My dear Parishioners,

Peace! The first article of the Apostle’s Creed is: I believe in God the Father almighty, creator of Heaven and Earth. There are forty “in brief” statements in The Catechism of the Catholic Church which treat this article of our saving faith. What follows is a reflection on article 415.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church cites the Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes,13) of the Second Ecumenical Council at the Vatican (1962-1965) to the effect that God has: created us; we were holy; we have been seduced by the Evil One; we abuse our liberty; and often we desire things which are either not God or are opposed to God.

Pope John Paul II played a major part in the writing of Gaudium et Spes, as well as ordering the composition and publication of the Catechism (1992 original French edition, 1997 typical Latin edition) and his Wednesday Audiences on the creation of man an woman (including the Fall) in what has become known as the Theology of the Body (1979-1984). Throughout, we are reminded that part of our being “in the image of God” (Genesis 1:26-27: Romans 8:29; 2 Corinthians 3:18) is the original holiness which God established us. This is to remember God’s original intention. Not only can we known and love but we were so good as to be sharers naturally in the very holiness of God to which now we only have access through the grace Christ won for us by His death and resurrection.

In anticipation of the conclusion of the ‘Lord’s Prayer’ where we pray to be delivered ‘from evil’ the Catechism highlights that evil personified is none other than Satan, the devil, the seducer (Revelation 12:9; 2 John 1:7). If only the seductions of sin stopped in the garden, in the beginning of history. We know only too well, by reading the newspaper or turning on the television news or radio (not to mention looking in the mirror) that the glamour of evil still entices.

While above we see some more recent history, a generation of Church teaching on creation and the fall, we ought to be attentive not to forget the earlier parts of history lest we be doomed to repeat the same sorry mistakes made by our forebearers.

When we sin we abuse our free will. That we have free will is not only an article of Faith but also common sense. Did anyone force you to read this? Did anyone force us to pray this morning? While original holiness is part of God’s image in us, so too is free will. When we abuse our free will we disfigure God’s image in us.

When we desire ‘to reach’ our ‘end without God’ it is an abuse of our free will and nonsense as well since God is our ultimate end or goal.

God bless you!
Father John Arthur Orr