We humans are naturally risk averse. In other words, we prefer our comfort zones to going out on a limb and taking risks in life that make us uncomfortable.

It’s not a surprise because even the phrase going out on a limb implies a bad result. When you get to the end of the limb, they break or you fall. Either way you hit the ground with a thud.

Think of the person who wants to pick a beautiful red rose. He first needs to brave the thorns.

But, taking risks in our faith is extremely important. All the great leaders and saints in the Christian traditions have realized this. Jesus himself took great risks that ultimately led to his death and resurrection for our sins. St. Francis reformed the Church through his risks. John XXIII took a risk with the Second Vatican Council. Even today, Pope Francis is showing a risky faith can create controversy.

Our faith is sometimes risky. We may have to stand up for it in ways that make us fundamentally or unpopular. Or maybe our beliefs will end up losing us friends or money or influence. Faith is always a risk or at least it should be.

Sadly, in many cases faith isn’t even a real risk. Being a squishy Christian isn’t really risk. Going with the flow poses no threats. But, is that a real faith? Or is a real faith one that goes out on a limb frequently to find new and creative ways to serve God?

In this way, Pope Francis is a role model. He has already changed many conventions, but has also won over detractors and others who fail to see the love and compassion of Christ in the Catholic Church. So, by taking risks he’s furthering God’s kingdom.

So, go out and start taking more risks in your faith. I think you’ll find it’ll strengthen your faith and increase your success in building God’s kingdom.

I am normally ruled by reason.  Of course, this is the eminently Christian way of life, understood in the venerable and ancient tradition of the masters of philosophy: reason, being the highest faculty and that which distinguishes man from other creatures, is inherently superior to emotion, and indeed should direct it.

It is commonly considered a “fault” (by those who live “unexamined lives”) when one is not always and entirely emotional, guiding himself by how he feels and, of course, how others may feel about what he does.  What a mess this unfortunate misdirection has made of our world.  I need not give examples.

However, on this most holy day, as I find also true on many of the Church’s finest Holy Days, I am also directed by my passions.  Not often can it truly be considered manly to weep; yet I would find a man who cannot weep upon meditation on the Passion of our Lord to be incomplete, as a man and as a Christian.  This is not to say that he must let forth the dew from the heavens every time he thinks of our Lord suffering for his sins – only that he should be able to.

I do not weep because I feel sorrow for Him – He is sufficiently able to bear that burden, even though it be so great as to contain the weight of all of the sins of mankind.  My passion is rather because His Passion makes patent the marvel of His love for us – for me, wretched and abominable sinner that I am.  But still, I weep not in loathing for myself; by God’s grace I am not capable of this sort of self hatred.  Rather, I weep with that rare mixture of sorrow and joy at the magnificent beauty of His mercy, which caused Him to take my place of suffering for all of my ingratitude and selfishness.

The Scholastic view of sentiment is that it should never direct action alone; but when one has the habit of action according to reason, sentiment will be more fully integrated into man’s thought and action.  According to the Catechism,

(1769) In the Christian life, the Holy Spirit himself accomplishes his work by mobilizing the whole being, with all its sorrows, fears and sadness, as is visible in the Lord’s agony and passion. In Christ human feelings are able to reach their consummation in charity and divine beatitude.

(1767) Moral perfection consists in man’s being moved to the good not by his will alone, but also by his sensitive appetite, as in the words of the psalm: “My heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.”

The integrated Christian, therefore, does not fear such sentiment as proceeds from and leads to the good.  May all of our thoughts and feelings during this Triduum and the following solemnities lead us to the perfection of grace in this life and the Life of eternity.

Anima Christi, sanctifica me.
Corpus Christi, salva me.
Sanguis Christi, inebria me.
Aqua lateris Christi, lava me.

Passio Christi, conforta me.
O Bone Iesu, exaudi me.
Intra Tua vulnera, absconda me.
Ne permittas me separari ad Te.

Ab hoste maligno defende me.
In hora mortis meae voca ma
et iube me venire ad Te
ut cum Sanctis Tuis laudem Te
in saecula saeculorum.  Amen.

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from the side of Christ, wash me.

Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O Good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Never permit me to be separated from Thee.

From the evil enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me
and bid me come unto Thee
that with Thy Saints I may praise Thee
forever and ever.  Amen.

American Catholics are no longer bound by pain of sin to abstain from meat every Friday of the year, but we are exhorted to some type of penitential act on Fridays (see this article for a discussion of the issue). One of the things I do in the classroom is to say extra prayers on Fridays. For example, during Easter we recited the Regina Caeli together, which is not a part of our  normal prayers. Besides introducing the students to an important element of Catholic culture, Marian antiphons, the practice provides a good chance to discuss, and participate in, Friday penance.

I find that most students eventually understand why we are penitential on Friday. It is  because that is the day Jesus was crucified and died. He made a sacrifice for us, so we make some sort of sacrifice to participate in his sacrifice. However, we live in a culture that doesn’t value sacrifice, but instead, values satisfying every material, financial, emotional, sexual, etc, desire that comes along. Yet, such a mentality seems to not be making people any happier. While I am sure most Americans don’t make the connection, but a little sacrifice may have prevented this recent financial meltdown, and understanding true sacrifice may help alleviate the meaninglessness that seems to pervade society these days. At first, many students, especially the non-Catholics, find Friday penance foreign, but eventually they are the ones reminding me that it is Friday and thus we need to do our penance. This could be a function of habit, but it could be that we all know deep down that sacrifice provides meaning, and acts as a counter to the “do what you feel” culture around us.