Lumen Fidei: The Light of Faith by Pope Francis

Lumen Fidei: The Light of Faith Reviews

• 
  7jane

  "Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets."
  
  This is Pope Francis' first encyclical, on the meaning of faith, a way to meet God. It's partly based on unfinished writing of the previous Pope, Benedict XVI, and you do notice his influence, including in some sources quoted.
  
  This book helps one see that although with modern age came seeking of one's own individual path, it ultimately wasn't enough. That faith shines a light not only in the present life, but for the future, as seen already in the Old Testament, and then in the love God showed and shows through Jesus. Faith helps us also to love, and to be part of our community, both in Church and in regular life. The light shines through us and is passed on.
  
  To believe is to touch Christ with our hearts. Faith and reason strenghten each other. There is a longing for the vision of the whole purpose of life (which will be fulfilled on the other side). The true form of love is not force or stifling, but respectful coexistence and seeking harmony also with science. Faith goes well with theology too: of seeking deeper understanding.
  
  There is also talk of importance of certain things: of baptism (this is talked well in Benedict XVI's first Jesus book with the Baptism in the Jordan - very recommended to read, the whole series), of the Eucharist, the creed, Our Father, and the 10 Commandments. It's great to read how unity is superior to conflict, how faith shouldn't be hidden from the public.
  
  Some talk is also reserved for the hours of trial in one's life, where faith brings light, and we are united to suffering Christ, and are called to act of love and trust in God. And finally comes the example of Mary, in her strong, contemplating faith, which is a nice, calm way to end the book, which really can help one see what great role having faith has in the believer's life, and thus makes the book good to reread regularly. A book feeling like a classic.
• 
  K.D. Absolutely

  Lumen Fidei or "The Light of Faith" is a papal encyclical first started by Pope Benedict XVI and finished by the incumbent Pope Francis. He signed it in June of last year and was published the following month, just four months after assuming the papacy making it his first encyclical.
  
  I used to read encyclicals during my college days particularly in our Sociology class. I remember reading Humanae Vitae (Human Life) by Pope Paul VI issued on July 25, 1968 rejecting all forms of artificial contraceptives; Laborem Excercens (Of Human Work) by Pope Paul I in 1981 which was on human labor issues started by Rerum Novarum; Redemptor Huminis (The Redeemer of Man) by Pope John Paul II, his first encyclical, promulgated in 1979, five months after his tenure as pope. It talks about the current problems during his time and that the proposed solution is to know Christ and his teachings; and Rerum Navarum (The Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor) is an old but comprehensive encyclical written by Pope Leo XIII written in 1891 and addressed the condition of the working classes. Two decades have passed after reading those encyclicals and I could barely remember what they were all about except when I googled them.
  
  So, will I remember Lumen Fidei twenty years from now? Yes, because its message is very simple: Faith is like a light that we should use to illumine our paths to salvation. There are many nice quotable quotes that you can find in the encyclical, in the condensed pages and also in a separate pages in the book. That explains why this edition of the encyclical is a bit thicker than those that I've read in the past and mentioned above. If you are lazy and you don't find the writing of the two popes easily understandable, go for the condensed version or the quotable quotes. You can pick one quote at a time and ponder its meaning to you and you will already get the gist of the whole encyclical.
  
  I am too old to go to Brazil for the World's Youth Day but I have a friend who went and she said that the Pope was amazingly nice with the aura and charisma of Pope John Paul II. That Polish pope twice went here in Manila but I did not have the chance to meet him. But I saw a lot of him on television and in the news during those times and I read a couple of his biographies and got hooked on him so much so when he died, I cried. He is my favorite pope and the one that I thought had the greatest influence on me as a Christian and Catholic. His "Do not be afraid" is what I normally say to myself during the times of trials and depression.
  
  I am still waiting for what Pope Francis will be bringing to the throne of Peter. I hope he makes good in bringing the Catholic flock closer to God.
• 
  Julie Davis

  Thank you
  Internet!.
  
  Simply brilliant and sheds light (ha!) on the faith. It might be a good read for those who wonder about the faithful. It explains how they themselves see it ... in a way.
  
  Since it was mostly written by Pope Benedict XVI and then finished/polished/tweaked by Pope Francis, I have seen speculation as to which parts are from whom. That is sheer silliness and completely missing the point.
  
