Some Catholics have become so anti-intellectual that they do not see the need for study. Unless one is mentally challenged, we all have a duty to study and know our faith.
Why? First of all, God has given us Reason, which, when combined to Revelation, forms one of the two pillars of our Faith. I use to draw two pillars on the board in religion class, reminding my students that we believed in Revelation, that is the Old and New Testament, but that Reason has brought us Tradition.
For Catholics, Tradition includes the teachings of the councils and the popes, primarily.
When we are on the road to perfection, we must allow God to passively purify us. This passive purification, to which I have brought your attention in the perfection series, must happen for us to attain holiness.
Purification happens here or in purgatory. Period.
Passive purification can lead to infused wisdom, the gift of wisdom. Now, wisdom also comes in study, but the gift of wisdom, as noted by Garrigou-Lagrange in the book I am sharing, brings higher knowledge, the knowledge of certain mysteries.
Predestination is one of those mysteries which may be enlightened by the gift of wisdom given after the passive purification is done.
Do not fear this purification. It brings life and love.
