Does Francis imitate Rahner?

Introduction to the Devout Life
Part Five
English Speaking Group - 13 January 2006
(Selina, Sebastian, John)

In this last section of Filotea, we especially enjoyed St. Francis’ image of God meditating upon our meditation! What an intimate view of God and God’s desire and initiative in our path toward holiness. This last section certainly departs with this emphasis on the warmth and closeness of God and motivated by this, Francis outlines methods for checking one’s personal change and growth along the way. He repeats the practical suggestions of earlier sections and refers to earlier steps cautioning the pilgrim to move with purpose. He cautions that one must not rush, but the pace must not drag to the point that the process is undermined. His images are rich and he connects back to the powerful images of the Canticle of Canticles -- images which will return again and again in such persons as Juan de a Cruz and Karl Rahner -- the images of God luring a boat, wrapping us up and pulling him to himself.

We were uncomfortable with the use of the term “protestation” but we understood that its use here in the English translation is not the same term we might associate with this word. We believe that it is meant more as “resolution” or “resolve.” Perhaps it refers to “pronouncement” or “conviction.”

But whatever the term, the conclusion of this journey is profound: God’s love is unique and personal to the individual and his reach is as personal and individual as the person is unique and matches the needs and station in life for that person at any given time. The synthesis, however, is profound as well. God knows and reaches us intimately and personally only to raise us to communal awareness and responsibility in reaching for holiness. This is not a self-ish “me and God” affair, though it is profoundly personal.

John

Karl Rahner