For the grace of God has appeared, saving all
and training us to reject godless ways and worldly desires
and to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,
as we await the blessed hope....
Today, under the leadership of Pope Leo XIV, the Church honors the first Pope Leo, remembered as "the Great" and a Doctor. Although he did not attend the Councils of Ephesus and Chalcedon, his delegates and his "Tome of Saint Leo" persuaded the assembled bishops to condemn the monophysitism which threatened to dissolve the Lord's human nature into irrelevance.
His intervention also demonstrated the effective leadership of the Bishop of Rome. Although they could not agree among themselves they could agree that "Rome" should have the last word in every controversy. "Roma locuta; causa finita est." (Rome has spoken; the case is closed!)
Pope Leo is also remembered for assuming the secular leadership of Rome when Attila and his German Huns threatened to overrun and sack Rome. (It would not have been the first time. Perhaps there wasn't much left worth sacking.)
Catholics cannot forget the teaching, juridical, and sacramental authority of the Pope, bishops, and clergy. This is how we understand and incorporate our belief in Jesus as both God and Man. Were He only a "Spirit" as the monophysitists taught, we could regard the Son of Mary as neither male nor female, Jew nor gentile, slave or free. The man would have disappeared into God, and his people should expect nothing more than a divine invasion which would annihilate our human consciousness in God's presence.
We've tried that "shock and awe" approach on one another and found that it never works. Iraqis were not so impressed by the American invasion as to surrender and become the 51st state of their conquerors. Few wives can suppress themselves before domineering husbands before they find ways to resist, with passive aggression, divorce, or worse. American slaves were notorious for thieving useful goods from their masters; and many fought readily with the invading Union armies.
Our God, the Lord Jesus, is an obedient son who joyfully, willingly obeys his Father even to death on the Cross. He wants to save us; but more importantly, he wants to obey his Father who also wills our redemption. Between the Two, and with the Spirit that teaches us the same joyful obedience. And, as if in response, the Holy Trinity recreates us in the image and likeness of God, with all the rights and privileges thereunto appertaining!"
