Saturday, August 31, 2013

Devotion for today: Our Lady of Czestochowa, pray for us.


John 2:5: His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”


I would like to return to my trip to Poland for today, because this week we celebrated  the feast of Our Lady of Jasna Gora, also known as the Black Madonna or Our Lady of Czestochowa.  She is also known as Our Lady of Poland, and her feast day is August 26th. Here is an excerpt from a commentary on the pilgrimage I wrote for the members of the group who traveled through Poland with me.

The next stop was Czestochowa, the home of Our Lady of Jasna Gora (the Black Madonna). She is called Our Lady of Jasna Gora because the Pauline monks from Hungary who built the monastery on the high hill named it after their Mother House at Buda, St. Lawrence in Claro Monte Budensi, Hungary. We were given a tour of this magnificent shrine and had the thrill of viewing the image during Eucharistic Adoration! Many, many miracles are attributed to this icon, which is clothed in precious metals and jewels and housed in a glass enclosure to insure perfect temperature control. The Black Madonna is attributed with saving the town of Czestochowa against many attacks and invasions, as recently as the occupation of the monastery and church by the Nazis, and is the source of great graces and many miracles. Tradition holds that she was painted by St. Luke on the table top from the house of the Holy Family, and art critics say it was originally a Byzantine icon from between the 6th and 9th centuries. Some of us were able to attend the 6 am unveiling of the Image ceremony the next morning. This is a beautiful tradition where the image, which is hidden behind a silver screen, is unveiled for the day to the blast of trumpets and the sound of drums. The screen rises slowly while the people sing hymns. It was truly a glimpse of heaven. The presence of Mary throughout our entire pilgrimage can only leave us with the reminder that no matter what we do for God, no matter where we travel to be near to Him, His mother Mary will always be with us. She is the light that will lead us to her Son, just as her hand points to Him in this sacred image.
“On June 4, 1979, the first Polish Pope, John Paul II, visited Jasna Gora and began his pilgrimage with these words, “Mary’s will is being fulfilled. Here I am… I have come ….” During his three-day visit, the Pope encountered three and a half million faithful. John Paul II declared the faith of the Universal Church, of his homeland, of all mankind and of himself in the Virgin and proclaimed, “Mother, I am yours and all that I have is yours”. He made an offering of a golden rose and set it on the altar of the Mother of God.” (This paragraph is from the book Jasna Gora Czestochowa, Wydawnictwo Zakonu Paulinow, 1998)

 Almighty and merciful God! You gave us a wondrous help and defense in the most holy Virgin Mary and You honored Her sacred image of Jasna Gora with remarkable veneration of the faithful. Grant in Your mercy that, under her protection, we may struggle confidently throughout our lives and at the moment of death be victorious over our enemy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. http://www.ssmaryandjohn.co.uk/page,8.html. For more info:
campus.udayton.edu/mary/meditations/olczest.html

Friday, August 30, 2013

Devotion for today: suffering souls




Luke 9:23: Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

This  is a short blog today because, for the second time in a week, I have had oral surgery and it is causing me great discomfort. My friend told me yesterday that I am a suffering soul and that God needs us in the world right now to practice redemptive suffering. I have been doing this for some time and was grateful to her for sharing her thought because it reminded me to share it with you. She suffers from MS and every day is a struggle for her, yet she offers it up for the salvation of souls in the world and for the conversion of sinners so that we may find peace and not hatred in our world. I have seen so many of my friends suffering right now, one with a reconstructed foot, one with terrible food allergies that actually alter her mood and outlook on life, one just found out he has prostate cancer, and the beat goes on. Some are suffering emotional pain, such as the rejection of their once-loving children or the infidelity of a spouse. It can all be offered up. God can and will honor our sacrifice, and in the meantime, we will never be taking our eyes off of Him. It isn't easy to suffer, but when you place yourself on the cross with Christ, remember, it is He who is behind you. Hear the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant."

I hope you enjoyed the little study of "Lumen Fidei" we just did. Since I have always deferred to experts, however, I think I will recommend this book and let's do something else next week. Al thanks you as well for letting him share his faith with you!

http://lumenfidei.com/st-augustine-faith-and-reason/?utm_source=The+Lumen+Fidei+Email+List&utm_campaign=f747070c76-Feast+of+Saint+Augustine

Prayer Before a Crucifix

Look down upon me, good and gentle Jesus, while before Your face I 
humbly kneel, and with burning soul pray and beseech You to fix deep
 in my heart lively sentiments of faith, hope, and charity, true contrition
 for my sins, and a firm purpose of amendment; while I contemplate 
with great love and tender pity Your five wounds, pondering over them
 within me, and calling to mind the words which, long ago, David the 
prophet spoke in Your own person concerning You, my Jesus: "They 
have pierced My hands and My feet; they have numbered all My 
bones."

