For Pope Francis, legalism makes Christians stupid. [CNA]

[CNA_News]

Vatican City, Oct 6, 2016 / 02:58 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- The Holy Spirit is the “great gift” of God the Father who helps us avoid the stupidities of a legalistic faith while leading us forward in Christian life, Pope Francis has said.

“May the Lord give us this grace: to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit, so that we will not become stupid, bewitched men and women who sadden the Holy Spirit,” the Pope remarked in his homily at morning Mass at Casa Santa Martha Oct. 6.

He provided several questions for the faithful to examine their spiritual lives:

“Is my life a continual prayer to open myself to the Holy Spirit, so that He can carry me forward with the joy of the Gospel and make me understand the teaching of Jesus, the true doctrine that does not bewitch, that does not make us stupid, but the true (teaching)?”

“Do I ignore the Holy Spirit?” he asked. “And do I know that if I go to Sunday Mass, if I do this, if I do that, is it enough?”

“Is my life a kind of half a life, lukewarm, that saddens the Holy Spirit, and doesn’t allow that power in me to carry me forward, to be open?” he added.

The Pope said that continual prayer to open ourselves to the Holy Spirit “helps us understand where our weaknesses are, those things that sadden Him; and it carries us forward, and also carries forward the Name of Jesus to others and teaching the path of salvation.”

Full article…

 

[1Lord1Faith]

The true teaching…mistaken by Catholics and Protestants alike.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

I come from a liberal Anglican tradition, so legalism isn’t discussed much in our pulpits or around our tables. Inclusion, yes. Christ-like loving-kindness, yes. Legalism, no.

I would be curious to hear from people here if legalism is a part of YOUR discussions. To me, it has a negative connotation, but sometimes on CAF, people are very insistent that one must follow the legalities of the Church in order to be in good standing, chastising those who do not.

Am I undestanding what the Pope means by this term (and practice)? And perhaps what many on CAF mean?

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I come from a liberal Anglican tradition, so legalism isn’t discussed much in our pulpits or around our tables. Inclusion, yes. Christ-like loving-kindness, yes. Legalism, no.

I would be curious to hear from people here if legalism is a part of YOUR discussions. To me, it has a negative connotation, but sometimes on CAF, people are very insistent that one must follow the legalities of the Church in order to be in good standing, chastising those who do not.

Am I undestanding what the Pope means by this term (and practice)? And perhaps what many on CAF mean?

I haven’t really heard it preached about per se. But a homily will often emphasize charity over law.

The Pope is using the term ‘legalistic faith’ with a negative connotation attached to it.

Yes, there are some on CAF who are legalistic.

 

[porthos11]

I haven’t really heard it preached about per se. But a homily will often emphasize charity over law.

The Pope is using the term ‘legalistic faith’ with a negative connotation attached to it.

Yes, there are some on CAF who are legalistic.

On the flip side, “legalistic” is also thrown at faithful Catholics who are actually in fact just obedient.

 

[JimG]

I’ve never heard a homily on legalism. But I wonder: Are the 10 Commandments legalistic? Should canon lawyers be faulted for following canon law? Is a Catholic who abides by divine law too legalistic? Should we be more inclined to disregard law rather than follow it?

 

[ComplineSanFran]

But I wonder: Are the 10 Commandments legalistic? Should canon lawyers be faulted for following canon law? Is a Catholic who abides by divine law too legalistic? Should we be more inclined to disregard law rather than follow it?

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

If we look at who the legalists were (or were portrayed) in the Gospels, the Pharisees were the keepers of the ‘canon law’ as it were. And they were absolutely committed to their role, challenging those who did not follow Halachah. Rightfully so.

So where did that leave Jesus and his disciples when people were healed on the Sabbath? Or when they gathered food from the fields?

They were cornered and derided by the legalists.

So who are the Pharisees - the legalists - of today? Who are the people the Pope are speaking against?

 

[JimG]

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

If we look at who the legalists were (or were portrayed) in the Gospels, the Pharisees were the keepers of the ‘canon law’ as it were. And they were absolutely committed to their role, challenging those who did not follow Halachah. Rightfully so.

So where did that leave Jesus and his disciples when people were healed on the Sabbath? Or when they gathered food from the fields?

They were cornered and derided by the legalists.

So who are the Pharisees - the legalists - of today? Who are the people the Pope are speaking against?

Speaking as a former government bureaucrat, I am convinced that the Pharisees of the present day are not the canon lawyers, but the government bureaucrats. They are the ones laying heavy burdens on people while not lifting a finger to help them. “Sorry ma’am; that’s just the way the regulation reads. We can’t help you.”

 

[1Lord1Faith]

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

If we look at who the legalists were (or were portrayed) in the Gospels, the Pharisees were the keepers of the ‘canon law’ as it were. And they were absolutely committed to their role, challenging those who did not follow Halachah. Rightfully so.

So where did that leave Jesus and his disciples when people were healed on the Sabbath? Or when they gathered food from the fields?

They were cornered and derided by the legalists.

So who are the Pharisees - the legalists - of today? Who are the people the Pope are speaking against?

The Pope is not talking about clergy or canon lawyers. He is referring to Catholics who point their finger accusing other Catholics of mortal sin. Catholics are not supposed to do that. But some do it because they lack a theological understanding of Catholicism which always holds conscience, intention, charity above law. If canon law and the CCC are read carefully that is evident.

 

[GEddie]

What was meant by legalism?

 

[LiamQ]

What was meant by legalism?

An over-reliance on works rather than on grace.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

What was meant by legalism?

A Catholic who has never missed Sunday mass because they think they will go to hell if they do. All the while, running people over on the way to mass. Gossiping about so and so who missed mass last week.

