An excerpt from
CHAPTER TWO: TWO SUBTLE ENEMIES OF HOLINESS
CONTEMPORARY GNOSTICISM
46. When Saint Francis of Assisi saw that some of his disciples were engaged in teaching, he wanted to avoid the temptation to gnosticism. He wrote to Saint Anthony of Padua: “I am pleased that you teach sacred theology to the brothers, provided that… you do not extinguish the spirit of prayer and devotion during study of this kind”. Francis recognized the temptation to turn the Christian experience into a set of intellectual exercises that distance us from the freshness of the Gospel. Saint Bonaventure, on the other hand, pointed out that true Christian wisdom can never be separated from mercy towards our neighbour: “The greatest possible wisdom is to share fruitfully what we have to give… Even as mercy is the companion of wisdom, avarice is its enemy”. “There are activities that, united to contemplation, do not prevent the latter, but rather facilitate it, such as works of mercy and devotion”.
Every Christian is challenged, here and now, to be actively engaged in evangelization
; indeed, anyone who has truly experienced God's saving love does not need much time or lengthy training to go out and proclaim that love.
No one, however weak, is denied a share in the victory of the cross. No one is beyond the help of the prayer of Christ. His prayer brought benefit to the multitude that raged against him. How much more does it bring to those who turn to him in repentance.
Coming up...
Bishop Robert Barron's 'THE MASS' video and discussion study program
Plan to attend on Sunday's from 9:00AM-10AM or Wednesdays from 7:00PM-8:00PM.
2018 Friends of the Poor Walk - Register Today!
Saturday, September 22, 2018
Evansville State Hospital
3400 Lincoln Ave • Evansville, Indiana
Start Time: 9am (Registration: 8am)
Sponsorships available too!
Head to our site for the info and forms:
www.svdpevansville.org