  If two such seemingly different men both embrace what this encyclical brilliantly conveys, then it means that it tells us universal Catholic (and catholic) truths. It also means that these two very different men merely are showing us different facets of God. So there is really no point in comparing them except as part of a larger whole which is the Body of Christ.
• 
  Christopher

  The most intelligent and clear encyclical I've seen come from Rome... in my lifetime? Though we will not likely know exactly how much was written by Pope Benedict XVI, my estimate is 80% of it, the contrast is that unsurprisingly stark in thought and style. Without consciously looking for it, I suddenly found myself sensing a different tone and went back to look at several areas to find the sudden shift. Maybe not so noticeable to other readers but being a fan of the writing style of Joseph Ratzinger, I noticed. Concise and can be found online here:
  http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/fra...
• 
  Sindy Castellanos

  Carta del Papa que presenta y profundiza de forma objetiva y genuina el origen, sentido y vivencia de la fe en la sociedad actual.
  ________
  Pope's letter that presents and deepens objectively and genuinely the origin, meaning and experience of faith in today's society.
  
• 
  нєνєℓ ¢ανα

  Excellent!
• 
  booklady

  Read this out loud to myself. I read a section, then pause and reread it. It's absolutely beautiful and speaks to so many things relevant in my life and the world today. One section contained the reading from Sunday's Mass. Another addressed questions with friends and family. It referenced back to Pope John Paul II's
  Fides Et Ratio: On the Relationship Between Faith and Reason: Encyclical Letter of John Paul II and gave an Old Testament journey of Faith.
  
  I loved the the humility of the co-authorship aspect. God bless them both.
• 
  J.T. Therrien

  This is the first encyclical that I've ever read. I found it (surprisingly) easily accessible and I look forward to reading previous ones.
  
  I thought the work was well written and both Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis had much to say about faith - Lumen Fidei meaning the Light of Faith. The text addresses most of the current challenges facing the Church: the arguments against Nihilism, relativism, homosexual unions, gay marriage, etc. were presented in easy-to-follow dialectical fashion.
  
  I especially liked the chapter where Jesus is understood as the synthesis of Hearing the Word and Seeing the Word.
  
  I strongly recommend the encyclical to anyone who is interested in what the modern Catholic Church is concerned with, and why the Magesterium (the teaching authority of the Church) responds the way it does to current events, while claiming (correctly) that it is acting out of love.
  
  And, of course, the encyclical should be required reading for all Catholics!
  
  
• 
  Jason Reese

  Very good; lots of food for thought. My favorite quote: Modernity sought to build a universal brotherhood based on equality, yet we gradually came to realize that this brotherhood, lacking a reference to a common Father as its ultimate foundation, cannot endure. We need to return to the true basis of brotherhood. The history of faith has been from the beginning a history of brotherhood, albeit not without conflict. (54)
  
  The meditations on faith and memory, especially paragraphs 40-41, were especially illuminating.
  
  The paragraph on the family (52) was quite timely and welcome.
  
  Generally, the identification of faith with light is something I will have to ponder for a while.
• 
  Joseph Wilbur

  A short summary of Christian teaching on the virtue of faith, and why it is often called a ‘light,’ with references by Pope Francis to modern mistakes concerning knowledge
• 
  Harry Allagree

  To me, this little gem of a work by Pope Francis does not seem like an "encyclical". It's his first, and I'd rather describe it as an extended reflection, a concise, clear unfolding of the reality of the light of faith. This has to be an outgrowth of a deep personal spiritual life, shared by a man who really cares for his reader. It's not the usual off-putting, starchy kind of dictate which has traditionally issued from the Vatican for eons. I've had great respect & affection for John XXIII, out of all the 7 men who've been Pope thus far in my lifetime; I think perhaps Francis has evoked that & more for me in the short time since his election.
  
  One of Francis' key convictions is that "the light of faith is linked to concrete life-stories." Another is that one's life of seeking & living is a journey with the constant, ongoing gift of God's love, enabling one to pass it on to others & touching every human structure, and to come back ultimately to Love. He emphasizes over & over the necessity of seeing ourselves in communion, community with others -- as they are, not according to how we think they should be. And it's clear that he excludes no one. He says: "Anyone who sets off on the path of doing good to others is already drawing near to God, is already sustained by his help, for it is characteristic of the divine light to brighten our eyes whenever we walk towards the fullness of love."
  
