- Feb 5, 2002
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Knowing doctrines intellectually is not sufficient for a full Catholic life or evangelization. But knowing them to the best of our ability is necessary.
It shouldn’t be shocking to me anymore, but it was.
A “professor of public theology” at a Catholic institution criticized another person on social media encouraging people to evangelize. What was the problem? Was he advocating deceitful means? The use of force? Offering people money to convert?
None of these.
This person had posted a handy poster distinguishing between Christ’s Ascension and Mary’s Assumption. The key is that Christ rose by His own power while Mary was raised up by Christ’s power. The distinction is very important, especially in dealing with Protestants who think Catholics consider Mary an independent deity. This misunderstanding is a scandal—a stumbling block—to being open to seeing the fullness of Christianity in Catholic faith. Yet the professor scoffed that “rote memorization of obscure theological factoids unrelated to living a Christian life” has nothing to do with evangelization. “Winning Catholic Jeopardy! won’t bring the Reign of God.”
In a very literal sense, the professor is partially correct. Simply knowing doctrines is not the same as living them. Even believing them true isn’t enough. “You believe that God is one,” St. James writes in his Epistle; “you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19). But knowing that “God is one” is not a mere obscure factoid for a trivia game.
So, too, the distinction between Our Lord’s Ascension and our Lady’s Assumption, which is built upon the orthodox understanding of who Jesus is. Our Lord rose by his own power, or “ascended,” because He is a divine person who took his perfected human nature into Heaven by His own power. Mary, though sinless, was “assumed”—taken up!—into Heaven by the power of God.
Jesus is God and Redeemer. Mary is a creature fully redeemed.
Continued below.
www.catholicworldreport.com
It shouldn’t be shocking to me anymore, but it was.
A “professor of public theology” at a Catholic institution criticized another person on social media encouraging people to evangelize. What was the problem? Was he advocating deceitful means? The use of force? Offering people money to convert?
None of these.
This person had posted a handy poster distinguishing between Christ’s Ascension and Mary’s Assumption. The key is that Christ rose by His own power while Mary was raised up by Christ’s power. The distinction is very important, especially in dealing with Protestants who think Catholics consider Mary an independent deity. This misunderstanding is a scandal—a stumbling block—to being open to seeing the fullness of Christianity in Catholic faith. Yet the professor scoffed that “rote memorization of obscure theological factoids unrelated to living a Christian life” has nothing to do with evangelization. “Winning Catholic Jeopardy! won’t bring the Reign of God.”
In a very literal sense, the professor is partially correct. Simply knowing doctrines is not the same as living them. Even believing them true isn’t enough. “You believe that God is one,” St. James writes in his Epistle; “you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder” (James 2:19). But knowing that “God is one” is not a mere obscure factoid for a trivia game.
So, too, the distinction between Our Lord’s Ascension and our Lady’s Assumption, which is built upon the orthodox understanding of who Jesus is. Our Lord rose by his own power, or “ascended,” because He is a divine person who took his perfected human nature into Heaven by His own power. Mary, though sinless, was “assumed”—taken up!—into Heaven by the power of God.
Jesus is God and Redeemer. Mary is a creature fully redeemed.
Continued below.
Theology is not a trivial pursuit
www.catholicworldreport.com
