“Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.” St. Robert Bellarmine

by admin

Today is the feast day of one of the greatest examples of a saintly Catholic apologist, St. Robert Bellarmine SJ. This is the man who fought tooth and nail to defend the Catholic faith against the rallying war cries of Luther, Calvin and Henry, to name but a few. He is recognised as a Doctor of the Church and is often viewed as one of the leading defenders of the Renaissance Church. Should we listen to him today?

In his infamous work, ‘Disputationes de controversiis christianae fidei’‘, Bellarmine wrote about everything from the Word of God to the authority of Church councils, from the sacraments to grace, free will, justification or good works and, most significantly, the place of the Roman Pontiff. No heresy was too far for this apologist to engage with head on. While a cardinal inquisitor he retained his dignity as a scholar and insisted on theological engagement, refusing to rebuke for its own sake.

His inspired work helped to roll back the tide of the reformation from much of Europe while responding openly to true moves for reform within the Roman Church. Robert Bellarmine was a massive intellect intune with a greater Will. He remained dedicated to the Greater Glory of God in an atmosphere and time where the temptation to glorify oneself was at its peak. Its difficult to sum up this giant but the word ’brilliant’ does some justice.

Today is the 387th anniversary of Bellarmine’s death and so is recognised by the Church as his feast day. I thought it only fair then to bare some witness to the extraordinary contribution gleaned by our world from this saint.

Last night a friend and I came across a homeless man on O’Connell bridge in dire need of some medical, if not also pastoral, help. After spending some time trying to convince him to allow us call an ambulance we were forced to leave him, in the hope that we could return and try again. We were confident that he would not survive the night on the bridge as he was visibly quite ill.

When we got back to the bridge the man was gone. We searched but couldn’t find him. I would love to think that this was because someone else came across him and brought him to a hospital. The reality though is that this man had been sitting there for hours when we arrived.

Whatever happened to this man has happened but I would make this appeal: if you don’t already then look and see people when they’re there…especially those on the fringes…,those in need. St. Bellarmine said: “Charity is that with which no man is lost, and without which no man is saved.” Please be saved.

Wednesday, September 17th, 2008 and is filed under Great men and women, Love Thy Neighbour, Thoughts & Questions.