Did anyone else notice this?
It is noteworthy that Monday, Jan. 13, 2020, was the Memorial Feast of St. Hilary. This was the day that Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI removed his endorsement from Cardinal Sarah's book on celibacy.
With Benedict withdrawing his name, irrespective of any circumstances leading up to the withdrawal of his name (e.g., pressured or not), the point is that, at the end of the day, in the final analysis, the book by Cardinal Sarah is mere theological opinion and does not carry Benedict's public blessing anymore.
The chapter from Benedict in the new book carries at best the same weight as "Jesus of Nazareth," which Benedict wrote not in his capacity as Bishop of Rome but in his capacity as a great theologian. It is clear that only that one chapter is "100% Benedict" and it is to that theological writing that carries significance. The rest of the book is nothing more than Cardinal Sarah's opinion.
The good Cardinal can document all he wants about Benedict participating but again, at the end of the day, Benedict withdrew his name. And even Cardinal Sarah acknowledges and accepts this.
Therefore, if we wish to construe what message Benedict is sending, then we should construe that on the feast of a married priest canonized Doctor of the Church Benedict does not publicly support whatever Cardinal Sarah wrote in the new book.
Some calendars will put St. Hilary's feast on Jan. 14, but the idea is the same. Pope Emeritus acted this week on an issue affecting the Catholic Church. And sent a message.
St. Hilary was married when ordained to Holy Orders and had a daughter named Afra, too. Whether he was continent is debatable. The point is he was a married Latin rite priest. He lived circa Anno Domini 315-368.
Dear Athanasius of the West, what does God want of His Church concerning the issue of married priests in the Latin rite?
St. Hilary, pray for us.
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