20 December 2012

Welcome & Introduction

Introduction:

During Lent of 2008 I returned to full communion with the Catholic Church, the Church that as a record of history was established by Jesus Christ as an earthly structure which would continue in existence under his protection (Matthew 16:18). Over time, I had been approached by people interested in understanding my discernment for return.  Some alleged that it was because I was recently married while others, with more confidence suggested that it was the result of the arrival of a child.  While I understand how both propositions could lead one to the desire of returning to a church, neither provide an accurate depiction of why I had chosen to return to The Church.

A Longing for the Truth:

When reason cut itself loose from its Divine anchorage, denied absolute truth and reduced everything to a point of view, the field was wide open for propaganda. Minds that were once held together by a common faith or truth were now split into atomic "points of view," waiting for organization and unification ("Bishop Sheen Writes," Hartford Times; July 10, 1954; 5).  
Prior to my return to the church I found myself struggling with how to make sense of various prominent cultural concerns - or more to the point - how to articulate what anchored my position regarding certain controversy.  I had an innate sense that my arguments on many issues were correct and that correctness was immersed in something more than mere perspective ~

[Of coures in reflection I understand that it was the innate sense of what was right that preceded formation of my arguments]

 ~ It was this indwelling of an established conscience that remained elusive to me and it was this feeling that captured my desire to learn more about truth.  I do not mean to suggest that I was searching for validation of what I believed, nor that similar to Chesterton that I was trying to be the first to set foot in Brighton regarding truth, rather I was interested in understanding what constituted truth and where my conscience of truth originated.

Over 18 months of daily encounters with Catholic Apologetics, discussions with my father, mother, and il compare I found the beginning of the answer embedded within John (1:1-14)
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God... And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son of the Father"
This point of Christ being truth [the I Am] was re-emphasized later in John (18:37)
"Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.  For this I was born and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth.  Every one who is of the truth hears my voice."
Thus I learned that God is what constitutes truth ~ truth is him.

Regarding the second aspect of discernment, the question of where my conscience of truth originated, faith and reason lead me to recognize the following.

  • Natural Law: 

The truth written on the hearts of man that drives man to do not whatever he wants rather to do what he ought.

  • Moral Theology through Child Rearing:

The act of being raised by parents who embedded an understanding of Catholic moral theology [rather than mere ethics] throughout my childhood development.  Including the act of teaching through living example as well through instructional formation.

My inquiry into truth drove me back to the The Church ~ and it is in communion with The Church that I strive to remain.  Luke 12:48 stated, "...Every one to whom much is given, of him much will be required..."  The purpose of this blog [therefore] will be to reflect on different aspects of Catholicism as I continue to learn more about the faith and transition from consideration to action.

For Consideration Regarding an Establishment of Authority: 

The connection that I made between Jesus Christ as truth and the authority of the Catholic Church as being responsible for perpetuating that truth is worthy of inquiry.  However, rather than expand upon my findings regarding the authority of the church in this introduction, I challenge my fellow Christians to turn to the history of the church to learn more about what the early Christians [Kataholos or Catholics] believed.