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Dear Fellow Readers,
There are many different ways to generate a more thoughtful and informed faith. Certainly, one of them is to read insightful and challenging books that lead us to examine our faith in a deeper way. When we genuinely seek the Truth….He will find us! For Christ is “the Way, the Truth and the Life”.
Father Rolheiser, in his book The Shattered Lantern: Rediscovering a Felt Presence of God, addresses the larger issues of our “godless” culture. What does it mean to live in a culture that no longer has a sense of God, where there is no longer a common assumption of His watchfulness, and His love? What we have all experienced, I’m sure, is that it is very difficult to enter into an authentic dialogue with our friends and family when we don’t understand their embedded assumptions derived from the pervasive notion that we are “independent”, with no attachment to a God who loves us. Father Rolheiser helps us to become more conscious of these cultural assumptions, and then presents some “antidotes” to confront them in ourselves, and in our relationships.
Like any book, there may be ideas that we find difficult. That is OK! In fact, it is a good and healthy thing! When we are presented with an idea that we don’t agree with, we often find that our own faith becomes more conscious, more deliberate, and more well-defined. My prayer is that we may enter together in this dialogue of faith….meeting these ideas as Catholics, and trying together to find a voice to speak the Truth (He Who is the Truth) more deliberately, and lovingly to the “world” around us.
I look forward to going on this adventure with you! May the Beloved breathe the grace of His understanding, wisdom and love into you as we begin together this journey of seeking Him….with One Book, in One Parish.
-Sally Robb
(Pastoral Associate for Family Faith Formation)
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Sally, I am looking forward to this adventure, too! God bless you for this unique opportunity to share thoughts and prayers on such a timely and inspirational book.
ReplyDeleteGreat quotation from Flannery O'Connor, relating to the shattered lamp metaphor Rolheiser adopts from Nietsche to describe the culture:
ReplyDelete"... the moral sense has been bred out of certain sections of the population, like the wings have been bred off certain chickens to produce more white meat on them. This is a generation of wingless chickens, which I suppose is what Nietzsche meant when he said God was dead." [letter to Betty Hester]
What a sad commentary! The revolution in technology was supposed to give us MORE time to Be Still and Open to God's presence! Instead, people rush more, feel less, and wonder what happened to God?! God IS present; it is we who are numbed by allowing ourselves to remain in constant motion.
ReplyDeleteThe meditation yesterday in the "Magnificat" says it so beautifully. I quote:
"Night and day let your aim be to remain in simplicity and gentleness, calmness and serenity, and in freedom from created things, so that you will find your joy in the Lord Jesus.
"Love silence and solitude, even when in the midst of a crowd or when caught up in your work."
Far better than physical solitude "is solitude of the heart, which is the interior desert in which your spirit can become totally immersed in God, and can hear and savor the words of eternal life."
This book is simply showing the consequences of our decisions to put our children in a Godless environment for half of their waking hours, five days a week, nine months out of the year and then shoving our adolescents off to hedonistic, Godless environments where drinking, drugs and sex are of a higher priority than even learning. And, where the meaning of being adult is that its okay to drink and abuse our bodies as much as desired, watch R and X rated "entertainment" and do whatever pleases us. We as a community and country support all of this both financially and politically. What do you expect in return. One thing you can't expect is to be able to live a contemplative life in this environment. Neither will your children or you children's children. One generation after another that will not be saved.
ReplyDeleteThis book is like so many others. Its written by someone who can't or won't take the time to understand the philosophical tradition of theism because the "ideas are often considered too abstract even for minds trained in philosophy to grasp [p. 127]". This author simply adopts the word of so many others that "all proofs for the existence of God can be reduced to a single premise: If reality is intelligible, then God exists! … if the world makes sense then some ultimate principle - God - must exist to explain it." This is not true and it gives great ammunition to the atheists who then have an easy time arguing against the existence of God. Books with this kind of misinformation should not endorsed by the Catholic Church because they end up doing more damage than good.
ReplyDeleteThe fact is that Anselm's proof for the existence of God in the "Proslogion" (see Sandra Visser and Thomas Williams, “The Argument of the Proslogion,” in Anselm. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195309383 ) cannot and should not be reduced to the single premise mentioned above. Anselm's is a wonderful proof that, if not misinterpreted as is almost always done, has stood the test of time. The brilliant 20th century logician and atheist, Kurt Gödel, reformulated it in into modern terms even though he hesitated publishing it because he was afraid that others might think "that he actually believes in God". He did publish it before he died, however, because professional integrity compelled him to do so.