  Francis isn't averse to pointing out that the journey of faith is challenging & involves difficulty. "Faith is no refuge for the fainthearted…" Yet he's completely comfortable & confident with faith, and he draws the reader into that: "…goodness is always prior to and more powerful than evil,…the word with which God affirms our life is deeper than our every denial."
  
  Francis' use of Scripture & ancient Church Fathers is done in a very persuasive, yet gentle way, not just flinging proof texts at the reader. He takes time to explain the meaning of some of the Hebrew or Greek words in the text, drawing out their rich shades of meaning.
  
  His message is fresh for our times: "Faith is truly a good for everyone; it is a common good…it helps us build our societies in such a way that they can journey towards a future of hope." In another place he says: "Let us refuse to be robbed of hope…"
  
  This glowing review is not to say that I necessarily agree with or buy every single idea, but if this first of Francis' encyclicals is any indication for the future, disgruntled Roman Catholics, skeptical Protestants & humanists, & just other people of good will might want to check him out.
• 
  Kristin

  I'd like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for allowing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
  I've been strictly anti-Catholic for over half of my life, but I am purely pro-Pope Francis. I'm not going into the reasons why I have been anti-Catholic, but I have mine. After speaking to my rector at the Episcopalian church I attend, I decided that it was time for me to set aside my unreasonable anger towards the Catholic Church. In a fashion true to my own form, I met it head on, and tried to surgically dissect the why's and how's and what's of my anger. And when I finally decided that I had debrided enough of my old festering wound, I decided to test out my newly healed wound by reading a Papal Encyclical.
  The introduction is written by someone very staunchly Catholic, and it tested my limits, but I had faith (many of the times that Pope Francis would mention this word in his encyclical) that I could get through it with flying colors. Before this, I would read an encyclical just to have the pleasure of ripping it apart. Now, I tried my best to read it with an open heart.
  There are some parts of it that are absolutely amazing. They fill me with such hope for the future of the Catholic Church. There are parts in it that are true gems...rough gems, surely, but they are there. There aren't just hunks of glass, but with some polishing, you can really see the diamond.
  One that I absolutely hold dear is: "Faith does not merely gaze at Jesus, but sees things as Jesus himself sees them, with his own eyes: it is a participation in his way of seeing."
• 
  Sheila

  This encyclical letter on Faith, addressed to the Bishops, Priests and Deacons, Men and Women Religious, and the Lay Faithful, did not speak to me for some reason.
  
  I am not Catholic, but will admit to admiring the new Pope Francis, so I was hoping for something "moving" in this first encyclical letter published by him. But instead of feeling like someone was speaking TO me, it felt like someone was talking AT me.
  
  The letter does say in the introduction that this letter is meant to supplement what Benedict XVI wrote in his encyclical letters on charity and hope. It also says that Benedict himself had almost completed a first draft of this encyclical, and that Pope Francis only added a few contributions of his own to Benedict's letter. Maybe that is the problem. I was hearing Benedict, not Pope Francis, and it was Pope Francis I was hoping to hear.
  
  I do have another book I have purchased,
  On Heaven and Earth: Pope Francis on Faith, Family, and the Church in the Twenty-First Century, so maybe I will give it a read, and see how the writing compares, since it was written when Pope Francis was still a Cardinal.
• 
  Jenn

  This was a lovely encyclical, and enjoyable to read. I'll have to read it again soon to nail down all of the nuances of the metaphors of light, sight, and hearing. Truth and inspiration were found on all different levels, so this encyclical has definite appeal to people at all stages and depths of their faith life.
  
  It was difficult, but I did manage (barely) to not highlight *every* single sentence. I also made quite a few notes and asterisks, reminding myself of certain key passages. Hopefully soon, I will write about these in my various blogs and add to the body of scholarship and reflection that I anticipate will bubble forth inspired by this encyclical. :)
• 
  Stephen Helms

  This was a very nice comprehensive theological overview of faith, demonstrating its origins and influence in all aspects of life. Theologically it was very interesting, and it nicely weaves in the thoughts of numerous theological and philosophical writers. I preferred Spe Salvi's approach of using personal stories to exemplify the theological ideas, however. Nevertheless, the opening chapter on faith as an encounter with God and the later section on the essential role of community in passing on faith were beautiful.
• 
  Natasha Childress

