Thinking it Through: Francis on “False Human Securities”, by Dr. Jeff Mirus

By Dr. Jeff Mirus, Catholic Culture, Apr 30, 2024

Jeffrey Mirus holds a Ph.D. in intellectual history from Princeton University. A co-founder of Christendom College, he also pioneered Catholic Internet services. He is the founder of Trinity Communications and CatholicCulture.org.

In a recent talk to seminarians in Burgos, Spain, Pope Francis emphasized the need for future priests to adopt “the attitude of surrender, so that the only emptiness is made in our heart in order to welcome God and our brethren…freeing us from false human securities.” The Pope pointed out that “to have God in us fills us with peace, a peace we can communicate…and in this way you will fill with your light the fields that seem barren, replenishing them with hope.”

This is certainly good advice, but there are true and false ways of putting it into practice. For there is always a danger of offering others a purely human affirmation and a purely human peace by telling them what they want to hear. By contrast, the fundamental announcement which underlies all of Christianity requires a twofold response: “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel” (Mk 1:15). This essential message demands two things from all who hear it: The recognition that we are sinners, and so we must repent; and the recognition that only Christ saves, and so we must believe. …

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