Sensus Fidelium

PHOTO:MARY VAN BALEN
Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.”
Jn 7, 45-50

Something exists in the Roman Catholic Church called “sensus fidelium,” or “the sense of the faithful.” It is not something we hear much about, but it means that the affirmation of a particular doctrine or teaching being in keeping with the deep understanding of our faith is in keeping with the resides not only in the intellects and knowledge of theologians and church authorities, but also in the hearts of ordinary faithful Christians. Their acceptance of the teaching is evidenced by the incorporation of it into practice. When a doctrine or teaching is not accepted or when it is actively resisted the magisterium should review it: It may not be in keeping with our faith and experience of God, or the doctrine may have been poorly communicated, blurring the truth it attempts to express.

I am reminded of sensus fidelium when I hear the Pharisees question the temple police in this reading.Certainly, the ordinary devout Jews were beginning to wonder about Jesus and entertain the thought that he might be the Messiah after all. These people’s hearts were not skewed by desire to maintain power and status. They were not self-righteous and certain of the correctness of their understanding of the Torah as the Pharisees were. These were plain people, perhaps many uneducated, who were starting to know something not primarily with their heads, but with their hearts, moved by God.

People like that pose a threat to those in power, either political or religious. The same is true today. Trusting the sense of the faithful takes deep faith in the Presence of God within all. While the Church acknowledges the reality of sensus fidelium, it often has a difficult time hearing its voice.

For example, a new English translation of the Roman Missal soon will be used in the celebration of the Mass. Many voices throughout the Roman Catholic Church, lay, religious, and ordained, are expressing dismay and asking for the implementation to be delayed. The language is not that of modern English speakers. Why the change? Some say it is to insure a stricter adherence to the Latin Bible. Jesus didn’t speak Latin. Latin is already a translation of a translation. The sense of the faithful is saying the new Roman Missal will not enhance the faithful’s ability to participate in the Mass in a more meaningful way. It may well have the opposite effect.

This is one current example of those in power not trusting the Spirit working in ordinary faithful, who, as the Pharisees of Jesus’ day said, “do not know the law.” How many insights, truths, and revelations have been lost through the ages because they did not come from those educated in theology and the Scripture studies or those in positions of authority?

Today’s reading challenges us to examine what we truly believe about the God’s Spirit working in all the members of Christ’s body. We must be open to listen to wisdom coming from all places along the hierarchical strata. It also challenges us to be aware of the Spirit working in our family, co-workers, friends, and even enemies and to learn to trust in her guidance.
© 2010 Mary van Balen