The Church as our guard rail

Recently we were talking in a formation session about The Ascent of Carmel by St John of the Cross.  He begins in a Prologue by saying that he writes in obedience to the teachings of Holy Mother Church.  There is a prudential element here, since he wants to make it clear to the hierarchy that he is writing as a faithful Catholic and not as an advocate of heresy or doctrinal innovation - but I think there is more to it than that. Some modern exponents of ‘mysticism’ get excited about John and Teresa as if they were individualists with special insights that made them impatient with the constraints of Catholic dogma, but that would have horrified these wonderful saints.  For them, the journey into God is a journey into the Church as well as a journey into the self.  And the Church is our guide on that journey.  It’s a false concept of freedom that pits the individual spiritual adventurer against the Church and her teachings as if those teachings were a barrier to be overcome.  These teachings are not an obstacle but a guard rail for us to cling onto for support and guidance in our spiritual adventure. 

Intercessions:

Brian Davis – cancer

Marie, Bernard (and wife Angela) - cancer

Siena, Elara – sick children

Wojtek – massive heart attack leaving him incapacitated

David - housebound

Sophia – blind infant