Straight talk with a child going to a secularist university

A friend asked me for guidance on what he can tell his child who is going to a Western secularist university which can undermine the faith of his child. Putting myself in the shoes of the dad, these are the talking points I would bring up to the son or daughter. It will also be good for any teacher or mentor of a graduating High School student to bring up these points in their own way to their students. 

You will be going to a university that will give you a great advantage in the world. This is a very good thing, but I would like to make sure that you have some clear ideas. 

Despite the excellent secular things you will get, you will be facing dangers for what is most important in your life, in our life. Many of your professors will not believe in God and will undermine your faith and morals, and many of your classmates will be like them. You will therefore face pressures from many sides: from above, from your peers and from the whole environment. This is very strong pressure, and I know many good boys and girls from our country who have succumbed to it. And these were top students, who loved the catechesis they received, and had an above-average spiritual life.  

And so it should be very clear to you that the most important thing in life is God and our faith in him.   As Jesus himself said: "What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world, but suffers the loss of his soul." 

This is the purest truth. I hope your school and I have made clear that this is also the most intelligent, rationally-based choice. (See this article for the basis)

God is our everything; he is the source and the end goal of our life. Only through him can we enjoy the greatest possible happiness every day and throughout eternity. Not being with him is therefore the greatest failure. This failure, more than anything else, will be my greatest pain. If you have any doubts in this aspect, given original sin and the pressures of the environment, you can easily succumb. Since I have a grave responsibility before God to give you a solid education, I would like to know what you think about what I just said.

It is important for the parent to listen to what the son or daughter has to say regarding these things and have a frank conversation to clarify things. 

The next steps will have to be based on the result of the conversation. It is best if the next steps are considered and determined by the student himself, with guidance from the parent. 

Generally, everyone will need continual inputs in both heart and mind to persevere in Christian faith and morals.

• Input of grace and prayer. You will need to go regularly to Mass and Confession, and practice daily humble prayer. A close friendship with Jesus--a relationship of burning love--will be your best support, for this is the very goal of our life. Everything depends, teaches Pope Benedict XVI, on our intimate friendship with Jesus. 
• Input of Catholic Christian teachings. Because there will be a continual input of secularist and amoral ideas, you will need a continual input of Christian ideas, to inspire you and motivate you. For example, read the New Testament everyday, so you can get to know the life of Christ. Read a good Christian book every day. Here are lists of good Christian readings. 
• Input of good Catholic community. A strong support is the company and encouragement of good Catholic friends. 
• Input of the Christian mission. The best defense is a good offense. The first habit of highly effective people, says Stephen Covey is: Be proactive, not reactive. Affect your environment; don't let the environment affect you. We are Christians, so like him, we spread Christianity to the people around us. Go with a sense of mission--of having been placed there by God for a great purpose. 

Because I am the one shouldering your education, I am interested that we continue to talk about all of these every so often during your stay in college. 

--- o ---

These inputs, in fact, should be stressed, in one way or another, all throughout the schooling of the child, not just at the very end, before he or she leaves for college. 

Note: The Newman Guide to Colleges points out that there are universities which are Catholic in name but are secularist in nature, and they can undermine faith and morals more than some non-Catholic colleges. 

Basic Christian Readings

For spiritual reading, there are several lists in the internet such as those of: 

• Catholic Information Center
• Fr. Fernando Jadraque and Fr. Javier Lopez
• Fr. Thomas Morrow at Catholic Faith Alive
• Regnum Christi
• Fr. Gary Coulter
• Fr. John Hardon, S.J.

