Episode 1600: Sunrise Sunset

Psalm 113:3

"From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

The phrase "From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets" symbolizes the entirety of creation, emphasizing that God's glory is manifest everywhere.

This verse is understood as an exhortation to offer continuous adoration and gratitude to God, recognizing His sovereignty over the entire universe. It serves as a reminder to acknowledge God's presence and majesty from the beginning of each day (at sunrise) until its conclusion (at sunset). In this way, Catholics are encouraged to live their lives in a spirit of worship and devotion, recognizing God's providence and goodness in all things.

In "The City of God," Augustine emphasizes the ultimate end of human life: the vision and enjoyment of God. He contends that the true and lasting happiness of humanity is found in a deep and abiding relationship with God, which transcends the fleeting pleasures of the world.
St. Augustine's view on the ultimate end of human life is deeply rooted in his understanding of the nature of God and the nature of human beings.

Augustine argued that every human heart is restless until it rests in God. He believed that God has created us with a natural inclination towards seeking Him, and that our true and lasting happiness can only be found in a deep and abiding relationship with God. This concept is famously expressed in the opening lines of his autobiographical work, "Confessions": "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

For Augustine, the pursuit of worldly pleasures and the accumulation of material goods, while potentially providing temporary satisfaction, ultimately fall short of providing true fulfillment. He saw these pursuits as akin to chasing after fleeting shadows, unable to satisfy the deep longing of the human soul.

Instead, Augustine argued that the human soul finds its true purpose and happiness in a loving union with God. He believed that through contemplation, prayer, and a life of virtue, individuals could draw closer to God and experience a foretaste of the eternal joy that awaits them in the presence of God.

In Augustine's view, the vision and enjoyment of God represent the highest possible fulfillment of human existence. This vision of God is not just an intellectual understanding, but a direct and immediate encounter with the divine, which brings about a profound transformation in the soul.
St. Teresa of Ávila, a Doctor of the Church and a prominent mystic, shared a similar perspective with St. Augustine regarding the ultimate end of human life.

Teresa of Ávila placed great emphasis on the importance of seeking union with God as the highest goal of the Christian life. She believed that the soul's ultimate fulfillment and happiness lie in a deep and intimate relationship with God.

Much like Augustine, St. Teresa saw the pursuit of worldly pleasures and attachments as impediments to the soul's progress towards God. She advocated for a life of detachment from material concerns and a focus on prayerful contemplation as a means to draw closer to the divine.

In her writings, particularly in her masterpiece "The Interior Castle," St. Teresa described the journey of the soul towards union with God as a series of inner chambers, each representing a deeper level of intimacy with the divine. The ultimate goal was to reach the innermost chamber, where the soul experiences a profound and transformative union with God.

St. Teresa's teachings resonate with Augustine's belief that the true and lasting happiness of humanity is found in a deep and abiding relationship with God. Both saints emphasized that this union surpasses any worldly pleasure or possession, offering a fulfillment that satisfies the deepest longings of the human heart.

In summary, St. Teresa of Ávila's view aligns with St. Augustine's understanding of the ultimate end of human life. They both saw the pursuit of God as the highest purpose of human existence, emphasizing the need for a profound and loving union with the divine for true and lasting happiness.

Aquinas is known for his synthesis of Christian theology with Aristotelian philosophy. He proposed that the ultimate end of human life, known as the "final cause" in Aristotelian terms, is to attain communion with God through the beatific vision. This vision is a direct, intuitive knowledge of God's essence that brings about a supreme and unending joy in the one who experiences it.

Aquinas argued that this beatific vision fulfills the deepest longing of the human soul. It transcends earthly pleasures and intellectual pursuits, offering a perfect and eternal union with the divine. He believed that all human desires ultimately find their truest and fullest satisfaction in God.

While Aquinas's approach differs from Augustine's, both share the belief that the pursuit of God is the ultimate source of human happiness and fulfillment. They both assert that the true end of human life transcends the fleeting pleasures of the world and culminates in a profound union with the divine.
St. John Bosco was deeply committed to the holistic development of young people, particularly in their spiritual lives. He emphasized the importance of forming a strong relationship with God through prayer, sacraments, and virtuous living.

Bosco's approach to spirituality focused on practical and accessible means for individuals to grow in their faith. He often encouraged a devout prayer life, regular reception of the sacraments, and adherence to a virtuous lifestyle.

In terms of the ultimate end of human life, Bosco may not have provided a detailed philosophical or theological treatise akin to St. Augustine. However, he would likely have aligned with Augustine's fundamental premise that the highest fulfillment of human existence is found in a deep and abiding union with God.

Bosco's emphasis on guiding young people towards a life of holiness and virtue suggests a shared belief in the transformative power of a personal relationship with God. He would likely have supported Augustine's contention that true and lasting happiness is ultimately derived from communion with the divine.

Overall, while St. John Bosco may not have provided a specific commentary on Augustine's views, his own spiritual teachings and pastoral approach are in harmony with the broader concept of finding ultimate fulfillment in a deep and abiding relationship with God.

We as Catholics today must take our inspiration from these great saints and look at our families as a source of tradition and pass it forward educating them in the ways of letting the fleeting things of our lives not distracting us from our common and important goal of serving Christ and therefore saving our souls and those of our children and grandchildren through prayer and devotion. Once again why were our ancestor and us born? To Know to love to serve our God. Why? So we all can be with each other in heaven as our final sunset.