From the Friars Daily eLetter

January 9, 2009

How Blessed are the Disillusioned

About two and a half years ago, I received a gift from one of my spiritual directees who is artistically talented. It was a painting of St. Francis. But there was something quite odd about the image. As I received the painting into my hands, it was not immediately evident as to which side of it was the top and which was the bottom. You see, if the image is turned one way, St. Francis is upside down and the world is right-side up. Alternatively, the painting could be positioned with St. Francis right-side up and the world upside down -- which is how I instinctively repositioned the work. I was however, corrected with the explanation: Francis was so changed that he perceived reality in an entirely new way. In other words, the world around Francis had not changed at all, but it was Francis's understanding of reality and its meaning in Christ that had been radically transformed.

There has been much discussion in the Irish media (and most likely in the USA) about the true meaning of Christmas. Most if it, to speak bluntly, is quite trivial and trite. In fact, it misses the mark entirely. There are many sentiments associated with Christmas which are in themselves commendable - peace on earth, goodwill to men and all that. Celebrations with family and friends along with their rituals are also grand. But what does it all have to do with the true meaning of Christmas? One could even argue as John Waters does that the increased commercialism/consumerism, the intense hustle and bustle to "get ready" for Christmas, the parties and pleasures we all enjoy a little too much this time of year is just a microcosm of the way society lives the remaining eleven months of the year, more or less running from new promise to new disappointment.

The point is not that we simply miss the meaning of Christmas but, as Waters highlights, the meaning of Christianity! Consequently, we celebrate Christmas along the same lines as we celebrate most other occasions, and maybe even a ridiculous caricature of the same.

Waters further elaborates that the Incarnation challenges us to see reality in an altogether new way, to live in an altogether new way. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! The magi, those keen observers of reality according to the natural order, saw the God-child, Creator. They saw and suddenly perceived Reality, and suddenly the whole cosmos was refreshed and replete with new meaning wrought by the presence of Him who dwelt among us. Indeed, our Holy Father Francis experienced his own epiphany, for he grasped in the Incarnation the presence of Him who said, lo, I am with you even till the end of the age. The radical genius of St. Francis is that unlike the monks of old who adopted an attitude of "contemptus mundi" (contempt of the world), he understood the Incarnation to mean that the world is ordered towards Christ and finds in Him the full expression of its meaning. As much as Francis saw in all men the face of Christ, no doubt he saw in every manger, the Holy Crib; in every tree, the Holy Cross; and in every spring flower, the Resurrection -- creation itself proclaimed Jesus Christ, for He is the Eternal Word, He is Infinite Meaning, He is Reality!

A recent, disturbing news article disclosed that the new junior edition of the Oxford Dictionary (i.e. the one used by all school children) will be "sanitized" of all Christian references. Words like church, altar, priest, bishop, friar, monk... will be removed in order to promote tolerance (how ironic). As if Reality can be altered by either redefining it, or be denying it outright! Is not the reduction of Reality an illusion, just another attempt of man to play God?

Yet, the Incarnation proclaims that God alone has dominion over reality, for miraculously Jesus is both God and Man, Mary is both virgin and mother, and ordinary bread and wine become the same Incarnate God in the Holy Eucharist. Unlike man who truncates the truth and divorces it from Reality, God opens Reality up into mystery. He invites man through faith to penetrate His own Divine Truth and to allow a Christological grasp of Reality to impact every aspect of his life so that he can legitimately bear the privileged name of Christian. In short, if the Incarnation has no impact upon one's life 364 days a year, why would its meaning be any different on the 365th?

The actual problem is that for a majority of people Christianity has been reduced to an opinion - allowable so long as one keeps it to himself, abominable the moment he shares it in the public forum. The most recent elections make me wonder how many people find it more vital to be known as a member of the Democratic, Republican, or any other political party than to be a Christian, or worse, a Catholic?

The followers of Christ in the nascent Church were noticeably different from the pagan society at large. Many were martyred. Yet, Christ's faithful ultimately proved to be the cultural leaven that gave rise to a more authentically human society. Can the same be said today?

Accordingly, the Incarnation challenges us, the ambassadors of the new evangelization, to disillusion mankind, to reconcile humanity with Reality. It is to invite him to embrace a radically transformed worldview in which life, rather than being stripped of all meaning, climbs the ladder of meaning which leads him into communion with Infinity Mystery.

DO NOT BE AFRAID!!

