I.  Personal Growth and the Human Community

*Throughout our lives, we develop relationships with many people.  To all our relationships  - with God, with family, with others – we bring ourselves.  Our experiences in these relationships enable us to discover who we are and how we relate to others.  The various relationships we have throughout our lives, even the difficult , hurtful or disappointing ones, can be a source of growth, because of God’s grace.

*The Book of Genesis reveals that God created us to be in relationship with God and with one another.  Created in the image of God, who is a Trinity of persons, we are called to  mirror in our own relationships the relationship of love, among the divine persons.

*One of our most basic human needs is to love and be loved.  All genuine love comes from God.  In order to love others and let others love us, we must love ourselves.  By itself however, self-love is not enough.  We are called to love others.

*Different kinds of love are appropriate to different kinds of relationships.

*Family Love is the love of a parent for a child, a child for a parent, spouses for each other and relatives for one another.

*Friendship is the deep, tender affection which exists between friends.

Friendship includes shared interests as well as mutual trust and enjoyment

of one another’s company.

*Eros is passionate human love which can exist between a man and a woman.

Eros always seeks union and thus includes sexual love.

*Agape` is a conscious choice to will the good of another.  It is not a feeling.

This Christian love treats all with kindness no matter what they may have

done to us, no matter whether we like them or they like us.  This is the love

that the Holy Spirit enables us to have for others.

During our lifetime, we will probably experience these different kinds of love through our various relationships.  Some of our relationships may well involve more than one kind of love.

*It is God’s will that human life be brought into the world through the human community of the family.  Christ himself was born and grew up in the heart of a human family.  Our primary understanding of love and relationships comes to us through our experience of family. A man and a woman, united by marriage, together with their children, form a family.  The family is the most basic unit of society.  It deserves to be respected and protected by laws and governments.  Parents have a duty to respect their children as children of God and as human persons.  They are responsible for their children’s moral and spiritual formation and physical well-being, and for providing a home in which love, forgiveness, respect and service are the rule.  Children have a duty to respect, honor and obey their parents.  During adolescence, our relationship with our parents is in the process of change.  We want to be treated as individuals, yet we also need and depend on our parents.

*God invites each of us into the most important relationship of all: a relationship with himself.  Our relationship with God is a gift.  Our relationship with God is built through faith and trust.  Our relationship with God is mediated by Jesus Christ.  Jesus is our way to the Father.  Our relationship with God deepens and grows in the Church.

*As Christians, we are called into a relationship of love with the whole human family.  This relationship is built on justice, and blossoms forth in peace.

*God created all peoples, and Christ died and was raised up for the salvation of the whole human race.  We are called to reject all forms of racism and ethnic hatred, and to welcome and celebrate the diverse gifts of the human family.

*Sinful inequalities of wealth and power exist, which keep people in poverty

and misery.  We must seek to abolish such sinful conditions by helping the

poor, and working for social justice.

*The Gospel calls us to be peace-makers in our world, loving even our

enemies.

*Social responsibility calls for each person to give his or her gifts for the

common good in building the Kingdom of God.  Each person’s gifts are

needed.

II.  Significant members of the Church who worked for Social Justice

*Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton: A New Yorker.  Anglican, then became a Roman Catholic after she was widowed.  - She founded the Sisters of Charity in 1809.  -helped develop the Catholic school system in the United States and is the first American-born person to be canonized.

*John Henry Newman:  Cardinal Newman was an Anglican priest who became a Roman Catholic in 1845.  His writings have done much to give people a deeper understanding of the Catholic faith.

*Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini:  Born in Italy in 1850, Frances Cabrini founded the Congregation of the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a religious community of women who work in schools and hospitals.  Mother Cabrini was the first naturalized American citizen to be declared a saint.

*Saint Charles Lwanga:  Charles Lwanga was a young Christian page in the service of a pagan emperor.  He protected the other pages from the emperor, who demanded that they participate in homosexual activity.  Charles was martyred with 21 other Ugandans during the persecution of 1886.

*Pope Leo XIII:  A Pope of the late 19th century, Leo XIII is best known for his commitment to the rights of working men and women.  His encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) is still considered one of the classic statements on the subject of justice and workers.

