‘Make me a channel of your truth’

When God decides to give a Christian the charism of Knowledge, that one will become a channel of the truth obtained by serious study. The person will be enabled to better understand God, self, and the universe. Asking questions, seeking the best answers, wanting to know more and more about a subject ... this becomes like a passion. It is nourished by and leads to deeper prayer. New knowledge about God and the universe opens one to deeper gratitude for God’s handiwork. Yet the passion is not satisfied until the knowledge is passed on in some manner to others. It is never knowledge for knowledge sake; it is always for the good of others. This charism is often expressed in and accompanied by the charisms of teaching, leadership, writing, and/or encouragement.

What does one study? One can begin with the rich intellectual traditions the Church offers; one’s focus could be the Scripture as explained by authorities; the lives of the holy ones of God could be a good topic; science and marvels of the universe could be an exciting source of Knowledge. There are no limits to what one can study in this age of technology and research.

Why does one study? The Christian undertakes study in order to become better aware of God’s greatness to humanity, to marvel at the wonders God has wrought in creation, to better know God’s Word in the Scripture in order to live it more fully, to know how to practice one’s faith on an ever deeper level, to live fully the sacramental life of the Church, and so much more. Above all, one studies in order to share the knowledge gained in a spirit of love and service, to help make the world a better place, to further the Kingdom.

The life of Father Karl Rahner S.J., one of the foremost theologians of the 20th Century, exemplifies in admirable ways the charism of Knowledge. According to Rahner, his aim was to make the Christian faith intelligible to human beings in the modern world, and he did this by his study, his teachings, his writings. He was especially called to attend to the pastoral needs of the people, and he often stressed the importance of dialogue with all people of good will. He wrote well on the Church, the sacraments, and Scripture. But the Church was not always pleased with his writings, and he was ordered to submit whatever he wrote to a Vatican censor. Did Rahner react by going into solitude with hurt feelings and stop writing? No. His spirit was too great for that; his love for the Church too intense; his charism of Knowledge too vital to be involved in self-pity.

In the early days of Vatican Council II, Pope John XXIII invited Rahner to serve as a theological expert behind the scenes. In this position Rahner was able to share his vast knowledge and love for the Church as he labored tirelessly on several documents, especially, "The Church in the Modern World." Rahner died March 30, 1984, at the age of 80, grieving at times that the spirit of Vatican II was not taken seriously enough.