LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE GIFT OF WISDOM [Part 2]

Resume of the Doctoral Thesis in Theology of Msgr. Joao Scognamiglio Cla Dias, EP (cont'd)


Click here to read Part 1: http://heraldsgospelsinengland.blogspot.com/2011/03/living-example-of-gift-of-wisdom.html

It is easier to experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit than to explain them scientifically, as an emminent theologian affirmed. Monsignor Joao Cla overcame this problem by taking a unique approach to his doctorate in theology.

The Kingdom of God

The thesis begins with a theoretical discussion on grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit, based on the episode of St. Luke’s Gospel in which Jesus answers the Pharisees regarding the coming of the Kingdom of God: “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, He answered them, ‘The Kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say, “Lo, here it is!” or “There!” for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of yoy.” (Lk 17:20-21)
In this simple dialogue there are two implicit contradictory conceptions of the Kingdom of God: the worldly one of the Pharisees, and the completely spiritual one of Jesus. There are in fact two forms of wisdom present here: that of the world and that of the Holy Spirit.

Innocence, the door to wisdom.

After presenting the doctrinal presuppositions on how grace and the gifts of the Holy Spirit operate in souls, as well as the speculative and practical effects of the gift of wisdom, the author proceeds to the biographical information, comparing the principal episodes of the life of Plinio Correa de Oliveira with the theological dovtrine on the gifts of wisdom and mysticism. The narration thus reveals, as in a compendium, the effects of the gift of wisdom in the soul of Dr. Plinio. Contrary to the experience of numerous mystics, who only reached the plenitude of these effects after a long journey of spiritual ascension, in Dr. Plinio, wisdom manifested itself in his earliest childhood, indicating that for him, the gate to wisdom was innocence.

Some contemplative effects of wisdom were especially evident in Dr. Plinio’s visualisation of history; in which, with great perspicacity, he discerned the “footsteps of God” For him, the centre of history was Our Lord Jesus Christ and His mystical spouse, the Holy Church, and the fight between good and evil was the true compass of events. From this basic principle he drew the doctrine exposed in his essay Revolution and Counter-Revolution. Another contemplative effect of wisdom was his school of thought, presenting a notion of the universe under two aspects, like two wings of the spirit: doctrinal and symbolic.. As Dr. Plinio was accustomed to recall, the divine perfections are reflected in the universe constituting a splendid mosaic, which the well-formed soul should know how to interpret and use as a means to raise itself to the Creator.

“Flash” -a movement of the gift of wisdom.

Among the most important elements of Dr. Plinio’s spirituality were the motions of the gift of wisdom, which he called “flashes” because of their similarity to a light that suddenly illuminates the understanding and inflames the will, disposing one to understand certain truths of the Faith, in a virtually evident and pleasing manner, and imparting a great generosity of soul to practice virtue. Reputable theologians verify the existence of this mystical phenomenon,confirming it to be the most sublime grace the soul can receive on this earth. According to Dr Plinio, these mystical graces are bestowed on all the faithful, more often than one might think, and various theologians share this viewpoint. Nevertheless an excessively rationalist formation leads many people to ignore the motions of the Holy Spirit, and the secularization of mentalities persuades them to give credence only to material values and the unbridled pleasures of life.

Ardent charity, discernment of spirits and prophetism.

Some practical effects of wisdom became manifest in Dr. Plinio as fruit of his ardent charity. Zeal for the glory of God acted as the driving force which constantly urged him to to give himself tirelessly to the works of the apostolate, spiritual formation of his followers and unceasing efforts for their perseverance in the vocation. This zeal for the salvation of souls led him to offer himself as a victim to God in 1975, seeking to obtain superabundant graces for the flourishing of the lay movement he founded. The sufferings resulting from a terrible car accident three days later -the after-effects of which prevented him from walking for the rest of his life -were the bloody price he joyfully paid with unbounded generosity.

The charism of discernment of spirits, which made him an unequalled director of souls, as well as the gift of prophetism, were some of the other practical effects of wisdom expressed in his person. His charism of prophetism remains registered in inumerable articles published in O Legionario, the official organ of the Archdiocese of Sao Paulo, and afterwards in other large-circulation periodicals in Brazil, such at the Folha de Sao Paulo.

Blessed are the peacemakers.

