Andrew M. Greenwell on Rethinking Freedom

12/4/2012

(Page 2 of 2)

freedom?

According to Blessed John Paul II, to achieve perfect freedom, human freedom must mature. He recognized that even if we keep the commandments we are, as St. Augustine put it, still "in part freedom, in part slavery," ex parte libertas, ex parte servitus.

Perfect freedom demands that this half-free-half-slave condition be overcome by training in selflessness to the point where we are able to exercise "self-giving." "Perfection demands that maturity in self-giving to which human freedom is called." (Veritatis splendor, No. 17). We have to be able to love God and love neighbor, and this requires moral training and moral effort.

How do we mature our freedom so that it may be perfect?

The growth toward perfect freedom requires the recognition that the moral life is connected to truth, and so involves the exercise of reason. In particular it requires the exercise of conscience and the proper formation of conscience. (In this regard, conscience has to listen to, and abide by, the teachings of the Church's Magisterium regarding the natural moral law and the divine law.)

It requires training and growth in the virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance.

It requires listening to one's human nature, its well-ordered inclinations, including the "theology of the body," but only when concupiscence is stilled. Perfection is not gained by following the demands of a body that thirsts for a disordered passion. "The person, by the light of reason and the support of virtue, discovers in the body the anticipatory signs, the expression and the promise of the gift of self, in conformity with the wise plan of the Creator," as John Paul II put it. (Veritatis splendor, No. 48).

Perfect freedom is not something, however, we can achieve on our own. We are not a bunch of Pelagians running around trying to save ourselves. Even if we wanted to save ourselves and perfect ourselves, we can't.

To achieve perfect freedom requires the gift of God's grace. (Veritatis splendor, No. 17) It is "grace, which enables us to possess the full freedom of the children of God, and thus to live our moral life in a way worthy of our sublime vocation as 'sons in the Son.'" (Veritatis splendor, No. 18).

Perfect freedom is in fact the calling of the Christian. "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." (Gal. 5:1, 13). There is therefore an "inseparable connection between the Lord's grace and human freedom." (Veritatis splendor, No. 24)

It is grace that allows the Christian to obey "the new law of the Holy Spirit," and thereby grow "in the freedom to which he or she is called by the service of truth, charity, and justice." (Veritatis splendor, No. 107).

It is also grace that obtains for us forgiveness when we fail in our pursuit for the "freedom for excellence." "[I]f redeemed man still sins, . . . though he has fallen into sin, [he] can always obtain pardon and enjoy the presence of the Holy Spirit." (Veritatis splendor, No. 103)

In the public square, our country speaks of freedom to the point where it is hackneyed. But the "freedom" touted on the television, taught in our public schools, claimed by all manner of activists, and heard in every political stump speech is a far cry from Servais Pinckaer's "freedom for excellence" or from Blessed John Paul II's "authentic freedom" or "perfect freedom."

Where are the cries of a responsible use of freedom? Where are the suggestions that we may be answerable to God for the use of our freedom? Where is the insistence that we must abide by the commandments? Where is the realization that we must inculcate and grow in virtue? Where is the awareness that we must properly form our conscience? Where is the knowledge that we need God's grace to be free?

As a nation, it seems that we need to re-think freedom.

-----

Andrew M. Greenwell is an attorney licensed to practice law in Texas, practicing in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is married with three children. He maintains a blog entirely devoted to the natural law called Lex Christianorum. You can contact Andrew at agreenwell@harris-greenwell.com.
- - -

Pope Benedict XVI's Prayer Intentions for January 2013
General Intention: The Faith of Christians. That in this Year of Faith Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and witness joyfully to the gift of faith in him.
Missionary Intention: Middle Eastern Christians. That the Christian communities of the Middle East, often discriminated against, may receive from the Holy Spirit the strength of fidelity and perseverance.

Keywords: freedom, Veritatis splendor, authentic freedom, freedom for excellence, freedom of indifference, Andrew M. Greenwell

NEWSLETTERS »

Previous Page 1 | 2

Rate This Article

Was this helpful to you? Very Helpful Somewhat Helpful Not Helpful at All

Would you be interested in more articles like this? Yes, I am Interested No, I am not Interested

Rate Article

1 - 6 of 6 Comments

rafaelmarie
5 months ago
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY NO OTHER FREEDOM THAN THE FOUNDING FATHERS HAD IN MIND!