They just follow Catholic obligations without understanding why they are doing it, thus completely missing the mark.

The Pope is trying to admonish these people, however charitably.

 

[ComplineSanFran]

A Catholic who has never missed Sunday mass because they think they will go to hell if they do. All the while, running people over on the way to mass. Gossiping about so and so who missed mass last week.

They just follow Catholic obligations without understanding why they are doing it, thus completely missing the mark.

The Pope is trying to admonish these people, however charitably.

Possibly. If you think of the Pharisees, though, they followed Jewish law very devoutly.

 

[abucs]

Look, here we are again. Does anyone know what the pope is talking about when he says legalistic faith?

Has anyone heard their priest praise our faith as a legalistic faith?

Has anyone ever heard a Catholic argue that what our church really needs is more legalism?

How many of the faithful were made saints because of their legalism?

The one thing that i really don’t like about the pope is that he seems to follow the political correct problem of pretending their is an enemy out there to vanquish.

If the pope wants to talk about being open to the holy spirit and carrying the joy of the gospel forward then fantastic.

Why does he have to then attach it to a vague criticism of unknown people that just leaves everyone scratching their heads or imagining there must be lots of “legalistic” Catholics out there, whatever that is.

I pray that the pope be open to the holy spirit leading him to clarity with respect to his communications.

 

[abucs]

I would humbly ask the pope to clarify what legalism is by giving examples. Should i not baptise my children because it is legalistic. Should i not go to mass on Sunday because it is legalistic? If the pope is saying that i should do these things but i need to do more then yes, fantastic. But that is not a criticising of legalism but a request to go beyond it. The reporting of the popes words comes across as a criticism of legalism (whatever that is) and people are left to fill in the blanks.

If there are people out there just going through the motions of the Catholic faith in some ‘legalistic’ way and the pope wants to encourage and teach them that there is so much more in the Catholic faith then fantastic. But why disparage them with the tag ‘stupid’?

In charity you don’t encourage Catholics by disparaging them, surely?

Because i believe the pope is a good and holy man i cannot think that he intends to be disparaging in his encouragement. Thus i am left with thinking that he is unfortunately following the pc practice of imagining an enemy that is not there.

His witness and encouragement would be so much more powerful without these undefined vague imagined enemies.

Other than this one criticism i value the pope’s witness and his dedication in performing such a difficult vocation. God bless Francis.

 

[Origen52]

Perhaps. Perhaps not.

If we look at who the legalists were (or were portrayed) in the Gospels, the Pharisees were the keepers of the ‘canon law’ as it were. And they were absolutely committed to their role, challenging those who did not follow Halachah. Rightfully so.

So where did that leave Jesus and his disciples when people were healed on the Sabbath? Or when they gathered food from the fields?

They were cornered and derided by the legalists.

So who are the Pharisees - the legalists - of today? Who are the people the Pope are speaking against?

So why does the church have canon law if to follow it makes one a legalistic Pharisee? Which laws can be ignored? Can I decide I’d like to ignore the pope?

 

[fin]

I understand why I’m doing it.

I love God and want to obey Him.

It’s also called the Ten Commandments, not the Ten Suggestions.

Instead of encouraging good behavior, it seems that he is resorting to insults with terms like stupid.

I guess Catholics who choose not to follow Church teachings are so much more intelligent. No wonder people are leaving the faith.

They just follow Catholic obligations without understanding why they are doing it, thus completely missing the mark.

 

[abucs]

Instead of encouraging good behavior, it seems that he is resorting to insults with terms like stupid.

I understand the exasperation but i think he is encouraging good behaviour, just in a way that doesn’t seem profitable or in line with his good character.

Perhaps it is a function to some degree of who he is talking to and how the reporting is emphasised. I hope so anyway.

I guess Catholics who choose not to follow Church teachings are so much more intelligent. No wonder people are leaving the faith.

Yes, i think you summed up my concern also.

 

[graciew]

Corresponds to the day of the homily.

Thursday, 06 October 2016

Thursday of the Twenty-seventh week in Ordinary Time

Saint(s) of the day : St. Bruno, Priest (c. 1030-1101)

Letter to the Galatians 3:1-5.
O stupid Galatians! Who has bewitched you, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
I want to learn only this from you: did you receive the Spirit from works of the law, or from faith in what you heard?
**Are you so stupid? **After beginning with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh?
Did you experience so many things in vain?–if indeed it was in vain.
Does, then, the one who supplies the Spirit to you and works mighty deeds among you do so from works of the law or from faith in what you heard?

Here is a link to where his daily meditations at St Martha can be found.

news.va/en/sites/reflections

Here is an older homily about legalism too.

lastampa.it/2014/01/14/vaticaninsider/eng/the-vatican/francis-message-to-christians-let-us-not-be-legalists-hypocrites-or-corrupt-1x14i287FGpNJglBJ6AhmN/pagina.html

Hope it helps.

 

[Paganus]

It is very unfortunate that the text of the entire homily was not linked. Context can be very helpful in understanding precisely what was intended. It seems uncharitable to call members of the Catholic Church “stupid, bewitched men and women”, but perhaps it is a poor English translation of the original remarks.

I am not sure what the Holy Father intends with the term that was translated to English as “legalism”. Understanding the intended definition of terms used by the Holy Father seems to be a persistent problem, as judged by the USCCB respondents to Amoris Laetitae, who recently requested guidance on the meaning of the terms “discernment, integration, gradualness, conscience, and mercy” as used within that Apostolic Exhortation. There might be a similar opportunity with this homily where a clear defining of terms may be necessary to fully unpack the intended meaning of the remarks.