The book, Jesus-Centered Life: Guide to the Happiest Life has this list: 

• Compendium of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (online)

• Youcat (Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church) 

• Faith Explained by Leo Trese

• Theology for Beginners by Frank Sheed

• My Way of Life by St. Thomas Aquinas

• Walking with God by Kilian Healy (online)

• Rome Sweet Home by Scott and Kimberly Hahn

• Our Lady of Fatima by William Thomas Walsh

• The Curé d’Ars by Francis Trochu

• Time for God, Way of Trust ad Love, Interior Freedom, Searching and Maintaining Peace, Called to Life, etc. by Jacques Philippe

• Understanding “Our Father;” The Lamb’s Supper; Lord, Have Mercy; etc. by Scott Hahn

• Catechesis on Prayer, the Apostles, the Fathers, etc. by Pope Benedict XVI (online)

• Prayer: the Great Means of Salvation and Perfection, School of Christian Perfection, The Passion and Death of Jesus Christ, etc. by St. Alphonsus Liguori (online)

• Spiritual Exercises by St. Ignatius of Loyola

• The Practice of Humility by J. Pecci/Pope Leo XIII (online)

• Introduction to the Devout Life, Treatise on the Love of God, etc. by St. Francis de Sales (online)

• Little Catechism, Sermons, etc. by St. John Mary Vianney (online)

• The Way, The Furrow, The Forge, Christ is Passing By and Friends of God by St. Josemaría Escrivá (online)

• To Know Christ Jesus, Theology and Sanity, etc. by Frank Sheed

• Life of Christ, Three to Get Married, etc. by Fulton Sheen

• Public Life of our Lord Jesus Christ and the Passion and Death of our

Lord Jesus Christ by Archbishop Alban Goodier, S.J.

• The Hidden Power of Kindness by Lawrence Lovasik

• In Conversation with God, Lukewarmness, etc. by Francisco

Fernandez-Carvajal

• Saints in the World, God and Children, etc. by Jesus Urteaga

• In Silence with God, Frequent Confession by Benedict Baur

• Back to Virtue, Before I Go, etc. by Peter Kreeft

• Heart of Virtue by Donald DeMarco

• Faith Applied by Jean Daujat

• Letters to a Young Catholic, The Truth of Catholicism, etc. by George Weigel

• Conversation with Christ by Peter Thomas Rohrbach

• Meditations and Devotions, Sermons, etc. by St. John Henry Newman (online)

• The Story of a Soul: The Autobiography of St Thérèse of Lisieux (online)

He Knows Not How: Growing in Freedom, and other articles and videos by Fr. Julio Dieguez

Below are translated notes on the key points of Formar Personas Libres, a Spanish booklet written by Fr. Julio Dieguez, the newly appointed Regional Vicar of Opus Dei in the Philippines. The later title is Sin que él sepa cómo: Crecer en libertad, found in Amazon here. He speaks about it in Spanish in Youtube here. The English version is He Knows Not How: Growing in Freedom which is in Amazon here. He spoke about it in PAREF's Jesus-Centered Conference here.

At the bottom of this article, you can find other articles of Fr. Julio. 

1.     Well-formed person: 

• when he does what he wants, he does what is good because his will is identified with Jesus Christ.

• autonomously affirms the good, because he recognizes it as good

• To be truly free, your choices have to come from correct judgment of reality

2. The problem of "weak-willed" persons

• Wants to improve and looks for help, but can't

• Root: What he values (sees as worth the effort); because he can give a lot of effort for other things he values

• Underneath weak will - a erroneous judgement about the true value of goods which gives a full life

• His thinking towards action (practical reason) is influenced by his passions more than his reason

3. The cause of freedom is reason -- St. Thomas.

 

• The will always follows a judgement of reason. We always choose what we think is good for us 

• To strengthen reason, you need virtues, good choices. Thus the tremendous importance of good relationships, family, friends who show how virtues are lived. Joy of these people have an important role in being good examples: a sign of well-established virtue. Thus the importance that activities are attractive, not only because they are fun but because they are authentic and sincere. 

 

4. The problem of voluntarism: a lack of reasoning.

 

• The voluntarist only depends on willpower. He does not use his intelligence to see the attractiveness of what is good. 

• To overcome voluntarism:

• Give reasons

• Reflect on these reasons

• Base your actions on these reasons

• Don't replace reasons with a rule

• A strong will requires a reason that is based on firm principles: the virtues.

• To stimulate the use of reason in governing our actions means to grasp the goal of our actions.

