"...which of us does "love" God? I remember, ages ago, talking to a young Chinese Marxist student, who amazed me by saying, "of course, priesthood [I had him I hoped to be ordained] is unrewarding, but you won't mind that, because you love God." I was amazed and rather appalled, because I couldn't imagine why he should think I loved God; as soon as he'd said it, I knew it wasn't true. After all, what was it to love God? The saints loved God: their whole lives revolved around God, they wept and laughed and danced for love of him. When St. John of the Cross was staying at a convent over Christmas, one of the sisters saw him, when he thought no one was looking, picking up the figure of the child Jesus from the crib. He hugged it close to his chest and then, with eyes closed, danced around the crib for a few minutes. Well, that, it seems, is love of God: a devotion that makes people more than a little dotty, that produces an all-pervading warmth and delight, an incommunicable gladness beyond all words. "My beloved is mine and I am his"; Jesu, the very thought is sweet; In that dear name all pleasures meet"...St. Aelred of Rievaulx on his deathbed murmuring "Christ, Christ, Christ" unceasingly; Francis of Assisi literally crying himself blind in his long vigils of prayer.
If this is loving God, most of us don't." - Rowan Williams (Archbishop of Canterbury) "Loving God" in "A Ray of Darkness" p. 127
This is one of my favourite sermons of all time. Dr. Williams goes through the Catholic position and the Protestant position and notes how both fail to adequately describe the experience of loving God. He doesn't dogmatically state his views, in typical Anglican style, but rather talks about loving God as understanding him as "incomparably worthwhile". Almost a Thomistic understanding of knowing the kind of thing God is, even if not knowing exactly what he is, and then allowing our souls to ascend to the love of God by his grace. As the Angelic Doctor stated "To love God is something greater than to know him".
The Protestant/Calvinist/Lutheran position traditionally has been to say that humans can't love God. The Wesleyan/Catholic tradition has been to say humans can purely love God. A third way that modern Evangelicals and Roman Catholics alike have share is the idea of love as a choice.
Given the choice between Papist, Puritan, or Prelate, I'm going to have to side with the latter, and agree with Rowan Williams that love of God is something indescribable. It is mystical, but it comes from a choice we make long before the experience that prepares us for the reception of this grace.
There's so much in this sermon and I'm butchering it. Do yourself a favor, go out and buy a copy of Ray of Darkness. I don't agree with alot that Williams says, but much of what he says has formed my faith in that wonderful Anglo-Catholic tradition that harmonizes so well with both the fathers and Rome.
He borrows alot from Hans Urs Von Balthasar and I enjoy both of their understandings of love. They are both just within the Catholic tradition, but not in the mainstream of it.
Showing posts with label The Saints. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Saints. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Weekend Musings
I used this verse in a debate the other day and I found it interesting.
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord" - Ephesians 2:19-21
It's an interesting idea that Cardinal Newman suggested, that while the deposit of faith is the same, the 'unpacking' or development of doctrine is still happening. This verse struck me the other day. Mainly because it says that the Church is build upon apostles. Calvin said that meant 'apostolic teaching' by which he meant the Bible, by which he meant the Protestant canon. I personally think that it means apostolic succession, but I would say that wouldn't I. I like this verse though, as well as the preceding chapter.
On Ash Wednesday I met a deacon who is a professor of neuroscience at my university and he found out I was a convert and he told me a story about Mother Teresa. A reporter once asked her why she was Catholic, she said because she hadn't found a better religion yet.
Today I was driving to get my haircut and there was a brilliant English Monsignor who was preaching, and I really enjoyed his sermon, so I sat and listened to it for a while. By the time I walked up to the barber shop it was closing for the day. Typical Andrew haha. But I wasn't angry, it was worth it, I'll get my hair cut later.
I started reading Dietrich Von Hildebrand's book that a friend sent me the other day. It's about St. Francis (of Assisi's) message to laymen today. As a 20th century Philosopher von Hildebrand is fascinating and attacks relativism greatly. St. Francis' story was a big influence in his conversion to the Church. It's really great and I'm learning a ton about St. Francis. I have a picture of him and a small figure my mom got me in Assisi as devotional aids in my room, and it's embarrassing how little I knew about him until recently. When I read that he called his order the minores fratres 'lesser brethren', it immediately made me want to join, it felt like the religious order invented for me.
