Pope Francis in his first encyclical had these words to say about
teaching the faith:
Every form
of catechesis would do well to attend to the "way of beauty" (via
pulchritudinis). Proclaiming Christ means showing that to believe in and to
follow him is not only something right and true, but also something beautiful,
capable of filling life with new splendour and profound joy, even in the midst
of difficulties. Every expression of true beauty can thus be acknowledged as a
path leading to an encounter with the Lord Jesus. This has nothing to do with
fostering an aesthetic relativism which would downplay the inseparable bond
between truth, goodness and beauty, but rather a renewed esteem for beauty as a
means of touching the human heart and enabling the truth and goodness of the
Risen Christ to radiate within it. If, as Saint Augustine says, we love only
that which is beautiful, the incarnate Son, as the revelation of infinite
beauty, is supremely lovable and draws us to himself with bonds of love.
(167)**
I wonder how well we relate the Christian
life when we lead our catechetical events (Baptism prep, Confirmation, and
Marriage Prep), as the beautiful life. I see the Way of Beauty as the way of
Christ. Thus we live the Christian life
as the way of embracing beautiful humanity revealed in Christ. We endure the trials and tribulations of
broken humanity (to endure the cross) in order to live the beautiful life of
Christ in us, and in Him to be raised (here and then) to the glory of His
beautiful presence.
Something to
ponder. Brian+
Thanks to Catholicity and Covenant
**See: APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION- EVANGELII GAUDIUM
OF THE HOLY
FATHER FRANCIS TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND THE LAY FAITHFUL
ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL IN TODAY’S WORLD Link: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/francesco/apost_exhortations/documents/papa-francesco_esortazione-ap_20131124_evangelii-gaudium_en.pdf