5. Virtues: the strength of freedom

• What is formative are the virtues, which are acquired by repeating good choices. This means that what is formative are one's own decisions or choices -- not the decision of others. One forms oneself.

• The role of the formator is to help each one to form himself well in the struggle to acquire virtues, by corresponding to the grace of God.

• Since virtue is a perfection of freedom, formation is a formation in freedom and for freedom.  There is no other true formation.

• Virtuous person loves the good passionately

 

6. To form virtue means to form prudence

 

• The objective is not to accumulate rules or criteria but forming prudence: the capacity to reason out on one’s own and reach the right conclusion.

• In the beginning rules and criteria help, but as one develops one needs fewer rules

 

7. The four keys to formation

 

1. Initiative. St. Josemaria – help the soul to want –he voluntarily chooses—to do the will of God. Don’t command, advise.

• Not to help passively, but to pray, think so as to propose, open horizons, help to discover, suggest

• The goal of formation is not when he chooses to do good; but only when he does it because he wants to—chooses it freely. He wants to do good because it is good.

• To concretize fight, there has to be a dialogue:

o   Propose and ask

o   Listen and assess

o   Ask: what is his idea; what struggle is good; what he thinks God expects from him; what he would like to do,

o   Then propose: “I think this might be good, what do you think?”; “Think about it, bring it to your prayer and then let’s talk about it.

2. Convictions.

• Formation is more a matter of convictions than of decisions: not tell them what we have decided but to transmit convictions.

• Formation is more than exhorting but a matter of helping to understand.

o   More difficult but more beautiful

o   Demands thinking deeply; not using prefabricated formulas

• Transmit key ideas (ideas madres) from which he draws the conclusions

• Indispensable: Help people to think

o   Encourage questions on the whys

o   Teach how to pose the question and find the solutions

• Avoid the impression that it is not necessary to understand and that you only have to trust

• Take advantage of mistakes. If we prevent people from making mistakes, then we also prevent them from doing right; we don’t form their prudence

• Be positive. Show the beauty of the good; learn to give deep reasons which are the most attractive

3. Perspective. St. Josemaria: take time into account

• Fight is centered on virtues and not on acts: acquiring a second nature

• Devote time to explains the why

• Make them see the sense of the fight in terms of the goal

4. Affection. First in importance and has to be in all the steps. You can only form if you love.

 

Summary:

• Only one’s own decisions are formative

• Not only that they know, but they think; important now, because people don’t accept authority

• Truth cannot be imposed; The force has to be in the arguments; For this, reading good literature

• Examples form more than concepts; Show good films

• We will only influence people who trust us; one has to earn this: they see that we know what we are talking about; not just someone in a position

• Respect freedom

• Know how to listen, value their point of view; speak respectfully

• Affection is the first source of authority and credibility

• Help them feel a great freedom

• Help to remove obstacles that impede acting with interior freedom—that they feel at ease and unrestrained (con soltura)

ARTICLES WRITTEN BY FR JULIO DIEGUEZ

Click on the article title to read it. 

The face of Jesus

With our whole heart - on the virtue of chastity

Reaching the entire person: role of the emotions

Ding Capitin: a hero who died on National Heroes Day

ARMANDO M. CAPITIN

Date of birth: 9 September 1951

Date of death: 30 August 2021

This article puts together accounts of several people about Ding Capitin.

Ding Capitin worked as a swimming instructor and lifeguard in the US Embassy, then later as a salesman of Japanese cars. His experience in both institutions honed his training and interpersonal relationship skills. With this, he had the makings of an apostolic hero: friendly, confident and faithful to God. 

Ding got in touch with Opus Dei in an unusual way. A famous columnist writing negatively against some known members of Opus Dei led Ding to discover the truth. As a result, he joined the Work on 7 December 1992 in Sangandaan Cultural Center in Makati, the financial hub of the Philippines. 

From the beginning of his vocation to Opus Dei, he strove to live the spirit of the Work well, striving to sanctify his daily activities and do the norms of piety—a heroism in little things of each day. A triathlete and fitness buff, he brought the spirit of struggle into his Christian life. He pinpointed points of struggle, then prayed to God and worked on these areas until he overcame them. 