I'm really excited to go to Mass tonight again. I'm trying to figure out a Catholic definition of love, and I think I've almost got it. I think the locus classicus for understanding it is Jesus' statement in St. John's Gospel "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." I feel like love might be defined in a Catholic sense as 'self-giving'. Christ gave himself for us to the Father on the Cross, to merit the grace which makes us able to be offered to the Father by Christ. Something like that maybe? The Evangeli-speak would be 'give your life to Christ'. That sort of thing.
"So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord" - Ephesians 2:19-21
It's an interesting idea that Cardinal Newman suggested, that while the deposit of faith is the same, the 'unpacking' or development of doctrine is still happening. This verse struck me the other day. Mainly because it says that the Church is build upon apostles. Calvin said that meant 'apostolic teaching' by which he meant the Bible, by which he meant the Protestant canon. I personally think that it means apostolic succession, but I would say that wouldn't I. I like this verse though, as well as the preceding chapter.
On Ash Wednesday I met a deacon who is a professor of neuroscience at my university and he found out I was a convert and he told me a story about Mother Teresa. A reporter once asked her why she was Catholic, she said because she hadn't found a better religion yet.
Today I was driving to get my haircut and there was a brilliant English Monsignor who was preaching, and I really enjoyed his sermon, so I sat and listened to it for a while. By the time I walked up to the barber shop it was closing for the day. Typical Andrew haha. But I wasn't angry, it was worth it, I'll get my hair cut later.
I started reading Dietrich Von Hildebrand's book that a friend sent me the other day. It's about St. Francis (of Assisi's) message to laymen today. As a 20th century Philosopher von Hildebrand is fascinating and attacks relativism greatly. St. Francis' story was a big influence in his conversion to the Church. It's really great and I'm learning a ton about St. Francis. I have a picture of him and a small figure my mom got me in Assisi as devotional aids in my room, and it's embarrassing how little I knew about him until recently. When I read that he called his order the minores fratres 'lesser brethren', it immediately made me want to join, it felt like the religious order invented for me.
I'm really excited to go to Mass tonight again. I'm trying to figure out a Catholic definition of love, and I think I've almost got it. I think the locus classicus for understanding it is Jesus' statement in St. John's Gospel "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." I feel like love might be defined in a Catholic sense as 'self-giving'. Christ gave himself for us to the Father on the Cross, to merit the grace which makes us able to be offered to the Father by Christ. Something like that maybe? The Evangeli-speak would be 'give your life to Christ'. That sort of thing.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Canada's Newest Saint
I really don't care about the Olympics, an orgy of flesh-worship based on pagan religion, and a further financial burden to our country and what have you. I get annoyed as people keep telling me "we" won another medal. Well I have something else that I find more exciting that "we" now have.
Papa Benny said this week that Canada is getting another saint! Brother Andre! (He even shares my name) of Montreal
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2010/02/19/Vatican-declares-Canadian-brother-a-saint/UPI-41371266592464/
I love his story. He was an orphan and he became a lay brother in the Church, and worked as a janitor, and prayed for people and they were healed by God through him. Just the thought that God has and does work through the most everyday people, in the lowest stations of life in such a miraculous way. It inspires me, and reminds me of Jesus (which is what the saints are meant to).
I'm excited because our Newman club is thinking about doing a pilgrimage on the day he is officially canonized.
Papa Benny said this week that Canada is getting another saint! Brother Andre! (He even shares my name) of Montreal
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/International/2010/02/19/Vatican-declares-Canadian-brother-a-saint/UPI-41371266592464/
I love his story. He was an orphan and he became a lay brother in the Church, and worked as a janitor, and prayed for people and they were healed by God through him. Just the thought that God has and does work through the most everyday people, in the lowest stations of life in such a miraculous way. It inspires me, and reminds me of Jesus (which is what the saints are meant to).
