While cruising around the Catholic Answers Forums recently, I came across a thread titled "Papa Ratz & the cats" discussing an article on our new Pope that mentions his fondness for cats. In the course of the thread, while discussing Pope Benedict’s new nickname "The German Shepherd," a participant linked to an image that I have decided is my now-favorite image of this new papacy:
The Good Shepherd (Sorry, I haven’t gotten the image display capability mastered yet.)
Cats are very independent creatures, used to having things their own way. They may deign to show you affection occasionally … usually when they are trying to con you into tuna and cream or an ear scratch. In other words, they’re independent until they want something out of you, which makes them a better symbol of the American (and Western) spirit than the bald eagle.
Someone I once spoke with used this simile for a difficult task: "I bet it’s as easy as herding cats." That image stuck with me, and I’m glad it did, because that is what our new Pope is being called to do: To be a German Shepherd corralling a herd of cats. The image linked above is a vivid image of the reality that I’m sure he’ll be up to the job. I’ve ordered a copy of the print, though, and plan to use it as a visual reminder to pray for His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI and to pray for the flock of cats under his care.
While I am crazy about Pope Benedict, I am really having to deal with this love he has for cats! How could such a man of God actually love cats??
Press: Because they need him to? 😉
Press, I’m with you. This affinity for felines does not reconcile with the man who has been “Putting the smackdown on heresy since 1981”.
I would hate for the progressive change-mongers to get too comfortable with this cuddly image of our new pope.
I’m an old Ratzinger fan, St. Benedict is my patron, and I love cats! This is a good year!!
Press, I’m with you. This affinity for felines does not reconcile with the man who has been “Putting the smackdown on heresy since 1981”.
I would point out that cats are incapable of committing heresy 😉
I like my cat. We understand one another. He goes his way, and I go mine.
He doesn’t mess in the house. He doesn’t bark at the UPS guy, the trash guy, the neighbors or my kids’ friends.
He just wants a little food, the ability to come and go as the mood suits him, and a quiet place to take a nap.
I did get mad at him once, after I found suspicious toungue marks in the butter, but he made up to me by leaving a decaying rodent on the doormat.
Could you ask for more from a pet?
“Papa Ratz & the cats”? I dunno, that just sounds like a bad band name to me. 🙂
Although we had two cats at one time, I’ve decided the only way I will ever own a cat again is if for some reason I should own a barn that has mice. I have trouble imagining how the Holy Father could like these rodents, unless it’s in form of Asian cuisine.
Cats rule! Dogs drool (literally)!
As if I needed another reason to admire the Pope!
All dogs go to heaven, never heard about cats going to heaven.
Apple is getting to launch their latest OS “Tiger” later this week. Previously they released “Jaguar” and “Panther” OSes (OSs ? correct me Jimmy). Do you suppose someone will find a conspiracy/tie-in between Benedict XVI and Steve Jobs?
My cat comes running to meet me every day when I come home. She sits on my lap and purrs when I feel blue, and keeps me company. She’s a wonderful pet, and I hope the Pope can have a cat in the Vatican. When I heard he was a cat lover, my initial positive feels were crystallized. Real men love cats.
The correct title of the book is ALL CATS GO TO HEAVEN.
What’s interesting to me is not so much that the Pope likes cats, but that cats like him. Cats seem to have a knack for divining (so to speak) human character. Any friend of theirs can be a friend of mine…
HI! Nice design!
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