FIDES QUAERENS INTELECTUM
By Leonardus Nana
It
is common to find the name of a saint for the name of an organization like
school. There are lot of catholic schools take Santa or Santo for their names,
for example, they have Saint Gabriel Senior High School, Saint Peter Elementary
School or Saint Mary Kindergarten and so forth.
Fides Quaerens Intelectum sounds strange but
when you come to Jalan Eltari Sasi Kefamenanu Timor, East Nusa Tenggara
Province, you will find Fides Quaerens Intelectum.
Fides
Quaerens Intelectum is a Catholic Senior High School and was built by Pater
Antonio Razzoli,
OFM.Conv,
a missionary from Italy in 2006.
Fides Quaerens Intelectum derived
from Latin means Faith to Lead Intellect or knowledge. We do not know the
background of choosing Fides Quaerens Intelectum as the name for the school.
However, we can learn that school is an institution for educating children. Education
means systematic
training and instruction by which human can gain skills and knowledge. The
skill and knowledge are useful to develop the capacity and capability in order
to enhance the qualities of intellectual, moral, mental power and character. Education
will give one power and authority to manage himself, his understanding and
skills so that his moral and character fit what God requires of him; it is to
do good deed.
Education
is a part of human life but it is not a product of human. Education is a given;
it is a gift from God. God poured this great gift into our hearts because we
are his temple. Therefore, we should guard this gift (education) well for it is
our lives (read Proverb 4:13b). Why? Education produces you knowledge and this
knowledge makes you clever. A clever person has capability and capacity to be
certain about what he believes and
consistent in what he says and committed in what he does (Sirach 5:9). This
means faith comes after intellect (knowledge), but by faith you can be sure to
apply your intellect (knowledge) successfully. When you succeed in applying
your knowledge, you will be called a well-educated person for by the faith you
have, you can utilize your knowledge to receive not only honor but also you will
be made worthy to praise God for the miracles He performs (Sirach 38:6).
We
know many people have been talking too much about faith, and knowledge. They
also have found out the relationship of faith and knowledge as well. Some
experts put faith and intellect (knowledge) in contradistinction. However, the
others pointed out the faith is not contrasted with the knowledge.
David L. Lipe, Ph.D. in FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE
(Apologetics Press, Inc) wrote that
knowledge and faith are not to be separated; it must be because they are
relevant in some way. The intellect (knowledge) and will (faith)
are complementary. Knowledge without faith leads to speculation. David L. Lipe, Ph.D added that The
Bible clearly teaches that faith and knowledge are not to be set in
contradistinction. Faith and knowledge
never are contrasted in the New Testament. Faith is contrasted with sight—not
knowledge or reason. He quoted in Hebrews 11:1 we read: “Now faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Further, Paul
wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:7: “For we walk by faith, not by sight.” These verses
make it clear that faith is set in contrast to “walking by sight.” Sight is a
type of sense perception, and therefore a means of attaining knowledge. Thus,
faith, instead of being contrasted with knowledge, is contrasted with a means
of attaining knowledge.
Additionally, David L. Lipe, Ph.D. in FAITH AND
KNOWLEDGE (Apologetics
Press, Inc) gave us excellence understanding that Faith and knowledge
may have the same object. Consider, for example, the following:
a. God
can be both known and believed. “Ye are my witnesses, saith the Lord, and my
servant whom I have chosen: that ye may know and believe me, and understand
that I am he: before me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after
me” (Isaiah 43:10).
b. The
truth can be both known and believed. “Forbidding to marry, and commanding to
abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of
them which believe and know the truth” (1 Timothy 4:3).
c.
The deity of Christ can be both known
and believed. “And we believe and are sure that thou art that Christ, the Son
of the living (John 6:69; cf. 4:42).
d. Jesus
said one could know and believe the same thing. “But if I do, though ye believe
not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe that the Father is in
me, and I in him” (John 10:38).
e.
Paul said, “I know whom I have believed”
(2 Timothy 1:12).
f.
