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The Catholic Education Office

of Western Australia gratefully Nihil Obstat Dr Michael Jackson


acknowledges Bishop Gerard B.A. B.D. Dip.App.Psych. STL, D.D., D.Psych
Archdiocesan censor
Holohan for the original concept
and content of this resource. Imprimatur Most Reverend Barry James Hickey
DD OAM STL BA MSocWk
Archbishop of Perth
The invaluable advice and
editorial support of the
Date 6th January 2008
Archbishop’s Secondary Religious
Education Units Committee is The Nihil Obstat and Imprimatur are official
also acknowledged. declarations that a book or pamphlet is free of
doctrinal or moral error.

Come Follow Me – Year 10 Student Resource


© Copyright 2009
All rights reserved. Apart from any use permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced
by any process, or any other exclusive right exercised without the permission of the Catholic Education
Office of Western Australia.

ISBN 1 921072 13 X

First published in Australia 2009


By the Catholic Education Office of Western Australia
50 Ruislip St, Leederville, Western Australia 6007

Cover and text designed by TaylorSparks


Printed by Worldwide Online Printing

Scripture quotations are taken from the New Jerusalem Bible, published and copyright 1985 by
Darton, Longman and Todd Ltd and Doubleday a division of Bantam Doubleday Dell Publishing
Group, Inc. Used by permission.

Quotations from the English translation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church for Australia 1994
copyright St Pauls, Strathfield, Australia/Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Used by permission.

Psalms used by permission of The Grail (England).

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal copyright 1973, International Committee
on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

Every effort has been made to trace and acknowledge copyright. However, should any infringement
have occurred, the publishers tender their apologies and invite copyright owners to contact them.

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Foreword

Come Follow Me
The challenge to follow Jesus is as relevant today as it was when Jesus explained to the
rich man in the Gospel what was required.

Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, “You lack one thing; go, sell what you
own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven, then
come, follow me.” Mark 10:21

The purpose of this Religious Education Resource is to help students understand what
Catholics know and do as they follow Jesus in their daily lives.

This resource is structured in such a way that students can develop an understanding of
how Jesus through his Church teaches all that is needed for people to live as God wants.

As Archbishop of Perth I am pleased to welcome this publication.

It is the guide schools will use in order to fulfil their Religious Education role of promoting
knowledge and understanding of the Gospel, and of how those who follow Christ are called
to live the Gospel in the world of today.

Religious Education in Catholic schools needs to draw students into a systematic study of the
Christian message as it is presented, explained and justified through the Catholic Church.

These materials will be an important means by which Catholic schools assist the Church in
fulfilling its mission of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They hold a special place in
helping to form young people by enabling them to engage with the deepest questions of life
and find reasons for the hope that is within them.

In mandating these materials I would like to stress the importance of teachers of Religious
Education. Theirs is a difficult and challenging task, I appreciate the work and generosity
with which they fulfill their vocation and express my encouragement to them.

Wishing God’s blessing on all those involved in the task of Religious Education in
Catholic schools.

Yours sincerely in Jesus Christ,

Most Rev. B.J. Hickey


Archbishop of Perth

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
Contents

Vocation – called to be and become

1 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The basic human vocation
Discovering personal vocation
The Christian vocation
Marriage is a vocation
Ministerial priesthood is a vocation
5
21
31
51
63
6. Religious life is a vocation 79
7. Life Everlasting 85

The Search for Freedom

2 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Freedom to make responsible moral choices
How can people know if their choices are morally good?
God begins to restore human freedom
God revealed the Old Law
Jesus gave the New Law of freedom
95
105
113
119
129
6. The New Law of true freedom 141
7. The sacraments of true freedom 151

The Holy Spirit’s action through Conscience and the Church

3 a. Conscience
1.
2.
3.
4.
Alone with God
Making judgements of conscience
The four principles of conscience
Challenges to recognising the voice of conscience
163
171
181
193
5. Jesus promised the Holy Spirit to guide conscience 199

b. The Church
1. The characteristics of the Church 207
2. The growth of the Church 217
3. The renewal of the Church through the Holy Spirit 245

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 1


Restoring God’s Justice in the World

4 1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
God created in people a concern for justice
Human injustice in the world
Jesus – the realisation of God’s justice
Jesus restores justice in people’s hearts
Jesus calls Christians to promote social justice
261
269
273
281
297
6. The Church promotes social justice 307

Appendices

Our Prayers 319


Important information for Catholics 326
Sources of images/illustrations 331
Index 333

2 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


1 The basic human vocation

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Every person has a basic vocation or life-calling from God
 God has given people the gifts needed for their vocation
 Work is participation in God’s creative activity
 Work has a place in fulfilling one’s vocation
 People’s vocations lead to different lifestyles.

Every person has a basic


vocation or life-calling
from God
‘Who am I?’ ‘What will I do with my Will I want to work
life?’ These are important questions What study outside, rather than
for everyone and people wonder should I do? in an office?
about them throughout their lives.

Young people are often asked: ‘What


do you want to do when you leave
school?’ This sort of question often
causes young people to wonder the
following: Will I get
• Will I get a job? married and
• Will I want to work outside,
rather than in an office?
have children?
• Would I be happier in a
people-orientated career?
• What study should I do?
• Will I get married and
have children?

‘What will I do
with my life?’

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 5


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CONTENTSCONTENTS CHAPTER
1. THE BASIC HUMAN VOCATION

Draw a symbol for each of the four stages of your life


outlined below:
1. Early childhood (e.g. a Teddy bear)
2. Middle childhood
3. Early adolescence
4. Now.

Reflect on each of the symbols and why they were and are
important to you at the different times in your life.

How do they represent the ways in which you have matured


as a person?

What were your ambitions at each of these stages of your life?

How did your family and your relationship with God help you to
accommodate and adapt to these changes?

Vocation is the life-calling of every person


and is created in everyone by God.

6 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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Vocation is the life-calling of every


person and is created in everyone For your information…
by God. It has many elements
‘Vocation’ has its origins in the Latin word
including work, personal growth
vocatio meaning ‘a call’ or ‘summons’.
and development, career and
possibly marriage.

Vocation as a life-calling is a much broader reality than just a job. Over a lifetime one’s
vocation may involve many jobs or may involve no job at all.

To understand where each person’s vocation comes from, it is necessary to recall the two
creation stories that open the Book of Genesis. In the stories God teaches that men and
women have been created in the ‘image’ of God (Genesis 1:27).

God is the creator of the universe and continues to sustain and to develop this creation
today. This extends to the earth and the environment, people and what is required to
sustain them. All people are called to contribute to this ongoing work of creation and
bring it to fulfillment.

Men and women reflect God’s image and likeness by contributing to the Creator’s
continuing activity. They do this by using their God-given gifts in following their
vocations. In the creation stories, they are told:

‘… fill the earth and subdue it.’ (Genesis 1:28)

The word ‘subdue’ here means developing the goodness in creation. However, because
of selfishness, greed and other weaknesses caused by original sin, human beings have
often tried to ‘subdue’ the earth in harsh and self-serving ways.

Rather than dominate the earth, exploit its resources or damage and pollute the
environment, the creation stories call on people to:

… cultivate and take care of it. (Genesis 2:15)

God’s original intention was for people to see the good in every created thing, as God
does. According to the first (Priestly) creation story:

God saw all he had made, and indeed it was very good. (Genesis 1:31)

In your journal, write about any concern you have for the future
of the planet and the people on it. Do you have a role model
who is working to make the world a better place? Why is this
person significant to you and how might you be able to follow
their example in the future?

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God has given people the gifts needed for their vocation
Each person is unique and has a God-given vocation to contribute in a particular way to
God’s creative activity in the world today. Ultimately, everyone’s true and lasting
happiness will depend upon whether or not they use their particular gifts to follow this
vocation.

God has given each person the gifts needed to follow their vocation in whatever role
they pursue. Many people have the gifts needed for marriage. Some have the gifts to be
good parents as well as being married. Some have the gifts needed to live singly and
even to devote their lives entirely to the service of others.

God provides the gifts needed by those who are called to follow people-orientated
careers such as nursing, teaching, social work, the priesthood and Religious Life or
follow environmentally-orientated careers, such as landscaping, environmental science,
farming and gardening.

God also provides the gifts for other careers, such as those related to commerce,
administration, politics, community leadership, law and order, the arts and
entertainment or scientific exploration.

God has given each person the gifts


needed to follow their vocation in
whatever role they pursue.

8 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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In Class Work

Identify at least one career that would probably suit a person who has the
following ‘passions’ and orientations:

1. Being creative with their hands

2. Performing for others’ entertainment

3. Being involved in sporting organisations (though not exceptionally


talented as a player)

4. Helping people who are disabled

5. Producing food for others’ nourishment and enjoyment

6. Working with young people, assisting them to make good decisions


and cope with difficulties

7. Witnessing to their faith in God

8. Working to achieve justice for oppressed or underprivileged people

9. Creating profits and wealth for a worthy purpose

10. Communicating clear and useful information

11. Assisting children with special needs

12. Caring for the sick and elderly.

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God’s creative activity in the world


God’s creative activity today sustains the
existence of the universe, developing it and
perfecting it. People participate in this
activity by sustaining and developing the
earth, its resources and its life.

