Pope Francis’ first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), was presented to the world on the morning of July 5. Cardinal Marc Ouellet, Archbishop Gerhard Muller and Archbishop Rino Fisichella explained the nucleus of the new encyclical to the press at the Vatican.
Lumen Fidei is a joint venture enterprise between Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and his successor, Pope Francis.
While commenting on its significance, Cardinal Ouellet said: “A pillar was lacking in Benedict XVI’s trilogy on the theological virtues. Providence willed that this missing pillar should be both a gift from the Pope Emeritus to his successor and a symbol of unity.
Since Christian love means sharing, the believer dialogues with those around him/her
“For in taking up and completing the work begun by his predecessor, Pope Francis bears witness with him to the unity of the faith. The light of faith is passed from one Pontiff to another like a baton in a relay (race), thanks to the gift of the apostolic succession”.
The cardinal also said that Light of Faith is an “integral profession of faith, in the form of a catechesis written ‘by four hands’ of the successors of Peter”.
The new encyclical is divided into four parts.
In its first chapter (nos. 8-22), Light of Faith promotes the biblical figure of Abraham to show that faith means ‘listening’ to God’s invitation in order that the person might open him/herself up to a new life and future ‘promise’.
Faith means encountering God’s ‘paternity’, characterised by his extraordinary mercy that welcomes, forgives and straightens our crooked human history.
Faith is our courageous assent to God’s transforming action into our personal and corporate lives. “God’s free gift, which calls for humility and the courage to trust and to entrust; it enables us to see the luminous path leading to the encounter of God and humanity, the history of salvation” (no. 14).
Jesus Christ is the manifestation and the definite incarnation of God’s unfathomable love for every human person. In Jesus, God’s love is undoubtedly reliable.
Chapter two (nos. 23-36) kicks off by accentuating that God’s truthful and faithful presence among us humans inspires faith. The latter evolves when it is shared in and through love.
Faith imparts on its adherents the sublime gift of God’s great love, which changes the believer internally.
The believer starts viewing reality with the new eyes of faith, which puts love as its central point.
Since Christian love means sharing, the believer humbly and respectfully dialogues with those around him. In his heart of hearts, the believer recognizes that “anyone who sets off on the path of doing good to others is already drawing near to God”.
The chapter concludes with the bold affirmation that faith is the right spirit through which theological speculation should be carried out. Since theology is a lively participation in the knowledge God possesses of Himself, it is the Church’s responsibility, as exercised by her Magisterial authority, to guarantee a faithful and an enriching relationship between faith and God’s Word.
The hub of the encyclical’s third chapter (nos 37-49) is St Paul’s statement: “I delivered to you what I also received” (1 Cor 15:3).
Faith is rendered alive when it is poured out for others through evangelization. Faith opens the “I” to “we” within the communal setting of the Church.
The sacraments, coupled with the Creed, prayer and the Decalogue, are ‘special means’ thanks to which faith is transmitted. Faith is one due to the “oneness of the God who is known and confessed” (LF § 47). It “is shared by the whole Church, which is one body and one Spirit” (LF § 47).
This unity of faith in the Church is safeguarded by the apostolic succession charisma.
The fourth and concluding chapter (nos. 50-60) highlights the relationship between faith and the common good. Faith creates communion by serving justice, rights and peace. When faith enlightens families, youth, nature, governments, suffering and death it directs our societies to a future filled with hope.
Mary’s maternal intercession and protection reminds us that we are never alone in our faith journey. Mary teaches us to adopt Jesus’ perspective on our realities.
Am I going to enrich myself and fulfil my deep-seated thirst for God by reading meditatively the inspiring content of Lumen Fidei?