History is full of men who have claimed that they came from God, or that they were gods, or that they bore messages from God–Buddha, Mohammed, Confucius, Christ, Lao-tze, and thousands of others, right down to the person who founded a new religion this very day. Each of them has a right to be heard and considered. But as a yardstick is external to and outside of whatever is to be measured and needed, so there must be some permanent tests available to all men, all civilizations, and all ages, by which they can decide whether any one of these claimants, or all of them, are justified in their claims. These tests are of two kinds: reason and history. Reason, because everyone has it, even those without faith: history, because everyone lives in it and should know something about it.
–Fulton Sheen, Life of Christ
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I have not checked the status of Archbishop Sheen’s beatification process lately but I know it’s moving forward. About time! Thanks for sharing his thoughts with us today.
You are welcome. This is one of my favorite books! I read it before I even knew anything about the Archbishop. Both swept up in its divine truth and love AND scared at the same time because he definitely challenges you to get out of the cafeteria and to take Jesus seriously. Thank you for stopping by Bitrix. Working on the award you gave me earlier this week right now. God bless!
Ah! The opening to Life of Christ, my most favorite book by far. The Angel’s Blackboard was the first book of AB Sheen’s I read. Christianity generally, Catholicism specifically, is deep in history and reason. Our God is one who is reasonable and knowable, unlike the god of Islam or other faiths (not trying to pick on them). Why would God not make us capable of getting to know Him? And what better way could He have done that than to announce His coming through the prophets, come in the flesh, and bind Himself up with the sinful flesh of mankind so every soul might attain to heaven! The Holy Spirit still speaks to us to this day through prayer and the Mass and through individuals like Sheen and Pope John Paul II. God bless you.
I haven’t heard of “The Angel’s Blackboard,” but I did read “Seven Words of Jesus and Mary.” Awesome, especially for Lent! But Life of Christ, I tend to go back to again and again. Thanks for stopping by, Catholic1! God bless…