In recent years, partly because of courses I teach at St. John’s University and partly because of my own interests, I have read some marvelous books about the ultimate meaning and mystery of the human person.
One of my favorite thinkers is the Catholic philosopher Gabriel Marcel (1889-1973). The more I understand Marcel’s insights, the more I realize how many Catholic theologians have used Marcel’s insights in constructing their own philosophy and theology. Even Pope Francis has used Marcel’s insights.
Stream of Consciousness
While Marcel’s insights are inspiring, his style of writing does not make for easy reading. I think of his writing style as something like stream of consciousness. Beautiful as his thoughts are, they do not seem well organized. It often seems that Marcel puts down ideas as they enter his mind without trying to present them in a way that might aid the reader. Some of his texts can seem like spontaneous thoughts.
I have found Seymour Cain’s small volume “Gabriel Marcel” (South Bend, Indiana: Regnery/Gateway Inc., 1963, pp. 128) very helpful.
Commenting on Marcel’s distinction between an enclosed ego that is preoccupied with itself, and a person who is open to other, Cain writes the following:
“Whereas the individual ego is blocked from contact with reality due to its self-fixation, anxiety, and closed-in-ness, the very mark of the person is disposability, the capacity to give oneself to what is present and thereby to bind oneself, to be-with.
“This response is made to a ‘call’ coming both from within and without. …
“Personal self-creation involves an openness to transcendent, suprapersonal reality in which the person is ultimately fulfilled. It involves self-consecration and self-sacrifice to something beyond oneself – a ‘creative fidelity’ to being. In becoming persons, through our works and acts or indeed our whole lives, we become open to being. In becoming ourselves we go beyond ourselves…” (pp. 80-81).
What Marcel calls the mystery of being is ultimately a mystery because of the mystery of God’s presence. What Marcel means by “transcendent suprapersonal reality” is God, and what Marcel means by “disposability” is probably best captured by the word availability.
In other words, by making ourselves available, we can become capable of appreciating the depth of others and also the presence of God. I think that by making ourselves available to others we also discover a new meaning and depth in ourselves.
Interdependence
Amazing as it may seem, I can learn more about myself by knowing more about others. God really has tied us together: to learn who I am at my deepest level, I must learn who the other is. If I mistreat other persons, I lose an opportunity to grow and know myself better.
The call that is made to everyone is a call from God inviting persons into a deep love relationship, but this call may come to us through mediators. For many, the call seems to become real through their experience of other persons. Each person is like a message from God. However, the call can also come from the beauty of nature, from the beauty of art and perhaps from many other sources. God’s call is constant and can reach us through many channels.
Basic Destiny
The basis of every vocation is this call from God. Every person has a unique vocation, a unique call from God. Saying “yes” to God’s call to a loving relationship is what should be the basic destiny of each person.
In addition to being called by God, there is within us the profound need to give ourselves away, to make a gift of ourselves. Whatever our specific vocation, whether it is to be married or single or celibate, the basic vocation of everyone is the call to be a gift-giver and the primary gift we are called to give is ourselves.
I think that what Marcel means by a call from within is the need within us to love. God created us in God’s image and likeness. If we believe that God is Love then we should not be surprised that we, God’s images, are called to be lovers.
That is our destiny though society may give other messages – explicitly or implicitly – encouraging us to be selfish and self-centered. Those messages can discourage us from trying to love and help others.
To believe in Christ and His message can provide the best motive, support and encouragement to live as Marcel suggests. If we are tempted to think that Marcel’s vision of a life of loving and being loved is just a pleasant dream that is not grounded in reality, we should think of Jesus.
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Father Robert Lauder is a philosophy professor at St. John’s University, Jamaica, and author of “Pope Francis’ Spirituality and Our Story” (Resurrection Press).