At the simplest level this includes caring for


pets and other animals, parks, gardens and
forests.

At a more complex level, examples of


people engaged in sustaining and
developing creation include those
following sustainable practices such as
building dams to provide water or
taking care not to waste water
unnecessarily. Other examples are
promoting an appreciation of the beauty
and goodness of creation through art,
science, writing and music.

In Class Work

Produce a card cluster using these headings:


• sustainable practices
• conservation of species and environments
• social justice
• restoration and rehabilitation
• appreciation of creation.

Instructions:
1. Put each heading on a notice board.
2. In groups, list practical examples of ways that people participate
in God’s creative activity.
3. Write the examples on cards or ‘post-it’ notes and cluster
them around the relevant heading.

10 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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God’s creative activity in human society


Human beings are created in the image and
likeness of God their Creator. Human society
reflects the attributes of God through love,
goodness, care for those in need, justice and
mercy.

God’s creative activity in society includes


sustaining the efforts of all people who seek
to develop society in a way that reflects
God’s love and care for his creation. Some
of the ways people can do so include becoming
politically or socially active, providing
entertainment or promoting religious worship.

In Class Work

Identify other ways in which people can participate in God’s creative


activity in society. Find newspaper clippings of stories that show how
individuals do this.

God’s creative activity in families


God’s creative activity in families is the same
as God’s creative activity in creation and
human society. God sustains the lives of
family members and supports their
development in goodness. Ways of
participating in this creative activity of
God include:
• caring for each other’s needs, especially
those who are younger, sick, unemployed
or frail
• supporting each other’s
relationships with God,
especially through prayer
and living the two great
commandments of Jesus
• encouraging and supporting
each other when facing
challenges or difficulties
• contributing to family
income to provide for family
needs.

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In your journal:

1. Write a definition of your understanding of the word ‘Home’.

2. Spend some time reflecting on how building a home


together helps a married couple to grow together and to
develop their relationship.

3. Spend some time reflecting on what sort of a family you


would like to have in the future. In what ways do you think
you would need to nurture marriage and family
relationships? How would you encourage children to
contribute to the family?

4. Write down any thoughts and ideas that have come from
your reflection. Pray for God’s guidance that in the future you
will do what God is calling you to do.

God’s creative activity in individuals


When people care for their lives and their
health and try to live as good people, they are
participating in God’s creative activity. This
includes:
• studying to prepare for the future
• working to develop personal gifts,
especially through service
• caring for personal health and well-being
• striving to develop one’s personal potential
to love, to forgive, to behave justly and to
keep the commandments of Jesus and of
God.

To develop their good and nobler aspects, people


have to overcome failings and weaknesses.
This is why Jesus came and called all
people to accept God’s saving power.
This power which is demonstrated most
fully in the Resurrection of Jesus from
the dead enables people to overcome
human failings, weaknesses and
sinfulness.

As people accept the gift of this power


they come to know and experience God
and are able to pray, worship and live in
ways that will bring them closer to God.
Religious development, therefore, is necessary
for the development of the whole person.

12 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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WORK + REST

God’s creative activity included rest and recreation


In the first of the Genesis creation stories, God rested on the seventh day. Contributing
to God’s creative activity, therefore, also includes a day of rest from unnecessary work.
Pope John Paul II reminded all people of the need for balance between work and rest in
his encyclical, On Human Work:

Man ought to imitate God both in working and also in resting since God himself
wished to present his own creative activity under the form of work and rest.
(On Human Work 25)

Rest and recreation is important in order to:


• renew one’s personal energy
• prevent stress and tension
• help protect people from becoming so involved in
business and other career activities that they lose sight
of the importance of relationships and other normal
human activities.

It was to protect people from these difficulties


that God made rest as well as worship part of
the third commandment to keep holy the
Sabbath. Where people cannot avoid working
on Sunday, this commandment calls them
to rest on another day in the week.

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Work is participation in God’s creative activity


Many people today think of work only as paid employment.
However, in God’s plan, work is something that
everyone has been created to do. Work includes any
way that a human being participates in God’s
creative activity even the most ordinary every-
day activities.

This understanding of work is much broader


than simply ‘having a job’ – though it can
include this. Full-time home makers,
unemployed people who contribute to family
life or voluntary organisations, young people not
yet in their first job, retirees and those unable to
work, can all participate in God’s work of bettering
and perfecting the world.

Work has a place in fulfilling one’s vocation

Paid employment or ‘having a job’ means ‘working for an income’. Most people have to
seek paid employment. They will need to study and skill themselves so that they will be
capable of working and earning a living.

Employment has several purposes. It provides:


• an income, allowing people to engage in other activities related to their vocations
(such as family life)
• well-being, self-worth and human dignity as it is a means of developing intellectual,
emotional and social talents through the tasks it involves and through relating and
responding to others in the work-place
• a means for contributing in some way to the over-all needs of society.

Sometimes people make the mistake of thinking of


their employment only in terms of an income
and benefits. As a result, many people overlook
opportunities that their place of employment
offers them to find happiness by fulfilling
their vocations to work with God to make the
world a better place. They may through their
work contribute to the lives of individuals,
society and the environment.

14 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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It
may be interesting to ask someone who is employed:
• What is it that you do? What does it involve?
• Who do you work with?
• What kinds of people are they?
• Are there people whose needs you can help meet (for example, an elderly
person who is lonely or a fellow student who needs special attention)?
• What talents and other gifts are you using to go about your employment
(manual, intellectual, relational, personal qualities such as ‘being a good
listener’, justice and compassion)?
• What aspects of your work do you find most fulfilling?

When thinking about future employment, What path do I need to follow in life?
people need to consider their vocation,
asking ‘What path do I need to follow in
life?’ They need to seek ways that help
them to fulfil their vocation as much as
possible and also provide opportunities
for the development of their personal
gifts.

Many people are fortunate enough to find


that the very tasks they are employed to
perform also fulfil their vocation and
develop their gifts. They may express joy
at having such fulfilling work with
remarks like, ‘I’d be happy doing this even
if they didn’t pay me’, or ‘It’s wonderful
being paid for doing something you love!’

Other people may find that their employment is not very satisfying but that it provides
the stable income they need to live a fulfilling life in other ways. For example, their
income may make it possible for them to ‘work’ better in their families, to contribute to
society in voluntary ways or to contribute to the environment.

In Class Work

Produce a ‘Looking for Work’ advertisement for display in a newspaper. On it,


describe the qualities, skills and abilities you would offer anyone who gave
you work.

Promote yourself by outlining how you are seeking to contribute to


improving society and the environment in the work that you will do,
be it paid or unpaid.

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The place of unpaid work in fulfilling


one’s vocation
Not all people work for an income. Many people
are involved in helping to improve society in other
ways than through paid work. One example
within families are those who spend most of their
time caring for family members who require
special attention like children, the disabled, the
sick and the aged.

Another example is retired people who have many


opportunities to engage in a variety of activities helping them
to fulfill their vocations. Often these relate to their children’s families and working in
organisations that help others in the community.

Some people cannot participate in paid employment. Nevertheless those without paid
employment can find other ways to share in God’s creative activity using their gifts.

There are also people who decide that their families have sufficient income, and so do
not seek employment. Their motivation is either that the job they could have had is then
available to others in greater need or they want to live a simpler life.

Career choices and vocation


The most satisfying career, job or profession will be
one that involves the use of a person’s gifts and
talents leading them to fulfil their vocation.

People cannot always follow the career they


would ideally like to pursue. In this situation,
people need to be realistic and seek the best
position they can in order to earn an income.
But they need to look for other opportunities
through which to use their gifts, including:
• voluntary organisations
• personal initiatives
• family life
• other options in society.

The basic human question


The search for who God is calling each person to be, is life long. Young people
can wonder about this when they start thinking about their futures and leaving
school. This is a question that tends to reappear in difficult times in one’s life and
is related to the human heart question people ask: ‘What is the meaning and
purpose of my life?’

16 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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1. THE BASIC HUMAN VOCATION

People’s vocations lead to different lifestyles

‘The question of vocations is vital to the Church. Everyone has a vocation: parents,
teachers, students, workers, professional people who are retired. Everyone has something
to do for God.’
Pope John Paul II, Homily at Giants Stadium, New York, October 5, 1995, #5

People are called to different lifestyles. The most common are:


• the single life
• marriage.

The single lifestyle


Single people can respond to the needs of others in different ways from married people
and parents. Being single may simply be the result of a person’s life circumstance such as
caring for an elderly or sick parent or not having met the person they might wish to
marry. Those who choose the single life however, do so for a special reason. Some may
decide that they should consecrate their lives to lay religious service, such as that of a
missionary. Others may choose to remain single in order to use their gifts and talents to
make a difference in the world in a way they wouldn’t be able to do as a married
person.