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Devotion for today: Faith is a star to brighten the horizon of our journey: continuing study of Lumen Fidei




Today we will look at my husband’s answers to the questions from yesterday’s blog reading of sections 4-7 of the introduction to Lumen Fidei (with commentary from me).

Scripture passage for reflection: Romans 7:17-24:  So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self, but I see in my members, another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

1)      Questions for section 4: Given that there are three main areas of life which faith illumines, let’s say the soul, the body and the earth, how do our relations with God, ourselves and others, and our environment suffer when we extinguish the light of faith?

Al (my husband) says that our relationship with God ceases to exist since we no longer see a reason to have a relationship with Him. Our relationship with ourselves means that when you let go of God, you let go of conscience, so anything goes, you can do anything you want and be self-gratifying and selfish. Other people become a burden unless they serve you and if they don’t, they are of little consequence. As far as the environment goes, we have less of an ability to value those things around us, since they cease to be gifts from God (in our minds).

I like what I read in Fr. Michael Gaitley’s book “The One in Three” (Marian Press, 2012). He explains it this way: “…and when he [man] pulls away from [God], he immediately suffers an effect in his soul…. Reason becomes darkened such that it doesn’t clearly see the good; the will becomes fickle and weak, and the passions become wild, unpredictable and difficult to control….when man breaks communion with God, he quickly sets himself up as his own god and sees himself as the center of the universe, which causes a multitude of evils….Instead of the original harmony with creation…men torture animals and pollute the environment….

3)      When did you first realize that God had called you to a life of faith? Was it like a spark that became a burning flame?

Al says: for me it was when I made my Cursillo in 1982. I really saw that God loved me and that He could show Himself to me through the love and faith of a community. This was the first time I had ever experienced this and it changed my life. It was like a spark that became a burning flame since I then wanted to share this wonderful joy with everyone I met.

For me, I had a great faith at a very young age. I used to keep an altar in my closet starting when I was in the second grade. It was a shoe box turned upside down, covered with a “borrowed” handkerchief from my dad’s drawer, with a little plastic statue of Mary and two cotton balls dotted with my mom’s perfume. I would put little clover leaves on it as an offering, and I would write letters to Mary asking her to appear to me as she did to Bernadette. I though no one knew of my altar, so you can imagine my shock in the mornings when my letters were gone!! As I grew older, I cried at the Stations of the Cross every Friday when our school went for the Lenten Devotions, and in college I went to Mass every day during Lent. I was sure I wanted to become a nun, but I had fallen in love and made a novena to see where I should direct my life. God led me to my husband of 39 years.  God lived in me and my faith was always strong even if my will and resolve to “do good” were weak. So I guess I never had a spark that turned into a flame, just an ever-glowing ember.

1)      “Why is it not enough to have a private faith, one that we share with God but not with our fellow man?

Al says, “Because God reveals Himself to us through other people, so that we must be willing to share God once we have come to know Him. God can reveal Himself to other people through us, so we must be willing to live our faith at work, in our families, and in our communities.

Me: Pope Francis reminds us that Jesus, “then told him [Peter] to strengthen his brothers and sisters in that same faith” and he and the apostles did just that, “for it had brought them to the light and given birth within them to divine life, a new experience and a luminous vision of existence.” If we discover that faith will truly change our lives and bring us peace, direction and eternal life, why wouldn’t we want to share it with everyone?

2)      Would you say that your faith brings “grandeur and fulfillment” to your life? Why or why not?

Al says, “Definitely. It opened my eyes to be able to realize that God truly loves me and wants me to be with Him in heaven, and that He wants me to help others to find this love and road to eternal glory. This has become my life’s mission and I am very thankful for it.”

Me: I cannot imagine a life without faith, so yes, I would say it does. 1 Corinthians 2:9 tells us that “However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived" -- the things God has prepared for those who love him”. What is the purpose of life if not to know, love and serve God in this world and then be happy with Him in the next?  My faith has given me a glimpse of heaven at times, and I love what I have seen.  I live every day of my life in love with God and the world He has given to me, and my only wish is really to bring as many people as I can into this true and glorious way of life.

