| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
n/a
deleted
959 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 23 2008 : 8:14:47 PM
|
Soulful Signs of a True Faith
Sometimes events seem to coincide in such a manner that it almost seems as if God were sending us a message.
Recently I was at a dinner with friends. It was a pleasant meal with people whom I hadn't seen for a while. They were all good people and religious as well. After the meal, as we sat around reminiscing about the past, one person began to speak about a book he had read. It was written by a man who had been a priest and had left the priesthood. In the course of time, he had come to a point where he was not an atheist, but perhaps an agnostic—a man with many doubts. And yet he wrote about the Church and people without animosity or resentment but with great charity.
At that point, I was taken by surprise because the conversation suddenly took an entirely different tone. It was as if the other folks present had found a release to express their innermost thoughts.
One spoke of his doubts about the faith. He spoke of lying awake analyzing the "Our Father" prayer. What did it mean to call God "Father?" He is so infinite; we are so finite, so small. What is this heaven? Is God a king who demands tribute? In that prayer the "Our Father" the gentleman admitted that he is only comfortable with the last words about forgiveness. The rest of the Our Father prayer leaves him with a sense of doubt and even discomfort.
Another person spoke of the fact that for him the real meaning of life is simply to love our neighbor and to do good to other humans. He seems to have a more pragmatic faith.
Another person burst out unexpectedly with feelings of anger against the Church. He spoke of priest pedophiles and the guilt of the bishops who permitted their crimes. He mentioned a certain bishop who was ostracized by the other bishops because he had spoken out against the hierarchical system that had permitted such a situation.
Another spoke in a very simple and beautiful manner of his love for God and the prayer of love for Jesus that seems to emanate effortlessly from his heart.
Another said that he personally found the meanings of theology in the form of poetry that flows from the inner spirit of mankind. Another said that the Catholic Church needed to move to a new theology for a new time.
And so the evening went on with many expressing their doubts, fears, angers, and emotions about God, religion, love and life.
My mind was filled with their words as I drove home through the dark night.
The next day, as I awoke to the news on the clock radio, the reporter was giving information about Mother Teresa and some private letters that had been released by the Vatican (see The Catholic Advocate, Sept. 5). Those letters revealed her own "dark night of the soul" and her own doubts and fears as a religious. They were emotions that no one would expect from Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
As I reflected upon all of this, I realized that Mother Teresa and the people with whom I had shared a meal had been at one in uttering their struggle of faith. Only those who walk in such a darkness of yearning, seeking and desire for God can fully realize what pure faith really requires. It sometimes demands the walking of a lonely road where God seems to be totally absent. There is only the silence and emptiness of the human soul struggling for a sign of the Divine.
One religious man put it to me this way: "We will all die wondering."
I don't believe that. Those who can be so concerned about the Transcendent Being are not far from the Kingdom of God. The very anguish of their soul is a sign of faith. Their yearning for the Creator gives me an even greater trust in the Lord, whom I cannot see, but whose presence I can feel in the very depths of my being.
"My soul thirsts for God, the Living God. When shall I go and behold the face of God?" (Psalm 42).
The Writings of Msgr. John J. Gilchrist
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church“Christ has no body but yours, no hands butyours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’scompassion must look upon the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”St. Theresa of Avila
|
|
|
Tee
Mary's Servant
USA
140 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2008 : 09:58:55 AM
|
I really enjoyed reading this, food for thought...
~Tee
"they must seek to fulfill their daily duties, that is as mothers and wives in an exemplary manner of holiness by pursuing the contemplative life in their homes..." ~ 3rd basic tenet of Apostolate of Holy Motherhood |
 |
|
|
BARBAQUED
Mary's Servant
USA
454 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2008 : 5:04:22 PM
|
We all experience times when faith is difficult. When I feel this way I try and recall the many ways God has revealed himself to me.
Praise and worship, its one thing to learn about God it is another to offer praise, worship and thanks.
I have heard people say; faith is like a muscle, it needs to be exercised.
Things are not always the we see them.
|
|
|
|
hollomr
Formation
USA
3 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2008 : 8:19:10 PM
|
I think that occurs more often that not...Things are never quite the way we see them. I do not think that I will really understand my faith until I am before Jesus being judged. I don't waste too much time wondering about the "whys" of the Catholic faith. I have enought trouble trying to make sure I pray each day, try not to sin or be puffed up with pride (that's the one that gets me every time), and make it to Mass on Sunday. Each day, I feel that there is so much more that God expects of me. Some days I do better than others, but that is only because God gives me the necessary grace to make it through.
I truly enjoyed reading what you wrote, Grace.
Just like Tee, your words really gave me food for thought.
God bless!
~Rae |
Edited by - hollomr on Mar 25 2008 8:19:36 PM |
|
|
|
n/a
deleted
959 Posts |
Posted - Mar 25 2008 : 9:40:05 PM
|
I cannot take the credit for it came from The Writings of Msgr. John J. Gilchrist
It impressed me that is why I posted it.
Grace Mizzi
www.mmponline.org
Send Oh Lord Holy Apostles into your church“Christ has no body but yours, no hands butyours, no feet but yours.Yours are the eyes through which Christ’scompassion must look upon the world.Yours are the feet with which He is to go about
doing good.Yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now.”St. Theresa of Avila |
|
|
|
EdWasHere
Formation
43 Posts |
Posted - Apr 09 2008 : 3:59:23 PM
|
| Thanks for sharing |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
Topic Locked