Knowledge precedes faith. Faith never
precedes knowledge but instead is a commitment to knowledge. According to
Romans 10:17, faith comes after men have knowledge of the Word of God. For
biblical faith, where there is no word, there can be no faith. Where there is
no evidence, there can be no faith.
The Faith to Lead The Intellect
(Knowledge).
Fides Quaerens Intelectum means
Faith to lead Intellect (knowledge). In Hebrews 11:1 we read Faith is the
substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The things
hoped for is actually a dream or vision which is a short, succinct, and inspiring statement of what someone
intends to become and to achieve at some point in the future. Everybody must have a dream to become someone
one day. The dream must have something interesting and beautiful to be
actualized in life. The beauty in his dream will motivate to do something today
because he believes he can achieve something in the future.
Anna
Eleanor Roosevelt ever said future belongs to those who believe in the beauty
of their dreams. The beauty of dream is a motivation since there is no one has
ever achieved anything without a dream attached to a burning desire. The
burning desire requires action and action requires knowledge; however, it is
faith that guides us not to use knowledge for speculation. The Faith will lead
someone to have true knowledge so that by the true knowledge he could act base
on things
that are good and that deserve praise; things that are true, noble, right,
pure, kind, lovely and honorable (read Philippians 4:8). Then, if someone can
do so, he will become excellent and
an excellent person is valuable to life, humanity and nation.
For example, someone today is studying in Fides
Quaerens Intelectum Senior High School
because he believes that this school will shape him to enhance the qualities
of intellectual, moral, mental power and character for his future. Therefore, after graduating he will
take something to do totally until he achieves his aim or he will take an
advanced study like in medical health studies, he then will study on it with
faith that he can graduate as a talented doctor.
Base
on the above conception, we can learn that Fides Quaerens Intelectum Senior
High School is the good place where students can build their qualities of
intellectual, moral, mental power and character for his future. In Fides Quaerens Intelectum Senior
High School the learners can learn how to live in community (no student might
live out of dormitory), how to begin the day by praising the Lord’s name
through daily holy service at church every morning. After morning holy service,
the learners come to enjoy class learning in school hours and afternoon study
program. Here, they can study with teachers, making discussion, reading in
library or doing any science practicum and so forth.
Students
can learn many things in Fides Quaerens Intelectum Senior High School and one
of their peaks of learning is holding the competition of Debate, Speech and
Drama in English, Germany and Bahasa which is followed by all students of Fides
Quaerens Intelectum Senior High School. The committee has planned to invite other
participants from all senior high school around Kefamenanu city and adjacent.
Another peak of learning is holding Fides Volley Ball Championship. This
Championship has been followed by all Senior High School Volley Ball Team in
Timor Tengah Utara Regency and Niki-Niki of Timor Tengah Selatan Regency. The
committee has planned to invite other participants from Belu regency and Malaka
regency in the next coming year.
Beside
the contest or competition of Bulan Bahasa and Volley Ball championship,
students from time to time are required to do any field study. The students are
facilitated to make research or observe a certain case of either social or
natural phenomena. Students also can visit and learn from any representative
objects like Sonaf (traditional palace), Ume Naek (traditional house), and
institution of society or government.
The above description
let us learn that students of Fides Quaerens Intelectum can learn from many good
sources of learning. From those sources of learning, the students know where
understanding, strength and insight are to be found. The understanding, the
strength and the insight are the true knowledge that empowers learners to
enhance capability. When they are capable, they can enlarge capacity to do
their works. The learners, then by Faith will claim that they are capable of doing
their works because of the capacity they have comes from God (2Corinthians
3:5). The capacity from God is gift to know where to find along and full life;
where to find light to guide them and where to find peace (Baruch 3:14).
Knowledge for the prosperity and the
honor
Knowledge
is for the prosperity and the honor of human, but who gives human knowledge so
that they can achieve the prosperity and the honor? When we open
the Bible and then we can read “God sends
knowledge and understanding like the rain to the dry riverbeds and whoever
receives it will prosper.” It was also written “God sends knowledge and understanding like the rain, and increase the
honor of those who receive her. (Sirach 1:19).”