1)      In what ways can you help to bring “the primacy of God in Christ” to the center of your life? How should your parish be helping you to do this?

Al says, “Well, by learning more about Christ through reading and sharing with others about how Christ is acting in our lives – how He is making a difference in our lives, and by regular prayer and attending Mass and going to Perpetual Adoration on a regular basis, daily if possible.  My parish has activities to bring people together to share Christ’s love. For example, last year I attended a program my parish sponsored called “Lightworks” which taught me Lectio Divina or how to read and understand scripture, and then share my experience with my group. It was exhilarating.

Me: I do this by very regular prayer practices: morning prayer before I get out of bed, daily Mass, rosary, recitation of the Angelus at Noon, Chaplet of Divine Mercy during the hour of mercy from 3-4 pm, and the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows of Mary as my night time prayer. I try to get to church a half hour before Mass starts to make a Holy Half Hour every day, and during the day I keep little prayers running through my head such as “Jesus my Lord, my God, my All, how can I love You as I ought?” People ask me how I find the time to do this, along with spiritual reading and blog writing and still lead a busy life, and I guess the answer is to try and always set aside a part of every hour for God by running a prayer in your head or by remembering to say thank you to God for His many gifts. Make as much of what you do in your day holy! For help with what you watch on TV, by the way, check out http://piusmedia.com/. We subscribe to this and have seen such wonderful shows – helping us to stay positive and uplifted. Parishes should give top priority to groups for sharing the faith, communications for sharing faith-inspiring resources, and devotions for leading people closer to God and His Mother.

1)      If faith really does enable us to “joyfully advance along that way (to the future) on wings of hope” then why don’t more people have true faith?

 Al says, “Because they would have to make major changes in their lives, ones that are gratifying to the senses and to give them up requires sacrifice and change and that is extremely difficult for those who have allowed themselves to become self-centered.”

I say it is because not enough people are inspired to speak up and out about their beliefs. How many of us stay quiet while someone blasts the Church and its stand on abortion and marriage? How many of us fuss and fume about the tide in society but still engage in more secular activities than in ones designed to bring people to Christ? If people are to find true faith, they need someone to bring it to them.

2)      Let’s answer the two questions Pope Francis gives us at the end of 7. But what is it like, this road which faith opens up before us? What is the origin of this powerful light which brightens the journey of a successful and fruitful life? 

 Al says, “The road is a very scenic one with many dimensions and is very exciting. There are many challenges along the way, but overcoming the challenges makes life fulfilling.
FAITH IN  AND LOVE OF GOD of course leads to a fruitful life.

 I just watched the movie “The Way” with Martin Sheen and Emelio Estevez. In it, a father sets out to follow the El Caminode Santiago trail to the Shrine of St. James in Spain, a trail on which his son died. He overcomes many setbacks and trials, anything from bothersome people to physical hardship, yet he does it, and discovers the beauty of the universe and qualities of love in himself and in his fellow man that he didn’t know existed. I like to think this road which faith opens before us is like that. If we place our hand in God’s, and never ever let go, then we will see vistas we never imagined and experience people in a way we never did before. The origin of the light on the trial, the Son of God in all His glory, will never grow dim or fade away. Thus bathed in that light, our lives can never stop being successful and fruitful in God’s eyes.

Check this out!!! http://lumenfidei.com/st-augustine-faith-and-reason/?  I think I will get this.



Send me some of your answers at bertinisandy@gmail.com








Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Devotion for today: A light to be recovered: continuing study questions on Lumen Fidei

Today we will finish examining the introductory sections of Lumen Fidei. Remember to answer the questions and compare yours to the ones I will offer tomorrow.


