Catholic Education: Faith in the Future

L. Franchi CHAPS Conference 2013

Overview

1. Aims of the presentation 2. Background to Lumen Fidei 3. Key ideas of Lumen Fidei 4. Reflection on some of the key ideas of Lumen Fidei 5. Some practical points 6. Concluding thoughts

1. Aims of the presentation

S To explore how we can have faith in the future of Catholic

education in Scotland and beyond

S To allow us to reflect on the Encyclical Lumen Fidei S To use Lumen Fidei as a guide to developing the faith life of

our Catholic schools

2. Background to Lumen Fidei

S Lumen Fidei is part three of a

trilogy consisting of Spe Salvi (2007) and Caritas in Veritate (2009), both written by Pope Benedict XVI Pope Francis, was started by his predecessor unity of the Magisterium also significant

S Lumen Fidei, although signed by

S Joint-authorship is a sign of the S Publication date of June 29 is

Popes united!

3. Key ideas of Lumen Fidei

S Structure S Four sections S Sixty paragraphs S Opening sentence S The light of Faith: this is

how the Churchs tradition speaks of the great gift brought by Jesus.

Ch 1. We have believed in love (1 John 4:16)

S Key ideas
S Abraham, our Father in faith faith of Israel the fullness of

Christian faith salvation by faith ecclesial form of faith

S Comment
S Faith, while personal, is communal. The tradition of

monotheism goes back to Abraham. Ekklesia (Greek)= called out

Ch. 2 Unless you believe you will not understand (Is. 7:9)
S Key ideas
S Faith and truth knowledge of the truth and love faith as

hearing and sight the dialogue between faith and reason faith and the search for God faith and theology
S Comment
S Faith is a challenge to modernity and the predominance of

rationalism S For the Catholic, there is a truth: the divine Person of Jesus

Ch. 3 I have delivered to you what I also received (1 Cor. 15:3)

S Key ideas
S The Church, mother of our faith the sacraments and the

transmission of faith faith, prayer and the Decalogue the unity and integrity of faith
S Comment
S Our need to love the Church as a communion of faith, a living

body called to teach

Ch. 4 God prepares a city for them Heb. 11.16

S Key ideas
S Faith and the common good faith and the family a light for

life in society consolation and strength amid suffering blessed is she who believed
S Comment
S Dont keep the faith, spread it! S Faith is not a private matter

4. Reflection on key ideas

a.

Knowledge of the the truth and love (26) Dialogue between faith and reason (32-34) Faith and theology (36) Sacraments and the transmission of faith (40-45)

b.

c. d.

Knowledge of the the truth and love (26)

S In the Bible, the heart is the core of the human person, where all

his or her different dimensions intersect: body and spirit, interiority and openness to the world and to others, intellect, will and affectivity. If the heart is capable of holding all these dimensions together, it is because it is where we become open to truth and love, where we let them touch us and deeply transform us.

Dialogue between faith and reason (32-34)

S Truth nowadays is often reduced to the subjective authenticity of

the individual, valid only for the life of the individual. A common truth intimidates us, for we identify it with the intransigent demands of totalitarian systems. But if truth is a truth of love, if it is a truth disclosed in personal encounter with the Other and with others, then it can be set free from its enclosure in individuals and become part of the common good. As a truth of love, it is not one that can be imposed by force; it is not a truth that stifles the individual. Since it is born of love, it can penetrate to the heart, to the personal core of each man and woman (34).

Faith and theology (36)

S Clearly, theology is impossible without faith; it is part of the very

process of faith, which seeks an ever deeper understanding of Gods self-disclosure culminating in Christ. It follows that theology is more than simply an effort of human reason to analyze and understand, along the lines of the experimental sciences. God cannot be reduced to an object. He is a subject who makes himself known and perceived in an interpersonal relationship. Right faith orients reason to open itself to the light which comes from God, so that reason, guided by love of the truth, can come to a deeper knowledge of God. The great medieval theologians and teachers rightly held that theology, as a science of faith, is a participation in Gods own knowledge of himself.

Sacraments and the transmission of faith (40-45)

S For transmitting a purely doctrinal content, an idea might suffice,

or perhaps a book, or the repetition of a spoken message. But what is communicated in the Church, what is handed down in her living Tradition, is the new light born of an encounter with the true God, a light which touches us at the core of our being and engages our minds, wills and emotions, opening us to relationships lived in communion. There is a special means for passing down this fullness, a means capable of engaging the entire person, body and spirit, interior life and relationships with others. It is the sacraments, celebrated in the Churchs liturgy (40)

5. Application to context

S The Creed

S The Catholic School as a

site of Catholic culture

S Re-discover the value of

Using the Creed

the Apostles' and the NiceneConstantinopolitan Creeds. These creeds are both prayers and doctrinal statements and hence manifest the unity of faith and worship. S Consider if one of the Creeds should be prayed at school Masses and assemblies (as appropriate)

The Catholic school as a site of Catholic culture

S The Catholic way

should be as natural as the air we breathe S Emphasise the importance of feast days in the Churchs year: Mass, special treats for both staff and pupils S Emphasise the importance of the fast days and what this means for our community S How can the Catholic school develop the faith of the parents?

6. Concluding thoughts
Do not be disheartened in the face of the difficulties that the educational challenge presents! Educating is not a profession but an attitude, a way of being; in order to educate it is necessary to step out of ourselves and be among young people, to accompany them in the stages of their growth and to set ourselves beside them (Pope Francis June 7 2013: Address to students of Jesuits schools of Italy and Albania)

Holy Mary our hope, Seat of Wisdom. Pray for us.