Much Madness is Divinest Sense

Jennifer Wilbanks has some ‘splaining to do. I find it utterly reprehensible that she led police on a wild goose chase, worried her fiancé and family like that, and initially blamed her abduction on a fictional Hispanic couple. Because, you know, making it seem like it was a “dangerous minority” makes it believable. Shades of Susan Smith’s mysterious black man, anyone? I understand cold feet. I know people would have been upset if she called off the wedding, but for crying out loud, how much more upset must they be that she is capable of such heartless deceit? I never could put my finger on it, but I thought there was something odd about this from the start. Everyone was starting to think her poor fiancé had done something — all this business about the lie-detector test — and it turns out she just ran away.

Weddings do tend to take on a life of their own, don’t they? But there was, I think, a much better solution. I don’t know that any criminal charges that might be filed could possibly make her feel worse, assuming she is capable of feeling remorse, but I think they should be filed nonetheless. They won’t be. Those good old boy cops in Gwinnett County might love doling out tickets to harried moms of three trying to get to work on time and going a bit too fast on Ronald Reagan Parkway, but they won’t make poor little Jennifer pay for the hours they spent looking for her. I have a feeling she’ll pay in some way.

I remember when John Paul II was elected Pope, which is odd, because in that same year, Pope Paul VI died, and Pope John Paul I was elected and died. I don’t remember any of that. I just remember Pope John Paul II. I am not Catholic, but at the same time, I was saddened when John Paul II died. He had been Pope as long as I remembered. He had been the only Pope I had known. I had this feeling that the rug had been pulled out from under me in some way. A constant in my lifetime had changed. I knew he wouldn’t live forever, and I knew he was ailing and later, near death, but my reaction to his death was odd.

A couple of weeks ago, while looking for information about the papal candidates (papabili), because I knew nothing about any prominent cardinals who might replace John Paul II. In the course of my research, I came across this article. At first glance, it might seem to you that it was written after the fact, but I assure you, I read it weeks ago. It was then that I became aware of the prophecies of St. Malachy. I’m not saying I did research that verifies any of this, but there is enough information available with a simple Google search that satisfies me in regards to the last few Popes, anyway. In fact, it’s pretty creepy. So when the new Pope was elected and one of the students on a computer in the library announced it, I said something like “What name did he choose? Or do you know?”

The student said, “Benedict.”

My jaw dropped. “Are you serious?” I asked.

“Sure,” he said. “Why?”

“Nothing. Just some Catholic prophecy.”

Yeah. Some Catholic prophecy, all right.

So if St. Malachy is right, that means that Pope Benedict XVI is the Gloria olivae, the “Glory of the Olive,” then I find his first speech interesting:

Dear brothers and sisters, after the Great Pope John Paul II, the cardinals have elected me, a simple, humble worker in the Lord’s vineyard. I am comforted by the fact that the Lord knows how to work and act even with insufficient instruments. And above all, I entrust myself to your prayers. With the joy of the risen Lord and confidence in His constant help, we will go forward. The Lord will help us and Mary, His most holy mother, will be alongside us. Thank you.

The olive branch symbolizes peace. Because of Romans 11, many Christians also associate olives, more precisely, olive trees with Jews, thinking of themselves (Christians) as the branches grafted onto the olive tree, or made welcome as people of God, becoming part of the Chosen People. Is he the Glory of this particular Olive Tree? Is he in some way symbolic? Or will he simply be a man of peace? Or both? Or what?

I don’t know what to think, but I can’t deny I find it all intriguing.