Reading? What's that?

Topping off these reflections on the relationship between faith and reason, as inspired by Pope Benedict’s speech in Regensburg, I now want to take a brief look at the question of learning and what it has to do with spirituality and our relationship with God. What good is proper theology to my spirituality?

Last week at a theological symposium here at the seminary, a priest pointed out that our faith is one of encounter. But it’s not about what we encounter, but Who we encounter. And just how can we encounter God if we do not know God?

I believe that it was the great St Anselm who is attributed with the phrase “faith seeking understanding”. “I believe that I may understand.” The further you get into theology, the more you find that you do not know. The deeper I go more and more keeps getting opened up for further inquiry. It’s amazing just how deep this pool is. Is there a bottom? Then again, it is God we are talking about.

The object of theology is a deeper knowledge of God. At the same time, the object of spirituality is a closer relationship with God. If the two ultimately have the same end, how can they be separate? Monsignor Graff, one of the speakers at the recent symposium, said that good theology is good spirituality. The more I learn about the human person, the more I experience the Love of God. The more I learn about the Liturgy, the more I enjoy it and find God. The more I learn about God in general, the more I love Him.

It’s like in any relationship. How can a marriage last if the husband and wife hardly know each other?