The Mystery of Death ("Gaudium et Spes": On the Church in the Modern World - nn. 18. 22)

 

From the Second Vatican Council's pastoral constitution "Gaudium et spes" on the Church in the modern world

 

The Mystery of Death

 In the face of death the enigma of human existence reaches its climax. Man is not only the victim of pain and the progressive deterioration of his body; he is also, and more deeply, tormented by the fear of final extinction. But the instinctive judgement of his heart is right when he shrinks from, and rejects, the idea of a total collapse and definitive end of his own person. He carries within him the seed of eternity, which cannot be reduced to matter alone, and so he rebels against death. All efforts of technology, however useful they may be, cannot calm his anxieties; the biological extension of his life-span cannot satisfy the desire inescapably present in his heart for a life beyond this life.

Imagination is completely helpless when confronted with death. Yet the Church, instructed by divine revelation, affirms that man has been created by God for a destiny of happiness beyond the reach of earthly trials. Moreover, the Christian faith teaches that bodily death, to which man would not have been subject if he had not sinned, will be conquered; the almighty and merciful Saviour will restore man to the wholeness that he had lost through his own fault. God has called man, and still calls him, to be united in his whole being in perpetual communion with himself in the immortality of the divine life. This victory has been gained for us by the risen Christ, who by his own death has freed man from death.

Faith, presented with solid arguments, offers every thinking person the answer to his questionings concerning his future destiny. At the same time, it enables him to be one in Christ with his loved ones who have been taken from him by death and gives him hope that they have entered into true life with God.  

Certainly, the Christian is faced with the necessity, and the duty, of fighting against evil through many trials, and of undergoing death. But by entering into the paschal mystery and being made like Christ in death, he will look forward, strong in hope, to the resurrection.

This is true not only of Christians but also of all men of good will in whose heart grace is invisibly at work. Since Christ died for all men, and the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, that is, a divine vocation, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being united with this paschal mystery in a way known only to God.

Such is the great mystery of man, enlightening believers through the Christian revelation. Through Christ and in Christ light is thrown on the enigma of pain and death which overwhelms us without his Gospel to teach us. Christ has risen, destroying death by his own death; he has given us the free gift of life so that as sons in the Son we may cry out in the Spirit, saying: Abba, Father!

 

 

A Sermon by St. Charles Borromeo

A sermon by St Charles Borromeo

"An Excellent Teaching for Pastors of the Souls from the Divine Office"

'Practice what you preach'

I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. One priest may wish to lead a good, holy life, as he knows he should. He may wish to be chaste and to reflect heavenly virtues in the way he lives. Yet he does not resolve to use suitable means, such as penance, prayer, the avoidance of evil discussions and harmful and dangerous friendships. Another priest complains that as soon as he comes into church to pray the office or to celebrate Mass, a thousand thoughts fill his mind and distract him from God. But what was he doing in the sacristy before he came out for the office or for Mass? How did he prepare? What means did he use to collect his thoughts and to remain recollected?

  Would you like me to teach you how to grow from virtue to virtue and how, if you are already recollected at prayer, you can be even more attentive next time, and so give God more pleasing worship? Listen, and I will tell you. If a tiny spark of God’s love already burns within you, do not expose it to the wind, for it may get blown out. Keep the stove tightly shut so that it will not lose its heat and grow cold. In other words, avoid distractions as well as you can. Stay quiet with God. Do not spend your time in useless chatter.

  If teaching and preaching is your job, then study diligently and apply yourself to whatever is necessary for doing the job well. Be sure that you first preach by the way you live. If you do not, people will notice that you say one thing, but live otherwise, and your words will bring only cynical laughter and a derisive shake of the head.

  Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul, do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself. You have to be mindful of your people without becoming forgetful of yourself.

  My brothers, you must realise that for us churchmen nothing is more necessary than meditation. We must meditate before, during and after everything we do. The prophet says: I will pray, and then I will understand. When you administer the sacraments, meditate on what you are doing. When you celebrate Mass, reflect on the sacrifice you are offering. When you pray the office, think about the words you are saying and the Lord to whom you are speaking. When you take care of your people, meditate on how the Lord’s blood has washed them clean so that all that you do becomes a work of love.

  This is the way we can easily overcome the countless difficulties we have to face day after day, which, after all, are part of our work: in meditation we find the strength to bring Christ to birth in ourselves and in other men.

A Bible Quote on: 'Priests For God'

Priests For God

(Hos 4:7-9)

7. "The more priests there were,

the more they sinned against me;

they exchanged their glorious God for something disgraceful.

8. They feed on the sins of my people and relish their wickedness. 

And it will be: Like people, like priests.

9. I will punish both of them for their ways 

and repay them for their deeds"

A Poem on "Invest in Your Rights"

Invest in Your Rights

"Say, if your "right" is worth 1 rupee 

and acquiring it costs 300 rupees "today" – 

convince "now" even at the penalty of losing that 300 rupees –

tomorrow that will be a five-fold gain of your "right" –

there is no loss in achieving your legislation."

An Article On: 'Physical Health through Prayer'

Physical Health Through Prayer

 

In this first part I wish to insist on the bodily dimension of health. I am aware that the state of well-being, which the word health suggests, is like a diamond with different luminous faces. The physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual ones stand out.

 

Health, therefore, is a personal matter. It includes all facets or dimensions of the human person. I don't really mean to link them all with prayer. I would like to concentrate above all on the corporal and emotional aspects.

 

I begin with some fundamental considerations that belong to the level of beliefs. Since the time of Jesus it has been known that faith is a determining factor in the health and healing process. For this, in the first chapter I will highlight a fundamental religious belief God wants the health of the human being. His will is for the sick to recover and for the healthy to take care of his health.

 

In the second chapter I will try to explain, in practical terms, how to pray. Therefore, in the following chapters, I will propose some ways of praying that normally also benefit the health of the body.

 

1. Gods plan: The healthy man

 

God, according to the biblical narrative, created man and woman healthy and decidedly health-oriented. It is no exaggeration to state that obviously God's will is the health of every human being. It is therefore right that you go on repeating throughout your life and, during the day if you need to: "God wants me to be healthy".

 

This and similar statements, I insist, are prompted by God's revelation of Himself in Scripture. In this we find, in fact, that God creates both man and woman in his image. Jesus reveals his identity as the Messiah, as well as in other ways, through the direct healing of the sick. God also endowed us with a team of cells to give us the ability to keep our immune systems healthy. Medicine itself, traditional, scientific and alternative medicine, thus gives us a glimpse of the divine will that we preserve or recover health. Finally, the Church too pronounces and assumes this point of view in favor of health, encouraging us to obtain it by all possible means...............