The three encyclicals of Benedict XVI are grounded in the three theological virtues of faith , hope , and love .”
First Encyclical : Deus Caritas Est
Benedict XVI ’ s first two encyclicals deal with the theological virtues of charity and hope . He was planning to write an encyclical on the theological virtue of faith , but he was not able to finish it because health issues led him to resign the papacy . He did , however , share his partial draft with his successor , Pope Francis , who published his first encyclical , Lumen Fidei ( June 29 , 2013 ), on faith . This encyclical incorporates many of the ideas that Benedict had drafted .
The title of Benedict ’ s first encyclical , Deus Caritas Est ( God Is Love ) comes from John ’ s first Epistle : “ God is love , and he who abides in love abides in God and God in him .” ( 1 Jn 4:16 ) The emphasis on love reflects the influences of St . Augustine and St . Bonaventure , but it also provides a response to the use of violence in the name of religion .
Part one of Deus Caritas Est ( nos . 1-18 ) focuses on the nature of love , both divine and human . Part two deals with “ the practice of love by the Church as a “ community of love .” Benedict XVI examines the three main types of love recognized by the ancient Greeks : eros ( desire ), philia ( love of friendship ), and agape ( charity or benevolence , which takes on a special importance in the New Testament ). The Christian faith seeks to purify eros rather than eliminate it ( no . 5 ). Eros must be purified from its ancient Greek association with frenzy , intoxication , and the divine madness manifested in various fertility cults ( no . 4 ). Eros must also be purified of its contemporary reduction to pure “ sex ,” which ultimately leads to the “ debasement of the body ” ( no . 5 ).
Pope Benedict XVI points to Jesus Christ as the incarnate love of God , the Good Shepherd , who seeks his lost sheep with compassion ( no . 12 ). As the incarnation of God ’ s love , Jesus makes the invisible Father visible ( no . 17 ; cf . Jn 14:9 ). Moreover , he offers himself as an oblation on the Cross and , in the Eucharist , he gives “ his very self , his body and blood as the new manna ” ( no . 13 ; cf . Jn 6:31-33 ). The Eucharist provides a basis for a “ sacramental mysticism ” ( no . 13 ) realized in a special way by the Church as Christ ’ s body joined in the communion of the Eucharistic agape .
The three encyclicals of Benedict XVI are grounded in the three theological virtues of faith , hope , and love .”
— DR . ROBERT FASTIGGI
Pope Benedict emphasizes the Church ’ s responsibility to proclaim the word of God ( kerygma-martyria ); to celebrate the sacraments ( leitourgia ); and practice charity ( diakonia ) ( no . 25 ). In this regard , he notes that “ the specific expressions of ecclesial charity can never be confused with the activity of the State ” ( no . 29 ). Christian charity must be rooted in the faith and marked by humility ( no . 35 ), prayer ( nos . 36-37 ), hope and patience ( nos . 36-39 ). Authentic Christian charity will recognize hope “ even in the face of apparent failure ,” and it “ accepts God ’ s mystery and trusts him even in times of darkness ” ( no . 39 ).
Pope Benedict points to saintly figures — Martin of Tours , Francis of Assisi , Vincent de Paul , Louise de Marillac , and Teresa of Calcutta — as the “ true bearers of light within history ” ( no . 40 ). Finally , he turns to Mary , the Mother of the Lord , as the “ mirror of all holiness ” ( no . 41 ). He ends his encyclical with a prayer to Mary asking her “ to show us Jesus ” and to “ teach us to know and love him , so that we too can become capable of true love ” ( no . 42 ).
Second Encyclical : Spe Salvi
Pope Benedict XVI ’ s second encyclical , Spe Salvi , takes its title from the Latin of the book of Romans , “ Spe salvi facti sumus ” ( in hope we are saved ). ( Rom 8:24 ) In the opening sections , the Holy Father shows the close connection between faith and hope . Citing Peter , —“ always be ready to give an answer concerning the logos — the meaning and reason — of your hope ” ( 1 Pet 3:15 )— he notes that hope , in many respects , is equivalent to faith ( no . 2 ). Christian hope overcomes the despair of those who grieve because they have no hope ( cf . 1 Thes 4:13 ). Hope “ shapes our life in a new way ” ( no . 10 ).
Spe Salvi not only discusses hope in a theological sense , it also provides some historical examples . One example is St . Josephine Bakhita ( c . 1869-1947 ), who lived as a slave in Sudan and suffered multiple beatings . After her conversion to Christ and liberation from slavery , she learned that the supreme Lord of the universe , unlike her previous “ masters ,” loved and cared for her ( cf . no . 3 ). Thus , the Christian faith gave her hope and meaning in life .
For Pope Benedict , hope must be nourished by prayer , which is a school of hope ( nos . 32-34 ). Hope provides solace to those who suffer injustice in this life because only God can establish justice beyond this life ( 43 ). Indeed , “ a world without God is a world without hope ” ( cf . Eph 2:12 ; no . 44 ).
Benedict discusses judgment after death with a particular focus on purgatory . For him , the fire of purgatory is a “ blessed pain .” It is “ the holy power of [ God ’ s ] love ” that “ sears through us like a flame ,” and “ the pain of love becomes our salvation and our joy ” ( 47 ).
The encyclical ends by pointing to Mary as the star of hope ( 49-50 ). She is like a star of hope in the dark and stormy voyage of life ( 49 ), just as she was a source of faith and hope , “ even in the darkness of Holy Saturday ” ( 50 ).
10 Sacred Heart Major Seminary | Mosaic | Spring / Summer 2023