For everyone, there is at least one period in life when they are single. Perhaps they are
too young for marriage or the right person to marry has not come along. For many
people, there is more than one such period (e.g. pre-marriage, death of a spouse,
separation or divorce).

As for all lifestyles, the single lifestyle calls for chaste love.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 17


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Jesus is the model for all chastity


The perfect model of chaste love is Jesus Christ. As Son of God, Jesus loved in a way
that was open to all people. His lifestyle reflected this love – in his openness for the
downtrodden or despised, in his dignified approach to women, in his time spent with
children, in his acceptance of foreigners and in his compassion for the sick and all
people in need.

Marriage and Parenthood


Marriage is a special relationship that is
shared exclusively between husband and wife.
The bond between spouses is special. This is
seen most obviously in their closeness to each
other. They work together, sharing their
hopes, fears, successes and disappointments.
They help, support and encourage each other
and they try to provide for each other’s
needs. Their relationship with each other will
be different from their relationship with
everyone else, including their children.

Parenthood
Most people who marry have children,
though not all couples are able to do so. The
quality of a marriage is no less if the couple
does not have children.

The parent-child love relationship is a unique


one. It has a strength that helps parents to care
for their children in every circumstance of life.

In Class Work

Consider the relationships that are possible in:


• the single life-style
• marriage.

Make a collage of pictures and/or words from magazines or newspapers that


depict how personal needs and the needs of others can be met through each
life-style.

Choosing lifestyles
People should not choose a lifestyle for the wrong reasons. Social trends and material
gain for example, should not be key considerations. The key question when making
lifestyle choices is: ‘Which lifestyle is the most appropriate to my talents and other gifts?’

18 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 1 to help choose the best answer for each
of the following questions:

1. A vocation is:
a) a job b) a career c) a calling d) a holiday

2. Human beings are co-creators with God. This means human beings:
a) create things as God does b) help bring creation to fulfilment
c) create children d) dominate the earth

3. Human beings co-operate with God’s sustaining activity by:


a) caring for pets b) appreciating art
c) working for social justice d) all of these ways

4. Humans, by their nature, are religious beings. Therefore, religious


development is needed for the development of:
a) the whole person b) students while doing Religious
Education
c) religious people d) the natural environment

5. The third commandment, keep holy the Sabbath, means to worship


and set time aside for God and also to:
a) rest b) sustain c) produce d) contribute

6. In relation to vocation, ‘work’ means participating in God’s:


a) creative activity b) paid employment
c) chosen career d) manual labour

7. The basic human question, ‘What is the meaning and purpose of


my life?’ can be paraphrased as:
a) How much money can I make? b) What am I here for?
c) Does life exist on other worlds? d) Deep down, am I a religious
person?

8. Jesus is the model for all chastity. This means:


a) he had no home to call his own b) his loved all people to the end
c) he performed lots of miracles d) he was single

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 19


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
2 Discovering personal vocation

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 People can fail to recognise their vocation for a variety of reasons
 Christians are called to spiritual discernment
 Lent is a special time for Christians to reflect on their lives
 Salvation is God’s saving action on behalf of the human race
 Christians experience salvation in their daily lives.

People can fail to recognise their vocation


for a variety of reasons
Many people today fail to recognise their vocation or
life-calling. They lack direction. Often they drift through
life or simply react to situations in life as they arise. There
are many reasons why this happens.

People can fail to open themselves to God’s guidance.


As a result, they are limited to their own resources and
can make mistakes concerning their vocation. Just
relying on the advice of others does not stop people
making wrong choices about what to do when they
leave school, their careers, whether to marry, whom to
marry and so on.

God wants people to use and develop their personal gifts and I NEED
talents in order to find fulfilment and satisfaction in their lives. HELP!
People can receive the guidance they seek through prayer and
worship and by being attentive to the promptings of the Holy
Spirit.

Self-centredness
Some people are too self-centred to easily discover
their vocation. They see no value in serving others,
and cannot see the point of doing something if there
is nothing in it for them.

The purpose of every person’s God-given gifts is to


enable each person to provide for the needs of others.

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2. DISCOVERING PERSONAL VOCATION

people fail to open themselves to god’ s guidance


God wants people to use and develop their personal gifts and
talents in order to find fulfilment and satisfaction in their lives.

Low self-esteem
Since God gives a person all the gifts they need to fulfil their vocation, a person’s gifts
provide a vital clue to their life vocation. Some people with low self-esteem cannot
appreciate their personal gifts, and so cannot see possibilities for their future.

There can be many reasons for low self-esteem. Australia’s competitive society leads
many people to compare themselves to others rather than get to know themselves better.
They are inclined to think ‘I am not as good as such and such a person’, ‘I am too shy to
make friends as so and so does’ or ‘I tend to be embarrassed easily.’

God wants people to see the total truth about themselves – their strengths as well as
their weaknesses.

Failure to value creation, society and family


People find it difficult to see how they are called to participate in God’s plan for the
world if they do not value creation, society or their families.

Some people today see the earth and its creatures only as something to be exploited.
Failing to respect creation, they fail to respect its balances and needs.

Others see society only in terms of how it can provide for their individual needs. They
have no interest in voluntary organisations or exploring how they can contribute to
society and the lives of others.

People need to value the family. When they see the family only in terms of their own
needs, and not in terms of the needs of others, they fail to appreciate their vocation as
members of a family.

Focus on status and income


Some people consider their future careers mainly in terms of status and income. They
are only interested in positions that are recognised as important or prestigious. Their
hopes focus on large and rapid financial remuneration. They find that rather than the
values of God influencing the decisions they make, they are influenced by the values of a
self-centred and materialistic society.

People who fail to discover and follow their vocation can end up feeling lost and lacking
direction – though this may not become obvious to them until later in life. Eventually,
many find themselves wondering: ‘What is the meaning and purpose of my life?’

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Christians are called to spiritual discernment


When people ‘discern’ they use their ability to recognise or understand something,
someone, or some course of action more fully and deeply than ever before. Discernment
often leads to a decision.

Spiritual discernment is a process by which a person in faith and love tries to discover
God’s will in a situation. It is a process of continually choosing the values of Jesus and
living by his Spirit. Christians are called to spiritually discern God’s will in all life’s
important decisions, particularly their vocation.

The most important question to begin and end a process of spiritual discernment is:
‘What does God want me to do?’ In order to discover the answer, a person must be
sensitive to their own motivations and feelings that might pull them in different
directions. It is very important for people to be aware of all that is influencing their
decision making process.

Some people get support from a spiritual director to


help them understand what is influencing their decision.
The spiritual director will help people ask questions What kinds
such as: ‘What are my talents?’ ‘What are my personal of things do
strengths and weaknesses?’ ‘What kinds of things I enjoy doing? What are
do I enjoy doing?’ ‘In my relationships, my talents?
when do I feel most fulfilled?’
What are my
To validly discern God’s will personal
people need to pray, have faith strengths and
and self-awareness. They must also weaknesses?
be committed to not only learning
God’s will but doing it – to make a
decision that will both please God
and fulfil their vocation.

The Church provides spiritual guidance for vocational


discernment. Single people are encouraged to seek a spiritual
director – a priest, religious or layperson – in making their
life decisions. Those discerning a call to marriage are asked to
attend marriage preparation classes well before their wedding,
or even before their engagement, to ensure that they have made
the correct decision. Others who are discerning a call to priesthood,
religious life or the single lay state are asked to consult with a spiritual
director who has experience in helping to guide people through the
process of knowing and following God’s will in this regard.

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Lent is a special time


for Christians to reflect
on their lives.

Lent is a special time for Christians to reflect


on their lives
Lent is a special time for Christians to reflect on their lives. As people journey with
Jesus through Lent to Easter they are called to reflect upon and to grow in their
understanding of Christ’s mission. Lent can be a time of discernment as people reflect
on their vocation and the person God calls them to be.

In Class Work

Using the Lenten calendar provided as your guide create your own Lenten
calendar beginning on Ash Wednesday and finishing on Holy Saturday. Use it
to reflect on the gifts, talents and skills that you have which need to be
recognised and developed in order for you to discover your vocation in life.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday with a call to come back to God. During the Ash
Wednesday liturgy people come forward to receive ashes and hear the words:

Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel. (Roman Missal)

People accept the power of God’s saving grace in their lives – Christian salvation – by
fulfilling two conditions:
• repentance
• belief in the Gospel.

Repentance means turning away from sin and turning


to God. Belief in the Gospel means accepting as true all
the teachings of Jesus.

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A Lenten Calendar

SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT


Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
Ash Wednesday List things to do Do something Write and use a
‘Remember that for Lent, that for your family. Lenten grace.
you are dust.’ you can add to
Sent on our this calendar.
journey. Go to
Mass.

Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
First Sunday Reach out to Pray for sinners. Thank God for Refer back to Visit an elderly Offer your
Read the help someone. your family and your Lenten list. or sick person. support to
Gospel: friends. What have you someone in
___________ done so far? special need.

Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
Second Sunday Spend some time Offer to do a Show special Examine your Make the Pray to be
Read the meditating on job around the concern for journey for signs stations of the faithful as
Gospel: God’s love and house. someone you of things that Cross and reflect Mary was
___________ guidance in your know who is could be going on Jesus doing faithful and
life. struggling to better. what he was that you can,
find their called to by like her, find
direction in his Father. your role in life.
life.

Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
Third Sunday Pray for peace. Do something Take on some Find out about a Pray for someone Receive the
Read the Reflect on how difficult from responsibility at Catholic youth you think has Sacrament of
Gospel: God’s peace can your Lenten list. home or school. organisation in wronged you. Penance.
___________ be promoted in your area that
the world. provides for the
needs of others.

Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
Fourth Sunday Comfort Thank God for Pray for enemies. List your gifts Ask for grace to Give a message
Read the someone who is helping you on Read Matthew that can be used forgive others. of hope to
Gospel: grieving or your journey so 6:43–48. in the service of someone today.
___________ unhappy. far this Lent. others.

Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
Fifth Sunday Have you been Accept yourself ‘Let go’ of Is there someone What can you do Take a ‘risk’ of
Read the avoiding as you are today something you who needs your to support your faith today.
Gospel: something hard? – God loves you treasure: give it concern today? family today?
___________ Bite the bullet. so much. up or give it
away!

Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________ Date: _________
Sixth Sunday Think of the Share a skill with Pray for hope for Holy Thursday. Good Friday. Holy Saturday.
Read the presence of God someone today. all as you travel Read the Gospel: Reflect on the Wait prayerfully
Gospel: in your life the road of Holy _____________ example of for the light of
___________ frequently today. Week. courage and the world.
love that Jesus
gives us.

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Salvation is God’s saving action on behalf


of the human race
God’s plan for people to be completely united to him could not be realised before the
coming of Christ because of human sin. Only God could change this situation. This
required salvation – God’s saving actions on behalf of the human race. These actions
involved:
• destruction of the power of original sin over human beings
• empowerment of people to overcome the effects of original sin.

These were achieved with the coming of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God


Jesus revealed a new divine power that could transform peoples’ lives. He announced
the Kingdom of God as coming with power to free people from sin and the domination
of evil. The Kingdom of God offers relationship with God and the promise of eternal
life with God. The Kingdom of God is not a place. It exists where people acknowledge
God’s Lordship over them in the person of Jesus and allow themselves to be
transformed by the power of God’s love. Jesus proclaimed:

‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent,
and believe the gospel.’ (Mark 1:15)

Jesus demonstrated that God’s


saving power is offered to
everyone in order to live the
Christian life. Many miracles,
such as healing miracles,
demonstrated what the kingdom
can do within people. They
showed in visible ways the
transformation that the power
of God is able to achieve
(e.g. Mark 2:1–12).

Jesus Healing the Crippled and the Blind (mosaic)


by Byzantine School, (12th century)

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Triduum
The four days of Easter services

Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord’s Supper

Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord’s Passion

Holy Saturday: Service of Light

Easter Sunday: Resurrection of Jesus

The Resurrection
The greatest demonstration of the power of the kingdom was the Resurrection of Jesus.
The Resurrection showed that, since it is greater than death, there is no human failing or
weakness that can resist God’s saving power.

The climax of Lent is the Feast of Easter, the high point of the liturgical year. Easter
begins with the evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday. Good Friday is a
day of solemn reflection with the Celebration of the Lord’s Passion. The Easter Vigil
takes place at night on Holy Saturday and begins with the Service of Light to proclaim
Christ’s Resurrection. On Easter Sunday Christians joyfully celebrate the Resurrection of
Jesus, the ‘crowning truth’ of their faith in Christ.

For your information…


The four days of Easter services, Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, are referred to as the
Triduum, a word meaning ‘three days’. This follows the Jewish method of counting a day
from sunset to sunset. Saturday evening to Sunday evening celebrates the third day on
which Jesus rose from the dead.

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Christians experience salvation in their daily lives


Over the two thousand years since the first coming of Jesus, his followers have
experienced God’s saving power affecting their lives in a variety of ways. It:
• gradually empowers people to overcome all human weaknesses and failings
• guides people towards true answers to basic human questions
• heals deep personal hurts
• strengthens the marriages of those who pray, worship and live as Jesus taught
• consoles the seriously ill and the dying
• forgives sins
• replaces inner conflict with peace.

For your information…


For Christians, the experience of God’s saving power in their daily lives is called ‘salvation’.
The word salvation comes from the Latin word salus, which relates to healing and health.

God’s saving power heals people by destroying original sin within them. It heals them
also of all other sins that they may have committed and contributes to the gradual
healing of the effects of sin in their lives.

Jesus is the source of Christian salvation. Christians from earliest times have worshipped
him as their Lord and Saviour.

Reflect briefly in your journal on the following questions:


• What are some of the weaknesses and failings in your life
that you would like God to heal?
• What hurts have you experienced in your life?
• What experiences of inner conflict have you had in your life?

Reflect on how you can draw on the graces of the sacraments to


help you change to become the kind of person God wishes you
to be.

Write a prayer asking God to help you achieve self-fulfilment by


sharing in the mission of Jesus and by developing a closer
relationship with God.

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God’s most basic desire is that human beings accept a close relationship with Him. The
mission of Jesus Christ is to make this possible. He commanded his followers:

‘I give you a new commandment: you must love another; you must love one another
just as I have loved you. It is by your love for one another, that everyone will
recognise you as my disciples.’ (John 13:34–35)

This is a restatement of the most basic Christian vocation – to share in the mission of
Jesus.

Jesus left his Church seven sacraments as important ways for Christians to draw on the
power of God.

Through Baptism, the Holy Spirit guides people to find their specific vocation or calling.
This basic vocation calls each Christian to teach others about God’s basic desire that
they love him and one another.

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 2 to answer the following questions:

1. Many people lack direction and drift through life because they
a) fail to use proper discernment
b) won’t look beyond their own needs and wants
c) ignore the truth about themselves
d) all of the above

2. The process of spiritual discernment may involve:


a) going with what feels good now
b) not making any decisions
c) talking to a spiritual director
d) planning a wedding

3. Lent is a time of preparation when people are called to:


a) turn back to God
b) receive ashes
c) lend things
d) wait for Easter

4. The Kingdom of God is now known as Israel. Y/N

5. Jesus rose from the dead by the power of the Kingdom of God. Y/N

6. ‘Salvation’ and ‘Repentance’ are different terms for the same thing. Y/N

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3 The Christian vocation

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Christians have a vocation to share in the mission of Jesus as priest
 Christians have a vocation to share in the mission of Jesus as prophet
 Christians have a vocation to share in the mission of Jesus as king
 The Christian promise is brought closer to fulfilment when people
cooperate with God who calls them to their vocations.

Christians have a vocation to share in the mission


of Jesus as priest
For Christians the meaning of human vocation
is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Jesus
reveals the depth of the human vocation as a
sharing in his mission as priest, prophet and
king. The Christian vocation is revealed and
perfectly realised in the person of Jesus. Jesus
taught all who follow him how to share in his
mission.

The Christian vocation is to put others first as


Jesus did when he exercised his mission as
priest. The Christian vocation is to speak out
on behalf of the poor and the powerless as
Jesus did when he fulfilled his mission as
prophet. The Christian vocation is to exercise Jesus Christ is like a tent which shelters
us in life's desert, 1993 (oil on panel)
stewardship over all creation as Jesus did when by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)
he fulfilled his mission as king.

God first instituted the Old Testament priesthood around 1250BC by commanding
Moses to set aside his brother Aaron and Aaron’s sons as priests (Exodus 28:1). In this
way, God instituted two levels of priestly service: the general priesthood of the Jews
as a priestly people and a special priesthood of service to the priestly people.

The basic responsibility of Old Testament priests was to act on behalf of the Jewish
people to help reconcile the people to God. They offered God sacrifices.

Over the centuries from the time of Moses to the coming of Jesus, God led the Jewish
people to a deeper understanding of sacrifice. This in turn led to a deeper understanding
of the meaning of priesthood.

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3. THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION

1. Sacrifices in the time of Moses were blood sacrifices


When God made the Sinai Covenant with the Jewish people, God told Moses to offer
blood sacrifices. Blood symbolised life. By pouring the blood of an animal on the altar,
those making the sacrifice were giving their own lives symbolically to God. They made
this intention clear by eating part of the sacrifice as a community. The role of the priest
in the Mosaic sacrifice was to kill the animal and conduct the sacrifice ritual.