  Beautiful!
  Love the ties of Old Testament to Christ, new and expanded ways of seeing aspects of our faith (in particular the relationship between love, truth, and faith, as well as, the Face of Christ reflected in community), and the brightness of the light of our faith - whether experienced in overwhelming joy or trial or in between. Many notes taken for further reflection, and can see reading the whole thing again and again.
• 
  Michael

  Neither highly philosophical (as John Paul II's encyclicals) nor highly theological (like Benedict XVI's), but still a beautiful encyclical on the most basic aspect of our relationship with God: that the acceptance of Him into our heart enlightens our entire existence. To see in a dark and murky existence requires the light of God, and only trough faith can we come to the other two great gifts: hope and caritas.
• 
  Jonas Perez

  siempre es una bendición a leer las palabras de mi papa Francisco. es cierto cuando él dice que "una luz tan potente no puede provenir de nosotros mismos." todas sus palabras sobre nuestra gran luz vienen de una vida larga y una alma de Dios. lo recomiendo a todos cristianos, especialmente los católicos que quieren aumentar su fe.
• 
  Sabine Terky

  Deeply consuming and true
• 
  John Connolly

  This was an incredible read - much like enjoying a good devotional. It was insightful and uplifting, as well as theologically well-grounded.
• 
  Anne

  This is obviously not the edition I read. Just the free online one.
• 
  Ipaziabooks

  Lumen Fidei, l’Enciclica sulla fede di Papa Francesco da Nietzsche… all’equazione Wheeler- DeWitt. E sulla Chiesa dei Poveri.
  
  di Rina Brundu. Un sottotitolo provocatorio (ma non irriverente) per questo scritto potrebbe anche essere: Santità non sono Scalfari ma la sua Enciclica l’ho letta anche io. Un miracolo in sé! Non mi ero mai confrontata con un’Enciclica papale prima e mai avrei pensato che un giorno mi sarei presa la briga di acquistarne una e di leggerla anche con una certa curiosità. Per i non addetti e per coloro che volessero provarsi in questo medesimo cimento, dico soltanto che la parte più ardua del compito è quella di riuscire a trovare, dentro il testo, la sezione effettivamente scritta dal Papa. Il libro, infatti, per tanti versi somiglia ad una carrozza reale preceduta e seguita da scorte multiple, nel senso che Lumen Fidei si presenta con una introduzione titolata La luce della fede a cura di Bruno Forte e seguita da ben sei commenti, esegesi, interpretazioni, delucidazioni offerte da Roberto Rusconi, Piero Stefani, Fulvio De Giorgi, Giovanni Santombrogio, Salvatore Natoli.
  
  Ma come Santità, non si fidano della Sua capacità di spiegarsi?
  
  Con tutto il rispetto per questi signori ho saltato l’introduzione e i commenti e ho letto la sola Enciclica e di questo lavoro voglio parlare nell’articolo che segue.
  
  Lumen Fidei. Sulla struttura e sulla metafora della Fede che è luce. E che è “madre”.
  
  La Lettera Enciclica Lumen Fidei del Sommo Pontefice Francisco ai vescovi ai presbiteri e ai diaconi alle persone consacrate e a tutti i fedeli laici sulla fede si compone di cinque parti.
  
  - Un’introduzione
  
  - Un capitolo primo titolato “Abbiamo creduto all’amore”.
  
  - Un capitolo secondo titolato “Se non crederete, non comprenderete”.
  
  - Un capitolo terzo titolato “Vi trasmetto quello che ho ricevuto”.
  
  - Un capitolo quarto titolato “Dio prepara per loro una città”.
  
  Senza entrare troppo nel dettaglio delle tematiche trattate in ciascuna sezione preferisco riportare in questa prima parte del mio articolo una visione complessiva, o comunque il mio intendimendo delle questioni trattate dal sommo Pontefice.
  
