Lumen Fidei: The Light of Faith

First off, this is not a critique. Second, I decided to choose one topic: faith and reason, or more specifically, a reasoned faith mutually tempered with scientific knowledge. This is an area that Pope Francis may have had a greater part in composing, with his "tag team" partner, Pope Emeritus Benedict, focusing more on theology.Interestingly, Paragraph 3 begins as follows: "In the process, [a distortion of] faith came to be associated with darkness." I encounter this often, particularly with secular intellectuals who dismiss faith as a blind, unreasoned leap in the dark. Continued: "Slowly but surely, however, it would become evident that the light of autonomous reason is not enough to illumine the future ... Yet in the absence of light, everything becomes confused; it is impossible to tell good from evil or the road to our destination from other roads which take us in endless circles, going nowhere."Skipping to Paragraphs 32-34: "Blessed John Paul II, in his encyclical Fides et Ratio [1998], showed how faith and reason each strengthened the other ... In the life of Saint Augustine, we find a significant example of this process whereby reason, with its desire for truth and clarity, was integrated into the horizon of faith and thus gained new understanding ... Nor is the light of faith, joined to the truth of love, extraneous to the material world ... It also illuminates the material world, trusts in its inherent order, and knows that it calls us to an ever widening path of harmony and understanding. The gaze of science thus benefits from faith: faith encourages the scientist to remain constantly open to reality in all its inexhaustible richness. Faith awakens the critical sense by preventing research from being satisfied with its own formulae and helps it to realize that nature is always greater. By stimulating wonder before the profound mystery of creation, faith broadens the horizons of reason to shed greater light on the world which discloses itself to scientific investigation."From this, one might conclude that faith enlightens reason and reason helps faith stay grounded in reality. You can't have one without the other, and truly succeed in life. I will end by quoting Dr. Bojan Tunguz from his review: "It's this combination of humility and authority that has already garnered him [Pope Francis] so much respect and affection, within and without the Church, and is an indicator of the way that he'll continue to lead the Catholic faithful in the upcoming years. The Faith once entrusted to the Apostles is in good hands." Amen.

Yes, and I recommend Lumen Fidei even to those doubters, not yet confirmed in Faith, as a guide and mentor. Pope Francis writes this for all Christians, not just one specific Christian demonination, as well as for non-Christians still finding their way through the discovery process. Even doubters will find true fruit in the document if they let it speak to them right where they now are. Yes, this book has a great spiritual value; it's ageless and priceless, as is the gift of Faith towards which it points. Faith produces action, and studying those actions as Francis does reveales the devine nature of Faith and how it is freely gifted to all who seek it.Jay Porcaro, Milford, OH

This is an excellent book on the nature of faith - any kind of faith. I buy multiple copies of it at a time and I give it out to people who are non religious as well as devout Catholics. The genius of this book is that it manages to capture the essence of faith in anything - secular or religious - in a way that is at once contemporary and timeless. For those of us that struggle with faith or belief in anything, it feels like a manual to discovery.

This is a short but illuminating encyclical from both Pope Benedict and Pope Francis. The topic is Faith and all that it encompasses. As stated in the dialogue between faith and reason; "Each of us comes to the light because of love, and each of us is called to love in order to remain in the light." Pope Francis equates faith as a journey that illumines all our relationships. This light will not scatter all darkness but will guide are steps and suffices for the journey.This is an inspirational and thought provoking read for your faith journey.

I have great faith, but can’t outdo never explain how or why. This book helped me do that.It also has a great explanation on suffering.The first part of book is difficult reading. The second half is much easier to understand.A Great uplifting read!

Pope Francis' first encyclical is largely the work of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, and readers familiar with Benedict's writings will recognize his style and method. Unfortunately, the encyclical reads like an early draft; though rich in potential, it lacks Benedict's usual clarity and argumentative polish. Readers will find meditations how many aspects of our life appear differently when viewed in the light of Christian faith, but may struggle to find coherent themes and a consistent argument. The encyclical was published (as promised) before the end of the Year of Faith and completes Benedict's triptych on the theological virtues, but I wish our Holy Father and his predecessor had been afforded more time to revise this promising project.

I always struggle with very deep philosophical works so it was difficult for me to really understand everything. I had to re-read quite a bit. With that being said I can't say enough about how beautifully this work was composed and how rich and compelling the content is. I would suggest people who consider themselves "of faith" and not alike read this as it really does open the mind to analyze and discern the meaning of our earthly existence.

It's hard to believe that Pope Francis has only been elected less than a year. He hit the ground running, writing, speaking, preaching, and doing the Lord's work. Lumen Fidei lights the way for all of us in a world that seems quite dark at times. Pope Francis is a faith filled person and he shows us how through Christ to be one also.

This is the first Encyclical of Pope Francis, but, as he says, it is a supplement to the one that Pope Benedict had started to write - "the work of four hands" as he puts it.Perhaps for that reason it does come across as a little dry and academic, in contrast to the more free-flowing and plainer style of subseq

When I was younger I tried to read the documents of the Second Vatican Council, but the language was so heavy that I gave up almost before starting. They seemed to be trying to comunicate "mind to mind" - all very well for the clergy, trained for this kind of thing.Now, with a new Pope who is so highly acclaimed I decided to try again to find "food for faith" in this new encyclical letter. I have found that it speaks to me "eye to eye, heart to heart". And I can understand it!I hope to persuade our parish priests to develop an adult course of catechesis around it, for I am sure that Pope Francis's approach can help us reconnect the everyday world we live in to our faith in Christ.And isn't that the reason for which encyclical lettters are written?I would suggest this work for personal and group meditation among Christians of all denominations.Really! It's wonderful!!

I rated this book at five stars simply because I wanted initially to get a quite time book that would set me up spiritually for the day ahead. I am still reading it and re-reading it to gain the enormous benefit from the inspirational text and the many scripture insights Pope Francis gives. It is a source of strength through a challenging journey in a godless society where to be Christian really means to love others in the perfect way God loves us.Christopher Vasey:

thought it was a very enlightening booklet and would recommend it to everybody who was at all interested in matters of faith and also those who were not.

Pope Francis' first encyclical makes good Advent reading. Take a section each day, and reflect on the meaning of faith in our contemporary world.