‘‘AMORIS LAETITIA’’: VICTORY OF THE MARYSROSE. By Fr. Kenneth Evurulobi. Ph.D

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Exhortation, ‘Amoris Laetitia’ is the Victory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Triumph of the Immaculate Heart of Mary’, the Holy Spirit has revealed.

The Holy Spirit further revealed that ‘Amoris Laetitia’ is a project initiated by God through the obedience of Jesus, the 2^nd Adam, but which came into time in the form of a century old project executed by the fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary using  the instrumentality of the three children of Fatima – Francis, Jacinta and Lucy.

 ‘Amoris Laetitia’ is, therefore, deeply rooted in the mystery of the Triune God. It is a project for missions. 

And this is the Victory of Marysrose and therefore constitutes a missionary responsibility for her.

It is a renewal and a confirmation of the fidelity of the Bride of the Christ (Church) to the Bridegroom himself as well as an in-depth and unpretentious appreciation of her new role in the New World Order and the challenges there from.

Thanks to emeritus Pope Benedict XVI who supervised the project for about 30 years before passing it over to Pope Francis.

 ‘Amoris Laetitia’ is a product of God’s foolishness which rebuked the pretensions of human wisdom, took a long look at Judas Iscariot, and then went ahead to enthrone the Eternal Word. 

What a coincidence with the call to sainthood of Mother Angelica, founder of the Eternal Word Television Network, EWTN, and a General in the Christian Army who fought a World War with no other weapon other than the Holy Rosary.

A Jesuit is a Jesuit – an old fox, if you like – even if he lives next door washing and fixing a harlot’s baby’s napkin or taking a bottle of Heineken Beer in a dingy Beer Parlor in a deserted street.

It takes a lot to be a Jesuit. And yet, more –very much more -  to be a Jesuit Pope.

Pope Francis is both a Jesuit and a Pope who smoked out all the zombies, vultures, monkeys, tortoises, pythons and crocodiles that have held the Vatican hostage for too long and almost succeeded in turning the place into an animal kingdom. 

With a special charisma that uncovered the beauty and necessity of Benedict XVI’s legacies while, at the same time, conceding a vague and momentary victory to the animals of the kingdom- a concession that tended to make some of some us unnecessarily green with envy – Pope Francis fought and won a World War without firing a bullet. Here lies the power of ‘Amoris Laetitia’.

Anybody can believe, practice, say or do anything as far as the issues addressed in Amoris Laetitia are concerned, but certainly, the heartbeat of the Church can now be felt and her pulse measured by virtue of this Document. And Pope Francis is very clear on them by saying that, despite the fact that time and circumstances may be imposing in their testimonies and demands, it is not within his power to redefine or abrogate doctrines.

‘Amoris Laetitia’ has sent the animals to the zoo. It is now the responsibility of Theology to work out the nature of the zoo.

But whether there is going to be one zoo or many zoos is a function of time and the continuity of the Synod that Pope Francis has called for. 

The Animals thought that they had won victory by virtue of Benedict XVI’s resignation. The opposite is true. Resignation was Benedict XVI’s own way of saying ‘IT IS FINISHED” (John 19:30).

 If, in the estimation of his critics and enemies, Benedict XVI could be said to be ‘an old fox who was beaten to his own game’ by virtue of his voluntary resignation, Pope Francis is the sophisticated modern breed of that old fox who personified doctrine and reduced Robert Green’s 48 laws of Power to only two words; Mercy and Love. 

It is not proper to go far away from here in a renewed effort to defend and assert doctrine over pastoral action. But the devil may return at an opportune time. 

This is the significance of the Sacred Deed.