The Mystery of Faith

John-Francis Friendship

Description

The Mystery of Faith explores the essentials of Christian belief and the ancient spiritual practices that enable us to live and flourish in the light of God’s grace. John-Francis Friendship draws on the riches of the Christian tradition and his own experience of Religious life to introduce practices that guide our daily living as God’s people.

Informations

• Publié par: Hymns Ancient & Modern
• Date de parution: 30 septembre 2019
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9781786221827
• Langue: English

Extrait

This is a book grounded in both knowledge and experience. It will be a valuable resource for all who want to explore the riches of the Christian faith.
Fr. Kevin Smith, Priest Administrator, Shrine of our Lady of Walsingham
This is an important book and would be useful reading for every teacher or Headteacher in our church schools and indeed for all Governors. For clergy it will be a useful book to recommend and to use as a resource when teaching the basics of the faith. Just as schools are discovering and returning to a knowledge-based curriculum so as churches we need to recognise the basics that every Christian should understand and know. John-Francis brings the wisdom and sensitivity of a life time of spiritual direction and ministry to others to the task and presents the faith wisely and with great charm. The Rev. Richard Peers, Director of Education, Diocese of Liverpool
The author weaves teachings drawn from scripture and the saints with reflections on his own life and ministry, creating an approachable and profound guide to the Christian faith. This is a book for the person seeking a faith rooted in tradition and open to the challenges of real life.
Br Christopher John SSF, Minister General
Fr John-Francis has the gift of the story teller. His reminiscences make complex ideas simple. This is the perfect introduction to Christianity for the general reader.
Fr Mund Cargill Thompson SCP, Vice Rector (Evangelism), Society of Catholic Priests.
John-Francis draws on the “wisdom of the ages” to introduce faith in an accessible and engaging way. And he also draws on his own long experience as Franciscan, priest, and spiritual director to ground this tradition in the reality of one life. Questions and suggestions for reflection help the reader to apply what they read to their own journey of faith, whatever their starting point.
Sr Helen Julian CSF, Minister General
John-Francis draws on a life-times reflection as a pilgrim on a faith journey. His own journey has taken him from living in community, encouraging vocations, to pastoring a community as a parish priest. Now, as an experienced spiritual director and retreat conductor, his teaching and pastoral ministry combine in this accessible introduction to the Christian Faith. In the same vein as Michael Ramsey’s lovely book ‘Introducing the Christian Faith,’ this book is both simple yet profound and allows the reader to be immersed in the great traditions of the Church, whilst making connections with the world around us. As Jesus himself says, “Every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old.”
Fr Carl Turner, Rector, St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue, New York, USA




The Mystery of Faith
Exploring Christian Belief
John-Francis Friendship





© John-Francis Friendship 2019
First published in 2019 by the Canterbury Press Norwich
Editorial office
3rd Floor, Invicta House
108–114 Golden Lane
London EC1Y 0TG, UK
www.canterburypress.co.uk
Canterbury Press is an imprint of Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd (a registered charity)

Hymns Ancient & Modern® is a registered trademark of Hymns Ancient & Modern Ltd
13A Hellesdon Park Road, Norwich,
Norfolk NR6 5DR, UK
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted,
in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical,
photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of
the publisher, Canterbury Press.
The Author has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the Author of this Work
Scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Anglicized Edition, copyright © 1989, 1995 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication data
A catalogue record for this book is available
from the British Library
978 1 78622 180 3
Typeset by Regent Typesetting
Printed and bound in Great Britain by
CPI Group (UK) Ltd




This book is dedicated to
Mary of Walsingham,
Mother of Jesus
who, having been encountered by an angel,
pondered in her heart,
and gave birth to the Word.




