EDM

The Mission To Witness to the Word

  • San Carlos Borromeo

  • Saint Arnold Janssen

  • Saint Joseph Freinademetz

The Saints

  • The saints are witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom (Heb. 12:1). They:

    • Share in the living tradition of prayer through their lives, writings, and prayer.

    • Contemplate and praise God.

    • Care for those on earth.

    • Intercede for us and the world.

    • Exemplify values of love, peace, and justice.

  • Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan.

  • We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.

Saint Charles Borromeo

  • Born: October 2, 1538

  • Uncle: Pope Pius IV (example of nepotism)

  • Had speech problems as a child.

  • Family experienced financial crisis.

  • Education:

    • Studied diligently and rigorously.

    • Doctorate in Canon and Civil Law at age 21.

  • Participated in the Council of Trent.

    • Critical Study of Sacred Scripture

    • Revision of the Bible

  • Important habit: reading a lot of books.

  • "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a habit."

  • Emphasis on reading and writing.

  • HUMILITAS: His emblem (Humility), "Humus = earth"

  • Learning is intertwined with prayer and spirituality.

  • Died at 46.

  • Great Impact: Priestly formation and education

University of San Carlos - History

  • 1595: Colegio de San Ildefonso founded by the Jesuits.

  • Jesuits were expelled in 1769-71, and it was turned over to the Diocese.

  • 1783: Changed to Seminario de San Carlos.

  • 1930: Colegio de San Carlos moved to P. del Rosario.

  • 1935: Colegio entrusted to the Society of the Divine Word.

  • 1948: University of San Carlos established.

  • 2025: 90th year of the SVD

Arnold Janssen

  • Born: November 5, 1837, in Goch, Rhineland (Germany).

  • Ordained priest: August 15, 1861, for the diocese of Muenster.

  • Taught natural sciences and mathematics in Bocholt.

  • 1873: Founded The Little Messenger of the Sacred Heart (monthly magazine).

  • Bismark unleashed the Kulturkampf with a series of anti-Catholic laws.

  • September 8, 1875: Founded the Divine Word Missionaries (SVD) in Steyl, Holland.

  • December 8, 1889: Founded the “Servants of the Holy Spirit,” SSpS.

  • December 8, 1896: Founded the “Servants of the Holy Spirit of Perpetual Adoration”, SSpSAP.

  • Died: January 15, 1909.

Reflection Questions on Arnold Janssen

  • How does the example of St. Arnold Janssen inspire you to reflect on Jesus as the Light in your daily life, and how can prayer deepen your commitment to sharing that Light with others?

  • St. Arnold Janssen emphasized the importance of mission and service. How can your prayers guide you in becoming a witness to the Light of Christ for your peers and the broader community?

Arnold Janssen - Questions for Reflection

  • What are the different points or information that touched you in the Life of Arnold Janssen?

  • How can you participate in his vision or mission?

Joseph Freinademetz Contemplation

  • Compare his life in Europe and in China.

  • What are the qualities of Josef Freinademetz that inspired you?

University of San Carlos - Vision

A WORLD where the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of Grace.

A SOCIETY where citizens are:

  • Competent

  • Noble in character

  • Community-oriented:

    • What they know, they apply justly and honestly.

    • What they do not know, they seek to learn.

    • What they do not have, they endeavor to acquire.

    • What they have, they share.

University of San Carlos - Mission

The University of San Carlos:

  • Is a Catholic institution of learning.

  • Embodies the principles of academic discipline of San Carlos Borromeo and the missionary charism of the Society of the Divine Word (SVD).

  • Aims to develop:

    • Competent and socially responsible professionals

    • Lifelong learners

  • Fosters excellence in:

    • Teaching-learning

    • Research

    • Community extension service

Our mission is to provide:

  • Timely, relevant, and transformative academic programs.

  • Responsive to the needs of local, national, and global communities in a rapidly changing world.

Following Jesus Christ - The Light of the World

  • “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (Jn 8:12)

Lesson 4: Vanishing the darkness of Sin and the Night of Unbelief

  • The Vision Mission of the USC

  • The Darkness of Sin and the Night of Unbelief

  • The Light of the Word and the Spirit of Grace

  • A Society that lives in the Light of the Word

Prayer of St. Arnold Janssen

  • May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the Light of the Word and the Spirit of Grace. And may the Heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all. Amen.

