As the Year of Faith draws to a close, I pondered on what I could probably write about to end it with a ‘twang’! I then re-read Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Letter and the following words once again caught my attention:
“Faith grows when it is lived as an experience of love received and when it is communicated as an experience of grace and joy. It makes us fruitful, because it expands our hearts in hope and enables us to bear life-giving witness: indeed, it opens the hearts and minds of those who listen to respond to the Lord’s invitation to adhere to his word and become his disciples. Believers, so Saint Augustine tells us, ‘strengthen themselves by believing.’ The saintly Bishop of Hippo had good reason to express himself in this way. As we know, his life was a continual search for the beauty of the faith until such time as his heart would find rest in God. (Porta fidei, no. 7)”
Then it dawned upon me, “Why not write on the beauty of faith?” But surely Pope Francis could spice this idea more? I took the Encylical Lumen fidei found yet another wonderful passage that described how the saints add, so to speak, the richer ingredient of faith to make the ‘grandeur and beauty of life’ increase:
“Because faith is a way, it also has to do with the lives of those men and women who, though not believers, nonetheless desire to believe and continue to seek. To the extent that they are sincerely open to love and set out with whatever light they can find, they are already, even without knowing it, on the path leading to faith. They strive to act as if God existed, at times because they realize how important he is for finding a sure compass for our life in common or because they experience a desire for light amid darkness, but also because in perceiving life’s grandeur and beauty they intuit that the presence of God would make it all the more beautiful. (Lumen fidei no. 35)”
These two inspiring insights from two Popes, I thought, are intimately connected. They reveal two aspects of our faith: as an entrance leading to a place and light guiding our journey in this life.
“If I will have to go through a door leading into Heaven,” I said, “then I might as well enter it beautifully prepared to meet our Lord in the most important moment in every person’s life.” That’s when the idea hit me! What about listing down some helpful points that would make our faith (not only our face) beautiful?
And who might be an authority on beauty? Naturally, women! I asked a few acquaintances if they could send me at least ten helpful beauty tips. I didn’t explain what I needed them for. All I asked were tips ranging from cosmetics, fashion and health pointers.
Women are an eager bunch! In a few seconds, the replies came in through text and email. I excitedly read through their ideas. They coincided in many external tips related to putting on make-up, dressing up, and a few healthy reminders. But I was surprisingly pleased to read how they added many other suggestions related to beautifying one’s soul.
Here is what I have compiled and tweaked to beautify our faith.
a) Basic rule: cleanse, tone, moisturize. The gift of faith always begins with cleansing, that is, with our Baptism. It is then strengthened or toned by means of our spiritual life (i.e. our constant prayers and sacrifices). It is maintained alive or moisturized with frequenting the sacraments, living virtues and the beatitudes.
b) Choose quality over quantity and keep make-up simple and natural. Dress up according to your age. Plastic surgery is never an option. Never sleep with makeup on. One’s faith isn’t simply knowing a lot of information, memorizing of fulfilling a compilation of devotions. One’s faith is never put on or artificial, it must be a living faith and must struggle against the slumber of sin, vice and mediocrity.
c) Keep up with the times. It’s important to constantly rediscover the perennial beauty of one’s faith. One cannot be misled by trying to keep up with trendy-fashionable ideas of spirituality that will only pass. What is traditional may be old, but if it is kept alive, it is never irrelevant but always treasured and passed on. Know and participate with what’s going on in the Church, be interested in the teachings of the Pope, the Bishops and the lives of holy people.
d) Study your ‘body’ and what flatters it. Each person’s body, like his personal life of faith is unique. Although the contents of faith are unchangeable, the richness of its application in each person’s life is unlimited. It’s up to each one to ‘study his faith’ and discover its inner beauty that converts us to be more identified with Christ.
e) Find stylish friends who will be your true mirror. Our faith isn’t something we live alone. We were introduced to it through others, and its beauty will also grow with the help of others. ‘There is no better mirror than friends who will tell you truthfully what looks good on you and what doesn’t. And this is especially true when Christ our friend, guides and purifies through the sacrament of Reconciliation through His priests.
f) Develop inner joy and peace. Keep all negative thoughts, feelings, and negative people far, far away. Forgive everyone including yourself. ‘No make-up or expensive attire can replace eyes and a demeanor arising from these. Real beauty [faith’s inner attraction] has an aura that welcomes and attracts people to friendship, joyful and meaningful moments.’ Thus, the saints drew many souls to God through the beauty of Jesus through their faith.
g) Play! Be engaged in life, do the things you like to do, help others. Exercise, laugh, and see your friends regularly. A well maintained faith will naturally lead one to share the joy and peace that are fruits of faith. It will fill one with a divine optimism to face and change the world.
h) Be in the moment! ‘People beautified by faith enjoy each moment or are completely present in it. Moments well lived add up to a life well lived. And that is real beauty.’ The saints were men and women who savored every moment with an eternal sense because they were always living it in the presence of God. Thus, they were able to inject something far more beautiful to earthly realities and engagements.
i) Never forget to pray! This is something we can never do without in our faith beauty-kit. Prayer always gives inner peace, and continues to cleanse, tone and moisturize our faith. Thus, it keeps it radiant, young and fresh.
j) Believe in yourself because God believes in you! Smile, because life, no matter how challenging, is beautiful! Once again, each one has to place himself before the divine make-up artist: God. Who constantly showers us with His grace and mercy.
k) Bonus tip: Last but not the least, ask our Lady to help you put on your faith daily.
These are some helpful faith beauty tips that will hopefully enhance our personal faith and allow its radiance to illumine our path towards Heaven’s gates. Our beautiful faith will also, with grace, be a gateway for others to follow and enter through, because they are attracted to the beauty of our Lord made visible through our faith-full lives.