According to the common opinion of theologians, the gift of wisdom corresponds to the seventh beatitude: “Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God.” (Mt 5:9) Peace is the tranquillity of order, as St. Augustine teaches. Thus the wise man seeks to establish peace, first within himself, and afterwards around himself, creating conditions for true peace to reign. This was the ideal of Dr. Plinio’s entire existence: the restoration of Order, according to the Law of God, in temporal society. From this also arose this great complexity: not seeing the realisation of his most ardent desire, namely the fulfilment of the promise made by Our Lady in Fatima: “In the end, my Immaculate Heart will triumph.” This would be tantamount to the establishment of the spiritual kingdom of Christ on earth.

Love of the cross and configuration with Christ.

Those who open their soul to wisdom embrace suffering, Dr. Plinio stated. It is through suffering that the Christian becomes more like Christ, and this similarity is the principal and most sublime effect of the gift of wisdom. For the hedonist mentality of modern man, it is difficult to accept this truth, and accept suffering with resignation. This led Dr. Plinio to bring to his followers’ attention the importance of the cross in the process of sanctification: “We must never flee from suffering, as from a ghost, but rather pass through a series of archways of suffering throughout the course of life. They will lead us to the magnificent stained-glass window of death which opens … and then we will see heaven.” This disposition of soul led him to say at the end of his life: “I would die disappointed if I thought I had fled from even one ounce of suffering.”

This conviction in the face of adversity expressed itself above all in Christian resignation with which he confronted his final sickness. Although he had a presentiment of his impending end some months beforehand, even declaring it to some of his collaborators, he did not alter his routine of intense activity, nor did he manifest the symptoms of the disease which sapped his strength, but rather, he continued to march forward with confidence in
Providence towards “that magnificent stained-glass window of death”, certain of seeing heaven after passing through it. All the physical sufferings and interior trials of his final days were endured with a serenity, meekness and dignity that profoundly impressed all who accompanied him in the hospial until the final moment of departure for eternity. Shortly after breathing his last, his physiognomy, until then etched with pain, shone with abgentle smile, revealing a remarkable expression of peace, and confirming the authenticity of what he himself had taught and practiced: “It is a characteristic of oblation that it be made with such goodwill that, at the moment of the consummatum est a smile blossoms.”

His complete conformity with Our Lord Jesus Christ was consummated -the most sublime effect of the gift of wisdom.

[1] Benedict XVI, Speech, 5/12/08

Click here to read Part 1: http://heraldsgospelsinengland.blogspot.com/2011/03/living-example-of-gift-of-wisdom.html

LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE GIFT OF WISDOM [Part 1]

Resume of the Doctoral Thesis in Theology of Msgr. Joao Scognamiglio Cla Dias, EP

To read Part 2 click here: http://heraldsgospelsinengland.blogspot.com/2011/03/living-example-of-gift-of-wisdom-part-2.html

It is easier to experience the gifts of the Holy Spirit than to explain them scientifically, as an emminent theologian affirmed. Monsignor Joao Cla overcame this problem by taking a unique approach to his doctorate in theology.

In his thesis The Gift of Wisdom in the Spirit; Life and Work of Plinio Correa de Oliveira, Msgr. Joao Cla Dias, EP, decided to approach the theme from a unique perspective, by examining the power that the gift of wisdom acquires in one who profoundly lives it, rather than presenting its strictly abstract aspects. Thus the thesis focuses on analysing the action of the Holy Spirit in one of the greatest Catholic leaders of recent time: Plinio Correa de Oliveira, “an important figure in the history of the Brazilian Church,” according to a member of the examination board, Fr. Marcelo Neves.

Maintaining an objective perspective - as members of the examination board affirmed - Msgr. Joao gives his personal testimony regarding the gift of wisdom in Plinio Correa de Oliveira, which forty years of close contact allowed him to observe in detail. “No one could have explained this secret od Dr. Plinio Correa de Oliveira’s life and work with such insight as Msgr. Joao, his son and disciple” attested another examiner Fr. Alberto Ramirez.

Fr Carlos Arboleda highlighted an additional point: the thesis “aims at showing that salvation history is not isolated from human history , that the faith experience does not exclude an existence that interprets and acts upon it.” Consequently, to be more efficacious , theological teaching should provide living examples, making stated truths more tangible.

