Last rites declaration of Ioannes Paulus PP. II (Karol Wojtyla)
Ioannes Paulus PP. II
Nationalism, capitalism, and hoarding. The idea of every nation
should be forgot, price should be struck from the commons, and
princes should be seen for the devils they are. The sins include
our church, secret societies, and other religions which make of
the spirit of God a divide."
Last rites declaration of Ioannes Paulus PP. II (Karol Wojtyla)
2nd April 2005
--
sources of belief: reason, custom, inspiration. The
Christian religion, which alone has reason, does not acknowledge as her true
children those who believe without inspiration. It is not that she excludes
reason and custom. On the contrary, the mind must be opened to proofs, must
be confirmed by custom and offer itself in humbleness to inspirations, which
alone can produce a true and saving effect. Ne evacuetur crux Christi.32
246. Order.--After the letter That we ought to seek God, to write the letter
On removing obstacles, which is the discourse on "the machine," on preparing
the machine, on seeking by reason.
247. Order.--A letter of exhortation to a friend to induce him to seek. And
he will reply, "But what is the use of seeking? Nothing is seen." Then to
reply to him, "Do not despair." And he will answer that he would be glad to
find some light, but that, according to this very religion, if he believed
in it, it will be of no use to him, and that therefore he prefers not to
seek. And to answer to that: The machine.
248. A letter which indicates the use of proofs by the machine.--Faith is
different from proof; the one is human, the other is a gift of God. Justus
ex fide vivit.33 It is this faith that God Himself puts into the heart, of
which the proof is often the instrument, fides ex auditu;34 but this faith
is in the heart, and makes us not say scio, but credo.35
249. It is superstition to put one's hope in formalities; but it is pride to
be unwilling to submit to them.
250. The external must be joined to the internal to obtain anything from
God, that is to say, we must kneel, pray with the lips, etc., in order that
proud man, who would not submit himself to God, may be now subject to the
creature. To expect help from these externals is superstition; to refuse to
join them to the internal is pride.
251. Other religions, as the pagan,