*Saint Maximilian Kolbe:  Maximilian Kolbe was a Polish Catholic priest who fulfilled the gospel message by laying down his life for another.  During WWII, he was imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp.  He volunteered to die in the place of another prisoner.

*Thomas Merton:  A Trappist monk and gifted writer, Thomas Merton wrote extensively about the spiritual life, monasticism and the need for world peace.  He was also commited to dialogue with Eastern religions on the subject of mysticism.  His autobiography, The Seven Storey Mountain, tells his conversion story.  He died in 1968.

*Dorothy Day:  A convert to Catholicism, Dorothy Day was a lay woman who by her example encouraged many to feed the hungry and clothe the naked.  Founder of the Catholic Worker movement, she labored most of her life in New York City and died there in 1980.

*Archbishop Oscar Romero:  Archbishop of San Salvador, Oscar Romero was assassinated in 1980 because of his stand on human rights and his work to promote justice and peace in his country, El Salvador.

III.  Morality

*Morality is the quality of our actions whereby they are right or wrong.  Actions are morally right when they are in agreement with God’s law and will.  God’s will for us is that in our lives we become like Jesus.  God’s will is always for our good.  Jesus is the role model for morally right living.

*All people are created with the gift of freedom.  This freedom is meant to be a force for growth and good.  Jesus calls his disciples to use their freedom to choose to follow the way of love rather than the way of selfishness.  Through conversion we turn away from selfishness and the isolation to which it leads.  Conversion is the lifelong process of responding to God’s call to “change our heart.”  Jesus calls each of us to discipleship through conversion.

*Conscience is the inner sense or power by which we judge an act to be right or wrong.  As Catholics our conscience is based on:

*The natural law, that is, the basic awareness of right and wrong written by

the Creator in the hearts of all people; and

*Our community’s understanding of right and wrong as expressed in

-the laws of God,

-the laws of the Church, and

-the laws of society.

*The process of conscience formation involves learning to know and understand both God’s law and the Church’s teaching.  The law of God is found in our hearts and is revealed to us in Scripture.  The Church, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, plays an essential role in helping us to know the morality of various actions and attitudes.  The Church’s magisterium – that is, the Pope and bishops in their role as teachers – continues to address new moral dilemmas as they arise.  Guided by the Commandments, the Beatitudes, Jesus’ law of love, all of revelation, our Catholic tradition and the community’s experience, the Church gives direction to our choices.

Conscience formation also entails our own personal openness to the guidance of the Holy Spirit.  In Baptism and Confirmation we receive the power of the Holy Spirit to help us discern and do what God requires of us in a particular circumstance.

*When we make choices according to our conscience, we will at times find ourselves in direct conflict with the society around us.

*The fact that something is legally acceptable does not make it morally right.

(Consider the topic of abortion as an example.)

*What is identified as morally wrong by the natural law, and the law of God,

the teaching of the Church and the guidance of the Holy Spirit may be

condoned by our society or even protected by its laws, for example: abortion.

*We are called by our Baptism to build a just and peaceful society.  This

involves not only choosing what is morally right for ourselves, but also

working to make laws which reflect moral goodness.

*Elements of a Moral Decision

There are three elements in a moral decision: the object, the intention and the circumstances.

*The object is the action itself, the thing which is done.

*The intention refers to the person’s goal or purpose in doing the action.

*The circumstances are the particular features of each individual situation

in which an action is taken.

*The object may be good or evil in itself.  For example, it is good to give to the poor.

Lying is evil.

*The intention may also be good or evil.

    *A good intention does not make something which is evil into something

good, however.  For example, lying with the intention of obtaining

something good does not make it good to lie.  The end does not justify the

means.

    *A bad intention, furthermore, can make something which is ordinarily

good into something evil.  For example, pretending to be a friend to

someone, for the sake of gaining some advantage for ourselves, makes a

friendly action hollow, deceptive, and therefore morally wrong.

*All morally good decisions are both good in their object and in their intention.

*The circumstances, including the consequences, do not make a bad action good or a good action bad, but they may increase or decrease the good or evil of the action.

For example, Jesus points out that the widow who gave two small coins, which was all she possessed, was more generous than the rich people who gave large sums.

*The circumstances can affect the degree of responsibility one bears as well.  For

example, the responsibility of those who act out of fear or ignorance is less than that of those who make a deliberate choice, knowing what they are doing.

