ANGELUS: THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FAITH AND REASON

VATICAN CITY, SEP 12, 1999 (VIS) - Prior to praying the angelus today from Castelgandolfo, the Pope remarked that, in many parts of the world, school starts this month. He reminded teachers and students that one year ago he signed the Encyclical "'Fides et Ratio' ... which deals with the relationship between faith and reason, a decisive theme for culture and for existence itself."
"The path of reason," he stated, "goes, so to speak, from the world to God the creator." By contrast, "in knowing faith, the process goes rather from God to the world: God wished to manifest Himself in history, with a language and message which go well beyond that of creation. This revelation, made through intimately linked words and gestures, is the event with which God meets men and speaks to them 'to invite and admit them into communion with Himself'."

The Holy Father concluded: "To God who revealed Himself we owe 'obedience of faith'. It is a question of an obedience offered in full liberty; free, that is, not only from external constrictions, but also from that blind, unquestioning faith which is nourished by emotions and subject to every change in sentiment. Reason plays an important role in avoiding unquestioning belief. Reason is called to discern the signs with which God has endorsed His revelation, so that man, in welcoming it, might fully adhere to it."

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