A CLO SE R LO O K
RADIATING THE LOVE THAT MOVES THE SUN AND STARS Arguably the most important official document to proceed from the Second Vatican Council was the “Dogmatic Constitution on the Church,” written “to unfold more fully” the “inner nature and universal mission” of the Church. (LG 1.) The document is better known by its Latin title, “Lumen Gentium,” taken from its first sentence: “Christ is the light of nations.” By proclaiming the Gospel, explains Lumen Gentium, the Church “brings the light of Christ to all people.” It is fitting, therefore, that the theme of the bicentennial year of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati is “Radiate Christ.” We can contemplate what it means to radiate Christ in at least a couple ways. PERMEATE
First, to radiate means to “permeate.” If we are to radiate Christ, we must not merely reflect the light of Christ, but rather be saturated by it. Christ must fill and spread through us, transforming us into different people from who we would be without His light. One of the errors of many Protestant theologies is the notion that Christ merely “cancels out” our sin by a forensic transaction, but does not effect a real change in our selves. 1 6 | THE CATHOLIC TELE G RAPH
This is contrary to the Catholic understanding that we are transformed by the grace of Christ; that He does not merely forgive us from our sins, but change us from sinners to saints. He truly enlightens us through the sacraments. Thus, we must allow the grace of Christ to permeate our lives, so we can truly be the light of Christ to others. As such, of course, we must be the kind of people in whom people see Christ. If the light of Christ has permeated our very being, and is transforming us from sinners to saints, that must be visible to those around us. Again, we do not merely reflect Christ. To be radiated by Christ is to become Christ for others, so when others see us they see Him. Hospitality, generosity, graciousness, and forgiveness are some of the virtues we will exhibit when we are permeated by the light of Christ. TRANSMIT
Second, to radiate is to “transmit.” To be sure, our lives should be a reflection of Christ’s love, mercy, and peace. But to radiate Christ means much more than that. If we radiate Christ, we are sending forth that love, mercy, and peace, not merely reflecting it. In other words, we are called to participate in the life of Christ in a real, tangible way. Light is a physical reality. It is comprised of waves that drive out