At Sangandaan, he joined the center’s Tagalog group, where he became one of the elder brothers who always brought fun and laughter to the group and who regularly shared his wisdom and his apostolic and professional adventures.

This group took charge of dealing with blue-collar workers such as drivers, technicians, janitors, guards, etc. Ding knew that to be an effective formator, he cannot give what he does not have. Thus, he ensured on-time attendance and prioritized his means of formation: recollections, talks, circles, etc. He always arrived early. Oftentimes, you would hear him say that the only time you cannot attend is when you are already dead.  He continued on in Sangandaan until the end of his life, even when the traffic worsened. 

He brought this same dedication and fighting spirit into his professional development. When he retired from the US Embassy, he started to work at Dualtech Training Center, a technical-vocational school that prepares young people for employment in industrial firms. He would bike to and from Dualtech. Despite the inconveniences of a starting school in a new Industrial Park, he would bike through the mud trail every day.

Because of his apostolic heroism, he also helped in the PAREF-Southridge Afternoon School and the Dagatan Family Farm School. After some years, he became full-time in Dualtech while continuing as a peer coach for new fathers in Southridge Afternoon School. 

In Dualtech and Southridge, he made many friends and did a lot of apostolate. As someone who took his formation seriously, he was able to give very good advice to the people around him, guiding them to live a Christian life in their daily lives. 

He was among the team of Industrial Coordinators of Dualtech until his retirement when he became Dualtech’s consultant for community relations. He represented Dualtech in its campaigns to schools and parishes. With tireless enthusiasm, he went to nearly all the regions of the Philippines, from Cuyo in Palawan to Mindanao to Ilocos to Bicol and so on. 

Ding was proud of Dualtech. He offered Dualtech to poor families and students as hope and an opportunity for transformation. He guided the younger Dualtech employees in their life goals and in the pursuit of their careers.  He connected well with young and old, employees and students. He instilled the highest possible degree of discipline among students by ensuring to toughen them up. And he found ways to follow up. Despite the age gap and the busy schedules, he found time to chat with each mentee assigned to him.  

He was also an advocate of exercise and keeping fit. He coached his friends in swimming and running. Dualtech people joined marathons and fun runs because of his influence and eventually Dualtech itself became an organizer of local running events because of his expertise.

Ding enjoyed seeing people happy in any gathering. He would initiate stories or jokes—no matter how “corny"—just to make sure people feel comfortable and enjoy each other’s company. He also loved to take pictures and post happy memories on Facebook.

One of the secrets of Ding’s cheerful disposition is his family. He loved his wife, Caridad, whose nickname is Ying, and brought her along to get-togethers, parties and gatherings. The Capitin couple was always on courtship mode even after more than 30 years of marriage. After years of prayer, God gifted him with Angelo or Gelo, his only son. 

On 23 August 2021, Monday, Ding started not feeling well and asked for prayers. Ding said that he was offering his pains for everyone and praying for them. 

On 25 August, as he said that his condition has improved, he still prepared a video of a talk for the recollection that was shown the following day. He also attended a meeting at Dualtech on 27 August, Friday. 

His health took a sudden turn for the worse on Sunday, 29 August. That night his test indicated that he had Covid. While two ambulances (one sent by a supernumerary friend, Ed Tan, and the other by Dualtech) were on their way to his home the following morning, Ding passed away. 

Ding’s son, Gelo, said that since his dad is a hero, he fittingly died on National Heroes Day. Then he posted every day on his Facebook page the lessons his dad taught him: not to dwell on problems, but to solve them; to be always cheerful, as you can cure someone else’s sorrow;  to listen to others, even though you don’t understand everything, as it is a way of showing love; how to swim and float by relaxing and not being stiff; to do home duties that can be enjoyed to build character and maturity; to maintain a strong bond of connection with your child as the most powerful means to realize the father’s hope for the child; to make your child curious, by explaining things and always answering his questions, no matter how many they were; to be steadfast, since being firm is your weapon so as not to lose hope. 

