The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1959-01-23
JOSEPH BREIC-
Let Our
Light Shine

In those who are truly at peace with God-and
therefore with themselves and their neighbors-- there
is a quality that ], for one, cannot quite capture IN
words. The closest | can come to it is to say that 1t
is as If some source of light and warmth had been
Pope John XIII alluded to this deep subject
when he remarked that Christianity is not mournful,
but joyful. He described the Faith as producing Joy
in order, and in peace with God, with oneself and
with ones n%eighbor."
The Christian who is sour is a kind of contradic-
ton in terms, unless indeed his condition is explained
as it sometimes is-by some physical condition
perhaps a pressure on the brain or a nervous dis
ORDER or by some Circumstance which oveWhelns
him.
NORMALLY, the really good person is filled
with a serene happiness. Pope John, in his Christmas
message, applied this truth to the modern world,
with its black blotches of godlessness and oppression,
which threaten us all with ruin.
The Holy Father begged mankind to achieve
unity and peace and observed that in those two
words could be expressed the essence of all the
Christmas messages of his great predecessor. Plus
XII, through 19 critical years.
With clarity and procession, Pope John directed
our attention to the root thing that is wrong on our
earth-the basic tragedy out of which grows all other
tragedies, all hatreds and determinations and perse-
cutlonS and Wars-everything that prevents us from
establishing a social and international order fit for
us as the children of God.
He cast his eyes across history, and reminds us
that in its very beginning, 't records a bloody cpl
sode: brother killed brother" Thus the law of love,
planted in mans heart by his creator, was torn by
an evil will which led humanity onto the paths of
injustice and disorder"
Pope, John then uttered these moving words:
The only condition on the part Of man for unity
and peace on earth) is good will, which is also a
grace Of God, but must be freely conditioned upon
mans response.
THE lack Of this response Of human freedom
TO Gods call to the service Of His merciful designs
constitutes the most terrible problem Of human his
tory, and Of the lives Of individual men and peoples"
Those of us who have gone through the expert
ence of turning to God and discovering In Him our
Father, Brother and Friend can testify to the truth
Of Pope Johns words.
What God calls us to is emphatically 'the service
of His merciful designs" Allow me to approach this
point in this way: when Stephen Collins Foster, the
immortal composer of such American classics as "My
Old Kentucky Home" was found dead, in his pocket
was a torn envelope on which was written what APP
parently was a line for another of his songs: kind
friends and gentle people"
All the kindness and gentleness of the gocd
people in the world-all fathers and mothers. broth
es and sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers, and
gentleness and kindness of God.
U THIS REFLECTION of Gods goodness is
mans powerhouse of peace for humanity, because if
we will do our little share, God will do His infinite
part. Thus Pope John was able to say that the only
human condition for a world of unity and peace is
our good will.
1t is all gathered up in Christ in the Church.
which carries on Christ's work for the restoration of
mans broken unity. In the Church all differences can
be reconciled to bring about "the peace of Christmas,
the peace of Christ, which so long as it is missing
leaves the world in agony. but when present fills
the heart with eXultation."
Honesty compelled Pope John to recognize that
there are men of "evil intent" who are depressing
the Church and the people behind the iron curtain
and in China. But this wickedness can be overcome
bv our goodness, under Gods blessing, if we will get
at it. Then the warmth and light will be turned on
all around the earth.