ANYTHING ELSE PREACHED IS JUST COMPROMISING WITH EVIL!
DLL
5 months ago
The Christian conscience is a self imposed self-government that makes the individual obedient to God. John Paul 2 proved that if we are obedient to God in such a manner during times of oppression,than the individual is always free. Love governs,because as we can see by the life of John Paul 2,that his inherent goodness because of his obedience to God,was his greatest weapon against the terror of his time. Our religious freedoms might become violated,but the individual that is obedient to God can not be violated if they be governed by love. Over and over through the ages Christians are taught that God is Love beginning with the Apostle Paul,not to forget Peter. To first of all serve God is to learn and practice obedience to God,as Christ was obedient and always pleasing to God. This is what it means to be a Saint. Love is the self government that rules each and every Saint. God is Love!
abey
5 months ago
Authentic freedom is to be free of Sin which is to New Jerusalem mentioned in revelations when man becomes directly under God when all our needs are directly supplied by Him to a continuous life afresh & pure, hence no death which is to the state of the Angels of God called to be the Holy State.
Paul-Emile Leray
5 months ago
Like a true artist, always seeking to surpass yourself. Wonderful article! In Jesus, with grace, there is a guaranteed path towards perpetual renewal. It is reasonable, therefore, through the eyes of faith, to always keep growing. And so, my artist comment is accurate. I must thank several writers on this website for their wisdom, knowledge, and their sharing of this through beautiful writings. It does make a difference, it does matter, and it does inform-inspire-ignite. Plus, it is accessible from anywhere providing there is an internet connection. A true gift. Thank you.
Paul-Emile Leray
Dan Brogdon
5 months ago
I am pleased to read this article , it certainly spells out the twisted use of Freedom being used in our society. It also helps me look in the direction towards a more perfect freedom.
I hope I can share you article with many people I know, but I find they spit it out and reject it too quickly without giving it fair understanding -- I cant change them, its sad.
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem
5 months ago
The humanity is trapped in the whirlpool of 'misuse of freedom'. I appreciate Andrew M d the " message of Liberation" culminating in Jesus and hence he said, " Truth will set you freGreenwell for his scholarly, Biblical treatment on the concept of freedom . while ' Freedom' is a civic concept, 'Liberty' is much sublime. Jesus is portrayed as a ' Liberator' like Moses. Probably, the word 'Liberty' originated from the Latin 'Liber' which means "Book" and hence the word " Library" and 'Bible" is called the first Book" Biblion' and hence, another word for library " Bibliothica" (Gk), giving rise to yet to another word ' Bibliography'. The Bible contains Jesus as the Liberator and he said,. "I am the way, Truth and Life and Truth will set you free" Truth is nothing but the " image of God within"( imago Dei" which in the ordinary term is " Conscience" This article emphatically states to " form right conscience". It is the " grace of God ( ad extra) which comes into mystic union with the ' intrinsic image of God" ( ad intra) that Liberty becomes a means of ' Salvific source', the ordinary language " responsible freedom". It is this earnestness to relate to God ( selfless Ego, (Love) and the pulling back on account of earthly life( Selfish Ego) that men experience " Choice making" as the dynamism of Freedom. It is the limitation of this " twin nature" and the final victory, the concept expressed by St. Augustine in part freedom, in part slavery," ex parte libertas, ex parte servitus" to be understood. The greater the awareness of " ex parte servirus", the greater will be the " flow of Grace" leading to Liberation, probably, the personal experience of St. Augustine
Mathew Thankachen O.Praem

Comments submitted must be civil, remain on-topic and not violate any laws including copyright. We reserve the right to delete any comments which are abusive, inappropriate or not constructive to the discussion.

Though we invite robust discussion, we reserve the right to not publish any comment which denigrates the human person, undermines marriage and the family, or advocates for positions which openly oppose the teaching of the Catholic Church.

This is a supervised forum and the Editors of Catholic Online retain the right to direct it.

We also reserve the right to block any commenter for repeated violations. Your email address is required to post, but it will not be published on the site.

We ask that you NOT post your comment more than once. Catholic Online is growing and our ability to review all comments sometimes results in a delay in their publication.

Name *

Email *

Comment *

Send me important information from Catholic Online and it's partners. See Sample

Post Comment