Relevant Articles:

Our Mommy, Montse: A Eulogy for Montse Cuervo

Obayism - a eulogy for Obay Rojales

From Bombi to Ambi - a eulogy for Consul General Raul Santiago

Beautiful teachings of Pope Francis on how to be merciful

The Gospel (Lk 6:36-38) identifies three steps to help us understand how to be merciful. Do not judge others; do not condemn; forgive: in this way you imitate the mercy of the Father.

Firstly, judge not, and you will not be judged. So as not to go astray in life, we need to imitate God. The mercy of God is such a great thing, very great. 

Let us remember that story about the poor widow who went to confess to the Curé of Ars. Her husband had committed suicide; he jumped from the bridge into the river. And she wept. She said, “I am a sinner! But my poor husband! He is in hell. He committed suicide, and suicide is a mortal sin. He is in hell”. And the Curé of Ars said, “But wait a moment, ma’am, because between the bridge and the river, there is the mercy of God.” But to the very end, to the very end, there is the mercy of God.

One who judges always gets it wrong. Because he takes the place of God, who is the only judge: taking that place is taking the wrong place! Believing you have the authority to judge everything: people, life, everything. And with the capacity to judge, you also assume you have the capacity to condemn. Condemning the sinner breaks the bond of fraternity with him and scorns the mercy of God. 

St. Luke makes clear that perfection is merciful love. Being perfect means being merciful. The Christian must forgive. Why? Because he has been forgiven.

If God has forgiven me, why must I not forgive others? Am I greater than God?

Merciful love is the only path to take. Forgiving, being merciful, living our life in love and giving ... permits the disciples of Jesus to not lose the identity received from him and to recognize themselves as children of the same father.

Do not forget this: mercy and giving, forgiveness and giving. This way the heart grows, it grows in love. Selfishness, anger make the heart smaller, smaller, smaller, smaller and it hardens like a stone.

If you prefer a heart full of love, be merciful!

Sources:

https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/cotidie/2014/documents/papa-francesco-cotidie_20140623_no-one-can-judge.html

https://www.ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/francis-judging-and-condemning-brother-sins-wrong

https://sites.google.com/view/pope-francis-homilies/condemnation

Motu proprio "Ad charisma tuendum": some reflections

"The only ambition, the only desire of Opus Dei and each of its members is to serve the Church as the Church wants to be served, within the specific vocation God has given us," stressed St. Josemaria, the Founder of Opus Dei. 

Pope Francis, the vicar of Christ, has just issued "Ad charisma tuendum" for the Opus Dei Prelature which literally means "to safeguard the charism."

The charism of Opus Dei that needs to be safeguarded, the Pope says, includes its "task of spreading the call to holiness in the world, through the sanctification of work and family and social commitments.” He also wanted "to promote the evangelizing action carried out by its members in the world." 

Some points I would like to note: 

• Filial acceptance by the Opus Dei Prelature. Because Opus Dei loves the Pope and its own God-given mission, it received the Motu Propio like a good son. Its Prelate, Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, declared that "we filially accept" the decision and asked the people of Opus Dei to make the Pope's invitation "resonate strongly in each and every one of us." To resonate, the dictionary tells us, means to continue to produce a loud, clear and deep sound for a long time. St. Josemaria teaches: "Your deepest love...your most complete obedience and your warmest affection have also to be shown towards the Vicar of Christ on earth."
• Basis of the decision. The Pope makes decisions based on in-depth studies and this decision, he says, is "in harmony with the testimony of the Founder, St. Josemaría Escrivá de Balaguer, and with the teachings of the conciliar ecclesiology regarding personal prelatures." The Vatican has been studying personal prelatures and the relationship between hierarchical gifts and charismatic gifts, which as the Q&A of the prelature points out, are used by the Holy Spirit to guide the Church. In the Vatican study of 2016, they refer to Benedict XVI who said that "essential institutions are also charismatic and the charisms, in one way or another, must be institutionalized." Also, the Pope means well for Opus Dei. Pope Francis, as a famous Jesuit intellectual described his background upon his election, is "a friend of Opus Dei." When a journalist asked Pope Francis about the intent of the Motu Proprio, which some have interpreted negatively, Pope Francis said: "I’m a very close friend of Opus Dei, I love them a lot and the good they do is very great." He also explained that canon lawyers of Opus Dei worked on this with the Vatican.

