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Hi there, nice to see you again. I agree that doctrines and traditions of men do not have the Whole Truth. I think that all Catholics are with you there.

What do my words - and especially my actions - say?

Is anything as important as God (Father, Son and Holy Spirit) to me?

If I had to give up every loved one, every possession, every thing - right here and now - would I have any reservation or hesitation?

Who do I believe?

Who do I trust?

Do I love those who hate me?

Do I love everyone else, both in word and in deed?

Excellent questions that perhaps all of us could and should ask of ourselves. But how do they show that the Holy Spirit is alive and well and living in us?

With the exception of belief in the Trinity, I'd say that Mahatma Gandhi was a much better Christian than I am. And I'm sure that there are people who act much more grossly than I do that are better, and those who act more piously are worse. I'm sorry, but I don't see the answer here.

With the exception of belief in the Trinity, I'd say that Mahatma Gandhi was a much better Christian than I am.

IMO that's a sad comparison to make - I'm guessing you're more familiar with the film than the real man. I'd recommend you check out Richard Grenier's The Gandhi Nobody Knows as a start to learn more about the real man.

Thank you for your reply! Good to see you too, MarkBsnr!

With the exception of belief in the Trinity, I'd say that Mahatma Gandhi was a much better Christian than I am. And I'm sure that there are people who act much more grossly than I do that are better, and those who act more piously are worse. I'm sorry, but I don't see the answer here.

As you say, Ghandi would have failed on whether anything was as important as God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit) to him, since he didn't know and/or believe in Christ Jesus.

It is my assertion, however, that a person led by the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 3, 14-17, Romans 8, I Cor 2, etc.) --- and not by his own self will --- would evidence certain properties as follows (to put the questions as statements:)

1. Would have no inconsistency at all between what he says and what he does, i.e. no hypocrisy.

2. Nothing would be as important to him as the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Indeed, that would be all that truly mattered to him.

3. Would not complain or hesitate if God required him to give up all that he had, including his beloved family and friends.

4. Would believe God.

5. Would trust God.

6. Would love those who hate him.

7. Would love everyone else as well, not in words alone but in deeds.

That is not to say he wouldn't slip back to self-will or a pity party now and again, but while he is under the Spirit's leading - those are the properties I would expect to see as an observer of his life.

BTW, I was very pleased that this Pope's First Encyclical was on love. Evidently that will be the theme of his papacy. I wish, however, he had spent more words on the love of God than on the love of neighbor. That is, after all, the Great Commandment (Matt 22.)