Lumen Fidei
4. There is an urgent need, then, to see once again that faith is a light, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim. The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence. A light this powerful cannot come from ourselves but from a more primordial source: in a word, it must come from God. Faith is born of an encounter with the living God who calls us and reveals his love, a love which precedes us and upon which we can lean for security and for building our lives. Transformed by this love, we gain fresh vision, new eyes to see; we realize that it contains a great promise of fulfillment, and that a vision of the future opens up before us. Faith, received from God as a supernatural gift, becomes a light for our way, guiding our journey through time. On the one hand, it is a light coming from the past, the light of the foundational memory of the life of Jesus which revealed his perfectly trustworthy love, a love capable of triumphing over death. Yet since Christ has risen and draws us beyond death, faith is also a light coming from the future and opening before us vast horizons which guide us beyond our isolated selves towards the breadth of communion. We come to see that faith does not dwell in shadow and gloom; it is a light for our darkness. Dante, in the Divine Comedy, after professing his faith to Saint Peter, describes that light as a "spark, which then becomes a burning flame and like a heavenly star within me glimmers".  It is this light of faith that I would now like to consider, so that it can grow and enlighten the present, becoming a star to brighten the horizon of our journey at a time when mankind is particularly in need of light.

1)      Given that there are three main areas of life which faith illumines, let’s say the soul, the body and the earth, how do our relations with God, ourselves and others, and our environment suffer when we extinguish the light of faith?
2)      When did you first realize that God had called you to a life of faith? Was it like a spark that became a burning flame?

5. Christ, on the eve of his passion, assured Peter: "I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail" (Lk 22:32). He then told him to strengthen his brothers and sisters in that same faith. Conscious of the duty entrusted to the Successor of Peter, Benedict XVI proclaimed the present Year of Faith, a time of grace which is helping us to sense the great joy of believing and to renew our wonder at the vast horizons which faith opens up, so as then to profess that faith in its unity and integrity, faithful to the memory of the Lord and sustained by his presence and by the working of the Holy Spirit. The conviction born of a faith which brings grandeur and fulfillment to life, a faith centered on Christ and on the power of his grace, inspired the mission of the first Christians. In the acts of the martyrs, we read the following dialogue between the Roman prefect Rusticus and a Christian named Hierax: "‘Where are your parents?’ the judge asked the martyr. He replied: ‘Our true father is Christ, and our mother is faith in him’". For those early Christians, faith, as an encounter with the living God revealed in Christ, was indeed a "mother", for it had brought them to the light and given birth within them to divine life, a new experience and a luminous vision of existence for which they were prepared to bear public witness to the end.

1)      Why is it not enough to have a private faith, one that we share with God but not with our fellow man?
2)      Would you say that your faith brings “grandeur and fulfillment” to your life? Why or why not?

6. The Year of Faith was inaugurated on the fiftieth anniversary of the opening of the Second Vatican Council. This is itself a clear indication that Vatican II was a Council on faith, inasmuch as it asked us to restore the primacy of God in Christ to the centre of our lives, both as a Church and as individuals. The Church never takes faith for granted, but knows that this gift of God needs to be nourished and reinforced so that it can continue to guide her pilgrim way. The Second Vatican Council enabled the light of faith to illumine our human experience from within, accompanying the men and women of our time on their journey. It clearly showed how faith enriches life in all its dimensions.

1)      In what ways can you help to bring “the primacy of God in Christ” to the center of your life? How should your parish be helping you to do this?

7. These considerations on faith — in continuity with all that the Church’s magisterium has pronounced on this theological virtue — are meant to supplement what Benedict XVI had written in his encyclical letters on charity and hope. He himself had almost completed a first draft of an encyclical on faith. For this I am deeply grateful to him, and as his brother in Christ I have taken up his fine work and added a few contributions of my own. The Successor of Peter, yesterday, today and tomorrow, is always called to strengthen his brothers and sisters in the priceless treasure of that faith which God has given as a light for humanity’s path.
In God’s gift of faith, a supernatural infused virtue, we realize that a great love has been offered us, a good word has been spoken to us, and that when we welcome that word, Jesus Christ the Word made flesh, the Holy Spirit transforms us, lights up our way to the future and enables us joyfully to advance along that way on wings of hope. Thus wonderfully interwoven, faith, hope and charity are the driving force of the Christian life as it advances towards full communion with God. But what is it like, this road which faith opens up before us? What is the origin of this powerful light which brightens the journey of a successful and fruitful life? 

1)      If faith really does enable us to “joyfully advance along that way (to the future) on wings of hope” then why don’t more people have true faith?
2)      Let’s answer the two questions Pope Francis gives us at the end of 7.