  Nell’incipit Papà Francesco pone subito al centro del suo discorso la questione de “La luce della Fede” e della Fede che è Luce. Ricorda che il dio sole adorato dai pagani (Sol invictus) non è mai stato capace di illuminare veramente l’intera esistenza dell’uomo. Altra cosa, altra luce sarebbe quella che porta la Fede perché “chi crede vede”. La Fede non fa equazione col buio. Francesco lamenta come l’uomo moderno abbia dimenticato la verità e svilito le potenzialità di questo dono di Dio. Cita Nietzsche. “Il giovane Nietzsche invitava la sorella Elisabeth a rischiare, percorrendo “nuove vie… nell’incertezza del procedere autonomo”. E aggiungeva: “A questo punto si separano le vie dell’umanità: se vuoi raggiungere la pace dell’anima e la felicità, abbi pur fede, ma se vuoi essere un discepolo della verità, allora indaga”. Il credere si opporrebbe al cercare. A partire da qui Nietzsche sviluppera’ la sua critica al cristianesimo per aver sminuito la portata dell’esistenza umana, togliendo alla vita novità e avventura”.
  
  Il Pontefice spiega così come da quel tempo in poi la Fede sia stata vista come un “salto nel vuoto”, sebbene “la luce della ragione autonoma non riesce a illuminare il futuro”. Senza la luce della Fede si sprofonda nella confusione, senza quella particolare fiamma anche tutte le altre fiammelle si spengono. Francesco cita Dante, ricorda l’esempio dei primi cristiani per i quali la Fede in quanto incontro con Dio era “madre” e prima di chiudere la sua introduzione scrive che “Fede, speranza e carità costituiscono, in un mirabile intreccio, il dinamismo dell’esistenza cristiana verso la comunione piena con Dio”.
  
  All’inizio del primo capitolo il Papa focalizza su un concetto che ripeterà diverse volte nel proseguo del suo lavoro: la Fede è legata all’ascolto, “Abramo non vede Dio, ma sente la Sua voce. In questo modo la Fede assume un carattere personale”. Il Dio di tutti diventa il Dio dell’individuo e quindi si fa più vicino. La Parola, sostiene Francesco, diventa chiamata e promessa, invito ad aprirsi ad una vita nuova. La Fede è atto di memoria, è porta aperta verso il futuro (memoria futuri) ed è strettamente legata alla speranza. Francesco cita Sant’Agostino: “L’uomo fedele è colui che crede a Dio che promette; il Dio fedele è colui che concede ciò che ha promesso all’uomo”.
  
  Francesco ricorda che, molto spesso, alla Fede in Dio si preferisce “l’idolo”. L’idolo che diventa un pretesto per porre noi stessi al centro della realtà. Di converso Dio offre la Fede come dono “chiedendo il coraggio di fidarsi e di affidarsi”. L’origine della bontà è Dio e chi opera senza Dio, anche quando compie opere buone, è destinato ad una vita sterile come quella “dell’albero lontano dall’acqua”.
  
  Francesco cita Dostoevskij e più avanti asserisce che “La nuova logica della Fede è centrata sul Cristo”.
  
  Siamo al secondo capitolo e Francesco cita Wittgenstein che ha spiegato la connessione tra la Fede e la certezza: “Credere sarebbe simile, secondo lui, all’esperienza dell’innamoramento, concepita come qualcosa di soggettivo, improponibile come verita’ valida per tutti”.
  
  Francesco cita “Il beato Giovanni Paolo II, (che) nella sua Lettera Enciclica Fides et Ratio, ha mostrato come fede e ragione si rafforzino a vicenda”. Francesco cita ancora Sant’Agostino che integra la ricerca della Ragione “nell’orizzonte della Fede”.
  
  Subito dopo Francesco ricorda che credere significa mancare di arroganza, farsi umili, rifuggire la violenza; ricorda che credere vuol dire ricerca di Dio, ovvero di una vita più grande e più bella; ricorda l’origine e lo scopo esplorativo della teologia. Francesco cita San Paolo, affronta il problema della trasmissione della Fede di generazione in generazione, rimarca che è “impossibile credere da soli. La Fede… si apre per sua natura al “noi”, avviene sempre all’interno della comunione della Chiesa. Francesco ricorda che la Chiesa è “madre della nostra Fede”, analizza la Fede nel contesto familiare e la presenta come “forza consolante nella sofferenza”. Infine il Pontefice focalizza sulla necessità di pregare e chiude con una preghiera a Maria.
  