The above holy verses make us learn
that knowledge is divine
and belongs
to God. Knowledge is a holy gift that God sent and stored it in human’s mind. God had to send and
store the knowledge in human’s mind because the sin had been making their heart
and mind like dry riverbeds. It is likewise an area of a farm land but cannot
be cultivated. The land is only full of dust and dry grain of sands. No plants
can grow on it and no water living things could survive there. However, when
the rain falls, the dry riverbed becomes a running brook and a pond is formed.
Then, fresh water can be obtained and the living can exist.
The
rain is the condensed moisture of atmosphere falling in drop of water. The earth
really hopes for this dropped water to make itself a suitable place for the
living. The rain that falls on earth is forming stream and whatever plant grows
near it will send out its roots to the water. It is not afraid when the hot
weather comes because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no
rain; it keeps on bearing fruit (Jeremiah 17:8).
A
stream and water are important for the living of a tree and on the same way the
knowledge and the faith are important for men. Therefore, David L. Lipe, Ph.D, noted that the
intellect (knowledge) and will (faith) are complementary. In
addition, Knowledge precedes faith. Faith never precedes knowledge but instead
is a commitment to knowledge. According to Romans 10:17, faith comes after men
have knowledge of the Word of God. For biblical faith, where there is no word,
there can be no faith. Where there is no evidence, there can be no faith.
The men could have faith after they
have knowledge that it was by the Word of God everything was created and by the
same Word they have been assigned to use and control over everything. The men
could use and control over everything since God has given them desire (knowledge)
to know everything including the future, Ecclesiastes 3: 11a.
What
knowledge has been given to men? It is the knowledge contains information,
understanding and skill that make one intelligent and skillful to achieve great
advancement in science and technology. And faith is the key (confidence)
which open doors to scientific
and technical knowledge which is needed for the economic and political
development of many countries in the world.
Therefore,
it is not only knowledge but also faith needed to encourage people that by scientific
and technical knowledge they can be able to manage the country, to empower the society,
to build the economy and to develop the technology. Therefore, one who has knowledge
in faith is not afraid when the crisis come because he will stay firm to use
his knowledge for positive purposes only; he has no worries when the worldly
people apply their knowledge to concern on worldly matter; because he will exercise
his
knowledge to do good deed or to concern above everything else with the kingdom
of God and with what God requires of him (Mathew 6:33).
However, David L. Lipe, Ph.D also wrote that knowledge without faith
leads to speculation. Some people believe if God has given them reasoning power
to know everything like the forces of nature, what the world is made of, how the
elements behave and the nature of living creatures. In addition, some people
also have power to know about the future. The result is people could be able to
explore and control over the universe to fulfill their needs.
However, some of them still have great
desire to discover the mystery of how the universe and living were created.
They deny if God never gives them satisfaction of fully
understanding what God does (Ecclesiastes 3: 11). Therefore, some people do not
confess the existence of God and try to acknowledge their mind as the source of
the absolute power. People speculate with the intelligence of their mind to do
all things. Although they can achieve great advancement,
all things they do are just for a show and will be wasted for no one is benefiting
from the deed they do (Sirach 12:1).
Say
for example:
Firstly,
people have good advancement in economic science; despite
practicing socialism economy, they develop capitalism which makes the rich
become richer but the poor become poorer.
Secondly,
many inventions were obtained due to the advancement in biology, physic and
chemistry and technical studies. For example: the lives of many people are now
saved as the result of great achievement in medical technology study. However,
we know that in spite of mixing drugs for curing dieses and ease pain, people would
love to mix drugs for recreational use (marijuana, ecstasy, and some other
additive drugs).
The
nuclear is invented to overcome the crisis of energy but certain people wish to
apply nuclear energy to make MDW (mass destruction weapon).
The
development of Technical knowledge helps people to build certain vehicle like rocket
for transporting satellite, but people function it for carrying missile; People
sent satellite in to sky for spying purposes instead of for communication
purposes and nature observation.