 Today is the feast of St. Augustine, one of the greatest saints in the Church. Although he spent many years living a promiscuous life style and running from God, when he came to the faith (through the prayers of his mother, St. Monica whose feast we celebrated yesterday), he let the spark within him turn into a raging fire which brought many souls to Christ. If you have not read his “Confessions” please do so. Amazing…

Prayers of St Augustine (354-430)

 O thou, who art the light of the minds that know thee, the life of the souls that love thee, and the strength of the wills that serve thee; help us so to know thee that we may truly love thee; so to love thee that we may fully serve thee, whom to serve is perfect freedom.
 Watch, dear Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and let your angels protect those who sleep.  Tend the sick.  Refresh the weary.  Sustain the dying.  Calm the suffering.  Pity the distressed.  We ask this for the sake of your love.
 Lord Jesus, our Savior, let us come to you.
Our hearts are cold; Lord, warm them with your selfless love.
Our hearts are sinful; cleanse them with your precious blood.
Our hearts are weak; strengthen them with our joyous Spirit.
Our hearts are empty; fill them with your divine presence.
Lord Jesus, our hearts are yours; possess them always and only for yourself.




Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Devotion for today: Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom: continuing study guide on Lumen Fidei

1 Corinthians 1:18:31: For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.  Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,  but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God;  for the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength. Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.  God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Let us take a look at yesterday’s questions regarding the first three sections of Lumen Fidei and some possible answers: refer to yesterday’s blog if you did not read the first three passages.

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?
 My husband says that many people do not see the Catholic faith as a light in the darkness. Otherwise there would be more people pursuing the faith as a way of life. He feels the world today sees Catholics as being in the dark. They are inconsequential in the least and a bit ridiculous at best. I think St. Paul addresses this fallacy of the “intelligent progressives” in any age in the above passage, where he states that the foolishness of God is wiser that human wisdom. It seems that in today’s world, if we do not drop the teachings of Christ and conform to the age, we are looked upon as outdated and out of step with the world, which in reality is living and operating in the dark of an evil and spiritually life-threatening darkness.

How does the Light which is the Son of God differ from the light which is the sun of the physical world?
My husband says that the Son of God leads us to goodness whereas the sun of the physical world sheds physical light. It doesn’t show us the way to lead our lives; it just keeps our lives going. I am drawn to the scripture passage where Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). They physical sun will keep us physically alive. It will illumine our physical paths as we travel the roads of life. It can do no more than that for us. The Son of God, however, will lead us on the path to heaven, to eternal life. When society decides that there is no afterlife, that only the earthly pleasures and successes are necessary and that we need not pay any heed to an accountability with God when we die, then you see a return to the pagan worship of the sun god: one who can insure earthly needs and no more.
  
What are some arguments against faith that the Pope mentions?My husband points out that the Pope suggests that the “enlightened” see our religion as being of no use for  our new times, that people have always been anxious to explore the future in novel ways, so once again the faith appears to mankind to be outdated. Of course, we are told, if we are anxious to explore the future in novel ways, then our Faith would just be the illusion of light, an illusion which blocks the path of a liberated humanity to its future. I agree with my husband. I think St. Paul refers to this again in the above passage when he states, “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?” As the saying goes, there is nothing new under the sun. Everyone who feels he has discovered a new way of truth, a new way of life, a new set of morals and standards, is only doing what generations before us have tried to do and failed: prove that God is wrong and man is right. God is never wrong and all “great” societies that did not follow God were destroyed. When will we ever learn?

How would you respond to Nietzsche’s argument against Christianity, especially that it is an illusion?
As St. Paul stated above, “For the message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” In truth, belief is nothing but seeking. We are not born with the knowledge of Christ sufficient for an adult faith. We must constantly seek to find God, to know Him and grow in His ways. We must read, take classes, discuss with others, listen to wise and learned theologians, and pray, pray, pray. Faith is a journey, and not one for the faint of heart. We must be strong and brave as we travel against a culture who says we are wrong. But remember the above words, “The Cross is the power of God.” If God is for us, who can be against us, and win?

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?
Faith erases the fear of the unknown. We have no fear because we know Christ. Man says; let me follow the paths to financial success, to pleasure at every turn, to constant gratification, no matter what the cost to my soul. This is how we find our societies today. How many people have created their own definitions of  truth, have no real definition of good and evil, have no path to follow, and are going nowhere fast? As my husband so succinctly stated, “Faith give us direction and hope.”


Prayer For Healing
Lord, You invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim Your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which You have created, now and forever. Amen.
http://www.ourcatholicfaith.org/prayer/p-healing.html

Monday, August 26, 2013

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