  Lumen Fidei: alcune brevi considerazioni critiche. E sull’equazione Wheeler-DeWitt, l’equazione che ha ucciso il tempo
  
  Non credo spetti a me offrire un commento critico di questo lavoro papale (anche perché come si è visto nell’incipit di commenti ne ha già avuti parecchi); come non bastasse io non sono il bravissimo dottor Scalfari e dunque la mia esegesi sarebbe al massimo un’interpretazione sui generis. La verità è che mentre leggevo il testo mi tornava alla mente un’altra convesazione tra il mitico Sheldon Cooper e la sua fidanzata Amy Farrah Fowler, gli inossidabili protagonisti della sit-com “The big bang theory” di Chuck Lorre e Bill Prady, sit-com dedicata al mondo della fisica quantistica. Siamo al primo incontro tra Sheldon e Amy e Sheldon ha casualmente introdotto il tema della religiosità procurando la seguente risposta da parte di Amy: “Non ho nulla da eccepire sul concetto di divinità, resto perplessa però davanti a una che richiede la presenza”. Un poco come a scuola, insomma.
  
  Condivido le perplessità di Amy e per quanto mi sia sforzata di seguire il discorso sulla Fede fatto da Francesco, di ragionare sulle infinite citazioni che puntellano il suo scritto a supporto della tesi, la stessa tesi e la sua spiegazione non hanno operato il miracolo. Per quanto mi riguarda trovo invece bellissima e terribilmente profonda proprio la citazione del giovane Nietzsche che diceva alla sorella “Se vuoi raggiungere la pace dell’anima e la felicità, abbi pur fede, ma se vuoi essere un discepolo della verità, allora indaga”.
  
  Come dirla altrimenti, magari restando nel campo della fisica teorica tanto cara a Sheldon Cooper? Per certi versi l’insegnamento impartito da Lumen Fidei si presenta ai miei occhi in posizione ossimorica rispetto a ciò che insegna l’equazione Wheeler-DeWitt, ovvero quell’equazione figlia dell’idea della meccanica quantistica che il comportamento di ogni elemento dalla particella subatomica all’intero universo possa essere dedotto dalla conoscenza della sua funzione d’onda (psi). Quest’equazione molto complessa, infatti, una volta risolta, non lascia spazio per il fattore-T, il tempo, o per dirla con il fisico Lee Smolin “L’universo quantistico è un universo senza cambiamento. Semplicemente è”.
  
  Insomma l’equazione Wheeler-DeWitt, utilizzando il linguaggio dell’universo, la matematica, mi dice che non esiste una dimensione temporale che io però percepisco; di converso, Francesco, utilizzando la Parola – che sarà pure parola di Dio ma questo non è provato – vuole convincermi ad avere Fede in quel Dio creato da quella stessa Parola (seppure enunciata da infinite fonti, sagge e diverse) e che che io non percepisco altrimenti, non sentendomi per questo inferiore a chi lo sente o sa ascoltarlo.
  
  Nel dubbio sto con la matematica! Anche perché il Dio che la matematica racconta non richiede “presenza” come direbbe Amy Farrah Fowler e più che Fede ispira quello che in inglese si chiama wonder, la meraviglia, sebbene il termine anglofono connoti quell’emozione-sensazione in maniera più appropriata.
  
  Solo su un punto mi trovo pienamente d’accordo con Papa Francesco, ovvero sul fatto che la dottrina della Sua Chiesa dei Poveri che traspare e affiora all along in tutto il testo e ancor di più nei suoi comportamenti, e che non si hanno dubbi sgorga direttamente dal cuore di questo straordinario pontefice argentino, possa continuare, vivere e prosperare, perché oltre al fattore-tempo forse la suddetta equazione che spiega il comportamento dell’intero universo manca anche di un altro fattore importantissimo: l’amore. Quello, infatti, dobbiamo mettercelo noi!
  
