Free At Last! On the Passing of Nelson Mandella

A friend on Facebook inspired me to write the following:

Your Holiness;

Normally, I would struggle to use such a salutation, however, having read of 

your outreach to those of us not choosing to follow the Catholic Church, I use 

it with a glad heart.  I am not unfamiliar with the Holy Bible.  The teaching 

of Christ, as told in the Gospels, is, for the most part, a universal human 

truth and I thank you for acknowledging those of us who see it as such.  

Goodness transcends all faiths and beliefs.  It is for this reason I feel 

compelled to write this email.

The loss to humanity, of Nelson Mandela, is incalculably great.  This world 

needs more of his kind-- and kindness, not less.  I beg you use the influence 

which your position accords to promote such a worthy example of human grace.

This humble man, in my opinion, was a miracle.  He fought to keep his humanity 

through many years of persecution as a prisoner under the regime of Apartheid.  

He became, throughout the world, the rallying point for those of us rightly 

intolerant of the intolerant.  His example seems, to me, to follow in the 

footsteps of Christ, as Christ is portrayed in the Gospels.

Yet, for all the publicity he was given, he remained humble, compassionate, 

and graceful.  He was given rule of the country which had formerly persecuted 

him.  In response, he chose not to persecute his persecutors.  Instead he 

embraced them.  His Truth and Reconciliation Committee sought only one thing:  

to heal a nation.  Christ was a healer.  This is what I believe to be 

Mandela's first miracle.

Christ admonishes us to turn the other cheek.  Even after his years of 

suffering at the hands of his persecutors, Nelson Mandela lived as Christ did.  

Mandela's suffering is well known.  Though he didn't die a martyr, there is no 

doubt in my mind he lived as one.  Death comes quickly and ends easily.  

Living is much harder, especially the many years he spent suffering for 

others.  His grace in the face of it is his second miracle.

I fully realize Nelson Mandela isn't Catholic.  Likewise, the Good Samaritan 

wasn't a Jew.  Doesn't Nelson Mandela deserve a similar mention for his 

unfailing compassion and grace?  For the sake of ALL humanity, I implore you!

As I mention in my opening, I am not a Catholic.  I am agnostic.  I could 

never pretend to think I know the mind of God.  Perhaps, he reigns supreme 

over our universe.  Yet nature tells us we cannot see beyond this very 

universe, therefore, I cannot know the mind of God.

I do know grace and compassion when I see it, however.  Nelson Mandela 

personified both.  To me, the man was a saint.  I hope the Catholic Church can 

look beyond itself, as you, Your Holiness, has recently done.  I beseech you, 

please declare Nelson Mandela a saint!

Sincerely,

Man in the Middle