The need to live out the Faith.

Msgr. Joao Cla portrays and writes with balance and love, and “does the work of a theologian and not merely a narrator,” as Fr. Marcelo Neves notes.

Indeed, while the thesis is strongly biographical in character, it remains within the ambit of authentic theology. In order to produce a masterly and appealing theological work which not only instructs but also inspires the practice of virtue, it is necessary for the author to have lived the truths examined. Either the Faith is lived, or, as St James teaches, it is dead. (cf. Jms 2:14-26)
This important aspect of theological study was noted, in other terms by Pope Benedict XVI in a speech to the members of the International Theological Commission: “From the viewpoint of one who does theology, the fundamental virtue of the theologian is to seek obedience to faith, the faith that opens our eyes. This humility renders the theologian a collaborator of the truth. In this way it will not happen that he speaks of himself. Interiorly purified by obedience to the truth, he will reach, instead, the point that the Truth itself, that the Lord, can speak through the theologian and theology." [1]

The power of St Anthony’s testimony: “I saw Him!”

From the outset, in presenting his thesis defence, Msgr. Joao makes a point of demonstrating that the efficacy of personal testimony is superior to theological arguments alone. In this regard, he recalls how important for the faithful of Alexandria was the example of St Anthony in proclaiming the divinity of Christ, in the fight against the arians. “St Anthony - his thesis states - had mystically seen the divinity of Our Lord. He was a live witness to this truth of Faith. For this reason, he was sought by St Athanasius to come to Alexandria, where countless Christians and heretics gathered in the Basilica to see him. The nonagenarian hermit, whose mere presence imposed respect, sat near the altar while the Archbishop ascended the pulpit and proclaimed the divinity of Our Lord. Suddenly, a voice of protest arose from amidst the crowd. St Anthony was astonished by the unseemly interruption and asked for a translation of the words he had heard, since he did not understand Greek. ‘The Lord - they translated for him - was only a man, created by God and subjected to death and transition.’ St Anthony arose and exclaimed: “I saw Him!” A murmur ran through the naves of the church. On their knees, the faithful cried out: ‘He saw Him! He saw the divinity of Our Lord!, The authoritative voice of this man, for whom the supernatural truth of Christ’s divine nature had become, in effect, evident by virtue of a supernatural vision, was the greatest blow the heresy suffered, more than the splendid and logical doctrine exposed in the Council. This is an example of the value and contribution of a living witness.

Origin of the thesis, the testimony of the author: ‘I saw him!’

After this introduction, Msgr. Joao continues: “Now, mutatis mutandis, it must be declared that this thesis was also born of the author’s witness. “With profound emotion he recalls, in the first chapter of the thesis, the day -March 15, 2005- that he made his profession of Faith at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.

“As the pen moves across the paper in writing these lines, the left hand of the author rests once again on Sacred Scripture; and from the depths of his soul this declaration springs forth, with the same spirit, gravity and consciousness as in the previous oath”
The author solemnly declares that all transcriptions of Dr. Plinio’s words “are faithful to the reality of his expression during that time,” since they were taken directly “from the archive of his conferences, commentaries and conversations, in addition to his writings. If there be any disproportion in my appraisement of him, it would be for having fallen short of his true worth.”

Msgr. Joao goes on to consider the true joy he has had in knowing this treasure of oral and written works which rank among the doctrinal explanations produced by the Holy Church, based on Revelation, over the centuries. Nevertheless, he emphasises, having known “Plinio Correa de Oliveira intimately for forty years,” he was also the recipient of another “very noteworthy” blessing in seeing the “wealth and grandeur” of these doctrines “in a living manner, that is to say, “producing their effects in the soul of a man.”

Therefore, this thesis has been prepared not simply as a discourse of reason, but above all, as a testimony from the depth of the heart, declaring the importance of living example. For the supernatural truths regarding grace and the action of the Holy Spirit is souls -more specifically the gift of wisdom- became a virtually palpable reality for the author in his contact with Dr. Plinio, who was his teacher, leader, model and guide; his father and founder. He could well exclaim, “I saw Him!”

[1] Benedict XVI, Speech, 5/12/08

To read Part 2 click here: http://heraldsgospelsinengland.blogspot.com/2011/03/living-example-of-gift-of-wisdom-part-2.html