In his book, Francis of Rome and Francis of Assisi, Leonardo Boff writes that the kind of Christianity that Pope Francis is promoting is one that does not proselytise. Rather, it is a religion that wins people over by attracting them to its beauty and deep humanity. He adds that these values will save humanity.
The Church that I belong to is much humbler now in the wake of the sexual abuse scandals involving members of the Catholic Church, especially the clergy. We have come a long way in regard to this sinfulness but have further to go. We are no longer as triumphal as we were when I was growing up in the 1950’s and 1960’s. Humility is good for us personally and as a faith community.
Many of the stories that come through The Far East magazine are about humble people. Either the missionary is humble in his relationship with people or the missionary has met a humble person and written a story about them. There is a certain beauty in that sort of interaction.
One such person was my friendship with an elderly man named Berris whom I met when I was on mission in Jamaica. I regularly gave him a lift to Mass on Sundays and I got to know him quite well. Berris had a particular presence about him and people enjoyed being with him. I remember him with fondness and gratitude because of the man he had become. He owned nothing and was a truly humble man with a great sense of dignity and pride. His simple deep faith made him a beautiful man.
And what of humanity? Pope Francis in his wonderful apostolic letter, The Joy of the Gospel comments on popular genuine forms of religiosity and commends them because they involve a personal relationship with God, with Christ, with Mary, with the Saints. He adds that these devotions are fleshy, they have a face; they endure and help people keep in contact with the Church.
I am reminded of examples of this type of devotion when I have been celebrating Mass and watched grandmothers take their grandchildren to Our Lady’s statue in the church. Sometimes they light a candle in front of the statue, they say a prayer, they talk to their grandchild explaining who Mary is and how to ask her for what we need. I praise these grandmothers for their deep humanity and their profound way of handing on our Catholic faith to their grandchildren.
Pope Francis said there are many ways of approaching God. I remember the disdain I had for popular devotions soon after the Vatican Council, when we were going to have people involved in scripture and up to date understanding of the Eucharist, and the sacraments, not to mention many more rational approaches to our faith.
But Pope Francis wrote that our challenge today is our need to respond adequately to many people’s thirst for God. They are looking for a spirituality in the Church which can offer them healing and liberation and fill them with life and peace. They are trying to find their humanity.
Beauty and deep humanity can be found in the Church if our starting point is humility and respect for others.
Fr Gary Walker SSC
director@columban.org.au
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LISTEN TO: From the Director – Humility the fine virtue (Duration: 4:06mins. MP3, 1.93MB) |