Founded Notre Dame (1843) Continued influence of charism and
spirituality Notre Dame family
Slide 3
Annual theme focuses attention on two key principles of CST
Evangelium Vitae It is by listening to the word of the Lord that we
are able to live in dignity and justice. (48)
Slide 4
Social Scriptures Where it all begins Social Tradition
Experiences from the life of the Church Social Thought Keeping the
tradition up to date Social Teaching Timeless principles of the
Church
Slide 5
The Church understands Justice as rooted in Scripture Is 1:15
Make Justice your aim. Micah 6:8 You have been told, O man, what is
good and what the LORD requires of you: Only to do the right, and
to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God. LK 10:34 Which
of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers
victim? He answered, The one who treated him with mercy. Scriptures
make social demands Prophets The Law is for Love Matthew 25
Slide 6
Brings together all people, place, events, and movements
following the call of Scripture The lived experience of this call
Dorothy Day Is the Catholic Church really the church of the poor?
Requires work for justice
Slide 7
Patristic and Classical Augustine Aquinas Reflection on what it
means to live JUST lives We need to correct our relationship with:
God, each other, creation Ongoing Theological Inquiry Liberation
Theology Eco-theology
Slide 8
Official teachings of the Magisterium Papal Encyclicals Bishops
Conferences Able to offer an unchanging light to the new problems
that we are confronted with Role of the laity
Slide 9
Can you name some principles of the Churchs Social
Teaching?
Slide 10
Human Dignity Common Good Rights and Responsibilities Option
for the Poor Dignity of Work Subsidiarity and Solidarity Care for
Creation
Slide 11
Foundation of CST Humans are created in the Image of God All
human life is sacred, from conception to death Gen 1:26 Then God
said: Let us make man in our image and after our likeness. Eph
4:23-24 And be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the
new self, created in Gods way in righteousness and holiness of
truth.
Slide 12
Humans are social beings Perfect model is Gods Trinitarian
(Relational) Nature We realize our own humanity in relationship
with others Lv 19:9-15 These things you shall leave for the poor
and alien. I, the LORD, am your God. Jn 13:34 I give you a new
commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also
should love one another.
Slide 13
The existence of rights are necessarily tied to duties With
great power comes great responsibility We must fulfill basic rights
for dignity to exist Duty to defend our rights But others must be
able to exercise theirs as well Mt 23:11 The greatest among you
must be your servant
Slide 14
Every person, regardless of status, is welcome as Christ
Corporal & Spiritual Works of Mercy poverty of body and soul Mt
25:31-46 Amen, I say to you, what you did for the one of these
least ones, you did for me Ps 41:1-3 Happy those concerned with the
poor and the lowly
Slide 15
Our human vocation is to participate in the creative work of
God This means that we are made to labor; work is a good thing But
it must be dignifying Every person has a right to fair, meaningful,
decent work that respects their dignity
Slide 16
Complementary principles Solidarity global concern We are all
connected Subsidiarity local concern But action should first occur
at the lowest level possible Jn 17:20-21 I pray that all of them
may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. We come
not just as servants, but as their neighbors, to be with them and
of them. -Constitutions of the Congregation of Holy Cross, 13
Slide 17
All creation is a gift from God We are not masters but stewards
with responsibility Environmental poverty Mt 6:25 Is not life more
than food, and the body more than clothing
Slide 18
Our choices reflect what we believe in Every economic decision
has a moral consequence -Caritas in Veritate If we believe in
Christ, we must act like it We are called to serve: The Oppressed
Relief of their suffering The Oppressor Conversion of heart But we
are not taking sides against sinful enemies Constitutions of the
Congregation of Holy Cross, 13
Slide 19
The mission is not simple, for the impoverishments we would
relieve are not simple. There are networks of privilege, prejudice
and power so commonplace that often neither oppressors nor victims
are aware of them. We must be aware and also understanding by
reason of fellowship with the impoverished and patient learning.
For the kingdom to come in this world, disciples must have the
competence to see and the courage to act. - Constitutions of the
Congregation of Holy Cross 13
Slide 20
CST is not just our mind, or heart, or soul isolated from one
another, its about integration Ought to be a transformative
experience
Slide 21
The mind will not be cultivated at the expense of the heart. -
Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C. Education Social Teaching = Power to
Exploit We stand with the poor and afflicted because only from
there can we appeal as Jesus did for the conversion and deliverance
of all. (Constitutions, 13)
Slide 22
Mind Integrating faith & reason Heart Discerning a vocation
of service Zeal Desire to use gifts for common good Family
Embracing community as context for lifelong formation Hope Trusting
in the cross and Gods promise of the kingdom