2. Spiritual sacrifice
Before long, the Jewish people were performing the ritual of sacrifice, but not everyone
was sincerely offering their lives to God. They stopped keeping the commandments and
often lived like pagans.

God condemned insincere sacrificial rituals through several of the Prophets and revealed
that sincere efforts to live God’s laws and to give up wrong-doing were in themselves
forms of spiritual sacrifice:

One who keeps the Law multiplies offerings;


one who follows the commandments offers communion sacrifices ...
To abandon wickedness is what pleases the Lord,
to give up wrong doing is an expiatory sacrifice.
(Ecclesiasticus 35:1, 3)

After their conquest by the Babylonians in the early sixth century BC the Jews were
forced into exile and they could no longer offer ritual blood sacrifices. In this situation,
God accepted purely spiritual sacrifices which did not involve a priest. This did not
mean that blood sacrifices should no longer be performed – only that spiritual sacrifices
could be offered as well. Knowing this, the Jews realised that they could offer
themselves personally to God in prayer:

We now have no leader, no prophet, no prince,


no burnt offering, no sacrifice, no oblation, no incense,
no place where we can make offerings to you
and win your favour.
But may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit,
be as acceptable to you ...
... and may it please you that we follow you whole-heartedly,
since those who trust in you will not be shamed. (Daniel 3:38–40)

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3. Offering personal sufferings for the sins of others


God revealed through the prophet Isaiah the Jewish understanding of sacrifice to include
the offering of oneself for the sins of others in order to bring about forgiveness of their
sins. As with spiritual sacrifices, offering personal sufferings for the sins of others did
not involve either a priest or a ritual.

Isaiah wrote about a Suffering Servant who wins God’s favour for others by offering his
sufferings to God:

Yet ours were the sufferings he was bearing,


ours the sorrows he was carrying,
while we thought him as someone being punished …
… and we have been healed by his bruises.
… if he gives his life as a sin offering,
he will see his offspring and prolong his life,
and through him Yahweh’s good pleasure will be done.
After the ordeal he has endured,
he will see the light and be content.
… my servant will justify many by taking their guilt on himself.
(Isaiah 53:4–5, 10–11)

Jesus saw himself as fulfilling the prophecy of the Suffering Servant. He gave his life
through his sufferings and death for the whole human race – past, present and future.
He made this clear on a number of occasions (Matthew 20:28; Luke 10:22).

Christians today recognise that Jesus died for their personal sins and each sees him as
their personal Saviour. The death of Jesus was for the sins of the human race so all who
sin have some responsibility for his death.

4. Jesus – Priest and Victim in the Eucharist


When Jesus was on the cross and offered his life to God the Father, he revealed himself
as the perfect priest. He did not sacrifice an animal to the Father, but offered his own
life, making himself victim as well as sacrifice. Jesus also revealed that he did not offer
his life to his Father only on Calvary. Jesus offered his whole life in spiritual sacrifice to
God the Father. He gave this as the basic reason for his life on earth:

… I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of him
who sent me. (John 6:38)

This spiritual sacrifice included his friendships, care of the sick and those in need. It
included his teaching, his miracles, and every aspect of his life.

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Jesus offered his life like the Suffering Servant


The authorities in Jerusalem worked to oppose Jesus. As his followers grew in number,
the Jewish leaders plotted his death.

Jesus recognised that, by his suffering and death, he would fulfil the prophecy of the
Suffering Servant. He taught that:

[He] came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.
(Matthew 20:28)

The night before he was killed, Jesus feared his death. He could have avoided this by
running away. If he had done this he would not have fulfilled his mission – and would
have disobeyed God the Father. Using the biblical image of the ‘cup of suffering’, Jesus
prayed:

‘Father,’ he said, ‘if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless,
let your will be done, not mine.’ (Luke 22:42)

The next day, Jesus died on a cross at Calvary. This was his perfect sacrifice to God the
Father. He was the blood victim – but, as the one making the offering, he was also the priest.

Christ on the Cross,


1627 (oil on panel) by Dyck,
Sir Anthony van (1599–1641)

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The Eucharist: the new sacrifice


The night before he died, Jesus had a Last Supper with his disciples. During this meal,
he replaced all Jewish Old Covenant sacrifices with a new one – the Eucharist,
a symbolic representation of his own sacrifice on Calvary:

Then he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to
them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ He
did the same with the cup after supper, and said, ‘This cup is the new covenant in
my blood poured out for you.’ (Luke 22:19–20)

By telling his Apostles to ‘do this in remembrance of me’, Jesus instituted them as a new
priesthood. The Apostles passed on this priesthood to others as Jesus intended, through
the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

Since the time of the Apostles, his Church has celebrated the Eucharist as Jesus
commanded. Each time the priest repeats the action of Jesus during Mass he calls on the
power of the Holy Spirit to change bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Jesus.

Jesus offers himself as sacrificial victim to God the Father. He is both priest and victim.
Jesus fulfilled in himself the Old Testament priesthood, becoming the “supreme High
Priest.” (Hebrews 4:14) He was also the one, perfect and eternal sacrifice that redeemed
the sins of the world “once and for all by offering himself.” (Hebrews 7:27). The
Eucharist is the perfect sacrifice because, unlike the sacrifices of the Old Covenant, the
body and blood offered at each Eucharistic celebration do not merely ‘represent’ the one
doing the offering they are the body and blood of the one doing the offering.

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The Church and every Christian is called by God to share in


the mission of Jesus as priest
Baptised Christians share in the priestly mission of Jesus in a particular way by living
and working as he did. This means that they offer every moment of their lives in
spiritual sacrifice to God the Father, just as Jesus did. It also means that they join Jesus
in offering their lives in the Eucharist.

Christians offer their lives as spiritual sacrifices


Christians understand how to offer their lives as spiritual sacrifices by reviewing their
daily lives. They offer these spiritual sacrifices to God the Father by living in ways that
keep God’s commandments. This includes trying to:
• show love to other family members and to forgive any hurts
• care for anyone they meet who has a special need including
– the poor and sick
– the rejected
– the discouraged
• be just and fair in how they treat others
• fulfil their responsibilities and commitments, including
– their studies
– those to their families.

There are also the more difficult experiences people have that can be offered to God.
These include:
• illness and physical sufferings
• failures and disappointments
• worries and anxieties
• emotional stresses
• severe temptations to break one of God’s Commandments such as:
– to steal or to deceive someone in a business deal
– to give in to sexual desires.

It is by offering these daily life moments to God the Father as spiritual sacrifices, just as
Jesus did, that a Christian becomes a means or an ‘instrument’ through which other
people can experience the transforming power of God’s love in their lives.

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Prayer as spiritual sacrifice


Every prayer, including prayerful thought, is a spiritual sacrifice to God. People
generally cannot think about offering their lives to God as a spiritual sacrifice during
every moment of the day. People can develop the important practice of praying the
Morning Offering every day, in this way they can offer every moment of the coming day
to God.

It is important to pray a Morning Offering prayer. This can be a personal expression of


offering the day and everything in it to God or one of the many prayers of offering
found in Catholic prayer books. For example:

Morning Offering

‘Lord, I give you today my prayers,


thoughts, works and actions
that they may be for your glory
and for the good of the world.’

In Class Work

• Find different Morning Offerings from Catholic resources e.g. The Morning
Offering of St Therese of Lisieux.

• Write your own Morning Offerings to suit different occasions that you will
encounter as a Year Ten student, for example making decisions about what
you will study in Year Eleven and Year Twelve that will enable you to fulfill
your vocation.

• Create prayer cards that can be displayed and used by your class each
morning.

• Plan how you will ensure you make a Morning Offering as a


class each day.

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Catholics offer their lives in the Eucharist


People share in the mission of Jesus the priest by joining him in offering their lives to
God the Father in the Eucharist. The special prayer of offering in any Mass occurs after
the consecration. For instance, when the Second Eucharistic Prayer is used, the priest
prays on behalf of the people:

In memory of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Father, this life-giving
bread, this saving cup. We thank you for counting us worthy to stand in your
presence and serve you. May all of us who share in the body and blood of Christ
be brought together in unity by the Holy Spirit. (Roman Missal)

Jesus calls all present during Mass to offer their lives, together with his, to God the
Father. This includes their prayers, works, joys, hardships, sufferings, difficulties,
temptations and successes.

Because of the suffering of Jesus, the Mass is the greatest of all the prayers people can
offer to God.

Jesus also joins the prayers of those who offer their lives with him to his prayer. This
includes the needs they pray for during the Mass – their own needs and the needs of
others.

The power of the Resurrection of Jesus is greater than death. It is stronger than any
human weakness. Jesus shares this power with all who offer their lives in the Eucharist.
This power:
• consoles where there is suffering
• strengthens against temptations and weaknesses
• empowers efforts in areas of daily life
• guides through personal problems and questions.

When people who participate in the Eucharist pray for


family members, friends, those with needs, Church
members and many others this power helps them.

