The term idiot in the Latin and Greek means “one who is unstudied” the apostles in scripture were described as such because they had not been trained formally, but they were trained in a supernatural way through the Holy Spirit, they came to understand who the Christ is and taught through Him.
Theology, of course is the systematic and rational study of and God and religious concepts or ideas, therefore a theologian would be one who has completed training in the study of concepts of God and of the nature of religious ideas, usally from a university, seminary or school of divinity.
So, I see myself very much like the latin translation of the meaning “idiot”. Ever since my turning away from being a sometimes less than lukewarm Catholic I’ve constanty sought ways to deepen my Catholic faith through a deeper understanding of God and His love for His people. As most of us know this jouney begins with commitment to a prayer life, praying always and constandly. Which for me didn’t leave much time for study of any type of theology. Until I read a quote from Blessed John Duns Scotus who was a 13th century theologian, and not just in the western academic sense of the word, but very much in the Evagrian sense: “If you are a theologian, you will pray truly. And if you pray truly, you are a theologian.” So it seem prayer will lead to Theology (Understanding God, sacred scripture, sacred tradition and His Church) and this theology will lead you to prayer.
I’ve liked the fact that St. Thomas Aquines, one of the greats Doctors of the Church was considered slow witted a dumb Ox by his follow students, from his youth he had a tremendious prayer life in which he prayed always. Later on in his life it is said he did most of his wrttings in front of the Blessed Sacrament. So perhaps his greatness as a theologian not so much from his great mind, but more from his heart, opened by prayer, connected to new inspiration that blessed and grace his mind. Or just perhaps prayer just raised a few of his IQ points.
So there seems to be connection, between prayer and theology, between the heart and the mind between understanding God and knowing Him. So, this blog is more about the theology of prayer or perhaps prayer as theology, either one, you pick. I think either way there’s a lot of ground to cover, this Catholic Faith is so vast, so deep and to think that in it, we are all connected (through prayer) in this expanive, ancient and eternal faith.
Thanks Blessed John Duns Scotus,