The above examples of misusing science
and technology let us learn that intellect without faith will give you opportunities to build up life base
on bad reputation. You know, person with bad reputation will never be satisfied
with all he earns and achieves. His life is devoted for worldly matter (money) and
he therefore, would love to get rich (prosperity) and honor by sinfully chasing
after worldly matter (money) (Sirach 5:10 & 31:8).
In addition, knowledge without Faith
will give you opportunities to do activities of bad lust (evil). The activities
of evil (bad lust) can ruin life, humanity and the world. Therefore, take the faith
as the shield of your life and education to guard you against evil (Sirach
4:20). Guard yourself with knowledge, skill and good news that were built on
faith only because evil only comes to kill and to destroy.
Knowledge for Every Person
Who
can receive the knowledge? Everyone preserves right to receive the knowledge.
Where to receive the knowledge? Nobody will come up into sky, or go down to the
seabed. Nobody will go across the mighty ocean or come to the remotest part of
the earth to receive knowledge. God has put science and knowledge in the heart
of every person.
How
God
stored knowledge (science)
up
in human’s minds? At first, God equipped human with brain and this brain
contains a power that called Mind. Human’s mind riches of intelligence and this
intelligence has reasoning power that empowers human to learn, to learn and to
learn. Why should people learn? They indeed should learn to devote their time,
energy and mind to recognize God’s knowledge, to accept it and to work at it as
the Holy Scripture wrote “A Person’s
thoughts are like water in the deep well, but someone with insight can draw
them out (Proverb 20:5)”.
Thought is a power or process of
thinking that enables someone’s mind to think about something; to think about
life, humanity and universe. While thinking is the use and exercise of mind in
order to form opinions and/or to come to a conclusion of something.
Every person has thoughts but not all
people recognize them well; although some people recognize their thoughts, they
cannot be able to train and use them properly. Only those who have insight or will for advancement (someone with insight can draw them out) will
make efforts to find and to train their thoughts. You know what? Only a well-trained
thought
functions to give mind power to begin everything in this world (Sirach 37:18b).
Therefore, some people are clever and wise but the others are stupid and
foolish.
Talking about the power or process of
thinking that give mind power to begin something; there are at least three
ways the thought use to exercise mind to form opinions and/or
to set up a goal.
Firstly, think of something in your mind (set your goal up).
For example think of what you are going to be one day; to become a doctor or
druggist.
Secondly, exercise your thought to form opinions about the benefit
or value you will gain and/or what you will give when you have become someone,
like a doctor or druggist and how to accomplish what you are thinking of. This means, you should make plan
of how to accomplish your goal as it was written “Planning and thought lie
behind everything that is done (Sirach 37:16). Why should planning first? Plan
will help one set up priority and priority leads him to work in patient and
passion.
Patient and passion have a work done carefully and so it will produce plenty as
it was written; “Plan carefully and you will have plenty; if you act too
quickly, you will never have enough (Proverb 21:5).
What and how to do with our
planning? Planning is the arrangement for doing our work and this arrangement can
help us to do something accurately. This means that by planning we can know if
a work is feasible and valuable or not. If the work is unfeasible and
invaluable, we may then stop it although it can give big achievement.
However, a well settled plan does not warrant
the success of a goal; therefore, we should come to and ask the Lord to bless
all our plans and we will be successfully in carrying them out (Proverb 16:3). For
God’s blessing could guide us to act in accordance with what we have planned as
it was written “you may make your plans, but God directs your actions” (Proverb
16:9).
Thirdly,
we know that every person has been given a great deal of work to
do. Sirack 40:1a.” In order to execute the given great deal of work
successfully, we should put
a plan in a good settlement. Therefore, after the plan is well-resettled, we
should work
at it with all our hearts as though we were working for the Lord and not for
men (Colossians 3: 23).
This means that first, we should
accept our goal as a great deal of work to do from God, after that we must fall in love with the work
(goal), and then formulate plan how to work at it. Then, we should work
at our goal with all our hearts as though we were working for the Lord and not
for men base on what we have planned.
Finally, a success will be granted for our goal.