• 
  Sori

  La fe…
  La fe es el don por el que asentimos a Dios, no por el que elegimos algún tipo de religión. La fe es la imagen viva de la esperanza que nos mantiene viviendo el día a día a pesar de la vida. La fe es la capacidad que tenemos, no de hablar o dar, sino de escuchar y recibir, de sentir el inmenso amor de Dios.
  La fe por ser un don es una capacidad que no todos tienen, y los que tienen ese don no son mejores o peores que los otros. Cada persona tiene una fe diferente, moldeada a la personalidad y las experiencias de cada uno. Pero la fe se puede nutrir y alimentar para acerca crecer, para fortalecerla, para entenderla, de manera que entre más apelemos a la fe mayor será el vínculo que nos lleva a Dios, y a través del cual podemos experimentar a Dios.
  La fe podría llegar a considerarse, de cierta forma, un sexto sentido o un poder sobrenatural por el cual el ser humano puede percibir cosas extraordinarias, cosas que no todo el mundo puede ver o sentir, incluso llegar a imaginar. En este sexto sentido encontramos un medio para percibir algo que hay más allá del mundo tangible que conocemos. No podemos ver el aire pero sentimos su toque rozar nuestras mejillas, no podemos ver los aromas pero es impresionante la manera en la que pueden llegar a evocar recuerdos maravillosos. Percibimos el sonido a través de vibraciones de las que no somos conscientes y eso no impide que juguemos con ella haciendo sinfonías. Pero la fe es esto precisamente, el poder hacer algo a pesar de carecer de materiales. El viento me acaricia con la mano de Dios y su amor hace vibrar nuestros corazones, más y más fuerte conforme nos acercamos, y aún que no pueda verlo, puedo sentirlo, aunque no pueda tocarlo puedo escucharlo, pero solo podrá escuchar aquel que deje de taparse los oídos o pueda permanecer en silencio, porque cuando aprendemos a escuchar en el silencio es cuando nuestros ojos se abren y podemos ver todo de una manera diferente, podemos ver todo con los ojos de la fe.
  
  Chihuahua, Chih.
  19-Diciembre-2020
  Noveno mes de pandemi y vísperas navideñas.
  
• 
  Jorge Reyes

  La encíclica a "cuatro manos", con una gran aportación de BXVI pero oficialmente un documento del Papa Francisco, completando así la trilogía de las virtudes teologales, fe, esperanza y caridad, ya antes anunciada por BXVI.
  Es un placer leer este documento, corto pero de alto nivel intelectual y perfectamente universal.
  El contenido es de gran importancia para el creyente, que podrá encontrar una necesaria orientación sobre la virtud teologal que sostiene al hombre y permite la alegría de aquellos que conocen la trascendencia del saber, sin ver, sin ver al menos con los ojos.
  Hay que recordar que el presente documento se presenta bajo la autoridad papal, así, es un documento oficial del Papa Francisco.
  Maravilloso, iluminante y refrescante.
  Todo creyente debe tener este documento en casa.
  
  
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  Aaron Michael

  In modern times, faith has come to be associated with darkness, where as science and reason have come to be associated with light and truth. Honest thinkers will admit that science and reason are not enough, and many have abandoned the quest for light and truth. Without light and truth, everything becomes confused and we unable to differentiate between good and evil.
  
  This encyclical unveils a simple message which is very important to understand. Unbelievers stray so far from the truth, the good and the just because they are walking in darkness. We should not be surprised when they do so.
  
  Those who believe, see; they see with a light that illumines their entire journey, for it comes from the risen Christ, the morning star which never sets.
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  James Hamilton

  I started this 2 months ago and only just finished. You can definitely see the traces of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in this, but sometimes I just want to know between him and Pope Francis, who wrote what. This would be something good to use as a starting point for a discussion on faith, and what it really is, but I don't think it really gets into the nitty gritty. Also, some of it was easy to read without understanding.
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  Juan Alarcon

  Amazing and concise exposition of the theological virtue of Faith.
  My highlight is the connection between faith and truth. Faith cannot be a parallel belief with our reality, and it is necessary to understand God's real action and how it fits with the world we see in order to avoid simple subjectivism or just get away.
  Faith is also a relationship lived in community. It is not only an “I and you”, but a “we”, a communion that transcends the individual and inserts him in a community.
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  M.

  I was pretty sure I had read this one before, but either I didn't mark it as such, or I was wrong. In this one, Benedict XVI started the text and Francis finished it. It's possible to see where both pens have their emphasis, but this doesn't occasionate a clash, just a rather peculiar document. Loved how this insisted in the interpersonal aspects of faith and Church, and even truth.
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  Kathy Nealen

  Very difficult to read -,that is how I can tell that most of it was written by Pope Benedict XVI. It also includes some very beautiful and profound phrasing.
  
  "Faith is not a light which scatters all our darkness, but a lamp which guides our steps in the night and suffices for the journey."