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Newsletter
No.17 December
2004
Christmas
The Mystery of the Human Person…the Mystery of Love
The starting point for Catholic Social Teaching is the human person. "Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness" Gen 1:26.
The first or archetypal human beings, according to Scripture, were made in the "image" and the "likeness" of God. Our resemblance to God therefore lies in our very being: not merely in our intelligence, or memory, or will - let alone our outward appearance! - but in the totality of what we are. Being an image of God, a "child" of God, each of us is loved by him. However far we stray, God wants us to return to him. In other words, each of us has a destiny in God. This is the foundation of the idea that every human being has equal dignity with every other. It does not mean that we are "equal" in every other way - if "equal" is supposed to mean "the same". As far as intelligence, talents, looks or holiness are concerned; we are clearly very different from each other. Nevertheless, God loves us all equally, whether we are rich or poor, tall or short, beautiful or ugly, clever or stupid.
To be made in the image of God is also to have freedom. We are given freedom for a purpose, and the purpose is so that we may be capable of love. We are spiritual beings, made in the image of God, and "God is love", 1 John 4:8. Just as a tree "must" grow and a lion "must" eat, so we must learn to love, for it is in the image of love that we were formed and will be perfected. This corresponds to our experience, and is celebrated in all the literature of the world. Love is the meaning of life; it is the only thing that makes life meaningful. We are called to love; but love is something that can only be given freely: it can never be forced or programmed into us. (It is worth noting that freedom exists for the sake of love, not the other way around, because in the last few hundred years we have tended to make freedom into something of an absolute).
Being free we have responsibilities. We have duties, and correspondingly others have duties towards us. This is the origin of what are called "human rights". For example, we have a right to life, and a right to respect from other people. We have many rights, and each of them corresponds to a duty, like the two sides of a coin. My duty to respect you is the same as your right to be respected by me. And I respect you primarily not because you may be handsome or talented or important, but in the first place simply because you are a person.
Thus we see that Catholic teaching revolves around the human person, because it revolves around love. The mystery of man is a mystery of love. It is a mystery that we will never understand completely, because we are finite and this mystery conducts us in the direction of Infinity. But at least we now know what we are and what we are doing here, thanks to the Incarnation which reveals so much to those who are willing to look and see: "it is only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of man truly becomes clear" , Gaudium et
Spes, 22. The language of God is the language of personhood, and in that language he expresses what we most need to know - the one thing that only he could tell us: why we were made.
(The above extract is taken from Catholic Social Teaching - A Way In by Stratford Caldecott of Plater College, Oxford.)
We will do well if this Christmas we stop and ponder a little on the meaning of Christ coming into the world as a human person. Contemplating Christ's humanity is the key to so many open questions we have in our society today … and which have been talked, discussed, analysed so many times in our local media. Why are we to treat the refugees with dignity? Why should we help organisations that help those in need around us? Why should we be tolerant to people of different faiths? Why should we be compassionate to those who are caught up in heartbreaking situations? Why should we turn away from negative type of behaviours that hurt others? Why should we not shun our personal or social responsibilities so easily? Why should we thing twice before undoing what is right and legitimate?
Jesus came in order to establish his (spiritual) Kingdom… his divine agenda, which is built on love and forgiveness.
Ignatian Maxims
73. There is one thing for which I would wish to live longer and that is to be stricter in accepting candidates in the Society of Jesus.
(Ribadeneira, Dicta et Facta, M.I., Font. Narr., II, Mon. 19, n.23, pp. 475-476.)
74. One should not do away with something that is functioning well, just because there is someone taking advantage and abusing of the situation.
(Lancicius, Dictamina, M.I. Font. Narr., III, Mon. 41, p.643)
75. I would be terribly pleased were I to know even how many bugs bite my brethren during the night.
(Lancicius, Dictamina, M.I., Font. Narr., III, Mon.41, {67}, p.660)
76. How gloomy appears to me this earth when I look up and gaze at the skies.
(Ribadeneira, Vita Ignatii Loyolae, I, c.II, p.94)
77. People give us tasks or tell us what we have to do, while the Lord gives us the wisdom to discern and choose how we can best carry them out.
(Oliverius Manareus,s.j. Responsio ad Lancicium, M.I., Font.
Narr., III, Mon. 23, n.25, p.434)
Fr Arthur Vella S.J.
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Vocation
to Love
Considering
the mystical body of the Church, I had not recognised myself
in any of the members described by St. Paul; or rather I
desired to see myself in them all.
Charity gave me the key to my vocation. I understood that if the Church had a body composed of
different members, the most necessary and most noble of all
cannot be lacking to it, and so, I understood that the
Church had a Heart and
that this Heart was BURNING WITH LOVE. I understood it was Love alone that made the Church’s
members act, that
if Love ever became extinct, apostles would not preach the Gospel and
martyrs would not shed their blood.
I understood that LOVE COMPRISED ALL VOCATIONS, THAT
LOVE WAS EVERYTHING, THAT IT EMBRACED ALL TIMES AND
PLACES… IN A WORD, THAT IT WAS ETERNAL!
Then,
in the excess of my delirious joy, I cried out: O Jesus, my
Love … my vocation, at
last I have found it … MY VOCATION IS LOVE!
St.
Therese of Lisieux
We
would like to remind you that the Centre for Ignatian
Spirituality offers personal spiritual direction to all
those who would like to have any kind of spiritual
experience like Ignatian retreats in every day life.
Retreats can be tailored according to the needs and
circumstances of the retreatant. CIS can call on experienced
Jesuits, other religious and trained lay people to accompany
retreatants through these experiences.
Anyone
interested can contact the Director on 21827323 or 99864561
or email vince@maltajesuitretreats.com.
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