Contents
Acknowledgements
Foreword by Nicholas Holtam, Bishop of Salisbury
Introduction
Notes on the ‘Heart’
The Apostles’ Creed
CREATOR
1. Source of All Being
In the beginning
Mystery, metaphor and myth
God is … Light and Love
God is …
God as Mother
Encountering the Other
2. Creator of Heaven and Earth
Christian ecology
In the image of God
Original Sin
The call to holiness and the gods of our age
Dictators and demagogues
The Mystery of the Trinity
For reflection and discussion
REDEEMER
3. The Image of the Invisible One
Seeing God in Christ
Jesus, the ‘Word’ of the Father
Seeing and believing
Christ is the ‘image’ of God
4. Son of a Virgin
Full of grace
The New Eve
Let it be to me
Mother of God
The Sorrowful Mother
The Blessed Virgin
The Angelus
5. As One Who Serves
You are my Beloved Son
The Temptations
Life in the Beatitudes
Teaching
Miracles and healings
Liberating
Transfigured by glory
5a. Jesus Said
For reflection and discussion
6. The Passion of Christ
Christ suffered
What to make of suffering
The Sacred Triduum
Christ died
Self-abandonment
Losing life
Rotten apples
The Lamb of God
Redemption and salvation
Atonement
Christ descended to the dead
7. Rising, You Restored Our Life
8. Humanity Taken into Heaven
9. Judged by Our Loving
Success and failure
God’s judgement
For reflection and discussion
SANCTIFIER
10. The Go-Between God
Creative Spirit
Revealing Spirit
Liberating Spirit
Life-giving Spirit
Gifts of the Spirit
Our spirit
Being fully human
For reflection and discussion
11. The Soul’s Desire
A Hidden Treasure
A cry of gratitude
Intercession
The Body in Prayer
Sign of the Cross
Standing
Kneeling
Genuflecting
Bowing
Hands
The Rosary
Incense
Fasting
Colour
Everyday Contemplation and Mindfulness
Heart prayer
Meditation and contemplation
Seeing God in all things
Holy hour
Use your imagination
English spirituality
The goal of our praying
For reflection and discussion
12. Abide in Christ
The Body of Christ
It’s only a crutch
Holy and catholic
Belonging, aloneness – and brokenness
Worship
The Sacraments
Baptism and Confirmation
The Eucharist
Anointing
Confession
Matrimony
Ordination
The Bible
The ‘Biblical Cycle’ and the cycle of the Church’s year
The Old Testament
The Psalms
The Apocrypha
The New Testament
The Religious Life
For reflection and discussion
13. Mirrors of God
What is a saint?
Called to be a saint
Holy living
Our friends in heaven
Holy places and pilgrimage
Venerating the saints
Asking for the prayers of Mary and the Saints
14. Be Reconciled
Forgiveness
Anger
Reconciliation
Confession
Making your confession
Absolution
For reflection and discussion
15. We Rise in Him
After we die
Purgatory
Funerals
The Last Judgement
Thy kingdom come
Spirit, soul and body
16. Life in Christ
What do you seek?
Peace and anxiety
Baptismal Life
Vocation
Jesus and God’s Will
Faith and politics
Jesu, thou art all compassion
Abiding in the Heart of Jesus
Following Christ
Rule of Life
Finally …
For reflection and discussion

Appendixes
1. What is Spiritual Direction?
2. Some Ways of Developing Our Prayer
3. Suggestions for Using this Book
4. Good Friday Night Liturgy of the Deposition and Burial of the Lord
Further Information
Further Reading
Acknowledgement of Sources



Acknowledgements
I’m very grateful to Canterbury Press for inviting me to write this book and for the confidence and assistance offered by Christine Smith and her colleagues. It’s the fruit of many years exploring Faith and the consequence of the help people have shown me on that journey. It’s also a reflection of my interest in evangelism stemming from my years in Franciscan Religious Life, when I was involved in many parish, school and diocesan missions, and I hope it will be of some use to those exploring the vast richness of the Christian Faith.
Thanks to Anna Cole, Sue Dunbar-Silk, Fr Edmund Cargill-Thompson, John and Sue Heath, Chris Marlowe, Br Christopher John SSF and the Revd Jackie Turner for their help