I'm excited because our Newman club is thinking about doing a pilgrimage on the day he is officially canonized.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
The Miracle of Grace: Humility, and the Saints
"The greater the charity of the Saints in their heavenly home, the more they intercede for those who are still on their journey and the more they can help them by their prayers; the more they are united with God, the more effective those prayers are. This is in accordance with Divine order, which makes higher things react upon lower things, like the brightness of the sun filling the atmosphere." -St. Thomas Aquinas
I had a terrible day yesterday. I fell significantly into sin that I thought I was getting better at beating. It compounded itself so much, because once I chose wrongly the first time, it was so much easier to despair and continue. But luckily, from a very unexpected source (a Protestant friend), I discovered a new saint this morning. Just reading the story of Fr. Vincent McNabb (not canonized, but a saintly man), I was shook from my apathy. I saw it in his story, Beatus/Eudaimonia/Happiness. He had such an ascetic life as a dominican friar, but immediately I recognized the miracle of Grace. And much like the compounding of sin, the Grace that man experienced compounded in my own life, and I was able to get up renewed in my faith and have a long prayer walk.
The Rosary is so beautiful. I find the true experiences and religious affections I feel to be the ones I can express the least. I always feel retarded when I try to write my feelings and encounters with the divine, maybe I'm not supposed to write them, or they're too personal to communicate. As I was praying the Rosary today I was emptied. All the self-centred self-reflection I've done, all the talk about myself was gone. I was immersed in a tradition of prayer going back to St. Dominic. The REAL story of humanity, sin & grace, redemption. Once I was emptied, then and only then, could I be filled by the Spirit, by grace, by the mysterious life of God.
As we approach Lent, I've realized what I want to do. 40 days of death and life. 40 days of dying to myself, and Christ living in me. What I (re)learned from the saints today was the key to happiness. Mary was the greatest saint because she was the most empty of self and full of Jesus. I want to spend Lent not thinking about myself (in an egotistical way), not thinking about my own strength or sacrifice or penance, and focusing on the Saints and Christ. Hopefully then, when I'm truly empty, then I can be filled with good things.
Today the scripture I kept thinking on was (quite fittingly) the Magnificat, and specifically:
"he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty"
I am too wealthy, too excessive, too fat, too overindulgent. God -through the words of St. John the Baptist- has once again reminded me of that beautiful truth "he must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). Humility I think would be the old way of naming this virtue. Disregard for oneself in regard for someone greater, namely Christ. I want to have gratitude and humility.
I had a terrible day yesterday. I fell significantly into sin that I thought I was getting better at beating. It compounded itself so much, because once I chose wrongly the first time, it was so much easier to despair and continue. But luckily, from a very unexpected source (a Protestant friend), I discovered a new saint this morning. Just reading the story of Fr. Vincent McNabb (not canonized, but a saintly man), I was shook from my apathy. I saw it in his story, Beatus/Eudaimonia/Happiness. He had such an ascetic life as a dominican friar, but immediately I recognized the miracle of Grace. And much like the compounding of sin, the Grace that man experienced compounded in my own life, and I was able to get up renewed in my faith and have a long prayer walk.
The Rosary is so beautiful. I find the true experiences and religious affections I feel to be the ones I can express the least. I always feel retarded when I try to write my feelings and encounters with the divine, maybe I'm not supposed to write them, or they're too personal to communicate. As I was praying the Rosary today I was emptied. All the self-centred self-reflection I've done, all the talk about myself was gone. I was immersed in a tradition of prayer going back to St. Dominic. The REAL story of humanity, sin & grace, redemption. Once I was emptied, then and only then, could I be filled by the Spirit, by grace, by the mysterious life of God.
As we approach Lent, I've realized what I want to do. 40 days of death and life. 40 days of dying to myself, and Christ living in me. What I (re)learned from the saints today was the key to happiness. Mary was the greatest saint because she was the most empty of self and full of Jesus. I want to spend Lent not thinking about myself (in an egotistical way), not thinking about my own strength or sacrifice or penance, and focusing on the Saints and Christ. Hopefully then, when I'm truly empty, then I can be filled with good things.
Today the scripture I kept thinking on was (quite fittingly) the Magnificat, and specifically:
"he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty"
I am too wealthy, too excessive, too fat, too overindulgent. God -through the words of St. John the Baptist- has once again reminded me of that beautiful truth "he must increase, but I must decrease" (Jn 3:30). Humility I think would be the old way of naming this virtue. Disregard for oneself in regard for someone greater, namely Christ. I want to have gratitude and humility.
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