Lesson 5 Growing in Scientia, Virtus, Devotio

The Meaning of Scientia, Virtus et Devotio

  • Once, a Pharisee who was an expert in the law asked Jesus, “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” To his, our Lord Jesus Christ replied: “…love the Lord your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.”

    • Scientia, meaning “science or knowledge” (“with all your mind”);

    • Virtus, “virtue” (“with all your heart”);

    • Devotio, “devotion or dedication” (“with all your soul”).

SCIENTIA

  • Scientia challenges Carolinians to:

    • Deepen their knowledge of the truth.

    • Enhance their God-given talents and skills to perfection, eventually becoming professionally competent.

  • Growing in Scientia, they become:

    • Critical thinkers

    • Able communicators

    • Exhibit consistent reliability and dependability in their works.

  • In the light of the Christian faith, the ability to know is a God-given gift that empowers the believer to see things according to God’s will.

  • Devotion to the Holy Spirit.

VIRTUS

  • Virtus or virtue calls Christians to:

    • Listen to their conscience

    • Build up their character and act in prudence

  • It is an invitation to imbibe the Beatitudes of Jesus.

  • Purity of heart is very significant in today’s milieu where many are gripped by materialism and secularism. It makes one strive for holiness. This will then enable us to see God or to enjoy the new paradise with our ultimate Lord and King Jesus Christ.

    • Purity of heart and poverty in spirit

    • To be virtuous means to be prayerful

    • To be virtuous means to possess a persistent faith.

DEVOTIO

  • Devotio refers to acts of justice and charity towards others in society and the environment, or the rest of God’s creation.

  • Etymologically the Latin word is in the nominative case. It is associated with the Latin past participle stem devovere meaning “to dedicate by a vow.”

  • This implies that one has to make a vow to be devoted to God not only in prayer and worship but also through acts of love and justice.

In Short

  • Scientia caters to knowledge of the truth that ultimately leads to God.

  • Virtus to nobility in character nurtured by prayer life.

  • Devotio is the dedication to apply one’s knowledge and virtues in real-life situations.

3 Cs

  • Competence (Scientia):

    • Intellectually superior, critical thinker, analytical reasoning, problem solving, articulate communication, writings kills

    • Professionally reliable, technical skills are up-to- date, market responsive, versatile

    • Lifelong learner, sound foundations in science and arts for future re-development

  • Conscience (Virtus):

    • Morally literate and ethically critical: sense of personal

    • Integrity balanced between ethical ideals and realistic decision making

    • Professional moral: Compliant with one’s code of Professional ethics but also critically objective of Communal professional practice

  • Commitment (Devotio):

    • Public service-oriented: Compassionate, particularly for the excluded;

    • Culturally sensitive, grounded in cultural

    • Distinctiveness yet tolerant of social diversity;

    • Responsible citizen

Core Competencies of Carolinian Graduates (6)

  1. Integrity – End a lifestyle that is promotive of corruption, and work for honesty as well as transparency in all transactions.

  2. Excellence – Aim for quality work and the best output for every task.

  3. Commitment – Devote oneself to a certain task to answer the needs of the community.

  4. Social responsibility – Care for the environment and for the transformation of society.

  5. Evangelization – Become a proclaimer of God’s word.

  6. Leadership – Initiate projects to fight poverty and all forms of dehumanization

Quarter Hour Prayer

  • God, eternal truth. We believe in you.

  • God, our strength and salvation, We hope in you.

  • God, infinite goodness, We love you with all our heart.

  • You have sent the Word as Savior of the world, Make us all one in him.

  • Fill us with the Spirit of your Son, That we may glorify your name. Amen.

Lesson 6 Christian Witnessing in the Philippine Context

Christian Witnessing in the Philippine Context

  • The Process of Christian Witnessing

  • The Philippine Society and the Marginalized Sectors

    • The Indigenous Peoples

    • The Women, Youth, and Children

    • The Farmers and Fisher folk

    • The Urban Poor

    • Persons with Disabilities

    • The Elderly

Lesson 7 Growing and Moving towards the Light of the Word

Growing and Moving towards the Light of the Word

  • The Sanctity of Human Life

  • Sexuality, Marriage, and Family Life

  • Immigration and Movement of Peoples