Pastor's Corner, October 13, 2013

Dear Parishioners and Friends, 
Today I begin a series on Pope Francis’ new encyclical Lumen Fidei (“The Light of Faith”). As the titled indicates, it is a profound meditation on the all-important virtue of faith. 
 The Holy Father begins his letter by pointing out that the Church speaks of faith in terms of light. Jesus himself says that he has come as light into the world (cf. John 12: 46). The light of faith is even better than the sun for faith can cast light “on all of human existence” (LF, 1). 
 In our world some see faith as simply an illusory light which prevents man from “setting out in quest of knowledge” (LF, 2). But reason alone, the Church teaches, is not enough to answer all the questions that confront the human heart, especially questions about the future. 
 Faith, “born of an encounter with the living God” (LF, 4) is capable of guiding us through the journey of life, answering our questions, and becoming a star for the future. It is a virtue that is like a mother who gives birth to divine life in us and a gift that “lights up our way to the future, and enables us joyfully to advance along the way on wings of hope” (LF, 7). 
In Christ, 
Msgr. Baker