*The Process of Making a Good Moral Choice

Throughout our lives, we will be faced with situations which require of us a moral choice.  Sometimes, especially if we are in the habit of doing good, these choices may seem simple and we are able to make them without a great deal of reflection.  At other times, however, moral decisions can be complex and difficult, and the temptations to choose other than good can be great.  Having formed our conscience, we must listen to it as we utilize the following decision-making process:

*Reflect on all aspects of the situation and the various possible courses of

action open to us.

*Pray for the help of the Holy Spirit.

*Recall God’s law and the Church’s teaching.

*Consider consequences of the choice.

*Seek advice when necessary.

*Remember Jesus is with us and speak with him about the choice.

*Recall that our decision will affect our relationship with God and others.

*In utilizing this decision-making process, we must make every effort to arrive at a decision of conscience which is correct and certain.

*A decision of conscience is correct when it is in conformity with the will of

God.

*It is certain when we have no serious doubt about the rightness of our

decision.

*Dealing with Temptation

Often we feel drawn to make selfish choices which are against the will of God:  this experience is called “temptation.”

*In itself, temptation is not a sin.  Still, it is the responsibility of every person to recognize and avoid the persons, places, things and situations which might lead us into temptation.

*Sin is deliberately choosing not to do God’s will.  Instead of doing what God wants, we choose what we have convinced ourselves is good.

*Mortal Sin is the complete turning away from God and God’s law.  This free, deliberate refusal to accept God’s will causes a spiritual death or separation from God.  A sin is mortal if the three following conditions are met:

*The action is a grave evil in itself.

*We have a clear knowledge of the action, that is, we fully understand the evil

we would be doing.

*We give our full consent, that is, we fully intend the evil we would be doing.

*Venial Sin is not serious enough to break our relationship with God, but it weakens that relationship because it is an action we know is wrong, yet freely choose to do.  The continual committing of venial sin can lead us to commit mortal sin.

*Capital Sin is the name given to the seven basic tendencies in us which are the chief sources of sin in our lives..

*Pride is a disordered seeking of praise and honor, and a denial of the real

nature of our relationship as obedient children of a loving God.

*Covetousness is a disordered desire for possessions and material things.

*Lust is a disordered desire for sexual pleasure.

*Envy is the resentment of another person’s talents, personal success or

good fortune.

*Gluttony is a disordered desire for food and drink.

*Anger is disordered rage which causes one to seek revenge or desire injury

to another.

*Sloth is a disordered desire to avoid our duties and responsibilities toward

God and others.

*Sin not only jeopardizes our relationship with God, it also has an impact on the entire community.  Sins of individuals can give rise to social situations and institutions opposed to God’s goodness, such as slavery, child labor, prostitution, and exploitation of third world countries for profit.  Structures which perpetuate violence, injustice, and other disorders in society are called “social sin.”  Social sin is an outgrowth of personal sins, and leads its victims to do evil.

*The sacraments of Penance and Eucharist are graced events which develop and nourish our moral life.

*The sacrament of Penance gives us the opportunity to receive God’s merciful

forgiveness and be reconciled to God, the community and ourselves.

*In the sacrament of the Eucharist, we hear anew the call to love, we

remember Jesus’ willingness to embrace death to save us from our sins, and

we receive the Bread of Life and the Cup of the New Covenant as strength for

our journey.

*The Communion of Saints

We also have the support of the communion of saints, that is, the whole community of the disciples of Jesus: those on earth, those in heaven, and those being purified in purgatory before coming into glory, and living face-to-face with God.  We can call on them to pray for us as we struggle to live the life Jesus calls us to live.  We, in turn, may support by our prayers other members of the community, both those who are living, and those who are in purgatory.

IV.  Prayer

*Prayer is a loving, honest conversation with God which is prompted and made possible by the Holy Spirit within us.  We respond to the mystery of God’s love by praying often, not just when we have a special need.

*There are many ways of praying to God.  Our prayer can be personal, that is, an interior communication with God not shared with others, or it can be communal, that is, a communication with God experienced together with others.

*At times of prayer, we open ourselves to God.  We listen to God, and God listens to us.  We deliberately choose to spend time in prayer so as to know God more intimately.  This knowledge leads us to love, and love in turn leads us to service  of God and others.

