Nemo Judex in Causa Sua

May 29, 2005

Last week I came across an interesting web-site that wrote about the papal Latinist, an American priest by the name of Father Reginald Foster. In an interview about his life and his current employment in Rome, Fr. Foster related his own JPII story (everyone seems to have one these days): on one occasion he attempted to correct the late Pope for his incorrect use of the letter “J” in signing his name in Latin (Joannes Paulus instead of Ioannes Paulus). The Latin language has no “J” the pope was informed, who replied that from now on the Pope would be using the letter “J” whenever he signed his name “Joannes Paulus II”. Fr. Foster remarked that for 26 years the Pope used the letter “J” but on his tomb the letter “I” is now to be seen.    Nemo judex in causa sua – the Latin axiom has it -  nobody is a judge in his own case.

Years before St. Paul had addressed Timothy with these rousing words as he concluded his second letter to him:

“I charge thee, before God and Jesus Christ, who shall judge the living and the dead, by his coming and his kingdom: Preach the word: be instant in season, out of season: reprove, entreat, rebuke in all patience and doctrine. For there shall be a time when they will not endure sound doctrine but, according to their own desires, they will heap to themselves teachers having itching ears: And will indeed turn away their hearing from the truth, but will be turned unto fables.” 2 Timothy 4:1-4

Evidently Paul was warning Timothy (a young bishop) of the dangers of being lead astray by every wind and whim which he might encounter. Stubbornness, especially in a cleric, is a vice that can oftentimes lead him very much astray.

I know a number of autocephalous (self-governing) clergy today whose lives are indeed directed by their every whim; who make mistake after mistake because they have made themselves their own popes, condemning, (in some cases at least), true Popes, building tinsel empires that, ultimately will be no more than a “J” in the sands of time. Their whims have become veritable magisteria, as they jockey for positions, sometimes coming to uneasy truces amongst themselves. At least the laity (from conversations I have had with many over the years) are well aware of their shenanigans but they unfortunately suffer a great deal because of it, especially by the scandal given. (I cringe for them). Small beer for priest and prelate alike whose end is himself – when will we all wake up dear priestly brethren ?

Earlier in the same letter Paul had written about the end times (I firmly believe we are living through them now) and what men would be like then:

“Know also this, that in the last days shall come dangerous times. Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, haughty, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, Without affection, without peace, slanderers, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, Traitors, stubborn, puffed up, and lovers of pleasure more than of God: Having an appearance indeed of godliness but denying the power thereof.” 2 Timothy 3:1-5a

Does this sound (in part) like some traditional clergy today ? Concerning such men, St Paul pithily advises the young bishop Timothy

“Now these avoid.” 2 Timothy 3:5b

We may well follow the same advice ! Men come and go but the Church remains, until the end of time, exactly as Christ willed her to be. I take as much comfort as our new Pope does, that Our Lord has always made use of the insignificant to confound the wise (wise in the eyes of this world but not in the sight of God).

It is significant that Pope Benedict XVI took the name “Benedict” as his papal name. His immediate predecessor who bore the same name was Benedict XV.

There is a very amusing story told about the first obedience the Cardinals made to the newly elected Pope Benedict XV: Cardinal Della Chiesa (Benedict XV) had been exiled from Rome under the previous pontificate of Pius X because he was suspected of being a liberal by Cardinal Merry del Val. Merry del Val who had been charged by Pius X of rousting out suspected modernists. When Della Chiesa was elected to replace the dead Pontiff it was now time for Merry del Val to eat (as Americans say so beautifully) some “humble pie”. As Merry del Val embraced the new Pope - and back then they kissed the foot of the pope (literally) – Benedict XV recited in Latin a portion of one of the psalms: “The stone which the builders rejected has become the corner-stone”. Not to be outdone, Merry del Val came right back with the second portion of the very same verse (in Latin): “and it is a wonder in our eyes !”

Clearly God always thwarts our expectations – it is enough for us to get on board with His  program ! Those who are humble are always on board with God’s program and our new Pope is definitely, thank God, a man of humility and hence a man open to doing God’s will and not his own. He said in part at his first appearance on the logia of St Peter’s, in that short but oh so touching speech:

A man who knows humility can authentically say such a thing and, after all, Pope Benedict XVI is truly a humble man, (as both his friends and enemies admit) for, as he said on the same occasion of himself:

When we have made our way through life, when we have stubbornly followed our own counsel, when we have ignored every chance piece of advice that might have saved us so much heartache, (yes a little humility to seek the counsel of another), all that remains of what we did is not now a “J” -  but just an “I”. The pun (in English at least) is highly ironic don’t you think ? + TF

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