In the Eternal City, on Sunday January 8th the cycle of the meetings titled: The power and beauty of faith based on the John Paul II catechesis about Credo, was inaugurated. The John Paul II Foundation – The Centre for Research and Documentation of the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II and the chaplaincy by the St. Stanislaus B. & M. Polish Church organized the cycle. The series of lectures and discussions constitute a preparation to the announced Year of the Faith.
Prelate Pawel Ptasznik welcomed all guests gathered in the John Paul II auditorium by the St. Stanislaus B. & M. Church (via delle Botteghe Oscure 15). He pointed out that the time after the beatification provides a great opportunity to focus more on His teachings.
The main lecture was titled: Put out into deep! John Paul II’s theology of faith. Rev. Dr. Andrzej Dobrzynski, Director of the Centre for Research and Documentation of the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II in Rome introduced the issue of an act of faith as the acceptance of Revelation, which is preserved and communicated by the Church and also as our entrust to God. John Paul II was developing these two ideas in His catechesis, emphasizing the role of intellect in learning the God’s existence and in deepening the faith as well as the role of human will and the role of the heart. Faith is a grace – God’s gift and virtue.
Faith is also a response to the problems of the modern world; therefore, it should shape the consciousness and moral attitudes of people. Blessed John Paul II was not only a teacher of the faith, but also a guide and a witness. Faith permeated and shaped every aspect of His personality and life. To walk on that path, you have to put out into the deep faith, to learn the faith of the Church, so that it could become the light and power in the personal and social life.
After the lecture, there was an opportunity to discuss and share with others our own observations. The relation of faith to science and to the suffering as well as doubts that are related with the living faith was discussed.
The next meeting will be held on February 5th. Rev. Dariusz Kowalczyk SJ, professor at the Gregorian University in Rome will give the lecture on God the Creator and Merciful Father.
Info: The Centre for Research and Documentation of the Pontificate of Pope John Paul II