Seek the Face of God This Summer

Do you know what a Catholic understanding of the word “study” is? 
Study is an occasion for the Spirit of truth to reveal the face of Jesus to us and conform our face – our eyes, our ears, our mouths –  to His.  The end is the blessed vision of God, "face to face."
Wow! Now that is real study with real Truth!

How best do we study as Catholics?
We all need to keep reading good and great books, watch good and great videos, and keep learning our faith. We "graduate" from the academy of grace only when we die and turn our souls over to God.

The Doctors of the Church speak the fire of truth, which illumines and burns.  Their writings enlighten our minds and burn away our compromises, our excuses, our pettiness.  The Pope's encyclicals open our understandings to many cultural challenges throughout the ages.  Many are online for free.

What is the sign that our studies to learn are leading us into greater intimacy with Jesus Christ, the Truth in person?
We will hear His words echoing in our hearts when the book or video is put away.  We will notice how, without being able to say when it came or where it came from, suddenly His light is cast on our problems or the problems of others with whom we live and work.   We are carried by our studies into a more profound understanding of the mystery of Jesus Himself - the mysteries of His life, His death, His resurrection, all the mysteries of His humiliation and glory.  This is called the healing grace of study.

When the Psalmist says, "Your face, O Lord, I shall seek," he is giving us a motto not only for the Christian life, as a whole, but also for the particular task of study.

Soon our summer vacation will begin.  
How about committing yourself to including some studying in your warm, summer days? Maybe even get the family to join you?  Formed.org has a multitude of opportunities just waiting for you at their website and on our Community page. God is waiting for you to seek him more deeply.  Seek His face and learn through studying this summer by visiting stthomasmore.formed.org.