• A feature of the original charism is that the prelate is not a bishop. I have always heard from the previous prelates what the present prelate has said: "the episcopal ordination of the Prelate was not and is not necessary for the guidance of Opus Dei." Remember: The Founder was not a bishop, and he is the model for all the future heads of Opus Dei on how they are to lead. Bl Alvaro, his most faithful successor, even wanted to resign "if it was deemed necessary that the Prelate be a bishop," until he was convinced by St Pope John Paul II. (See Javier Medina, Alvaro del Portillo, Rialp) This implies that he never heard St. Josemaria—the person who received the charism—expecting the future prelates to be bishops. This is a feature of the charism that the Pope wants to protect. The only time the Pope specified the idea of protecting the charism is when he said: the Motu Proprio is intended "to strengthen the conviction that, for the protection of the particular gift of the Spirit, a form of governance based on charism more than on hierarchical authority is needed. Therefore, the Prelate shall not be honoured with the episcopal order." This is the feature of the charism that "must be institutionalized" in the words of the principle enunciated by Pope Benedict XVI. 
• Nothing changes in the nature of Opus Dei. When the governance reform of the Roman Curia came out, the Prelate pointed out that this "in no way modifies the essential nature of the Prelature of Opus Dei." The Q&A at the Opus Dei website points to the specific area affected: "The change is in the Prelature’s relations with the Holy See. The Motu Proprio does not directly introduce modifications in the governance of the Prelature, nor in the relations of the authorities of the Prelature with the bishops." As Bp. Juan Ignacio Arrieta, a member of the Curia and of Opus Dei, explained: Curial organization often changes, but it does not change the nature of what is administered. Shrines will always be shrines; seminaries will always be seminaries, but the Curial department assigned to oversee them keeps on changing. Opus Dei's shift to the Dicastery of Clergy, said the Prelate, is due to the "many matters" related to clergy that the prelature brings up to the Curia. And Praedicate Evangelium, the very reform document of the Curia, indicates that the various dicasteries  are "all juridically equal."
  

• Stress on charismatic dimension strengthens Opus Dei's family atmosphere and the fatherhood of the prelate. This is the key point that the present Prelate, Msgr. Fernando Ocariz, focused on in his response: the Prelate is "above all, a father."  This means all the other aspects of his role, such as guiding and ruling, are secondary. One of the beautiful gifts of God for Opus Dei is its family atmosphere, where its head is affectionately called "Father," and he truly acts like a father to his children: sending them heart-warming letters regularly, teaching them as a father talks, caring for them with the love of a father, etc. So when the Pope says in the document that "a form of government based more on charism than on hierarchical authority is needed," he is strengthening this fatherly love and Opus Dei's family character. And as I wrote in my book, Jesus-Centered, following the thought of St. Thomas: "In the family, we can develop the most important virtue of love in the easiest way." And love is the essence of the call to holiness that Opus Dei is called to spread, through its charismatic gift from the Holy Spirit who is Love in person. 
• Stress on charismatic dimension does not remove the prelature's hierarchical nature. The prelate—appointed by the Pope, the highest hierarchical authority—is necessarily a priest, and therefore will always be part of the Church hierarchy, because the "hierarchical priesthood", as the Catechism indicates, is "of bishops and priests." (CCC 1547). By definition, a prelate is "incumbent of...an ecclesiastical office with special and stable jurisdiction in the external forum and with special precedence over other ecclesiastical offices," and therefore always part of the hierarchy. 
• As Supernumerary Apostolic Protonotary, the prelate is a "member of the highest college of prelates," according to the Catholic Encyclopedia. As such he belongs to the Papal Household, specifically to the Pontifical Family, which includes key dignitaries such as the Substitute of the Secretariat of State (which John Allen calls "the single toughest job in the Catholic Church" after the Pope), the Secretary for Relations with States, and the President of the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.

