Categories: spiritual-writings, other-churches
Date: 31 December 2007 02:05:34
As expressed in Pope Benedict XVI's Spe Salvi enyclical. He is writing about hope in the context of judgement, and with particular reference to prayers said for those who have already departed this life. I know some Christians may not hold to this as part of their faith, but I found it a useful meditation on hope in general.
May the Blessed Trinity grant peace, love, joy and hope to you all, and those you love and pray for, in 2008. A blessed New Year to all.
48. ...we should recall that no man is an island, entire of itself. Our lives are involved with one another, through innumerable interactions they are linked together. No one lives alone. No one sins alone. No one is saved alone. The lives of others continually spill over into mine: in what I think, say, do and achieve. And conversely, my life spills over into that of others: for better and for worse. So my prayer for another is not something extraneous to that person, something external, not even after death. In the interconnectedness of Being, my gratitude to the other—my prayer for him—can play a small part in his purification. And for that there is no need to convert earthly time into God's time: in the communion of souls simple terrestrial time is superseded. It is never too late to touch the heart of another, nor is it ever in vain. In this way we further clarify an important element of the Christian concept of hope. Our hope is always essentially also hope for others; only thus is it truly hope for me too. As Christians we should never limit ourselves to asking: how can I save myself? We should also ask: what can I do in order that others may be saved and that for them too the star of hope may rise? Then I will have done my utmost for my own personal salvation as well.