Journal 2: Chapter 9 " The Social Teachings of the Church"
1)The Building Blocks of the Catholic Social Teaching.
One Building Block that I see at SLUH the most is the Principle of Participation . This is the idea that all people have a right and duty to participate in society, seeking together the common good and well-being of all especially the poor and the vulnerable. Everyday I see students walking into the CSP office signing up to do community service and serve others. At SLUH we develop the need and desire to serve the poor and others in need. Another way the school helps to seek together a common good is that every class goes on a day of service. This day of service is when the class goes out to the community and help make someone’s home or community a better place. Through all this service we as a SLUH community develop a since to serve and love God. After the years at SLUH we will become “Men for others” and “Men with others.”
Another Building Block that I see at SLUH is the Principle of Stewardship. This is the idea that we take care of God's creation whether it be through picking up trash or just simply making sure we respect our environment. At SLUH there are recycling bins that we use to recycle paper, bottles, and other materials in order to save the environment. This simple task of just recycling saves our earth that God has given use and also makes our lives better. Also this easy task that people do exemplifies the principle of Stewardship which is using our talents to help benefit and take care of God’s creation.
One Building Block that I see absent from society is the Principle of Preferential Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable. This is the idea that the poor and powerless should be given preferential protection and their needs should be fulfilled by us. There is a quote that I see in front of the cafeteria whenever I go to lunch that says something like, “You say you help the poor, them name.” I think this quote emphasizes this principle of Preferential Protection for the Poor and Vulnerable. I do believe that a lot of people try to help the poor but a lot of people just care about themselves. People today get too caught up in society and technology that they forget about the poor. We might give some money through our church or school but do we really know them.
Another Building Block that I see absent from society today is the Principle of Respect for Human Life. This is the idea that every person, from the moment of conception to natural death, has inherent dignity and a right to life consistent with that dignity. When ever I turn the radio on to Z107.7 or 104.1, I always hear a commercial on abortion. Whenever these commercial come on I just turn it off because I believe that these views of killing a innocent baby is wrong. I think that over the last twenty years people have lowered their moral standards on what is right and wrong. I think that people think it’s alright to kill a baby even if it isn’t born yet. I think this principle is a major struggle in our catholic faith today.
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2) Photo that illustrates a key idea from the chapter.
3) Two key ideas from the section.
1) One of the key things I learned in this section was Ignatius’ idea of consolation and desolation that then leads to discernment. I learned that consolation means the feeling that is good that stays with you. I learned that desolation means the feeling that lives you empty at the end. This leads to discernment which is the process by which you try to find out the will of God. That will of God is getting in touch with your feelings. I found out that you can get in touch with your feelings when you go to mass, during the Examen of Conscience, or just a quiet place to reflect. It doesn’t matter where you do this but when get in touch with your feelings you are growing closer to God each time.
2)The second key thing I learned in this section was when Fr. Ralph Huse gave the talk about Ignatius and the ultimate sin and the ultimate virtue. Fr. Huse said that Pride is the ultimate sin. This meaning of Pride is saying to us today is the meaning that I deserve these materials or deserve this award. Today we would call this sin cocky. I a person that thinks they are amazing but really their just like us. This person “thinks he know who he is” Fr. Huse also said that Humility is the ultimate virtue. Humility means humble. It is the opposite of pride. Humility is someone that “knows who he is as a person” and accepts it. This someone that has possess this virtue is usually a person who is giving and also a person that is a man for others. After learning the ultimate sin and ultimate virtue, it will help me live my life and strive for humility and stay clear of pride.
4) One key question.
Do you feel like racism is a major problem today?
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Yes I believe that rascism is still a major problem today. I do believe that it has improved over the last thirty years due to Martin Luther King Jr. but it is still a problem. I believe that people who discriminate against others are people that are not comfortable with their situation or themselves. Discrimination occurs when a person blames someone else for their problems or they are trying to be funny in front of people which shows insecurity. I think that racism can be overcome if we all come together and unite as one.
Kristin Merlo, sister