are many examples of his stalwart adherence to the more than two millennium teachings of the Catholic Church. Rachel Donadio reported in the New York Times on November 10, 2009, “The Vatican said on Monday that its new rules facilitating the conversion of Anglicans, including married Anglican priests, did not “signify any change” in its rules for priestly celibacy….On Monday, the Vatican released the rules governing the new structures. They uphold current practice; the rules say married Anglican priests can become Catholic priests only on “a case-by-case basis, according to objective criteria approved by the Holy See.” The new norm “does not signify any change in the church’s discipline of clerical celibacy,” the Vatican press office said in a statement.” (8) Clearly the Holy Father, in spite of speculation about a possible change in the churches stance on priestly celibacy, remains firm with the tradition of Holy Mother Church. This however is not the only example of his courage and loyalty to the traditions of the church.
The Church’s stance on the sanctity of life is legend especially in the years since the passage of the controversial Supreme Court ruling Roe v Wade legalizing abortion. The Popes before Benedict have spoken out frequently against the legalization of abortion and Benedict has taken
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up the torch and continues in the outcry against this insult to life. In the New York Times article dated February 19, 2009, Rachel Donadio reported in her article about the meeting between Pope Benedict and Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Donadio wrote that, “Benedict “briefly greeted” Ms. Pelosi and her entourage after his weekly public audience and “took the opportunity to speak of the requirements of the natural moral law and the church’s consistent teaching on the dignity of human life from conception to natural death.” The Pope added that all Catholics, “especially legislators, jurists and those responsible for the common good of society, “should “work in cooperation with all men and women of good will in creating a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development.” (17) Once again Pope Benedict making it clear that the Church’s stance on life has not nor will it change. Not only does he make that clear but he also makes it clear that those in public office are not exempt from protecting life as well, that they are not above the law.
Being in the public eye is, in itself, something that takes courage. To be constantly under the scrutiny of the media and, through the media, under the scrutiny of the world takes a certain amount of courage. To maintain your courage, integrity, beliefs, live up to your responsibilities, remain humble, be compassionate, and not give in to the will of the people that you serve takes a certain kind of character and grace. I am of the opinion that Pope Benedict XVI not only possesses those qualities but displays them for all to see. It is for this reason that he is my hero and why I desire to imitate his qualities.
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Works Cited
Rachel Donadio. “Vatican Keeps Celibacy in Rules on Anglicans :[Foreign Desk]. ” New York Times 10 Nov. 2009, Late Edition (East Coast): National Newspaper Abstracts (3), ProQuest. Web. 24 Dec. 2009.
Rachel Donadio. “Visiting Pope, Pelosi Hears A Call to Protect Life :[National Desk]. ” New York Times 19 Feb. 2009, Late Edition (East Coast): National Newspaper Abstracts (3), ProQuest. Web. 24 Dec. 2009.
Comments (2)
Congratulations…I have read the way your students (okay, one of your students) write so it isn’t so surprising to me that you got an A. It was well written and thought out. Good job
@ugotafriend - You’re not just saying that ’cause we’re friends? Just had to ask. Actually I like it too and that is saying a lot. Thank you very much. It means more that a peer likes it than my professor.