In an interview he gave for a documentary a number of years ago, Monsignor Lorenzo Albacete encouraged anyone who agonized over their faith to aggressively pursue those questions regardless of where the road took them. If it meant, out of sheer frustration, to wave your hand in the air and curse at God, then so be it. I will never forget Monsignor's candid interview, nor will I fail to remember my reaction to his words, since I interpreted them as a provocation to commit a great sin. In retrospect, I understand what Monsignor Albacete was trying to say.
You see, I no longer think that getting angry- and I do mean ANGRY - with God is such a bad thing. I think the anger towards God that many may be experiencing in their lives is just another invitation/ opportunity to seek Him on an extensively profound level. I believe the Monsignor encouraged believers and skeptics alike to toil with their frustrations with God because he knew that at the end of such an exhaustive and battering process was God Himself.
On the television drama The West Wing, President Josiah Bartlet (played by Martin Sheen) rages against God for having allowed an accident that killed his secretary to take place. I must admit to never having seen a single episode of this drama, but I did manage to catch what might be the single most riveting scene in the entire series
President Josiah Bartlet is Catholic. The translation to the words in Latin are just below the video. If any of these translations are wrong, please notify me at once. Thank you.
Gratias tibi ago, domine.
Thank you, Lord.
Haec credam a deo pio, a deo justo, a deo scito?
Am I to believe these things from a righteous God, a just God, a wise God?
Cruciatus in crucem
To hell with your punishments! (literally "(put/send) punishments onto a cross")
Tuus in terra servus, nuntius fui; officium perfeci.
I was your servant, your messenger on the earth; I did my duty.
Cruciatus in crucem -- eas in crucem
To hell with your punishments!
And to hell with you! (literally, "may you go to a cross")
1 comment:
Great post Tom, I totally agree with you!
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