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Vatican City (Agenzia Fides) – All that Saint Paul writes on Christian wisdom and “false wisdom,” especially in his First Letter to the Corinthians, addressing the communities where rivalries broke out among the disciples, formed the theme of Benedict XVI's reflection during his talk given to teachers and students of the Pontifical and ecclesiastical universities of Rome, in honor of the inauguration of the academic year. At the close of the Mass on October 30, which was presided by Cardinal Zenon Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, the Holy Father Benedict XVI entered the Vatican Basilica to greet those present.
Saint Paul speaks of the “wisdom of the Cross,” that is to say, the wisdom of God that places itself in contrast to that of this world. Of the two wisdoms, only one is true, divine, while the other is “foolishness,” the Pope explained. “Now, the surprising novelty, which must always be rediscovered and grasped, is the fact that the divine wisdom, in Christ, has been given to us and we participate in it...This juxtaposition between the two wisdoms cannot be identified with the difference between philosophy, on the one hand, and then philosophy and science on the other. They are really two fundamental postures. The 'wisdom of this world' is a way of living and seeing things divorced from God, following dominant opinions according to the criteria of success and power. ‘Divine wisdom’ consists in following the mind of Christ; it is Christ who opens the eyes of the heart to follow the path of truth and love.”
Addressing the students who have come to Rome to deepen in their knowledge in the areas of theology and other topics, the Pope said that “spiritual formation according to the 'thinking' of Christ continues to be a fundamental priority for you, and this is the perspective of your studies...In order to know and understand spiritual things, you must become spiritual men and women, because if one is merely carnal, he will necessarily fall into foolishness, even if he studies a lot and becomes 'an expert' and 'a gifted scholar of this world'... St. Paul exhorts those who consider themselves wise according to the criteria of the world to 'become fools' in order to become truly wise before God. This is not an anti-intellectual attitude or an opposition to ‘recta ratio’. Paul - following Jesus - opposes a type of intellectual pride in which human beings, even though knowing much, lose the sensibility of truth and the ability to open themselves to the newness of divine action.”
Without trying to undermine the value of the human effort needed in acquiring knowledge, Paul points out “what is it that is truly necessary for salvation and, on the other hand, what can bring division and ruin. The Pope commented that “the Apostle denounced the poison of false wisdom, which is human pride. What is harmful is not knowledge in itself but rather the presumption, the “boastfulness” of what we have come to - or believe we have come to - know. It is precisely in this that revolts and discord have come from within the Church and, analogously, in society. We must, therefore, cultivate the wisdom, not of the flesh, but of the Spirit...Therefore, according to Paul, it is always necessary to purify our hearts of the poison of pride, present in each one of us...The ‘thinking of Christ’ that we have received through grace purifies us of false wisdom. We come to this ‘wisdom of Christ’ through the Church and in the Church, letting ourselves be carried on the river of its living tradition...Remaining faithful to this Jesus that Mary offers us, the Christ that the Church presents to us, we may fervently dedicate ourselves to intellectual work, free of the temptation of pride, and boast always and only in the Lord.” (SL) (Agenzia Fides, 3/11/2008)
