What does studying a meteorite have to do with knowing God?
Brother Guy Consolmagno, S.J., astronomer and president of the Vatican Observatory Foundation, joined The Mark Swartzberg Show to explain how exploring the universe can deepen our appreciation for its Creator.
Brother Guy’s fascination with space began during the space race. Eventually, meteorites captured his imagination. He describes these ancient rocks as the “scrap heap of the planets,” containing clues about how our solar system formed.
For Brother Guy, however, science offers more than information.
“That’s where you see God – in the joy,” he said.
Looking at the night sky brings layers of wonder: memories of his father teaching him constellations, lessons from his years as a student, and discoveries made throughout his career. All of it points beyond everyday worries toward something much greater.
“All of these different layers lead me deeper and deeper into appreciating a universe which is so beautiful, so much bigger than my day-to-day problems,” he said.
That beauty can also become a reminder of God’s presence. Brother Guy explained that even a child looking up and marveling at the moon can encounter something profound.
“Even if you can’t see the moon, you know the moon is there,” he said. “Even if you can’t feel God, you know God is there.”
Science measures the physical universe, but Brother Guy says it can open our hearts to realities beyond measurement: joy, beauty, and love.
The Vatican Observatory itself reflects the Church’s longstanding conviction that faith and scientific inquiry need not be enemies. Studying creation can instead become another way of marveling at the Creator.
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