--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: ...when today as believers in our age we…" description: "\"“...when today as believers in our age we hear it said, a little enviously perhaps, that in the Middle Ages everyone without exception in our lands was..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/pope-benedict-xvi-414_behind-the-scenes_when-today-as-believers-in-our-age-we-he_141630.jpg" --- # ...when today as believers in our age we hear it said, a… ![“...when today as believers in our age we hear it said, a little enviously perhaps, that in the Middle Ages everyone without exception in our lands was a believer, it is a good thing to cast a glance behind the scenes, as we can today, thanks to historical research. This will tell us that even in…” quote by Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/pope-benedict-xvi-414_behind-the-scenes_when-today-as-believers-in-our-age-we-he_141630.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/pope-benedict-xvi-414_behind-the-scenes_when-today-as-believers-in-our-age-we-he_141630.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/pope-benedict-xvi-414_behind-the-scenes_when-today-as-believers-in-our-age-we-he_141630.jpg) > ““...when today as believers in our age we hear it said, a little enviously perhaps, that in the Middle Ages everyone without exception in our lands was a believer, it is a good thing to cast a glance behind the scenes, as we can today, thanks to historical research. This will tell us that even in those days there was the great mass of nominal believers and a relatively small number of people who had really entered into the inner movement of belief. It will show us that for many belief was only a ready-made mode of life, by which for them the exciting adventure really signified by the word credo was at least as much concealed as disclosed. This is simply because there is an infinite gulf between God and man; because man is fashioned in such a way that his eyes are only capable of seeing what is not God, and thus for man God is and always will be the essentially invisible, something lying outside his field of vision. ...”” [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Belief often exists as a social label rather than deep conviction, creating a gap between divine mystery and human perception. **In simple terms:** Many people follow faith outwardly without true inner commitment. Key Takeaway Recognize the difference between nominal and authentic belief. Themes faith authenticity perception Mood reflective serious Type theological philosophical When to use this quote - religious practice - historical study - personal spirituality Key Concepts theology human limitation Questions to Reflect On - What does authentic belief look like for you? - How does societal pressure shape faith? A Different Perspective True belief may be rare and hard to verify. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Behind the scenes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-the-scenes/) [Believers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/believers/) [God and man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/god-and-man/) [Middle ages](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/middle-ages/) ## Related quotes > [“The risen Lord is the new Temple, the real meeting place between God and man.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/the-risen-lord-is-the-new-temple-the-real-meeting-place-between-god/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Discernment is first of all a habit, a way of seeing that eventually permeates our whole life. It is the journey from spiritual blindness…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-haley-barton/discernment-is-first-of-all-a-habit-a-way-of-seeing-that-eventually/) [Ruth Haley Barton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-haley-barton/) > [Meditation means seeing God within you, and love is seeing God in the person next to you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/meditation-means-seeing-god-within-you-and-love-is-seeing-god-in-the/) [Sri Sri Ravi Shankar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sri-sri-ravi-shankar/) > [Humility begins with seeing who God is, seeing yourself compared to God, and then seeing yourself as God sees you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-j-lawson/humility-begins-with-seeing-who-god-is-seeing-yourself-compared-to/) [Steven J Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-j-lawson/) > [To some men it is hard seeing a call of God through difficulties; when if it would but clothe itself with a few carnal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-owen/to-some-men-it-is-hard-seeing-a-call-of-god-through-difficulties-when/) [John Owen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-owen/) > [There is no greater discovery than seeing God as the author of your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ravi-zacharias/there-is-no-greater-discovery-than-seeing-god-as-the-author-of-your/) [Ravi Zacharias](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ravi-zacharias/) > [“Avoid fear because it will blind you from seeing God's purpose about your life and limit your potential.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/avoid-fear-because-it-will-blind-you-from-seeing-god-s-purpose-about/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“the highest condition of the Human Will, as distinct, not as separated from God, is when, not seeing God, not seeming to itself to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-macdonald/the-highest-condition-of-the-human-will-as-distinct-not-as-separated/) [George MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-macdonald/) > [If you’re not seeing God move in your life right now, one of two possibilities must be considered. Either your requests are not God’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/if-you-re-not-seeing-god-move-in-your-life-right-now-one-of-two/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [It has to do with seeing God. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8).](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/it-has-to-do-with-seeing-god-blessed-are-the-pure-in-heart-for-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [An idea is an eye given by God for the seeing of God. 