THE MALIGNED POPE

25/04/07 09:07

Few popes have been under such a fierce firestorm as Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) who was attacked by some of his contemporaries for having usurped the papacy, imprisoned, tortured, and killed his predecessor Celestine V.

This was just the beginning of the crucifixion that this saintly Pope Boniface VIII was to suffer.  It was Augustinus Triumphus, a disciple of the Angelic Doctor himself, Saint Thomas Aquinas, who defended so stalwartly the saintly reputation of this pope in a holy tract. These scurrilous attacks against the holy Boniface VIII included such lies as

Few popes have been under such a fierce firestorm as Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) who was attacked by some of his contemporaries for having usurped the papacy, imprisoned, tortured, and killed his predecessor Celestine V.

This was just the beginning of the crucifixion that this saintly Pope Boniface VIII was to suffer.  It was Augustinus Triumphus, a disciple of the Angelic Doctor himself, Saint Thomas Aquinas, who defended so stalwartly the saintly reputation of this pope in a holy tract. These scurrilous attacks against the holy Boniface VIII included such lies as he was insane, poisoned himself, became a recluse, gnawed his hands to the bone, struck his head against walls, and finally strangled himself with his own nightshirt.

All these prevarications were countered by Pope Boniface VIII’s holy death which was so peaceful, calm, and beautiful for a man who wept tears at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass because he so loved Christ and His atoning sacrificial passion and death for us all.