Fr. Sylvester Mary Mann, CFR

St. Patrick Friary

Moyross, Ireland



January 9, 2009 How Blessed are the Disillusioned About two and a half years ago, I received a gift from one of my spiritual directees who is artistically talented. It was a painting of St. Francis. But there was something quite odd about the image. As I received the painting into my hands, it was not immediately evident as to which side of it was the top and which was the bottom. You see, if the image is turned one way, St. Francis is upside down and the world is right-side up. Alternatively, the painting could be positioned with St. Francis right-side up and the world upside down -- which is how I instinctively repositioned the work. I was however, corrected with the explanation: Francis was so changed that he perceived reality in an entirely new way. In other words, the world around Francis had not changed at all, but it was Francis's understanding of reality and its meaning in Christ that had been radically transformed. There has been much discussion in the Irish media (and most likely in the USA) about the true meaning of Christmas. Most if it, to speak bluntly, is quite trivial and trite. In fact, it misses the mark entirely. There are many sentiments associated with Christmas which are in themselves commendable - peace on earth, goodwill to men and all that. Celebrations with family and friends along with their rituals are also grand. But what does it all have to do with the true meaning of Christmas? One could even argue as John Waters does that the increased commercialism/consumerism, the intense hustle and bustle to "get ready" for Christmas, the parties and pleasures we all enjoy a little too much this time of year is just a microcosm of the way society lives the remaining eleven months of the year, more or less running from new promise to new disappointment. The point is not that we simply miss the meaning of Christmas but, as Waters highlights, the meaning of Christianity! Consequently, we celebrate Christmas along the same lines as we celebrate most other occasions, and maybe even a ridiculous caricature of the same. Waters further elaborates that the Incarnation challenges us to see reality in an altogether new way, to live in an altogether new way. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us! The magi, those keen observers of reality according to the natural order, saw the God-child, Creator. They saw and suddenly perceived Reality, and suddenly the whole cosmos was refreshed and replete with new meaning wrought by the presence of Him who dwelt among us. Indeed, our Holy Father Francis experienced his own epiphany, for he grasped in the Incarnation the presence of Him who said, lo, I am with you even till the end of the age. The radical genius of St. Francis is that unlike the monks of old who adopted an attitude of "contemptus mundi" (contempt of the world), he understood the Incarnation to mean that the world is ordered towards Christ and finds in Him the full expression of its meaning. As much as Francis saw in all men the face of Christ, no doubt he saw in every manger, the Holy Crib; in every tree, the Holy Cross; and in every spring flower, the Resurrection -- creation itself proclaimed Jesus Christ, for He is the Eternal Word, He is Infinite Meaning, He is Reality! A recent, disturbing news article disclosed that the new junior edition of the Oxford Dictionary (i.e. the one used by all school children) will be "sanitized" of all Christian references. Words like church, altar, priest, bishop, friar, monk... will be removed in order to promote tolerance (how ironic). As if Reality can be altered by either redefining it, or be denying it outright! Is not the reduction of Reality an illusion, just another attempt of man to play God? Yet, the Incarnation proclaims that God alone has dominion over reality, for miraculously Jesus is both God and Man, Mary is both virgin and mother, and ordinary bread and wine become the same Incarnate God in the Holy Eucharist. Unlike man who truncates the truth and divorces it from Reality, God opens Reality up into mystery. He invites man through faith to penetrate His own Divine Truth and to allow a Christological grasp of Reality to impact every aspect of his life so that he can legitimately bear the privileged name of Christian. In short, if the Incarnation has no impact upon one's life 364 days a year, why would its meaning be any different on the 365th? The actual problem is that for a majority of people Christianity has been reduced to an opinion - allowable so long as one keeps it to himself, abominable the moment he shares it in the public forum. The most recent elections make me wonder how many people find it more vital to be known as a member of the Democratic, Republican, or any other political party than to be a Christian, or worse, a Catholic? The followers of Christ in the nascent Church were noticeably different from the pagan society at large. Many were martyred. Yet, Christ's faithful ultimately proved to be the cultural leaven that gave rise to a more authentically human society. Can the same be said today? Accordingly, the Incarnation challenges us, the ambassadors of the new evangelization, to disillusion mankind, to reconcile humanity with Reality. It is to invite him to embrace a radically transformed worldview in which life, rather than being stripped of all meaning, climbs the ladder of meaning which leads him into communion with Infinity Mystery. DO NOT BE AFRAID!! Fr. Sylvester Mary Mann, CFR St. Patrick Friary Moyross, Ireland