Editorial. Fides 2/2025. August 15, 2025.
Human life is coloured by both the everyday and the festive, by work and leisure, by diligent activity and—hopefully—also by moments of relaxed rest. This is exactly what our bishop reminded us of at the start of the summer in his message “On Rest and the Christian Call to Wholeness (Visit an external site. The link opens in a new tab.)” (10 June 2025). God wants us to rest as well. Holidays and rest have many dimensions: body, mind, and spirit. In his message, the bishop also encouraged us to use our holiday time in ways that strengthen family bonds, and he offered suggestions for “Christianising the holiday”:
- Read a spiritual book that nourishes the soul.
- Visit a shrine or historic church while travelling.
- Take a break from social media and return to what is essential.
- Walk in nature and pray in silence.
- Eat with the family in peace, beginning with thanksgiving.
- End the day with thanksgiving to God together as a family.
By the time this issue goes to press, schools have already started and most of us in working life have returned to our jobs. Yet it may still be worth pausing for a moment over this list of advice and reflecting on what we actually did—and what we left undone. It is not too late to set things right.
Each point in that list is in itself worthy of stopping for. When was the last time I read a spiritual book? Did I step into a church to pray? Did I at least for a moment turn my gaze from my phone screen to a human face? Did I enjoy nature—not only the Finnish forest or lake view, but also the southern sandy beach and the sea, which are likewise part of this marvellous creation? What did I do alone, and what did I do together with my family?
Sadly, many things in the world stop us short and disturb us deeply. We can feel hopeless when war, suffering, and evil seem beyond anyone’s power to end. Yet we should just as readily pause to rejoice—to rejoice in the many beautiful things in our lives and around us: in good deeds, in love, in care and concern, in common prayer, which is not only asking but also thanking and praising.
There is no shortage of reasons for thanksgiving: the new church space in Lauttasaari, successful summer camps for children and youth, the young people’s pilgrimage to Rome… We can read about these in this and in future issues. “O taste and see that the Lord is good” (Ps 34:9).
A blessed start to the autumn season! Let us continue on our way, but let us not hesitate to stop and marvel—for there is a time for that too.
Marko Tervaportti
When this issue goes to print, the young people of our diocese will be returning from their Jubilee pilgrimage to Rome. We will be celebrating the opening of the Church of Saint James the Apostle in Lauttasaari, the diocesan feast, and an ordination to the priesthood in Lohja. More on these in the next issue.