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Kathryn Lopez

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In Christ We Become More Human, We Become Ourselves, We Become Free

In Christ We Become More Human, We Become Ourselves, We Become Free

Last updated on: April 23, 2015 at 10:54 am by Kathryn Jean Lopez

In Christ We Become More Human, We Become Ourselves, We Become Free 2015-04-23T10:54:32-05:00 Kathryn Jean Lopez

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Last night I listened to a lecture at the Dominican House of Studies that I can’t quite do justice to even though I gave it a shot livetweeting last night. It was on John Paul II and Christian Humanism. It was delivered by Archbishop Augustine DiNoia, a New Yorker, Dominican, Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith in Rome. He was teaching at the DHS when I went to daily Mass with the Dominicans my freshman year at college across the street. (I was nostalglic to see students from across the street joining them for compline prayer after.)

This concept of Christian humanism is of the Gospel, of the Second Vatican Council, and is what John Paul II worked to restore – to have seen what has been obscured and obstructed. All hell broke loose — you may recall Paul VI talking about the “smoke of Satan” – as Catholics could have been a remarkably transformative force and instead often got way too caught up in distractions and ideological colonization, to adopt a phrase of Pope Francis.
And so in giving a brief and accessible overview of JPII’s legacy here, Archbishop DiNoia talked about the nature of man. We know that nature and see its fullness in Christ.
When JPII issued Evangelium Vitae, he wasn’t simply stating that the Church is against abortion, but exposing the whole philosophical construct that is destroying us, making us believe we are autonomous and that is our ultimate good. It leads to chaos and tyranny. And what do we see all around us today. That’s my paraphrase, I suspect the video will be online soon. Until then, some highlights, inadequate though they are:
A good summation, if you need the executive summary in a tweet.

Great evening at the JPII lecture with Archbishop DiNoia and the Dominicans. Take home quote: freedom is the capacity to choose happiness.

— Fr James Bradley (@FrJamesBradley) April 23, 2015

Now, tweet by tweet:

archbishop DiNoia is speaking on #JPII & Christian humanism at the dominican House of Studies tonight pic.twitter.com/ZyUwatqXPf

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

This is a bit of celebration of St #JPII's recovery of an authentic Christian humanism by Archbishop DiNoia pic.twitter.com/WuwHG20iub

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Among all the major teaching pontificates, JPII's will be known as one of greatest in history -+DiNoia #JPII pic.twitter.com/1d7VZIdyS6

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

jPII affirmed the power of the Gospel of Christ to transform culture, society, humanity — +DiNoia #JPII pic.twitter.com/nCOmzyBJtJ

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

jPII Relaunched, recovered the worldwide movement of Catholic renewal of the second Vatican council — +DiNoia #JPII

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Do not be afraid. Christ knows what is in man. let Christ speak to man. — +DiNoia #JPII

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Redemptor Hominis contained the themes that would come in #JPII's papacy +DiNoia calls it luminously clear https://t.co/Nn2I6RMtDb

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

#JPII greatly loved the 2nd Vatican Council – +DiNoia #JPII #OPPower

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

By redemption Christ is united to each man in a certain way #DiNoia #JPII #OPPower

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Christ the redeemer penetrated in a unique, unrepeatable way the human heart #DiNoia #JPII #OPPower

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

The man who wants to understand himself thoroughly, he must draw near to Christ #DiNoia #JPII #OPPower

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Christ's union with man is power … Eternal …. #DiNoia #JPII #OPPower

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Each person in the Church is united to one another #DiNoia #JPII

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

God loves life and the goodness he creates #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

I'm not even remotely doing this lecture justice , for the record ….

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Any humanism that leaves Christ out will fall short #DiNoia #JPII pic.twitter.com/TzKtIZWJMr

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Archbishop Augustine DiNoia, is one of wisest, smartest, funniest, well-read churchmen alive today — or at least who I've met! &NYer!

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

The point I actually wanted to make here was he is these things but he’s also a great observer of humanity as well as intellect and is the greatest of teachers who says things clearly and they way they are, even while seeing what’s going on and exposing the dangers in staying on that dangerous course. We need to celebrate such men and LISTEN and contribute to clarity in our witness.

The fallen angels wanted to be like God as if it were their due, rather than what He wanted to give in love as a gift #DiNoia #JPII

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

In #EvangeliumVitae #JPII wanted to show that life is a gift not at our disposal #DiNoia

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

If we do not understand this we will contribute to the culture of death and perhaps conspire with it #DiNoia #JPII

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

In #EvangeliumVitae #JPII wasnt just explaining Church teaching on life but what underpins culture of death #DiNoia

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

To become like Christ is not to become less of ourselves but more! Imagine! not less! more! #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

The communion of divine life is our true end. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Sin is not the exercise of freedom but the failure of freedom. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

God is not interested in love that is coerced. God wants us to embrace him freely. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

We are the only creatures who can fail to choose our own good. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

Unlike tulips, we have to choose to flourish. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

We can no more remake who we are than anything else in nature #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

At the end of the 20th century, JPII had to defend reason against unreason #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

In #FidesEtRatio he wanted to address eradication of moral consensus essential in free society #DiNoia #JPII http://t.co/E0IM9QXyeV

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 22, 2015

If meaning is socially constructed in it is irreducibly diverse… #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

…We will all agree or be compelled to agree …#DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

The greatest danger for religion is not skepticism but credulity #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

He insists on the power of faith to illumine reason #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Our problem is not that what God has to say is dark but that our minds are limited #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Question time! #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism pic.twitter.com/52UHLUxTci

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

That's @petriop dean at Dominican House of Studies pic.twitter.com/mXUuV0icTO

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Tonight is also a celebration of #ThomasAquinas, as all days at the DHS are, reminds me this is good … http://t.co/vNU4IEoFDW

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Grace perfects, it does not suppress nature #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Flourishing is the word today for beatitude, because the word happiness has been so debased #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Think of all the things that you've wanted and obtained. And then got tired of. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

There isn't anything or person who satisfies our desire for the good. #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

We tend to put absolute value in things that cannot bear the weight#DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

There is some good that satisfies, that we are made for …God…freedom is capacity to choose this good #DiNoia #JPII #ChristianHumanism

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

#OPPower night bonus …. pic.twitter.com/9WqBwX4G9j

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

The Lord is truly Risen! #Compline pic.twitter.com/cKEUqObLkB

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

Alleluia! — Dominican House of Studies #Compline pic.twitter.com/N2Hn7aRzzz

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

the view outside the Dominican House of Studies of @CatholicUniv & @MarysShrine #OPPower pic.twitter.com/SQSjYGrxum

— Kathryn Jean Lopez (@kathrynlopez) April 23, 2015

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