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Hello, father Angelo

It’s me again, Aldo from… I am writing to you for further clarifications on some issues, obviously as far as possible and within the scope of your theological competencies.

Let’s start by trying to interpret the first topic, which is far from easy: since I was a child, when I attended Sunday catechism class, I have been taught that God gave us free will, so we have the faculty to choose good or evil, and the development of our future depends exclusively on us through the choices we make; consequently, negative or positive results have been dependent on our behavior towards sin. In other words, is it we who create our destiny with our works? Is it the truth? What do you think about it?

While a large part of the population believes in the other side of the coin and is convinced that there is an impersonal force that compels you to follow a certain path, either good or evil, regardless of our will, called “destiny.”

What is God’s will, what relationship is there between free will and when you are told “God has tested you”. Father Angelo, don’t you think there is inconsistency among what I mentioned to you (God’s will, to test and free will)? Let me understand! Thank you.

The second point, even more complex than the previous one, concerns precisely the question that almost everyone asks: who is God? Who created God? What does prove his existence? That’s all.

I thank you in advance for your answers and at the same time I wish you a peaceful and healthy new year, as I wish it for myself.

Aldo

Dear Aldo,

1. Yes, it is we who build our future following the indications that God gives us through the dictates of conscience and divine Revelation. And not without the help of his grace, because alone we would not have the ability to pass from one instant to the next.

The goal we all pursue by following our conscience is happiness.

This happiness is found only in the union with God, the perennial source of all good.

2. The way to pursue this goal is the light and strength that come to us from God.

Our freedom does not consist in doing good or evil at will. In fact, God has given us the freedom to do good creatively and with merit. Evil is an abuse of freedom.

In this sense we are not free to steal, to kill, to do evil.

3. What then is the scope of freedom if both the end and the way to pursue it (God’s law) have been assigned to you by God?

It is the area of ​​present life, in which God presents you with many goods so that you may pursue your happiness.

This area could be that of marriage or celibacy or consecrated life, to marry this or that girl with her own wealth of gifts and virtues, to choose a field of ​​study rather than another and a profession rather than another, to bring children into the world according to your discretion, to eat this or that, to go here or there, to choose your friends, the reading and the entertainments you want.

4. As you can see this is a very large area, that is nonetheless marked by an objective that we are all called to pursue: that of happiness or holiness.

Therefore, there is no blind destiny that guides us and in front of which we are not responsible.

It is we who guide ourselves with the light and in the name of the goal that God has given us.

5. The expression “God has tested us” is equivocal.

It gives the impression of God as a policeman or an avenger.

Actually, God gave us freedom not to test us, but for us to be makers of our future, our holiness and our happiness.

I emphasize the meaning of this personal adjective, “our”.

A reality is truly ours when by us it is made ours, that is, welcomed and possessed.

A degree given to a person who has not studied and who does not possess the knowledge is just a piece of paper.

A degree, or rather knowledge, on the other hand, is the property of a person when he has studied it, understood it, memorized it, made it his own and now possesses it to the point that he uses it perfectly, as he wants and when he wants.

Thus, God wants each of us to be able to do the same thing with Him.

Then his happiness will become our happiness, his knowledge our knowledge, his love and his power our love and our power forever.

6. As for the second question, please refer to an answer published on January 21, 2015 on our website: I don’t know if in the history of the Church

You sent me your wishes for the new year 2016.

I reciprocate them in advance for the year in which you will receive this email, accompanying them with my prayer and my blessing.

Father Angelo