• Hierarchy is "totally" for holiness. Still, it is important to stress what the Catechism teaches: Mary is more important than Peter; holiness is more important than hierarchy. "The 'Marian' dimension of the Church precedes the 'Petrine.'" That is why "the Church's structure is totally ordered to the holiness of Christ's members." (CCC 773) Power and authority are all in the service of what Christ calls "the one thing necessary"—a relationship that unites with him. (Lk 10:42) What is most important for the Church is that all Christians become saints—persons centered on Jesus. What is most important is the humility, simplicity and the be-it-done-to-me of Mary. The homemaker of Nazareth lived without any "human glory" so that all glory goes to God alone. This is the ideal that St. Josemaria said is God's design for Opus Dei—a point he put in Opus Dei's Statutes. (89. § 1) Any move that further bolsters the true sanctification of Catholics is good for the Church and for Opus Dei. 

 

For more clarifications, please take a look at the Q & A prepared by the Opus Dei Prelature. 

Note: I wrote this commentary in my personal capacity as a theologian and author of Jesus-Centered: Guide to the Happiest Life. 

Relevant articles:

Answer to some attacks against Pope Francis

Opus Dei: God's work to sanctify the world from within - an explainer on Opus Dei mainly using the words of St. Josemaria

Desiderio Desideravi: summary of key points in simple language

“Liturgy is of first importance in our lives. God must be in first place and prayer our first duty,” Pope Francis recently stressed in Desiderio Desideravi. And he pointed out that "it is important now to spread this knowledge" to "each one of the faithful" in "an accessible way." So here is a summary of the key points in simple language.

 

The Liturgy is the “today” of God’s saving work

From the beginning of creation, God has been preparing for the Last Supper of Jesus. 

Because Jesus has an infinite desire to become one with us, everyone is invited to that Supper. Here Jesus himself is the Passover Lamb that we take.

How great is the gift and how small we are.

The Mass is the supper of the wedding of the Lamb

To be present, there is one requirement: the wedding garment of faith.

Our response to Jesus’ desire is to surrender to his love, to let ourselves to be drawn by him.

The content of the Mass: the crucifixion of Jesus

This is the content of the broken bread: the cross of Jesus, his sacrifice of obedience out of love for the Father. The crucifixion is:

• the act of perfect worship

• the only true liturgy

The Eucharist is a memorial, a remembering of this cross where Jesus offers his body and pours out his blood.

In Emmaus, when Jesus breaks the bread in front of the disciples, he opens their eyes, making them see him as the Risen one.

There is no possibility of true encounter with Jesus other than the community that celebrates. Because what was visible in Jesus has passed on to his sacraments.

The Liturgy: place of encounter with Christ

In the Liturgy, we encounter Jesus and the power of his Paschal Mystery reaches us.

In the sacraments, the Risen Jesus continues to forgive us, heal us, and save us.

The Church is the sacrament of the Body of Christ

The Church came from the pierced side of Jesus, as Eve came from the side of the sleeping Adam.

We become part of the Church when we believe and are baptized. We become flesh of Jesus’ flesh.

There is only one act of worship: The obedience of Jesus, the Son of God who died on the cross. The only way to take part in this worship is to become “sons in the Son.” Because the only acting subject of the Liturgy is the Mystical Body of Christ: Christ and his Church.

The Liturgy is an antidote for the poison of spiritual worldliness

Beware of the dangerous temptation of “spiritual worldliness”.

Two present-day poisons feed this:

• Gnosticism – one who is imprisoned by his own subjective thoughts and feelings

• Pelagianism – a narcissist who does not need God’s gift of grace and believes he can save himself with his own efforts

The Liturgy is an antidote to these poisons:

• It is an action of the whole Church and not of the individual

• It is not our achievement but a gift. In it, we only boast of the cross of Christ

Let us rediscover the beauty of the truth of the Christian celebration

For the antidote to work, we are required to rediscover the beauty of the truth of the Mass. 

