Dear Mr. Caughey, I have non-Catholic friends (Vaishnavs, aka "Hare Krishnas")who often tell me how shallow Christianity is and that they find bliss in the mysticism of Vaishnavism. Would you advise me on how to explain the mysticism and the depth of the Catholic Church? Do you think the mystical aspect is emphasized in the Church today? I feel our western society disregards the supernatural and Catholics tend to follow suit. What do you think? Also, my Vaishnav friends feel that nuns and monks take on the burdens of the world and that this is depressing, and that nuns and monks are not happy, and that God is not portrayed as a joyful God. Could you say anything to this? My sincere thanks and well-wishes, Marie Student Hi Marie, The best definition of Christian mysticism I have ever read was from a French writer who described it as, 'An exploration of the mystery of Christ' . The Catholic Church is profoundly mystical. Take for instance the Eucharist, were we believe that the little piece of bread becomes the Body of Christ and the wine becomes His blood. What could be more profoundly mystical than this. As Saint Athanasius well put it, "God became man so that man might become a god." (cf. St. Athanasius, De Incarnatione or On the Incarnation 54:3, PG 25:192B.What more wonderful and joyful adventure than this, as Saint Paul puts it, "We…are being transformed into his likeness with ever increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit" (2 Corinthians 3:18). What could be more wonderful than this or fill are hearts with more joy..that we are being transformed into the very image of Christ..of God Himself!! In a sense your friend is right and to often Catholics in the West are too often people of action rather than people of prayer. But in the East too if your friends are being honest all that glitters is not gold and what appears the true path of prayer is not. Invite them if you like to read the great Catholic mystics, folks like Saint John of the Cross , Saint Teresa of Avila...the list is endless. Also in the East suffering is often regarded as illusional this is simply not true, suffering is real, it is the perception of suffering as illusional that is itself delusional and such a path is very mistaken. Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta is a good example of a modern great Catholic mystic in action. Look for example how she nursed the dying in a deserted Hindu temple while the Hindus did nothing, claiming, as they do that suffering, being illusional does not matter, thus allowing the dying to be eaten in the streets by rats, abandoned. God Bless, Padraig