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While prayer is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-example-of-fidelity-to-prayer-challenges-us-to-examine-the-time/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [If we look to the saints, this great luminous wake with which God has passed through history, we truly see that here is a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/if-we-look-to-the-saints-this-great-luminous-wake-with-which-god-has/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [“Joseph Ratzinger never developed his own theological system. As a theologian he took on what was there, discerned its essentials, situated it in relation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joseph-ratzinger-never-developed-his-own-theological-system-as-a/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Jesus Christ does not teach us a spirituality “of closed eyes”, but one of “alertness”, one which entails an absolute duty to take notice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/jesus-christ-does-not-teach-us-a-spirituality-of-closed-eyes-but-one/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Joy is the true gift of Christmas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/joy-is-the-true-gift-of-christmas/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Material possessions, in themselves, are good. We would not survive for long without money, clothing and shelter. We must eat in order to stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/material-possessions-in-themselves-are-good-we-would-not-survive-for/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [One of the promising indications of a renewal in the Church's missionary consciousness in recent decades, has been the growing desire of many lay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/one-of-the-promising-indications-of-a-renewal-in-the-church-s/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [God loves us despite our shortcomings and sins, and his love gives meaning to our lives and to the life of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/god-loves-us-despite-our-shortcomings-and-sins-and-his-love-gives/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [It's a great responsibility before God, the judge who guides us, who draws us to truth and good, and in this sense the church…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/it-s-a-great-responsibility-before-god-the-judge-who-guides-us-who/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Discovering the beauty and joy of faith is a path that every new generation must take on its own.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/discovering-the-beauty-and-joy-of-faith-is-a-path-that-every-new/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) > [Apostolic and missionary fruitfulness is not principally due to programmes and pastoral methods that are cleverly drawn up and "efficient", but is the result…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-benedict-xvi/apostolic-and-missionary-fruitfulness-is-not-principally-due-to/) [Pope Benedict XVI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) [Explore all 575 Pope Benedict XVI quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-benedict-xvi/) ## More Behind the scenes quotes > [Resist discouragement by speaking His Word over your future. Keep standing. Keep hoping; keep believing because He is working behind the scenes. He's going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-osteen/resist-discouragement-by-speaking-his-word-over-your-future-keep/) [Joel Osteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-osteen/) > [CD's are amazing because you get the artwork, you get to look at the lyrics, you get to look at the behind-the-scenes photos or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-patrick/cd-s-are-amazing-because-you-get-the-artwork-you-get-to-look-at-the/) [Richard Patrick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-patrick/) > [Actors are journeymen. We show up for work. We do the job and then we go. 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Not just trackside, but behind the scenes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christian-horner/when-you-win-a-grand-prix-it-s-the-culmination-of-everything-coming/) [Christian Horner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christian-horner/) > [If the Russians masterminded fraud for 40 years at the highest state level in sports, operating behind the scenes to corrupt sports, what else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-fogel/if-the-russians-masterminded-fraud-for-40-years-at-the-highest-state/) [Bryan Fogel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-fogel/) > [Act as if the universe is a prodigious miracle created for your amusement and illumination. Assume that secret helpers are working behind the scenes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/act-as-if-the-universe-is-a-prodigious-miracle-created-for-your/) [Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/) > [This is something that we talked about for a long time. 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But this pain is not for those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/hundreds-have-looked-for-you-and-died-searching-in-this-garden-where/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) [Browse all 423 Behind the scenes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behind-the-scenes/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“...when today as believers in our age we hear it said, a little enviously perhaps, that in the Middle Ages everyone without exception in our lands was a believer, it is a good thing to cast a glance behind the scenes, as we can today, thanks to historical research. This will tell us that even in those days there was the great mass of nominal believers and a relatively small number of people who had really entered into the inner movement of belief. It will show us that for many belief was only a ready-made mode of life, by which for them the exciting adventure really signified by the word credo was at least as much concealed as disclosed. 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