For this:

• Don’t be content with only exterior observance of the rite

• Don’t be careless, superficial, and merely functional

Let us be clear:

• Take care of every aspect: gestures, words, song, vestments

• Observe every rubric (liturgical instruction)

An essential part of the Mass: being amazed at the Paschal Mystery

The Paschal Mystery—the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus—is what is made present in the Eucharist.

An essential part of the Mass is to be astonished by the Paschal Mystery: God saves us through this deed and reveals his plan through this deed. And what happened 2000 years ago continues to reach us in the celebration of the sacraments, also called “mysteries.”

If we lack amazement, we risk not receiving the flood of graces.

Note: St. Padre Pio recommended: "With your mind's eye, transport yourself to Calvary." He also said: “If you want to assist at Mass with devotion and with fruit, think of the sorrowful Mother at the foot of Calvary.”

The need for a serious and vital liturgical formation

To fully live the liturgy is an extremely demanding challenge because we lack reference points and values (knowing what is truly important and first).

The first document of Vatican II is about the Liturgy. The reason for this, says St. Pope Paul VI, is that the Liturgy is the priority over all others. The liturgy is first in importance to the life of the Church.

• Because God must hold first place; prayer to him is our first duty.

• The liturgy is the first source of divine fellowship in which God shares his own life with us.

• It is the first school and the first gift.

• It is the first invitation that we give to all men.

• It is “the summit toward which the activity of the Church is directed, and at the same time the source from which all her power flows.”

Let us spread this knowledge now in a simple language so all Catholics may see God in the liturgy--and put the Sunday Mass at the center of their life.  

The decisive point of our lives is the knowledge of the mystery of Christ. This is not a matter of ideas, but of a real engagement with Jesus. Liturgy is not about “knowledge,” but is about praise, thanksgiving, and docility to the Holy Spirit. The only goal is to become one with Jesus.

To be formed by the Liturgy, it is important that we become capable of symbols, to have an interior attitude to use and understand symbols.

Ars celebrandi: for all Catholics

The art of celebrating the Liturgy requires knowledge:

• First, understand what is happening: the Paschal Mystery is made present, by means of memorial (remembering), so that we can experience it in our life. Without this understanding, we fall into problems.

• Then, understand how the Holy Spirit and symbolic language work

Learn the art of celebrating through:

• Discipline, not sentimental feelings

• Serious work on your relationship with God, obeying the Church

All Catholics are called to live this attitude in all they do in the Mass: gathering, being seated, standing, kneeling, singing, being in silence, acclamations, looking, listening.

Take part in the celebration as one body. Everybody doing together the same gesture, everyone speaking together in one voice — this transmits to each individual the energy of the entire assembly.

All this puts order in our interior world, making us live specific feelings, attitudes, behaviors.

The art of celebrating is required of the entire assembly that celebrates.

Ars celebrandi: particular concern of the priest

Priests who preside in an inadequate way usually are too concerned to be the center of attention.

But the risen Lord is in the leading role. The priest should be overpowered by Jesus' desire to be united with each person. The priest is in the middle between Jesus’ burning heart of love and the heart of each of the faithful.

Silence is absolutely important

• It is something grand: take extreme care of silence, one of our symbolic gestures

• A symbol of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit

• It moves us to sorrow and desire for conversion, makes us ready to hear the Word, awakens prayer, leads us to adore the Body and Blood

Liturgical year and the Lord’s Day: rediscover their meaning

• The liturgical year makes us grow in our knowledge of the mystery of Christ, going deep into the mystery of His Death and Resurrection, awaiting his return in glory. This is a true ongoing formation.

• On the Lord’s day we celebrate the event of our salvation. Sunday is a gift that God gives to his people.

Read the entire document here at the Vatican website. The Spanish version, which probably is the original, is here.

Relevant materials:

• Paschal Mystery: Center of the Christian Life - hardly discussed truth, but is the most important teaching of Vatican II
• Atheist-Theologian's Search for the Most Powerful Cure for All Evils - a video of my discovery of the Paschal Mystery in the Eucharist based on my life story