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Pope Benedict XVI- Angelus |
Angelus
Message
On the Faith-Reason Synthesis
"A Precious Patrimony for Western Civilization"
H.H. Benedict XVI
January 28, 2007
www.zenit.org
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
The liturgical calendar remembers today St. Tomas Aquinas, great
doctor of the Church. With his charism of philosopher and
theologian, he offers a valid model of harmony between reason and
faith, dimensions of the human spirit, which are fully realized when
they meet and dialogue.
According to the thought of St. Thomas, human reason, to say it as
such, "breathes," that is, it moves on a wide, open horizon in which
it can experience the best of itself. Nonetheless, when man limits
himself to think only of material and experimental objects, he
closes himself to the questions of life, about himself and about
God, impoverishing himself.
The relationship between faith and reason is a serious challenge for
the present prevailing culture in the Western world, and it is
precisely for this reason that our beloved John Paul II wrote an
encyclical, which was entitled precisely "Fides et Ratio" -- "Faith
and Reason." I also took up this argument recently, in the address
to the University of Regensburg.
In reality, the modern development of the sciences brings countless
positive effects, which must always be acknowledged. At the same
time, however, it must be admitted that the tendency to consider
true only that which can be experienced constitutes a limitation for
human reason and produces a terrible schizophrenia, evident to all,
because of which rationalism and materialism, and hypertechnology
and unbridled instincts, coexist.
It is urgent, therefore, to rediscover in a new way human
rationality open to the light of the divine 'Logos' and to its
perfect revelation that is Jesus Christ, Son of God made man. When
Christian faith is authentic it does not mortify freedom or human
reason; then, why should faith and reason be afraid of one another,
if on meeting one another and dialoguing they can express themselves
in the best way?
Faith implies reason and perfects it, and reason, illuminated by
faith, finds the strength to rise to knowledge of God and of
spiritual realities. Human reason loses nothing when it is open to
the contents of faith; what is more, the latter calls for its free
and conscious adherence.
With an amply extended wisdom, St. Thomas Aquinas established a
prolific confrontation with the Arabic and Jewish thought of his
time, in such a way that he is considered as an always-present
teacher of dialogue with other cultures and religious. He knew to
introduce this Christian synthesis between reason and faith that
represents a precious patrimony for Western civilization, to which
recourse can be taken also today to dialogue effectively with the
great cultural and religious traditions of the East and South of the
world.
Let us pray so that Christians, especially those in the academic and
cultural realm, are more able to express the reasonable character of
their faith and to witness to it with a dialogue inspired by love.
We ask this gift of our Lord through the intercession of St. Thomas
Aquinas, and above all Mary, Seat of Wisdom.
[After praying the Angelus, the Pope made an appeal for peace in
Lebanon and the Gaza Strip]
In recent days, violence has again bloodied Lebanon. It is
unacceptable that this path is undertaken to defend one's political
reasons. I feel immense sadness for this beloved population. I know
that many Lebanese feel the temptation to abandon all hope and feel
themselves disoriented by all that is happening.
I make mine the firm words pronounced by His Beatitude Cardinal
Nasrallah Pierre Sfeir to denounce these fratricidal confrontations.
Together with him and the other religious leaders, I invoke the help
of God so that all Lebanese without distinction might be able and
willing to work together to make of their homeland an authentic
common home, surmounting those egoistic attitudes that prevent them
from being truly dedicated to their country. (cf. "A Hope for
Lebanon," 94, apostolic exhortation of Pope John Paul II). To the
Christians of Lebanon, I repeat my exhortation to be promoters of a
genuine dialogue between the different communities, and I invoke
over all the protection of Our Lady of Lebanon.
I also desire, that violence in the Gaza Strip end as soon as
possible. I wish to express my spiritual closeness to the entire
population and assure them of my prayers so that the will might
prevail in all to work together for the common good, undertaking
peaceful paths to overcome differences and tensions.
[Translation by ZENIT]
[After praying the Angelus, the Holy Father greeted pilgrims in six
languages. In English, he said:]
To all the English-speaking visitors and pilgrims here today, I
extend affectionate greetings. In particular I welcome the boys from
St. Philip's School in London and their teachers. Your patron saint
is known as the Apostle of Rome -- let his gentleness and love for
Christ be an inspiration to you. Upon all who are here today, and
upon your families and loved ones at home, I invoke God’s abundant
blessings.
© Copyright 2007 -- Libreria Editrice Vaticana
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