Signs

Was that a sign, or was it a coincidence?

The Church gives no way of telling from the event itself. What it teaches is that nothing falls outside God’s care: the solicitude of his providence is “concrete and immediate”, and he cares for all, “from the least things to the great events of the world and its history”. CCC 303 What it asks is trust rather than proof. God “can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints”, but the sound Christian attitude is to put oneself “confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it”. CCC 2115

Demanding a sign is named for what it can become. Tempting God “consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed”, as Satan urged Jesus to throw himself from the Temple and “force God to act”; such a challenge “always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power”. CCC 2119 Jesus himself asks for “childlike abandonment” to a Father who knows what his children need. CCC 305

What is offered instead is discernment, which Francis calls “a gift which we must implore”, grown “through prayer, reflection, reading and good counsel”. Gaudete Et Exsultate 166 It is exercised mostly “in small and apparently irrelevant things”, and for that he asks every Christian for a daily examination of conscience. Gaudete Et Exsultate 169 It asks a readiness to hear what one did not want: “It is not enough that everything be calm and peaceful. God may be offering us something more.” Gaudete Et Exsultate 172

These paragraphs are not in the Catechism’s own order. The one that answers the question directly is placed first; none has been left out.

2115

God can reveal the future to his prophets or to other saints. Still, a sound Christian attitude consists in putting oneself confidently into the hands of Providence for whatever concerns the future, and giving up all unhealthy curiosity about it. Improvidence, however, can constitute a lack of responsibility.

302

Creation has its own goodness and proper perfection, but it did not spring forth complete from the hands of the Creator. the universe was created "in a state of journeying" (in statu viae) toward an ultimate perfection yet to be attained, to which God has destined it. We call "divine providence" the dispositions by which God guides his creation toward this perfection:

By his providence God protects and governs all things which he has made, "reaching mightily from one end of the earth to the other, and ordering all things well". For "all are open and laid bare to his eyes", even those things which are yet to come into existence through the free action of creatures. Vatican Council I, Dei Filius I: DS — Denzinger–Schönmetzer (Enchiridion Symbolorum); cf. Wis 8:1; Heb 4:13.

303

The witness of Scripture is unanimous that the solicitude of divine providence is concrete and immediate; God cares for all, from the least things to the great events of the world and its history. the sacred books powerfully affirm God's absolute sovereignty over the course of events: "Our God is in the heavens; he does whatever he pleases." Ps 115:3. and so it is with Christ, "who opens and no one shall shut, who shuts and no one opens". Rev 3:7. As the book of Proverbs states: "Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will be established." Prov 19:21.

304

And so we see the Holy Spirit, the principal author of Sacred Scripture, often attributing actions to God without mentioning any secondary causes. This is not a "primitive mode of speech", but a profound way of recalling God's primacy and absolute Lordship over history and the world, Cf. Is 10:5-15; 45:5-7; Dt 32:39; Sir 11:14. and so of educating his people to trust in him. the prayer of the Psalms is the great school of this trust. Cf. Pss 22; 32; 35; 103; 138; et al.

305

Jesus asks for childlike abandonment to the providence of our heavenly Father who takes care of his children's smallest needs: "Therefore do not be anxious, saying, "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?". . . Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well." Mt 6:31-33; cf 10:29-31.

2119

Tempting God consists in putting his goodness and almighty power to the test by word or deed. Thus Satan tried to induce Jesus to throw himself down from the Temple and, by this gesture, force God to act. Cf. Lk 4:9. Jesus opposed Satan with the word of God: "You shall not put the LORD your God to the test." Deut 6:16. The challenge contained in such tempting of God wounds the respect and trust we owe our Creator and Lord. It always harbors doubt about his love, his providence, and his power. Cf. 1 Cor 10:9; Ex 17:2-7; Ps 95:9.

Gaudete Et Exsultate Mar 19, 2018

From the Catechism

From the Magisterium