An Infinite Idea

“ The progress of our soul is like a perfect poem. It has an infinite idea which once realized makes all movements full of meaning and joy. But if we detach its movements from that ultimate idea, if we do not see the infinite rest and only see the infinite motion, then existence appears to us a monstrous evil, impetuously rushing towards an unending aimlessness. ”

~ Rabindranath Tagore

Rabindranath Tagore was not a Christian, but the above quoted statement could have been written by St. Augustine, because there is in it the same enthusiasm—in the etymological sense of the word: filled with the spirit of theos, God—and depth characterizing so many passages of St. Augustine’s writings. By the way, at the November 30, 2005 general audience in the Vatican, Pope Benedict, quoting from Augustine’s Expositions on the Psalms, said something very interesting about “those who do not know Christ” and yet, “within them, they have a spark of desire for the unknown, for the greater, for the transcendent: for true redemption.” However, apart from any theological consideration about this complex matter, I thought this was a very special way to wish all of you, dear readers,

A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Gentile da Fabriano, Pala dell'Adorazione dei Magi (part. Natività)
Uffizi Gallery - Florence