(23 Jun 10 β RV) It is not foolish to have faith in God, on the contrary it is reasonable,
because, as St Thomas Aquinas taught, human intelligence is limited and cannot know
everything. For a third week Pope Benedict XVI dedicated his Wednesday audience to
the Angelic Doctor, in particular to his master work in theology, the βSumma Theologiaeβ.
In
comments in Italian the Pope said : βTo those who object that faith is foolish because
it makes us believe something that does not enter into the experience of the senses,
St. Thomas offers a very detailed response, claiming that this is an inconsistent
objection because human intelligence is limited and cannot know everything".
The
Pope said "In his 'Summa' St. Thomas starts from the fact that God exists in three
different ways: God exists in Himself, He is the principle and end of all things,
so all creatures come from and depend upon Him. Secondly, God is present through His
Grace in the life and activity of Christians, of the saints. Finally, God is present
in a very special way in the person of Christ, and in the Sacraments which derive
from His work of redemption".
The Holy Father went on: "What St. Thomas explained
with academic rigour in his main theological works such as the ' Summa Theologica'
was also expressed in his preaching", the content of which "corresponds almost in
its entirety to the structure of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Indeed, in
a time such as our own of renewed commitment to evangelisation, catechism and preaching
must never lack the following fundamental themes: what we believe, i.e., the Creed;
what we pray, i.e., the Our Father and the Ave Maria; and what we live as biblical
revelation teaches us, i.e., the law of the love of God and neighbour and the Ten
Commandments".
"In his brief 'Devotissima expositio super symbolum apostolorum',
St. Thomas explains the importance of faith. Through it, he says, the soul is united
to God, ... life is given a clear direction and we can easily overcome temptations.
To those who object that faith is foolish because it makes us believe something that
does not enter into the experience of the senses, St. Thomas offers a very detailed
response, claiming that this is an inconsistent objection because human intelligence
is limited and cannot know everything.
"Only if we were able to have perfect
knowledge of all things visible and invisible would it be foolish to accept truth
out of pure faith", said the Pope. "Moreover, as St. Thomas observes, it is impossible
to live without entrusting ourselves to the experience of others, when our personal
knowledge does not extend far enough. Thus it is reasonable to have faith in God Who
reveals Himself, and in the witness of the Apostles".