9/2/2019 RCIA Session 10: The Two Great Commandments, The Universal Call to Holiness, Mercy and Justice, Social Teaching Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Advent • Beginning of the liturgical year; 4 weeks long • Purpose: – Recall God’s Love in the Incarnation – Prepare the Church for the Lord’s Second Coming – Called to repent, reform, and turn back to God 2 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Advent • Encouraged: acts of penance and fasting • Reflects millennia of waiting for the Messiah 3 1
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Advent: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Dec 8 4 The Song of Bernadette (1943) Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Advent: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Dec 8 • Mary chosen from all eternity • To be pure, she was preserved from all sin – And free from inclination to sin • “Full of grace” only possible if no sin present • Jesus could not be united to a fallen nature La Purísima Inmaculada Concepción (1678) 5 by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Advent: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Dec 8 Mary redeemed by her Son on the cross – Graces applied – God outside of time 6 2
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Advent: Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception – Dec 8 Dogma declared in 1854 by Pope Pius IX “The most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Savior of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin.” – Ineffabilis Deus , 1854 7 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life . 8 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life I Am the Way • The Way back into friendship with the Father • Our leader and model – “Love one another” -- John 15:12 – “Take up your cross” -- Luke 9:32 – Called to be laborers for Him – see Matthew 9:37 9 3
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life I Am the Truth • Jesus came to dispel… – ignorance – doubts – despair – slavery (only the “What is truth?” (1890) by Nikolay Nikolayevich Ge truth will set us free – see John 8:32) – worldly cares 10 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life I Am the Life “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” – John 11:25 Christ Risen from the Tomb , Ambrogio Bergognone (c. 1470-1523), 11 Samual H. Kress Collection, National Gallery of Art, Washington. Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life I Am the Life (cont.) “I am the light of the world; he who follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” – John 8:12 12 4
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Jesus: The Way, The Truth, and The Life I Am the Life (cont.) • “I am the bread of life…[h]e who eats my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him” – John 6:56 13 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Holiness and Joy • Holiness is the wellspring of – freedom – peace – deep inner joy 14 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Holiness and Joy • A life of holiness can have – sorrow – trials – tribulations • Holiness comes by way of the cross • Deliberate sacrifice of transient things 15 5
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Holiness and Joy • Requires knowing one’s own sinfulness and the need for mercy – No place for pride and self-righteousness 16 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Daily Examination of Conscience “I tell you, on the day of judgment men will render account for every careless word they utter.” – Matthew 12:36 Last Judgment (c. 1435) by Stefan Lochner 17 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Daily Examination of Conscience • Continuing conversion is a daily need – See our weaknesses – Areas of temptation – Repetitive sins – Sensitivity to sin – Contrition grows (close with Act of Contrition) 18 6
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Daily Examination of Conscience • Scripture helps – The Ten Commandments (Ex 20:1-17) – Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) – Works of mercy (Matthew 25:31-46) – Teaching on Body of Christ & love (1 Cor 12-13) – Conduct of Christians (Rom 12-15; Eph 4-6) – Fruits of flesh and Spirit (Galatians 5) 19 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice The Works of Mercy • We are called to serve others • Not optional – an outpouring of our faith in and love for Christ – “[F]aith apart from works is dead” – James 2:26 • We will be judged on the basis of our mercy and love • Preferential love for the poor – Justice demands our energy, time, and wealth 20 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice The Works of Mercy • Corporal works of mercy – Giving alms – Feeding the hungry – Visiting the sick & imprisoned – Sheltering the homeless – Clothing the naked – Burying the dead 21 7
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice The Works of Mercy • Spiritual works of mercy – Teaching/advising in love – Admonishing the sinner – Consoling those who mourn – Comforting the afflicted – Forgiving wrongdoing – Bearing wrongs patiently 22 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice The Works of Mercy • The witness of love in action – Powerful message of the Gospel to the unbeliever 23 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church • Teaching of the Church derives from Jesus’ teaching on the love of neighbor – In fact, love of God and neighbor are inseparable -- see 1 John 4:20-21 24 8
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church Dignity of the Human Person • Made in God’s image and likeness • Basic dignity that’s sacred and inviolable • Our differences knit us together by mutual need 25 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church The Common Good: Authority and Obligations • Those social conditions that are necessary for human persons, both individually and in communities, to fulfill the end for which they are created. – Peace and safety – Respect for persons – Social well-being and development of the group 26 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church The Common Good: Authority & Obligations (c.) • Civil government is to protect and promote the common good – Advancement of persons is the goal • Material and spiritual – Persons must be valued over things – Natural law adherence required • Otherwise not binding in conscience 27 9
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church The Common Good: Authority & Obligations (c.) • Citizens’ obligations – Family – Work – Church – Public life of the community 28 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church Solidarity • The social expression of friendship and charity • Seeks the good of the whole human family • Expressed in proper distribution of goods and just wages 29 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church Solidarity (cont.) • Inclusiveness – Lifting up of the oppressed and freeing the enslaved – Fair treatment and love of stranger and foreigner – Care of widow and orphan – Justice to the wage-earner 30 10
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church Subsidiarity • Regulates relationships between various structures within the social order • Right of a community to exist and function without interference in its internal affairs from more powerful social institutions – Especially applies to the family 31 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church Fair Distribution of Goods and Private Property • Goods of creation are given to entire human race • Must respect the right of private property • Honor promises and contracts • Animals are to be used properly – No needless suffering or death 32 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice Social Teaching of the Church Care for the Poor • Access to basic necessities (justice not charity) – Food – Shelter – Clothing 33 11
9/2/2019 Session 10: Holiness, Mercy, Social Justice 34 12
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