A book like the "Proslogion" or "Three Philosophical Dialogues" might be better for "One book, One parish". At least they're written by a Doctor of the Church.
"If you ever had a little green tree frog and watched him puffing out with a pomposity worthy of a dragon before croaking, you must have guessed that there is a tender smile on our heavenly Father's face, that he likes us to laugh and he laughs with us; the frog will teach your heart more than all the books of theology in the world." -- Caryll Houselander
ReplyDeleteIt does not take a doctor of the church to help us examine our ability to rediscover a felt presence of God.
According to Rolheiser "The air we breathe is agnostic, even atheistic." The Doctors of the Church can help us clear this air more so than anyone else and in so doing we'll have the ability to rediscover a felt presence of the one true God; not a Hindu or Janist or Buddhist or Confucian God who also would have a great appreciation for the frog.
ReplyDelete"God is born into life after a gestation period. ... live life in a certain way ... [and] ... eventually [we] give birth to God in [our] lives." - Rolheiser page 161
ReplyDelete"Our labors and attempts are in vain without God. Man cannot seek God, unless God himself teaches him; nor find him, unless he reveals himself. God created man in his image, that he might be mindful of him, think of him, and love him." - Anselm - Proslogium, Chapter 1
I don't want to be taught by someone who says "we give birth to God in our lives" instead of someone who says "Our labors and attempts are in vain without God"? Or someone who says "God is born into life after a gestation period" instead of "God created man in his image".
We're all created in the image of God and we either stay that way or drift away.
Can anyone suggest how I might reach out to a dear friend in a simple way? Unlike most of us, she never had the advantage of ANY type of religious upbringing.
ReplyDeleteI do not want to come across as "preachy" or "better than thou." She is without doubt a good person created in the image of God; however, she had never even heard the word "Beatitudes" until this past weekend when she asked me why I have a "class" (Adult Faith Formation) on Sunday mornings!
As I read the Rolheiser book, she jumps into mind when I read such passages as "We feel chronically pressured, victimized, and hyper-driven. We overwork, but are bored; socialize excessively, but are lonely; work to the point of exhaustion, but feel like our lives are a waste." These are all feelings she has confessed to me!
I feel overwhelmed; perhaps some of you have had a friend like this and can help me deal with it appropriately?
Is this simple?
ReplyDelete"Exhortation of the mind to the contemplation of God. -- It casts aside cares, and excludes all thoughts save that of God, that it may seek Him. Man was created to see God. Man by sin lost the blessedness for which he was made, and found the misery for which he was not made. He did not keep this good when he could keep it easily. Without God it is ill with us. Our labors and attempts are in vain without God. Man cannot seek God, unless God himself teaches him; nor find him, unless he reveals himself. God created man in his image, that he might be mindful of him, think of him, and love him. The believer does not seek to understand, that he may believe, but he believes that he may understand: for unless he believed he would not understand.
Up now, slight man! flee, for a little while, your occupations; hide yourself, for a time, from your disturbing thoughts. Cast aside, now, your burdensome cares, and put away your toilsome business. Yield room for some little time to God; and rest for a little time in him. Enter the inner chamber of your mind; shut out all thoughts save that of God, and such as can aid you in seeking him; close your door and seek him. Speak now, my whole heart! speak now to God, saying, I seek your face; your face, Lord, will I seek (Psalms xxvii. 8). And come you now, O Lord my God, teach my heart where and how it may seek you, where and how it may find you."
We are at a pivotal point in our collective human lives. That greater responsibility is placed on the individual for his/her personal choices seems to me a natural progression of the human race; necessary for personal growth, and very much as God would have it. No one can be forced to acknowledge God in their lives, but out of love, we can be encouraging of ourselves and others to step out of the day-to-day pressures and refresh in the peace that is God. Today, that requires a certain amount of risk-taking. Those of us facing job and family pressures often feel there is no time to be contemplative, but I think that is because some assume contemplation requires a very prescribed process. Truthfully, it seems to me that opening ourselves to God is very important for our survival, now more than ever. Beginning the dialogue, like starting an exercise program, seems daunting. God gave us free will; a challenge for some, an opportunity for others. Contemplation needn't be burdensome. I particularly like the statement Rohlheiser makes on pg. 87, "If we try to understand through faith, love through charity, and relate through hope, God does the rest."
