Devotion for today: Let light shine out of darkness: a study guide for Lumen Fidei

My husband recently began reading the latest encyclical Lumen Fidei. He asked me to read it as well so we could discuss it. The, he asked me to come up with some guide questions that would help him understand this a little better. I thought it was a good idea for all of us to join him on his exploration of the only encyclical ever written by two Popes. Let’s begin by reading the first few sections and asking ourselves some questions.

ENCYCLICAL LETTER  LUMEN FIDEI (Light of Faith)
OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF  FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS PRIESTS AND DEACONS CONSECRATED PERSONS AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON FAITH

1.       The light of Faith: this is how the Church’s tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus. In John’s Gospel, Christ says of himself: "I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness" (Jn 12:46). Saint Paul uses the same image: "God who said ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ has shown in our hearts" (2 Cor 4:6). The pagan world, which hungered for light, had seen the growth of the cult of the sun god, Sol Invictus, invoked each day at sunrise. Yet though the sun was born anew each morning, it was clearly incapable of casting its light on all of human existence. The sun does not illumine all reality; its rays cannot penetrate to the shadow of death, the place where men’s eyes are closed to its light. "No one — Saint Justin Martyr writes — has ever been ready to die for his faith in the sun”. Conscious of the immense horizon which their faith opened before them, Christians invoked Jesus as the true sun "whose rays bestow life". To Martha, weeping for the death of her brother Lazarus, Jesus said: "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (Jn 11:40). Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.

 In today’s world, do you think many people see the Catholic faith as a light in the darkness? Or do you think most people think that Catholics are in the dark?

How does the Light which is the Son of God differ from the light which is the sun of the physical world?

An illusory light?

2.       Yet in speaking of the light of faith, we can almost hear the objections of many of our contemporaries. In modernity, that light might have been considered sufficient for societies of old, but was felt to be of no use for new times, for a humanity come of age, proud of its rationality and anxious to explore the future in novel ways. Faith thus appeared to some as an illusory light, preventing mankind from boldly setting out in quest of knowledge. The young Nietzsche encouraged his sister Elisabeth to take risks, to tread "new paths… with all the uncertainty of one who must find his own way", adding that "this is where humanity’s paths part: if you want peace of soul and happiness, then believe, but if you want to be a follower of truth, then seek". Belief would be incompatible with seeking. From this starting point Nietzsche was to develop his critique of Christianity for diminishing the full meaning of human existence and stripping life of novelty and adventure. Faith would thus be the illusion of light, an illusion which blocks the path of a liberated humanity to its future.

What are some arguments against faith that the Pope mentions?

How would you respond to Nietzsche’s argument against Christianity, especially that it is an illusion?

3.       In the process, faith came to be associated with darkness. There were those who tried to save faith by making room for it alongside the light of reason. Such room would open up wherever the light of reason could not penetrate, wherever certainty was no longer possible. Faith was thus understood either as a leap in the dark, to be taken in the absence of light, driven by blind emotion, or as a subjective light, capable perhaps of warming the heart and bringing personal consolation, but not something which could be proposed to others as an objective and shared light which points the way. Slowly but surely, however, it would become evident that the light of autonomous reason is not enough to illumine the future; ultimately the future remains shadowy and fraught with fear of the unknown. As a result, humanity renounced the search for a great light, Truth itself, in order to be content with smaller lights which illumine the fleeting moment yet prove incapable of showing the way. Yet in the absence of light everything becomes confused; it is impossible to tell good from evil, or the road to our destination from other roads which take us in endless circles, going nowhere.

We can see the “light of faith” explained by mankind in several ways”: as part of the world of reason, the last resort when all else fails to explain, an emotional response to a need for comfort. Yet, what truly explains the light of faith? In your opinion, what does it really do for mankind?

Write down your answers and we can discuss this section tomorrow! You can write your answers in the comments section of this blog if you wish.

Prayer for the Increase of Faith

Loving God, Father of all, you call me to abundance of life in you. This gift of life and grace is accessed by faith: a free gift that you offer to everyone. By means of it I can believe that Jesus is your Son, and that his Church is his Body. At the

beginning of this day I ask for an increase of this gift that you gave to me initially at baptism. This gift of faith raises my natural gifts and abilities to the supernatural level – to the level on which you and I can directly relate with one

another. I thank you for this gift. May its increase today cause great rejoicing inmy heart and lead me to acts of loving service to everyone, beginning with my brother and sister fellow Christians. Fr. William Dinga, Jr. June 27, 2010