Choose a topic from Part 1:
1. Fate in the sense of a rigid controlling powerover human actions, with its focus or seat in the stars, is notonly nonexistent, but impossible.
2. But sometimes the word fate is used for divineprovidence.
3. Fate as divine providence is a changeless rule, butthis does not mean fixity and mechanical necessity of events. As wehave noted elsewhere, providence does not interfere with free willitself, nor does it render meaningless the notion of contingenthappenings.
4. Fate as providence has reference to creatures andcreatural effects; it has no reference to the divine operations inthemselves.
"Whoever wants to stand alone without the support of a master and guide will be like the tree that stands alone in a field without a proprietor. No matter how much the tree bears, passers-by will pick the fruit before it ripens.
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St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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"Try to turn your heart from the love of things visible and bring yourself to things invisible. For they who follow their own evil passions stain their consciences and lose the grace of God.
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Thomas á Kempis
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"Every man naturally desires knowledge; but what good is knowledge without fear of God? Indeed a humble rustic who serves God is better than a proud intellectual who neglects his soul to study the course of the stars."
Thomas á Kempis
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