Baptised people share in the mission of Jesus as priest


in an especially powerful way each time they offer
their lives as Jesus does to God the Father in the
Eucharist.

Where in your life at present is there a need for consolation,


strength, empowerment or guidance? Write a letter to God the
Father asking for what is needed. Write the letter as though it
were to be given to Jesus to personally support your request.

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Christians have a vocation to share in the mission of


Jesus as prophet
The Christian vocation is to speak on
behalf of the poor and the powerless
who have no one to speak for them.
Jesus taught what it is to speak on
behalf of the poor and powerless and to
be a prophet.

Prophets of the Old Testament were


called to proclaim the word or teaching
of God and to speak in God’s name to
others. This work also involved
criticising and calling others to work to
change what was bad or evil in their
society, challenging whatever in society
is contrary to God’s law.

Prophets were people called by God and


St. John the Baptist and the Pharisees, illustration for ‘The Life of Christ’, c.1886–96
they were continually strengthened by (gouache on paperboard) by Tissot, James Jacques Joseph (1836–1902)
God as long as they continued to fulfil
God’s mission. The prophets acted out of their deep commitment to God. They spoke
out when they saw that people were not living as God wanted. It was often difficult to
be a prophet who was like a conscience for society, challenging the way people lived and
the injustices they saw around them.

For your information…


John the Baptist was a prophet. He admonished people to straighten out their lives
in preparation for the one who was to come. Luke’s Gospel records John telling tax
collectors to be honest and warning soldiers not to intimidate people or use
extortion to get extra money (Luke 3: 10–14). John upset Herod Antipas when he
criticised the king’s relationship with his brother’s wife. Like many prophets before
him, John was silenced, first by being imprisoned, then by being killed (Mark 6:17–29).

Jesus challenged social trends and practices that conflicted with the teachings and
commandments of God. This led him to be rejected, ridiculed and eventually killed.
During Jesus’ ministry many people recognised him as a prophet (Matthew 21:11;
Luke 24:19).

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Christians can share in Christ ’s


mission as prophet today by helping
others to understand what the
Kingdom of God is all about.

Jesus proclaimed the Kingdom of God, and taught much about it. He also demonstrated
its power through actions.

Jesus always pointed to a future beyond suffering and death (Mark 10:33–34).
He taught about his own Resurrection. He taught his followers about heaven, hell
and their own future resurrection from the dead.

Christians share in the prophetic role of Jesus through the various works they do which
teach others that he is the source of the Kingdom of God whose power they can draw on by:
• repenting and resolving to change all wrongdoing in their lives
• believing in all that Jesus taught.

Christians can share in Christ’s mission as prophet today by helping others to


understand what the Kingdom of God is all about. They try to help people to see what
the power of God’s transforming love can offer them in their daily lives – particularly
how it offers hope and strength to build a society of justice, love and peace in
preparation for the new heaven and new earth to be finally realised when Jesus comes
again.

Christians share in Christ’s prophetic role by sharing the good news of the Gospel and
encouraging everyone in society to live as Jesus taught, helping them to see ways in
which they are not living according to Christ’s law of love.

40 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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Christians have a vocation to share in the mission


of Jesus as king
The Christian vocation is to exercise stewardship over all creation as Jesus did when he
fulfilled his mission as king.

Old Testament kings were meant to be servants of God who was the real king of Israel.
This was their calling and their work. Perhaps the best remembered kings are Saul,
David and Solomon.

Jesus’ mission as king was to establish the rule (or ‘reign’) of God in the world. He came
to promote a society that reflected God and the values of God. This would be a society
of love, goodness, faithfulness, forgiveness and care for those with special needs.

One way that Jesus exercised his mission as king differently from other kings was
through his service rather than his dominance of others. He told his Apostles:

‘... the Son of man came not to be served but to serve ...’ (Matthew 20:28)

During the Last Supper, Jesus


showed his Apostles that service
meant serving even those regarded
by others as the lowliest people in
society. He did so by washing his
Apostles’ feet. At that time this was
the task of a slave, not a teacher.
(John 13:2–16).

Jesus also taught that his followers


would serve him whenever they
served the hungry and others in
need (Matthew 25:35–40 and
42–45).

Baptised people share in the


mission of Jesus as king by
growing in inner freedom,
promoting God’s goodness and
love and promoting respect for Christ Washing the Feet of the Disciples (oil on canvas)
(detail of 69587) by Tintoretto, Jacopo Robusti (1518–94)
creation.

As king, Jesus sought to promote the rule of God in the world – the rule of love and
goodness that destroys evil. To share in this mission of Jesus, Christians need to begin
with themselves. They need to repent (Mark 1:15) and draw on God’s power in their
lives by praying daily, worshipping in the liturgical assembly (especially through the
Eucharist) and living every day as Jesus taught.

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3. THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION

Promoting God’s love and goodness in society


Christians promote God’s kingdom in society, as Jesus did, by promoting love and
goodness in every way that they can.

The value of justice is particularly important. This value brings peace, which Christians
are called to promote at every level – in families, among friends, between neighbours
and different groups in society, as well as among nations.

Justice includes social justice – the recognition of the equal dignity and rights of every
human being and the promoting of just distribution of the earth’s resources.

Promoting respect for creation


Sharing Christ’s mission as king also means encouraging proper respect for the
environment, other creatures and the use of the earth’s resources. The earth is to be
preserved for future generations.

Imagine what it would be like if


everyone today cooperated with God in
discovering their vocation in life.

Imagine how the lives of people would


be different if everyone shared in the
mission of Jesus as:

priest – by living and working as he did


– offering every moment of their lives
to God – joining with Jesus in offering
their lives in the Eucharist

prophet – by speaking up and acting on


behalf of the poor and oppressed in
society thus building God’s Kingdom
here on earth

king – by promoting God’s rule of love


and goodness that destroys evil in the
world – bringing order and harmony to
God’s creation

How would the world be a different


place if all people worked at their
basic Christian vocation and truly
shared in Christ’s mission of priest,
prophet and king?

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The Christian promise is


brought closer to fulfilment
when people cooperate with
God who calls them to their
vocations

In Class Work

You are working for an advertising firm contracted to supply posters for large,
road-side billboards. Design a poster that has one of the following themes:
• Today’s Christian youth – called to share in Jesus’ priestly mission
• In every age, Christians are called to share in Jesus’ prophetic mission
• ‘Being Christian’ means sharing in Jesus’ mission to build the Kingdom of
God in the world.

Choose a title and include a short, snappy “mission statement”. This statement
will seek to express, clearly and concisely, what it means to be a young
Christian who shares in Jesus’ mission as priest or prophet or king in today’s
society.

The poster should include at least three practical examples of how this
mission can be practised in everyday life. This might be expressed most
effectively with illustrations or short phrases.

The Christian promise is brought closer to fulfilment when


people cooperate with God who calls them to their vocations
Christians work by contributing to God’s creative activity today, just as Jesus did. As
they do so, they experience greater fulfilment as they find answers to the general human
heart question, ‘What is the meaning and purpose of my life?’

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3. THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION

There are many examples of people living in a way that God wants and fulfilling their
Christian vocation.

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati – “We must never just simply exist”

Pier Giorgio Frassati was beatified by the Catholic


Church in 1990 and named the Patron Saint of World
Youth Day in 2000. He fulfilled his vocation as a lay
Christian in the way he lived his faith by loving Jesus
and striving to see Jesus in the people he met in the
society in which he lived. It was fitting that the
Church should choose such a vibrant young man as a
patron for youth.

Pier Giorgio was born into a privileged family in


Turin, Italy, on April 6, 1901. His mother, Adelaide,
was an accomplished painter and his father, Alfredo,
was the founder and director of the liberal
newspaper, La Stampa. He was influential in Italian
politics serving a term as senator, and later was Italy’s
ambassador to Germany. Pier Giorgio grew up
between the two world wars, a period of social unrest dominated by Fascism.

From an early age, Pier Giorgio’s concern for others was evident. When he was only
four, he gave away his shoes to the son of a poor woman who came begging at the door
of the family home. Throughout his school years, he used his pocket money and tram
fare to buy food and necessities for the needy. While living in the embassy in Germany,
he continued to serve the poor, even giving away his winter overcoat to an old man
shivering with cold. Often he was so caught up in serving the poor after school that he
had to run home in order to be on time for dinner and to avoid his father’s displeasure.

Although he was an intelligent young man, Pier Giorgio often struggled to keep up with
his studies. He was involved in many extracurricular activities such as political
organisations, sporting clubs, the Society of St Vincent de Paul, and the Lay Dominicans.
These activities, his attendance at daily Mass and the Rosary, Eucharistic adoration, his
involvement in other religious activities, and his weekend outings to the mountains for
skiing or hiking, limited his time for schoolwork.