When you have been successfully
accomplishing the above three steps, you
then will become clever and wise because you do not only think
what you know but also you know what to do, Proverb 14:8, but one who only
thinks what he knows is stupid and foolish.
Say for example: Your goal is want to
become a doctor or a druggist, and then you may formulate your plan like the
following example: Leaving your parents
for studying in Fides Quaerens Intelectum Senior High School. You must not take
Social Sciences for your major but study physic, chemistry and biology in
Natural Science Program. After graduating Senior High School, you should enroll
to the faculty of pharmacology if you would like to become a druggist or you
should study in health and medical study program if you want to become a
doctor. If you study hard and do all activities base on what have been programmed,
you then will become a professional druggist or medical doctor.
Likewise another profession, God, The
Most High gave doctor or druggist knowledge and skill to do their works. The
knowledge and skill give them position of importance and so
Kings reward them and powerful people hold them in high regard for knowledge
and skill they possess. The druggist and the doctor are two professions which depend
on one and another as it was written “The druggist mixes the medicines,
and the doctors use them to cure diseases and ease pain (Sirach 38:7)”.
The above descriptions give
understanding that God gave human being knowledge and skill. The knowledge and
skill enable human to do their works successfully. The harvests of their
successful works are prosperity and honor (Sirach 38: 1-8).
How to obtain Knowledge
We are as a Human beings are the
weakest creatures in this world, but we finally grow and become the most
important and powerful creatures. Because we have been equipped with brain. This
brain contains a power that called Mind which riches of intelligence and this
intelligence have reasoning power to know everything through learning.
Learning
Learning
is an effort to gain knowledge (science) by studying, from experience or from
being taught, etc. Learning can be done by everybody at anytime and in any places;
Learning can be started at home, in school, from society. They can learn from themselves, parents, and
sister-brother and from the others as it was written “People learn from one another just an iron sharpens iron, Proverb
27:17.
Therefore,
learning is not hard and complicated; Learning is simple as it is a trial; a trial
is an error; an error is an exposure and an exposure is a retention.
Learning is Trial
In
the beginning, Human beings lived by nature and from nature and so all their
necessity were obtained from nature. Somehow, they were growing in number and
so are their needs like the need for moving. People could mobile from one place
to other place on foot, but finally a means of transportation was needed since they
had to carry more things to achieve further distance. They then made trial by arresting horse to
ride on for moving or carrying things from one place to another place.
Learning is Error
Many
errors were occurred during the trial or experiment of using a horse for
transportation. One thing is a horse only carried at much two person and few
things. People then, took it as an exposure and learn more for further
advancement.
Learning is exposure
Base
on the error that one horse only carried at much two person and few things, people
then make cart to be pulled by one horse; a cart that pulled by one horse could
carry some people and more things. Based on the above achievement, people then
made bigger cart to be pulled by several horses and road and bridge were
constructed for the safety and the easiness.
Learning is retention
Horse,
cart and road and bridge for transportation are good exposure that gave human
beings great advancement and they are still used nowadays. Base on the exposure
or experience of using a horse for transportation, people of today keep on trial
and trial. People finally invented machine to ease their works in many
fields. They have been developing
machine to replace the horse. It is now a car, a truck or a lorry used by
people for moving or transporting goods from one place to another places. The
above achievement is good retention.
Base on the above explanation, it is obvious that learning
is a process of freeing one dependency on others for knowledge, yet during the
process of learning, one is never free from what is called error/failure. We
must learn from error/failure for error will produce exposure/experience. And that
exposure will let us learn how to bounce back from failure. No one ever succeed
without failure.
Finally
we can conclude that it is the faith to lead the knowledge. Faith
is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. The
things hoped for is actually a dream for future motivation. Anna Eleanor Roosevelt ever said future
belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams. This means no one
has ever achieved anything without a dream attached to a burning desire. The
burning desire requires knowledge, however, it is faith that guides us not to use
knowledge for speculation. Faith will become foundation for true knowledge
which enables us becoming valuable to life, humanity and nation.
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