Conclusion of the Year of Faith

Pope Benedict XVI recognized a need for a focus on faith this year as many regions have witnessed the spread of modern atheism. Our world doesn't view faith the same way that it used to. Now it seems outlandish to take things on by faith. Look at the field of modern philosophy - beginning with Descartes, nothing could be taken on in good faith. The ancients that followed the ways of the great Aristotle accepted the world on good faith and learned from it. But now philosophers often throw out the idea of the world as we know it and try to begin from scratch - they don't trust or have faith in their teachers.

Similarly in fields of science, faith is facing scrutiny as it has before. I am a strong believer that science and Catholicism both point towards the same truth. This idea goes back to Augustine in his work "On Christian Doctrine" which describes how good Christians are to interpret Scripture. He states that what we interpret in Scripture cannot go against what we definitively know about the world. However, many who believe in classical determinism think that just because they can explain how things happen that there isn't any reason for there to be a Divine Hand behind it all.

This isn't the view of all philosophers or all scientists, but it has definitely become a more widespread opinion. What is it about faith that scares us?

I am very glad to have had this past year to reflect upon my faith and grow in it. If God showed Himself to us, we would be blown away by His great glory. That is why He doesn't sit atop a high mountain for us to visit. That is why He hides Himself in the humble form of the Blessed Eucharist. That is why He doesn't speak to us in a loud voice. This way we may come to know Him more and grow in love for Him. For if we were to see God, we would (rightly) feel extremely unworthy and it might scare us away from talking to Him personally. If we were to see Him, we wouldn't have faith for it would be shown to us. "Jesus said to him [Thomas], 'Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.'" (John 20:29)

Let this not end our growth in faith, but be a springboard forward as we continue to cultivate our relationship with Christ. We ask that He may bless us with the grace of an ever-deepening faith so as to bring ourselves and others to rest in peace in eternity with Him.

Ave Crux, Spes Unica