Father Nicolas Schwizer
# 176 – January 1st, 2016
Free
The aim of the Christian is to go toward sanctity more
resolutely, bravely and without excuses. We should all strive toward the
highest degree possible of sanctity. Nevertheless, I believe that many of us
are still very far from this goal.
It is hard to renounce so many things…..habits, likes
and comforts which have become obstacles on our going toward perfection. It is
hard to give ourselves without reserve to the Virgin Mary and to God.
What seemed possible to fulfill in moments of
religious sentiment and enthusiasm, now seems impossible in everyday life. But
in spite of everything, we cannot and do not want to renounce these high ideals
which God has placed in our hearts.
It seems to me that to advance more on this way, we
have to make our own a fundamental attitude: the spirit of freedom.
If we do not live that spirit faithfully, if we do not
cultivate it permanently, sooner or later, we are destined to fail in our
striving. But if we live it, we are showing modern man the footprint which
leads to sanctity, because contemporary man not only has an enormous desire for
freedom.
Today’s man has to also live amidst the world with a
minimum of exterior attachments.
Our Father and Founder says that freedom is a primary
instinct of human nature. And the reason for it is that man was made in the
image and likeness of God. And God is the Being most free.
Freedom, therefore, is one of our greatest values, root
of our dignity and personal greatness. It is like the nucleus of our
personality.
We can use it for the good or for the bad. God’s
greatest risk is having given us freedom, the motive for so much evil in our
world.
I believe we should have an immense respect before
God’s pedagogy. He knows how many millions of men abuse their freedom. And
nevertheless, He allows it so that some of them may decide freely for Him. His
joy are those human beings who use that gift well. Therefore, Father Kentenich,
founder of the Schoenstatt Movement, can say that freedom in the fullest sense
is perfect sanctity.
Freedom is the ability for
decision and fulfillment. What does Father Kentenich understand by freedom? Of course, it is not
simply doing whatever one wants to do according to whims or personal fancy. Neither
does it mean an absolute lack of attachments. What interests Father Kentenich
is not exterior freedom, but inner freedom, the freedom of hearts. He usually
gives, according to context or circumstances, descriptions or definitions of
that inner freedom.
One of them says thus: Freedom is the ability to decide freely and to freely fulfill what has
been decided.
Knowing how to decide for myself and fulfilling that decision
against all obstacles is not easy in today’s world. Because it means, often,
swimming against the current, thinking differently from the others, acting against
the norms of the majority.
It demands valor and independence, to have and to
defend my own opinion before a mass-man society. It is not easy today to think
and to act freely and autonomously. It is much more comfortable to go along
with what the majority thinks, feels and does. Freedom is a sublime gift, but
also an extraordinarily difficult task.
Question for reflection
Do I consider myself free from the
opinions of others regarding my person?
If you wish to subscribe, comment on
the text or give your testimony, write to: cantu_carlos@hotmail.com
Translation: Carlos Cantú, Schoenstatt
Family Federation, La Feria, Texas USA 01/01/2016
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