Christ as Our Model in Defeating The Unholy Three (Summary of Chapter 1 of The Unholy Three)
Matthew J. Bellisario O.P.
In continuing my
read of Rev. Henry J. Romanowski’s ‘The Unholy Three’ I am finding this book to
be one of my favorites of the year. His writing style I find to be in the vain
of Fulton Sheen or Fr. James Gillis who are from the same era. Written with
wit and tenacity the author demonstrates that human happiness can never be
derived from something that is contrary to its nature. As we know, man is
created in the imago dei, or the image and likeness of God. This primarily refers
to man’s unique ability to use his intellect to obtain knowledge, deliberate on
what he learns and to act towards an end. This is known as the teleology of an act.
Yet, most people simply will not put forth the mental effort to reason out their
existence on a rational level.
The author
insists, “…that man will never grow up. He is ever like the child who would
rather have an ice-cream cone now than a whole ice-cream parlor later.” So
often we see people act out of pure emotion rather than thinking anything
through. Our fallen nature all too often is not held in check because we falsely
think that by following our unbridled base desires that we will be happy in the pleasures
they provide. In modern man, there is something missing and this can be seen in
today’s noxious immorality being accepted at every level of society.
Continuing from
his introduction focusing in on man’s failure to use his intellect for its proper
end he writes, “…why does man have such a beclouded sense of values? Because he
neglects his God-given capabilities; because he gives rein to his sense
faculties and holds in check his rational powers; because he fails to think.”
Romanowski uses colorful language to illustrate the necessity of man striving
toward the truths of God and putting what he learns into action. For the author, this is not something that comes to man easily as the pleasures of the Flesh come.
“Our proper environment
is the environment of thought. None of the eternal values can be weighed on a
scale, nor be wrapped up in attractive colors to catch our eye, nor be handed
to us on a silver platter without effort on our part. We have to go after them;
we have to wade into the intellectual sphere with eyes alert and nostrils
exhaling fire, as it were, ready for a stiff battle. After all, if the Devil
goes about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour, then we, to
frighten him away, have to roar even more loudly and devour all we can. We have
to set up barricades on every side which thwart him, barricades of a faith strengthened
and reinforced, first by knowledge, and the by the conviction that comes from a
truth well grasped and made our own.”
Romanowski
suggests that most Catholics are mediocre in their faith and that “mediocrity
may be our damnation, because the World, the Flesh, and the Devil are anything
but mediocre in their demands.” Most of us seem to float along the path of life being
pulled here and there by the Unholy Three. But, he even takes it further to point
out how much effort we will put into worldly efforts to buy a larger house and
nicer car or avoid any unpleasantness in our lives. We live our lives in “an attempt
to garner these perishable prizes.” He then goes on to quote a stinging passage
in reference to those who chase after such vain prizes from Saint Bernard, “They are martyrs of the
devil, putting to shame the saints of God, and running more eagerly to death
than these to life.”
The chapter closes
out by pointing out the futility of seeking improper things to bring us
happiness. “The things of this earth which men pursue with such a fanatic
frenzy will never give them happiness, for the simple reason that happiness is
not theirs to give. We might better look for diamonds on the muddy banks of the
Mississippi.” He then refers to Christ as our model. That much like an athlete
who studies his favorite baseball player and tries to learn and practice what
he learns intently so that they may become an excellent ball player, the same
is expected of the Catholic. We must study the perfect Model, Jesus Christ, who
our ultimate end who alone can make us happy and fulfilled. “If the intellect
is made for truth, what could have more truth than Eternal truth? And if the
will is made for good, what could have more good than Infinite Goodness? The
day on which we realize this, we shall score our initial triumph over the
Unholy Three”
All quotes taken from ‘The Unholy
Three.’
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