glorycloud's Diaryland Diary ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- the divine Spirit who interiorly enlightens the intellect of the faithful "If those who are noble according to worldly standards are so much interested in verifying the lineage of their illustrious ancestry, how is it possible," asks Father Terrien, "that we Christians, who, through baptism belong to the lineage of God Himself and are His sons by adoption and the brothers of Jesus Christ, ignore or understand so poorly the grandeur and glory which are contained in these titles? Do not ask those who are Christians in name only; ask even the great number of those who glory in professing their faith, and what is more, in practicing it. Ask them how much they value their divine filiation and their state of grace, which is the most highly esteemed after that of glory. On hearing their answers you will see with what reason Christ could say to them: 'If you but knew the gift of God!' The very most that they can imagine is that they live in peace with Him, that their sins have been forgiven, and that if they do not commit new sins they will one day enjoy eternal bliss. But few understand and meditate upon that wonderful divine renewal which takes place in their hearts, that regeneration which transforms the innermost nature and faculties of the adopted sons of God, that deification which makes man God. As a consequence they value but little what they understand so poorly and they make no effort to acquire, preserve, and increase this unknown treasure. . . If the faithful live in such ignorance of the treasures with which they have been so liberally endowed by the Father of mercy, the blame falls in great part on those who, by vocation, are charged to instruct them. . . Seldom do they speak of these mysteries; and when they do, it is done in a manner so vague and with words so ambiguous that their hearers are enchanted by the language, but do not comprehend the thought. Nor let it be said, as sometimes happens, that these matters are too lofty to be grasped by the simple faithful. . . The apostle did not proceed in this way. What are the Epistles of St. Paul (not to mention the other Epistles), but a continual preaching of the mysteries of grace and divine filiation? Yet they were addressed to all Christians. . . To say that Christians today lack the culture necessary to understand these things is to forget the activity of the divine Spirit who interiorly enlightens the intellect of the faithful that they may understand the truths which are announced to them. 'That we may know the things that are given us from God' (1 Cor. 2:12)." Fr. John G. Arintero 10:11 a.m. - 2015-03-20 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
||||||