His expeditions to the mountains were more than adventures. Pier Giorgio and his
friends used the solitude and peace to pray the Rosary and to appreciate the wonders of
God’s creation. He wrote: ‘Every day I love the mountains more and more, and if my
studies permitted, I would spend whole days in the mountains contemplating the
greatness of the Creator in that pure air.’

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Pier Giorgio was beloved by his schoolmates and teachers alike. He gained a reputation
for pranks like short-sheeting the Jesuit teachers’ beds and was known as the first to
start laughing at a joke and the last to stop. His sense of humour and his sporting
prowess meant that Pier Giorgio developed a strong group of friends both boys and girls
who called themselves ‘I Sinistri’ or ‘The Shady Characters’.

Pier Giorgio managed to achieve excellent results at the end of his secondary education
and qualified for the Royal Polytechnic. He planned to study mining engineering. He
thought that working with miners who laboured in dangerous conditions for poor pay
would allow him to witness to his faith as a lay missionary. While a student at the
Polytechnic, Pier Giorgio became involved in Catholic student movements. In 1921, he
was involved in organising the first congress of the Pax Romana. This organisation
aimed to unify all Catholic students across the world to work towards global peace.

When the family went to their country estate or the seashore for holidays, Pier Giorgio
often stayed behind in Turin to help ‘his poor’. He said: “If I leave who will help
them?” He not only gave people material help, he spent time with them. He ran
errands, cleaned houses, bathed and tended the sick, read to the blind and entertained
the children. He never left a home without giving a short religious instruction and
saying a prayer.

While still at university, Pier Giorgio’s father offered him a car or an equivalent gift of
money for his twenty-first birthday. The young man chose the money. He gave half to
the St Vincent de Paul Society and the other half to help an old woman who had been
evicted from her slum home, an invalid suffering from tuberculosis, and a widow with
three small children.

Pier Giorgio attended Mass and received Holy Communion early every morning. He saw
this aspect of his life as a gift that he needed to repay, saying: ‘Jesus comes to me every
morning in Holy Communion and I repay him in my very small way by visiting the
poor.’ He saw Christ in them and said: ‘All around the sick and all around the poor I see
a special light which we do not have… God gives us health so that we may serve the
sick.” He influenced a number of his friends to join him in his visits to the slums and the
charity hospitals.

Pier Giorgio and his friends were politically active. They opposed the power of the
dictator Mussolini and participated in public demonstrations against Fascism. During
one of these marches, Pier Giorgio and some of his friends were detained by the army.
He rescued a young demonstrator who was being threatened with a soldier’s bayonet
and led the group in prayer for themselves and their attackers. He was considered a
hero, but Pier Giorgio understood that his courage came from God: “It is not those who
suffer violence who should fear, but those who practise it. When God is with us, we do
not need to be afraid.”

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Pier Giorgio joined the Italian People’s Party, which supported democratic principles and
Catholic social teachings. He believed that it was his Christian responsibility to do more
than just ‘patch up’ the wounds and sufferings which resulted from injustice. He would
say, “Charity is not enough: we need social reform.”

In 1925, while in the midst of final exams before attaining his engineering degree,
Pier Giorgio contracted polio. He had never been sick before and ignored the early
symptoms and said nothing to his family until it was too late for him to receive effective
treatment. On July 4 1925 after being bedridden for only two days he died. He was only
twenty-four. On his deathbed, he remembered that he had a prescription for one of his
poor people in his jacket pocket and asked his sister Luciana to have one of his friends
take care of the matter. To the end, his concern was for the poor and the sick.

Involved as they were in state politics and high society, Pier Giorgio’s family knew little
of his activities among the poor and even less of his deep spirituality. They were
astounded to discover the depth of both when dozens of clergy and thousands of poor
people came to join the family for Pier Giorgio’s funeral. Over the coming months and
years his family received many visits and letters from people who testified to his
influence in their lives. Pier Giorgio had been a young man who lived life to the full.
His life could be summed up in this line from one of his letters:

“To live without faith, without a heritage to defend, without battling constantly for the
sake of truth – that is not living, but simply existing. We must never simply exist.”

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3. THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION

Danusia Does It
Kate Molony

It’s Christmas morning in 1992. A While attending high school Danusia


chaotic scene unfolds in a suburban began to help others, embarking on a
home as the final preparations are personal ministry of volunteer work
made for the Christmas delivery Santa that continues to this day.
couldn’t make.
From Year Seven, under the supervision
Presents are wrapped and stacked, of a nun, she fed the hungry, visited
tinsel garlands taped down. Festive nursing homes, and was touched by
reindeer antlers are slipped on. There the courage of children with mental
may not be a sleigh, but there’s a big illnesses. She experienced her first visit
red truck, and scores of underprivileged to Ozanam House, a shelter run by the
children—naughty and nice—will still St Vincent de Paul Society in Melbourne,
get their Christmas presents. where she helped feed the homeless
and listened to their stories.
This is one of the proudest memories
for Danusia Kaska, one of two newly As Danusia continued through high
appointed national Vice Presidents of school she became involved with youth
the St Vincent de Paul Society in Masses and liturgy, was a special
Australia. Her fellow Vice President is minister of the Eucharist at Mass every
former WA Police Chief, Brian Bull. In week and began volunteering at
taking office, she becomes the first schools for disabled children.
woman and the youngest person, at
28, to be elected to a senior position. ‘I was just looking for something
positive to do ... and if there was
One might say that the wheels were something there, I would be doing it’,
set in motion for this achievement a she explains, denying that it was too
long time ago. The daughter of Polish much for a young person to take on.
migrants, Danusia saw her parents
assist others who were struggling, even Her involvement with the St Vincent de
sending parcels to people in need back Paul Society began as she was finishing
in Europe. Year 12. With more time on her hands,
Danusia decided she wanted to find an
‘My toys and clothes were always being organisation that would nurture her
given away ... so I had the understanding calling to help those in need. The answer
from a small child that people in need appeared on a parish notice board, and
need to be helped.’ she began attending regular meetings
with ‘St Vinnies’.

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3. THE CHRISTIAN VOCATION

She describes the first meeting as Danusia’s enterprise in the community


daunting: an assembly of around twenty has also led to her involvement with
people with a forty-year age gap other organisations, notably the
between herself and the next youngest Marists. She lived in MYAC house, a
person! Marist community which places young
people together to develop their
‘But they were so welcoming’, she ministry and faith.
reflects. ‘And from that point on,
every Thursday night, one of the other ‘I admire how Marist brothers work
volunteers would pick me up and take closely with young people,’ she says.
me to the soup van, and every She is an avid supporter of youth
Saturday to Ozanam House.’ ministry, which she insists is vibrant
and busy, contrary to criticism from
Wondering why there weren’t more some quarters.
opportunities for young people to be
involved in the society, Danusia ‘It is sometimes implied that young
gathered a troupe of friends together people aren’t very active in the church
and began her own group. It would today, that they aren’t very interested
be a few years before the Victorian in following their faith. That’s rubbish!
State Council established it formally, If you go to a Catholic youth ministry
but Danusia can still be recognised for event, you’ll see how many young
helping to initiate what would people are involved—try 2.8 million
become the Young Vincentians, or people at a World Youth Day (in
‘Young Vinnies’. Danusia continued Rome, 2000). No rock concert, no
running the Young Vincentians in her celebrity, no sporting person in the
area until she felt herself called to a world has ever brought so many
mission in the remote village of young people together like the Holy
Nongkhai, Thailand, in 2002. She lived Father did.’
and worked in a hospice for children
suffering from or affected by AIDS. Danusia points out that many young
people attend Adoration at the
Conditions were poor and primitive, cathedral, Young Vinnies groups,
communication with the outside world youth Masses and prayer groups. She
was limited, and the children were sees them work with charities such as
sick and dying. Danusia describes it as MacKillop Family Services, Interchange
one of the most moving experiences North-West, and Exodus, an outreach
of her life. community in West Heidelberg.

‘I felt such a strong, stirring calling ‘I meet more and more young people
within me and I really knew that God who are involved in these areas. It’s
was talking to me. I was really being a very inspiring.’
witness to my faith.’

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At the age of 28, Danusia had This is crucial, for Danusia believes
developed an impressive portfolio with young people have a vital role to play
her personal ministry. She was still as full participants in the Society and
stunned, however, by her appointment older people have a lot of wisdom to
to the position of national co-Vice share.
President.
When she met the International Society
Ironically, the gap that Danusia saw in President and the International Society
her first St Vincent de Paul meeting ten Youth Representative in Seoul in 2001,
years ago will be her main focal point Danusia admired the respect and
as Vice President. support they gave to each other.

‘I’m 28. I’m not a Young Vinnie ‘That’s something I want to see
anymore—a lot of Young Vinnies are in emulated here’, she explains. ‘Young
college, or their early twenties. It Vinnies should be more than the
would be nice if we could find more Vinnies of tomorrow. They are the
ways for people who have less time Vinnies of today.’
available, such as those in their late
twenties, or thirties and forties, to
participate.’

