Pope Benedict XVI, the current spiritual head of the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, has proclaimed a special Year of Faith, honoring the 50th anniversary of the Second Vatican Council (which opened on October 11, 1962) as well as the 20th anniversary of the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church (promulgated on October 11, 1992). This Year, set to begin October 11, will end next October, and it is the hope of the Holy Father that the Church and all men of good will might draw closer to God and become more faithful, diving into the mysteries of the Faith, and thus come to a closer understanding of the wonders God has done for us. It should be a year of reflection and meditation, of study and of spiritual renewal. It will be, in short, a year of blessings, a year of grace.
In honor of the Year of Faith, I will be offering periodic reflections on the sections of the Creed, the statement of belief which unite Christians. I will focus on the two major creeds of the Church (the Apostles’ Creed and the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, the latter often referred to as the Nicene Creed) using their statements as a springboard for my reflections. My wish, like that of the Holy Father, is to deepen not only my own Faith this year but likewise your own. The purpose of this blog is, after all, to bring the truths of the Faith to those who need to hear it, who yearn for it, who search for it and need a hand in finding it. That is why I am here. I am here for Truth, so essential for a real, firm Faith in God.
That being said, there are many good resources available for those seeking to deepen their faith this year. Besides reading (or maybe even re-reading) the documents of the Second Vatican Council and the Catechism of the Catholic Church, one can examine many of the various websites created in honor of the Year, or read some books pertaining to the truths and mysteries of our Faith. One in particular is http://thecatholicyearoffaith.com. I can vouch for the orthodoxy of the writers there: one of the contributors is my graduate thesis adviser!
Likewise, the Vatican has added a special page on their website devoted ENTIRELY to the Year of Faith. Check it out. And of course, read Pope Benedict’s Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei. It’s short, to the point, and in a real sense beautiful.
And, as always, keep the questions coming. Maybe, while reading all those exciting Council documents or beautiful passages in the Catechism, you might look at something and go “huh, I wonder. . . ”
When that happens, shoot over your questions, and I’ll be happy to answer them, if I can. And, as always, if I can’t answer them, I’ll at least point you in the right direction.
God bless!
Quidquid Est, Est! 
“. . . it is the hope of the Holy Father that the Church and all men of good will might draw closer to God and become more faithful, diving into the mysteries of the Faith, and thus come to a closer understanding of the wonders God has done for us.”
So, there are no hopes for women of good will?
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No, no. “Men of good will” is a phrase that means all well-meaning people. It is no more gender exclusive than the the Christmas song “Good Christian Men Rejoice” or words like “mankind” or “mailman.”
Unfortunately, there will be many men (and many women) who will ignore the suggestion of the Holy Father to draw nearer to the Lord. It is one of the great tragedies of the fallen human race that members of our species have abandoned our Creator. Hopefully, we can salvage what has been lost.
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Humankind. Mail Carrier.
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