1. The knowledge of religion is infused.
The Catholic Religion being a revealed religion cannot be learned in an ordinary way. It must be revealed to a soul through infused knowledge. It is no wonder that very few, indeed, have a knowledge of the Catholic Religion.
2. St.Benedict’s way.
St Benedict has laid down the steps necessary for one to receive this knowledge in a simple way in his monastic “school of the Lord’s service. ” The first is Fuga Mundo. The next is humility.
The first step is “Flee the world;” the next is growth in humility or poverty in spirit. That’s just about it. While growing in humility (St. Benedict enumerates 12 degrees while St. Gregory enumerates 7), God gives the soul Faith, Hope and Charity. Even in Faith God reveals certain supernatural truths and reveals more and deeper truths as a soul goes into Hope and Charity. Saints usually use Scriptures, the writings of the Fathers and doctors of the Church to check and verbalize the truths they have learned directly from God.
3. Another way.
Another way to attain this knowledge is by searching. Searching for what? Truth. One is confronted by a truth that he cannot understand. So he ponders upon it until such time that God reveals the truth to him. Mary pondered things in her heart. Though she had infused knowledge, (she knew many things not known by the rest of Israel,) like the Messiah was to be born of a virgin), she had to ponder things in her heart, faced by the prophecy of Simeon.
4. Therese received it the first way.
St. Therese, as a child, had this knowledge even while yet living in her father’s house. As a nun, she merely used Scriptures, the Following of Christ and John of the Cross to confirm and verbalize what she already knew ….by her humility: Hers was a continuous effort to do God’s will and deny her own will. This is the above mentioned monastic way of attaining infused knowledge. St. Therese received this knowledge as a child.
5. The second way is more difficult.
If I have not received these truths through revelation and I find myself faced with these truths that are beyond my natural comprehension what should I do? I must humbly accept that these are beyond my capability, pray humbly for understanding and patiently ponder them in my heart. Either way a soul may attain to supernatural truths.
6. Pride of life prevents learning.
The Church is faced today with Catholics who either cannot understand or cannot accept her truths. Why? Either because God has not yet revealed these to them or, faced with these truths beyond natural comprehension, they meet it with pride. The reason for both is pride.
7. Remaining children and becoming like children again.
Like St. Therese, it is easy to be a recipient of this infused knowledge if one remains as a child. If we have lost our childhood, then we should become like children again. To do so is to be humble in heart or poor in spirit. He is humble who looks at an awesome truth and remains silent, withholding judgment while pondering things in his heart. He is conscious in his heart that he does not possess all knowledge and is probably faced with a truth that is beyond his comprehension. He knows there is a limit to human or natural reasoning wherewith he cannot go beyond its limits. He knows there are truths that are within the realm of the supernatural, all beyond the limits of his mind. And there is nothing he can do except wait humbly for the mercy of God who in His own time may decide to reveal this knowledge or wisdom to him.
8. A proud man.
A proud man who stands before these truths will be annoyed by his inability to understand. And his impatience will be his biggest obstacle to understanding. God never reveals His truths to the proud and impatient. He gives this knowledge to the humble, especially to children. Proud and unable to understand, he will set the truth aside or misinterpret it. This is what is happens when a proud man reads the writings of Pope Benedict XVI. Unable to understand his mind they are in danger of misinterpreting his ideas.
9. Stand in Awe.
No, everyone must have a moment of silence before profound truths. Stand in awe and recognize your nothingness before the majesty of the Divine Truths. Ponder things in your heart humbly. And maybe He will have mercy on you and reveal the truth to you.
In fact, all the truths of the Catholic Religion must be handled this way. It needs abundant patience to stand in awe, to ponder and to understand.