Joy of Faith
As we continue to explore St. Francis de Sales’ understanding of faith as he expressed it in his Treatise on the Love of God, keep in mind that this saint possessed a general spiritual disposition of optimism, which will be reflected in the following excerpts from Book 3, Chapter 9.
Joy , or anticipated joy, predominates!
St. Francis de Sales wrote, “But when our spirit, raised above natural light, begins to see the sacred truths of faith, O God! what joy! The soul melts with pleasure, hearing the voice of her heavenly spouse, whom she finds more sweet and delicious then the honey of all human sciences. “
St. Francis de Sales leads us to the goal of faith as quickly as he can- the beatific vision of God in heaven, to demonstrate the power and deep joy of faith, even over knowledge. Having a clear goal in sight gives us the energy to engage in the processes of reaching that goal, and in the case of spiritual realities, that process contains the beliefs that faith engenders within us.
He continued,“God has imprinted upon all created things his traces, trail, or footsteps, so that the knowledge we have of his divine Majesty by creatures seems no other thing than the sight of the feet of God, while in comparison of this, faith is a view of the very face of the divine Majesty. This we do not yet see in the clear day of glory, but as it were in the breaking of day; as it happened to Jacob near to the ford of Jaboc; for though he saw not the angel with whom he wrestled, save in the weak light of daybreak, yet this was enough to make him cry out, ravished with delight: I have seen God face to face, and my soul has been saved.
The synod on the new evangelization that began this week with the Bishops in Rome presented as an initial theme the relationship of faith and science. (http://www.catholicnews.com/data/stories/cns/1204196.htm)
In fact, Archbishop Nikola Eterovic, secretary-general of the Synod of Bishops, said organizers of the synod are concentrating on how “a renewed dynamism in the church” can attract those who have “strayed” from God and help them “rediscover the joy of faith.” That’s why St. Francis still speaks to us today; his insights and his joyful optimism remain valid and life-giving. 400 years ago, he was already taking the same approach as our Bishops today.
St. Francis expounded, “O! how delightful is the holy light of faith, by which we know, with an unequalled certitude, not only the history of the beginning of creatures, and their true use, but even that of the eternal birth of the great and sovereign divine Word, for whom and by whom all has been made, and who with the Father and the Holy Ghost is one only God, most singular, most adorable, and blessed for ever and ever! Amen. Ah! says S. Jerome to his Paulinus: “The learned Plato never knew this, the eloquent Demosthenes was ignorant of it.” How sweet are thy words, O Lord, to my palate, said that great king, more than honey to my mouth! Was not our burning within us, whilst he spoke in the way? said those happy pilgrims of Emmaus, speaking of the flames of love with which they were touched by the word of faith. But if divine truths be so sweet, when proposed in the obscure light of faith, O God, what shall they be when we shall contemplate them in the light of the noonday of glory! “
St Francis de Sales also contended that our souls find more pleasure in the sacred truths of faith than in the honey of the human sciences and that knowledge shows us God’s feet, as it were, where faith shows us his face, even though both obscurely.
The knowledge derived from faith becomes much more certain and more complete. Why? Because it touches the deepest reality that THERE IS –God Himself.
St Francis de Sales suggests to us the possibilities of ecstasies, raptures and abysses of delight when we actually reach our goal of heaven and see what we have thus far only believed.
Reflection/Sharing:
What is your experience of joy in your faith?
What do you think has prevented you from feeling that joy at times?
How would you explain, demonstrate or share your experience of joy in faith to a non-believer?