*Sometimes prayer is spontaneous: we speak from the heart without planning or preparation.

*Just as we make time for our friends, we make time for God.  In order to grow in our relationship with God, it is important to set aside time each day for prayer.

Basic Elements of Prayer

Prayer is a necessary means for growth in our intimate relationship with God.  There are several basic elements of prayer, which are given various expressions in different places and times.

*adoration:  an attitude of humility and awe before the wonder and

greatness of God.

*thanksgiving:  an expression of gratitude for the generosity and

graciousness of God.

*contrition:  an expression of sorrow for the sinful, hurtful and selfish

acts we have committed.

*petition:  asking for the help and support of God, for myself.

*intercession:  asking for God’s help on behalf of another; and

*praise:  giving glory to God joyfully, just because God is God.

*Ways of Praying

*The Liturgy is the official prayer of the People of God, the Church, publicly

worshiping God in the celebration of:

*the Sacraments

*the Eucharist Liturgy (the Mass), and

*the Liturgy of the Hours.

In the Liturgy, all Christian prayer finds its source and goal.

Devotional prayer  helps us to personalize the mysteries of faith.  Some examples of devotional prayer are:

*adoration of the Blessed Sacrament,

*the Stations of the Cross,

*the Rosary,

*novenas,

*pilgrimages,

*veneration of relics.

*Prayer Groups are intentional gatherings for shared prayer, which may include hymns, readings from Sacred Scripture and other Christian sources, personal reflections, and silence.

*Hymns are religious songs or scriptural verses set to music.

*All Christian prayer includes one or more of the following:

*Vocal prayer put into words, whether silently or aloud, the prayer of our

heart.

*Meditation is a prayerful reflection on a passage of Sacred Scripture,

another inspirational text, an event, or the wonders of creation.  God speaks

to us through whatever we are meditating on, and we listen.

*Contemplation is the silent awareness of the presence of Jesus, our loving

friend.  It is the simplest expression of the mystery of prayer.

*People Who Show Us How to Pray

*Many people of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, Miriam, David, Esther, Elijah, Hannah and the writers of the psalms, show us how to pray.  The psalms are prayers of the community of faith.

*Jesus offers us the perfect model of how to relate to God, our loving Father.  Sacred Scripture reveals what Jesus said about prayer and shows us the way he prayed.  Jesus was always aware of the presence of God, his Father.  He prayed in times of joy, sorrow, pain, and fear.  He asked for strength, gave thanks, and rejoiced in the love of his Father.

*Jesus teaches his followers to pray with :

*faith

*persistence

*simplicity

*directness

*forgiveness

*He teaches us the fundamental prayer of the Church, the “Lord’s Prayer”,  which is a summary of the whole gospel.  He teaches us to pray with others as well as alone.

*Mary offers an outstanding example of how to pray.  In the face of many challenges, she offered her whole self to God in faith.

*The saints presented below are examples of young people for whom prayer was very important:

*Francis Xavier (16th Century):  The great courage and zeal that Francis

Xavier brought to his work as a Jesuit missionary came from a life of prayer.

Born in Spain, he preached in India, Malaya, the Moluccas, and was the first

missionary to enter Japan.  He died while seeking admittance to China to

spread the gospel there.

    *Martin De Porres (17th Century):  After a long day of caring for the sick

and poor, Martin spent many hours in meditation.  His prayer strengthened

him as he reached out to those in need.

    *Therese of Lisieux (19th Century):  When she was fifteen, Therese became

a Carmelite nun.  Every day the Carmelites spend a long time in

contemplative prayer.  Therese loved this time of prayer.  Her autobiography,

The Story of a Soul, shows us that she persevered even when prayer was

difficult for her.

    *Maria Goretti (20th Century):  As a young adolescent, Maria was busy

taking care of her brothers and sisters, because her mother had to work.

Even so, she prayed often and taught her brothers and sisters to pray.

V.  Jesus’ Vision of the Kingdom

*Jesus describes God’s Kingdom as a place where justice, peace, and love reign.  While the fullness of this kingdom will only be found in heaven, it has already begun here on earth, wherever God’s will is being carried out.

*The Beatitudes reveal the way of living that characterizes God’s kingdom.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be

filled.

Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they will see God.

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sale, for theirs is

the kingdom of heaven.