ReplyDeleteDear Mamie,
ReplyDeleteSo often the most effective way to "speak" of God, is to live His love for her. Loneliness is such a wrenching pain. Their hearts cry out, "Where are you, Lord? Is there anyone who loves me?" True love is never preachy....it just IS. There are no 'perfect' words, or technique. Love is a power unto Itself.
But there are some different ways I have had some lovely moments of openness with friends who are in the position you're in with your friend. Would you like to talk? My cell number is 964-6067, and I would be happy to go have coffee with you, or something, if you think that might be of help to you.
What is certain is that the Beloved looks at your tender, compassionate loving heart, and is filled with joy....and He is seeking your friend....longing for her....waiting for her to turn around and see His love for her.....so He can fill her emptiness. It is the greatest joy of His heart! I am praying for you. Blessings and grace to you. warmly, sally
"True love is never preachy" ?
ReplyDeleteIs Rolheiser preachy? Is Pope Benedict preachy? Was Nietzsche preachy?
If to do is to love and love is never preachy then its pretty easy to always do as one preaches.
Love is always very costly....it is not easy at all. We open ourselves to great vulnerablity when we love. To make the gift of ourselves is not to "preach", within the context of the common understanding of that word....tedious moralizing.
ReplyDeleteFather Rolheiser is a teacher, and as a priest, he preaches. Our Holy Father makes the gift of his wisdom which is born of his knowledge and Christ's love, which so clearly resides in him. He has the authority, and the call to preach. Nietzche was also a teacher...who said that if Christians really lived the Resurrection, then he could believe in a God of Resurrection.
Mamie is speaking of a friend,whose heart is lonely. She is trying to make the gift of herself, and of her faith to fill this emptiness. "Preachiness" within that context is often not received with an open heart, and so is not effective.
It is possible, by the way, to teach and even preach, without being "preachy". One has only to read Benedict, or Blessed Teresa, or St. Therese of Lisieux to see the truth of wisdom, and faith given as a gift. I think that was what Mamie was addressing, and what was intended in my response.
I have very good friends both at work and outside and if I think they need to hear something they hear it and I'm sure they could characterize me as "preachy" if they chose to. People need to here the Truths of our faith as presented by those like the Doctors of the Church, preachy or not. And, I'm appalled at the number of illiterate Catholics in this regard including, as I have already observed, Fr. Rolheiser.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you. The truth is deeply and absolutely essential. Christ tells us that "the truth will set you free". If we claim to care for someone, how could we leave them captive in the darkness of their own ignorance, or misunderstanding? St. Thomas Aquinas said that fraternal correction is a sign, and indeed, a reqirement of love.
ReplyDeleteBUT...the fraternal correction St. Thomas speaks of carries with it the requirements of humility and love: humility because very few people have the humility themselves, or the openness of heart, to be able to receive the truth when it descends on them from on high. Love is a requirement for obvious reasons. We are not finally responsible for whether or not someone receives the truth we offer. But we, as Christians, should offer the truth as a gift of love, and not as a weapon....the sword of righteousness very often only wounds.
I have had to, as a spiritual director, and for the sake of true friendship, tell people very difficult things. My experience is that most people can receive the truth, even very painful truths, if they know you are offering it to them as an act of true friendship.
By the way, I don't mean to imply that you are descending from "on high". I know that you are deeply committed to the truths of our faith.....a rare and beautiful quality these days.
OK....I have to go get the "precious muffins" ready for school. Blessings to you!
warmly,
sally
Dear Sally,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your prayers and thoughtful guidance. I remember what you said Sunday in our lovely faith formation class: "God lovingly knocks on the door of our hearts, but WE have to open the door from the inside!" And certainly, as you also stated, "God is a lover; not a rapist!" Knocking down the door to a heart creates fear, not love. I believe love is the goal!
Compassion is the grace that will make a difference. I can really see that now.
How much wiser to be humble, kind, and gentle of spirit. Thank you, Sally, for being just that kind of sweet offering. I will take that as my role model.
God bless you.
mamie
God bless you, too, Mamie....and may you feel His tender arms around you, and hear His whipered words of love in the deep recesses of your heart.
ReplyDeletewith love,
sally