Faith and Understanding
What moves us to believe is not the fact that revealed truths
Appear as true and intelligible in the light of our natural reason
We believe because the authority of Eternal God Himself who reveals them
Who can neither deceive nor be deceived
So that the submission of our faith nevertheless be in accordance with reason
Eternal God willed that external proofs of his Revelation
Should be joined to the internal help of the Eternal Holy Spirit
Thus the miracles of Father Christ and the saints
Prophecies
The Church’s growth and holiness
Her fruitfulness and stability are the most certain signs of divine Revelation
Adapted to the intelligence of fall
They are motives of credibility
Which show that the assent of faith is by no means a blind impulse of the mind
Faith is certain
It is certain than all human knowledge
Because it is founded at the very word of Eternal God who cannot lie
To be sure
Revealed truths can seem obscure to human reason and experience
But
The certainty that the divine light gives is greater than that
Which the light of natural reason gives
Ten thousand difficulties do not make one doubt
Faith seeks understanding
It is intrinsic to faith that a believer desires to know better
The One in whom he has put his faith
To understand better what He has revealed
A more penetrating knowledge will in turn call forth a greater faith
Increasingly set afire by love
The grace of faith opens the eyes of our hearts
To a lively understanding of the contents of Revelation
That is
Of the reality of Eternal God’s plan and the mysteries of faith
Of their connection with each other with Father Christ
The center of the revealed mystery
The same Eternal Holy Spirit constantly perfects faith by his gifts
So that Revelation may be more and more profoundly understood
In the words of St. Augustine
I believe
In order to understand
And I understand
The better to believe
Or can truth ever contradict truth
Consequently
Methodical research in all branches of knowledge
Provided it is carried out in a truly scientific manner
Does not override moral laws
Can never conflict with the faith
Because the things of the world
The things of faith derive from the same Eternal God
The humble and persevering investigator of the secrets of nature is being led
As it were
By the hand of Eternal God in spite of Himself
For it is Eternal God
The conserver of all things
Who made them what they are
1252015
Copyright © Jacqueline R. Mendoza | Year Posted 2015
Post Comments
Poetrysoup is an environment of encouragement and growth so only provide specific positive comments that indicate what you appreciate about the poem. Negative comments will result your account being banned.
Please
Login
to post a comment