What the true church could do for Europe now:

Johannes Gunter Gerhartz, the great Jesuit German scholar pointed out three things that the true church or real Christianity has to offer Europe now: The gift of insight into the uniqueness and intrinsic dignity of every person, which leads to a radical respect for differences of the inviolable dignity of each person; the gift of reconciliation, which he saw as europe’s greatest need; and the gift of radical sharing, what he called the strength to give of oneself! And I would add, the courage to be yourself gives freedom for others to do so! Not bad advice I came across in an Antwerp Jesuit archive library today. Earned wisdom, as he went through both wars, he had and came out with hope and kindness, he had something to say!

Especially in a time of radical displacement and identity confusion, these three gifts the church could bring: recognizing the dignity of each people’s identity, the gift and skills of reconciliation between peoples, and a type of radical generosity of sharing, ring true! We give from what we have been given, so all three of these would need to be growing in us as well.

I might add, from my art studies, the courage to be again after the wars, was rare even among many artists! Many instead got lost in hedonism, reputation or a form of protectionism-we see this same pattern now, even as millions are displaced. Art needs to have an informed joy now, as we have moved from innocence to experience, but a joy and authenticity which models and even offers hope! Not a flimsy hope, but living hope.

An art which sees through walls, as i call it, which still has the courage to be oneself and honor, even celebrate others. That’s bold and needed art now. One which contains that gift of reconciliation, dignity, and honoring other’s uniqueness as Gerhartz would call it! Great art contain a joy and hope in full view of tremendous suffering. In this sense, it is meant to be a reconciling agent! Bringing two poles together…I agree with this writer, that it should also be part of the gift of radical generosity or sharing! This restores dignity to others.

This insightful priest, was writing after the wars, and still had a radical but not blind or in denial or escapist type of hope for humanity. He, like John Paul II saw the potential for an “exchange of gifts” in europe! And the true church could offer from these three areas of what she was given!

Nice meditation in study from older manuscripts here in Antwerp. Hopeful about what the real church could do for this special corner of the world, and community of peoples. Again, seeing the dignity of each people, offering the gift of reconciliation, since God is reconciling all things to Himself, and radical sharing especially with those unlike us.

Not bad advice, earned wisdom, i would call it! He was in the wars before becoming a Jesuit priest and scholar! These are the ones i like to listen to, those who have been formed by fire, in-formed by suffering, but came out in that tone of kindness and love, and a desire to help reconcile others to themselves and one another-dignify others. He added, as a challenge to the church, that she herself needed to be reconciled as well. Wise man!