Bishop Fulton Sheen On True & False Compassion

False compassion and human respect are, in my opinion, a large part of the reason for much of the corruption in the world and the Church.

Apathy, lukewarm faith, attachment to sin, and obstinacy in sin are not helped in any way by false compassion.

Sin is like a cancer. Imagine an oncologist having a compassionate attitude toward the cancer killing his patients! Although those patients might suffer less in the beginning because they wouldn't be forced to endure chemotherapy, more likely than not, the patients treated by such a physician would die much sooner, whereas if such patients were treated, many would very likely beat their cancer and live.

Sin is like poison. It's not compassionate to sit back and let someone drink poison.

The key is speaking the truth in love. Tone is very important when dealing with creatures as fragile, fickle, and prone to pride as human beings, who due to concupiscence, as a result of Original sin, are inclined to take the path of least resistance and follow their lower passions rather than right reason.

Although it is true that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, it's very important to make sure that in sharing the truth, we do not become an obstacle to its acceptance. Who wants to sign up with a group filled with members that appear bitter, angry and unpleasant? Who would join a group that sought to enlist members by insulting and condemning people?

Quoting St. Thomas Aquinas:

Fear is chiefly required as being the foundation, so to speak, of the perfection of the other gifts, for "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Psalm 110:10; Sirach 1:16), and not as though it were more excellent than the others. Because, in the order of generation, man departs from evil on account of fear (Proverbs 16:16), before doing good works, and which result from the other gifts.

In order to judge aright, the speculative reason is perfected by "wisdom"; the practical reason by "knowledge." The appetitive power, in matters touching a man's relations to another, is perfected by "piety"; in matters touching himself, it is perfected by "fortitude" against the fear of dangers; and against inordinate lust for pleasures, by "fear," according to Proverbs 15:27: "By the fear of the Lord every one declineth from evil," and Psalm 118:120: "Pierce Thou my flesh with Thy fear: for I am afraid of Thy judgments." Hence it is clear that these gifts extend to all those things to which the virtues, both intellectual and moral, extend.

Catholics must learn their faith so as to be prepared with the questions and challenges to their Faith they will hear from those who do not believe and from those who cling to sinful lifestyles. Catholics must share their faith with others in a way that doesn't compromise the truth in any way, but still invites and attracts.

Christ did not compromise, but He remains attractive to sincere people, whether or not they have come to believe in Him.

Many non-believers will readily admit that Jesus is appealing – they claim that it's His followers that trouble them. This may be true, or it may be a excuse. Our job is to make sure we're part of the solution, and not part of the problem.

Many people will still, sadly, reject the truth, even when it is presented charitably, accurately, and truthfully. People rejected Christ during His public life, and they will reject His followers now, but we can't comfort ourselves with the false security that every rejection of the Christian method is due only to the sinfulness of those with whom we share the Holy Gospel.

Christians must walk a fine line. They must speak the truth, without compromise, but in love, with a desire to lead souls to Christ, and a prudent understanding about what may needlessly drive people away.

Any thoughts?

Comments

[T. Shaw]

JMJ

When I was a child, my widowed Grandmother (RIP) worked in midtown NYC. We lived near Yankee Stadium in the Bronx. On one occassion, Grandmother took my Mother (RIP) and my three brothers and I to an evening showing of (I think) 'Snow White' at Radio City. Afterwards, we made a visit to St. Patrick's Cathedral.

My youngest brother, John, being very young and active, got away and was running among the pews. My mother had to call for him to stop, "John!" At that moment, Bishop Sheen, also in the Cathedral, came to the two women and the children and introduced himself. He was not angry. Bishop Sheen told my Mother and Grandmother that his own Mother called him John, and he blessed us all. You can imagine how much that meant to my Mother and Grandmother.

Many years later, I was working in an office building at Park Ave. and 51st Street. It was at the time Bishop Sheen went to his reward. I was able to pray at his coffin two days while he lay in state in St. Patrick's.

Your post, as always, is an outstanding presentation. Sadly, too few listen to the truth.

[american aquarium drinker]

Thanks for the great post. So true. I love Archbishop Sheen. The man was not only holy, but a genius too. He will be canonized some day. The most amazing thing is that many of his talks are even more timely today than they were when he originally gave them. You can hear him daily on Relevant Radio, a Catholic radio station out of Green Bay, WI.

listen online here:
http://www.relevantradio.com/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?pid=534&srcid=-2

[Lenz]

hi, can you please check all the biblical quotations again?

e.g. there is no Psalm 118:120...

[Thomistic]

The quote cited came from St. Thomas Aquinas' Summa Theologica:

Summa Theologica; First Part of the Second Part; Question 68; Article 4. Whether the seven gifts of the Holy Ghost are suitably enumerated?

Here is the text source: Psalm 118:120

Pax,

Thomistic