Courtney McGrail
Pope Francis’ first encyclical, Lumen Fidei (The Light of Faith), which he said is largely the work of retired Pope Benedict XVI, was published in July, 2013.
Francis points out early in the encyclical that there is an “urgent need” to address the current crisis of faith, “to see once again that faith is a light, for once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim”.
“The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence,” he said.
An encyclical on faith was long expected as the last volume in Pope Benedict’s trilogy on the three theological virtues, following his encyclicals Deus Caritas Est (2005) on charity, and Spe Salvi (2007) on hope.
Addressed to “the bishops, priests and deacons, consecrated persons and the lay faithful”, Lumen Fidei deals extensively with the origins of faith, as well as its transmission and its relevance in the world.
“Faith is necessarily ecclesial; it is processed from within the body of Christ as a concrete communion of believers.”
“Today more than ever, we need to be reminded of this bond between faith and truth, given the crisis of truth in our age.”
“The light of faith is unique, since it is capable of illuminating every aspect of human existence.”
“Faith is not a private matter, a completely individualistic notion or a personal opinion: it comes from hearing, and it is meant to find expression in words and to be proclaimed.”
“Once the flame of faith dies out, all other lights begin to dim.”
“The clearest proof of the reliability of Christ’s love is to be found in his dying for our sake.”
“If lying down one’s life for one’s friends is the greatest proof of love, Jesus offered his own life for all, even his enemies, to transform their hearts.”
“Faith does not merely gaze at Jesus, but sees things as Jesus himself sees them, with his own eyes: it is a participation in his way of seeing things.”
“Christian faith is faith in the resurrection; it is faith in a God who is so close to us that he entered our human history.”“Faith in Christ brings salvation because in him our lives become radically open to a love that precedes us, a love that transforms us from within, acting in us and through us.”
“Those who believe are transformed by the love to which they have opened their hearts in faith.”