Aside from bridging the gap, Danusia


feels it’s very important to unify what
are, at the moment, two very separate
ends of the spectrum: the young and
the senior.

This article is reproduced with the permission of Australian Catholics magazine.


It originally appeared in the Spring 2003 issue.

In Class Work

1. Research the lives of two other people who through their vocation,
shared in the mission of Jesus as priest, prophet and king.

2. What do the people you researched have in common?

3. What makes them inspirational people?

4. How can you draw on the lives of these people to help you continue
to fulfill your basic Christian vocation?

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4 Marriage is a vocation

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Jesus restored God’s original plan for marriage
 The Sacrament of Marriage strengthens and guides people in
their life together
 Baptised people confer the Sacrament of Marriage upon one another

Jesus restored God’s original plan for marriage

Jesus revealed that the basic reason for every human being’s existence is to be loved by
God and to return that love in the service of God and others. In the context of love for
others, Jesus restored God’s original plan for marriage.

In ancient times, when some men had multiple wives and concubines, marriage was not
thought of as a relationship of love. In the course of time, God revealed that marriage
was meant to be a loving and life-giving relationship between one man and one woman
for the rest of their lives. Marriage and love should go together. This was the foundation
of the marriage as God intended it between the first parents of the human race. The
second creation story of the Bible states:

This is why a man leaves his father and mother and becomes attached to his wife,
and they become one flesh. (Genesis 2:24)

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4. MARRIAGE IS A VOCATION

Original sin destroyed God’s original plan. A weakened will and other human limitations
made it hard for people to love in marriage as God had planned. Women were often
promised to men through arranged marriages for political, business and financial
reasons.

God’s teaching went firmly against the accepted ideas in the ancient world.

The world into which Jesus was born accepted divorce. Under the law of Moses, all that
a man had to do to divorce his wife was to present her with a written statement:

‘... he has therefore made out a writ of divorce and handed it to her and then
dismissed her from his house ...’ (Deuteronomy 24:1)

This was not what God wanted for those who marry. God wants the hopes of couples
entering into marriage to be fulfilled. The Church today continues to uphold what God
has revealed about love and marriage and cannot give in to some of the present
commonly-held ideas about marriage.

God also wants children to have the foundation of a secure relationship between their
parents. Then their own relationships with their parents can be completely secure.

God’s two purposes for marriage


Jesus came to restore God’s original purpose for marriage.

… from the beginning of creation he made them male and female. This is
why a man leaves his father and mother, and the two become one flesh.
They are no longer two, therefore, but one flesh. So then, what God has
united, human beings must not divide. (Mark 10:6–8)

God, the Creator of human nature, began revealing the meaning of marriage so
that married couples could have their love completely fulfilled.

Through Jesus’ teachings people have come to understand that there are two
purposes for marriage:
• the sexual expression of married love for one another
• the procreation of children.

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4. MARRIAGE IS A VOCATION

The sexual expression of the married love for one another


God revealed that marriage should be a special communion of
life-long love between a man and a woman. Once a couple
marries, God intends for them to develop their married
love for the rest of their lives. This love differs from the
other kinds of love created by God, such as the love
between parents and children, brothers and sisters,
grandparents and friends.

The first time this teaching on marriage is revealed is in


the second creation story in the Bible (Genesis 2:4–25). In
this story, God is portrayed as creating the man from the soil
and the woman from his rib. In the culture of the time, being created
from the man’s rib rather than the soil symbolised the idea that the woman was of the
same nature and dignity as the man. She is not like the rest of creation. Nothing else in
creation shared the dignity of human beings.

God intended sexual intercourse to be used exclusively to express married love between
husband and wife. The sixth and ninth commandments summarise God’s laws intended
to preserve the dignity of marriage.

The procreation of children


In the creation story placed first in the Bible, the Priestly
account teaches that one purpose for people marrying is
to bring children into the world:
Though children are conceived in marriage, wives and
husbands do not ‘create’ them. It is God who created
the human powers of reproduction and parents who use
them. It is God who creates the spiritual soul that is the
source of life for every conceived child.

What ‘procreation’ means


To say that parents ‘pro-create’ their children means that
they co-operate in God’s creation of their children.
Since parents do not ‘create’ them, parents and children
are of equal dignity in the sight of God.

Procreation includes parents’ responsibility for the care and development of children
until they reach adulthood. It requires the stable emotional environment that is not
possible without marital stability, trust and reliability.

In God’s plan, therefore, couples need to work at developing their married love so that
it is strong enough to provide the stability needed by their children.

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4. MARRIAGE IS A VOCATION

Tony – husband, consideration: “Even if our contact


with people is only 5 to 10 minutes,
father and Pastoral it is very important to leave people
Care Worker at feeling supported in what they need.”
Tony also describes his job as
St John of God ‘propping up people in a crisis’ and
Hospital ‘journeying with people’ especially if
their diagnosis is not positive.

Tony’s working day begins with He aims to affirm people and to get
prayer and then his ward rounds at them to work at understanding their
St John of God Hospital in Subiaco. situation even though that may
His title of Pastoral Care Worker often involve such diverse experiences as
causes confusion amongst older pain, fear, mystery and wonder.
patients and clients at the hospital
who wonder what a man who looks So how did someone who was running
after grazing animals and who mends a successful landscape business make
fences is doing in a hospital. Tony such a vastly different career change?
says that younger patients have often Tony puts it down to “marrying the
had the experience of pastoral care at right woman” - his wife, Anne.
school and they recognise what he Although he was not actually looking
does and how he can assist them. for a career change, Anne encouraged
Tony to apply for the position as
The average stay for patients in Pastoral Care Worker. In some ways,
St John’s is four to seven days. During his present work has similarities to
their stay, Tony and others offer a landscaping as it involves building
range of support to the patients. The and creating. Instead of gardens Tony
hospital has a multi-disciplinary builds relationships with people.
approach where the Pastoral Care
Worker is part of a team with He feels that people trust him in his
physiotherapists, nursing staff and work and that barriers come down,
other health professionals who particularly at times of great trauma.
provide the range of support that the When asked how he gains people’s
patients need. trust, Tony says he sits, listens and
takes the cues from the people with
Tony says that the Pastoral whom he is working. ‘It is spiritual. If
Care Workers consider the mind and spirit are free, the body
the level of family and heals.’ At times of crisis in their lives,
other support for he finds that people look for inner
patients when peace, acceptance, resolution, God, or
prioritising their all of those things.
tasks for the day.
Whether someone When asked about the most important
is from the country things in his life Tony says: “My
or local, the level family is my life. Work is not
of treatment or dominant. We had our children and
surgery that that was the big thing in my life.”
they are to Getting married and becoming a
undergo, their parent meant learning new ways of
age and marital looking at the world and adapting to a
status are all marriage relationship. He says that
taken into he and Anne try to work together in
an area of changing roles as they care

54 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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4. MARRIAGE IS A VOCATION

for their family of seven children and achieved a sense of peace and
pursue their own careers. Early on as harmony that he tries to bring to the
a parent, Tony felt that he had to lives of those in his care.
unlearn things he thought he knew
about parenting. He learned not to be He has a strong sense of the need for
threatened by his children being and re-creation in people’s lives and feels
acting differently from his that he came to appreciate this partly
expectations. Children ‘not toeing the through working with nature in his
line’ was something that he and Anne landscaping business. As a child Tony
came to accept. In dealing with it they enjoyed the activities offered in his
tried not to crush the child’s spirit. He parish and in particular, the support
hopes that when life as a parent is and interest of the parish priest. His
difficult, he responds with an mother also figures as an important
openness that allows his children to person who encouraged and
grow as people even though he and supported him in his faith.
Anne may not necessarily agree with
the choices the children make. He For Tony, his work as a landscaper
says that he has tried to encourage gave him an appreciation of nature
his children to be servant-leaders and beauty. Working outside, often by
when they have held positions of himself, gave him time to reflect, to
responsibility in their lives. see the role of creativeness in his life.
He says that it taught him that life is
What sustains Tony and nurtures him not just about knowledge and work.
so that he can follow his vocation of This has given him an awareness of
working with people at some of the the role of grief in people’s lives and
most difficult times in their lives? At appreciation of the depths to which
the centre of Tony’s life are his family people can feel pain, shock and an
and the love and support that Anne inability to cope. These life
and the children give him. This keeps experiences and his family support
him focussed and motivated. him in his work and sustain him in a
job focussed very much on the care of
From his own religious experience people in crisis.
and upbringing, Tony feels that he has

In Class Work

Parenthood and family


1. How important do you think it is for couples to share or support one
another in their vocations?
2. What challenges do parents face when bringing up their children?
3. Create a chapter of a self-help manual that will help parents and children
fulfil their vocation of developing a Christian family. The manual should
include such things as:
– what parents need to do in order to ensure that their married love and
relationship is as stable and strong as possible
– what children, especially adolescents, need to do in order to support
their parents in their marriage
– any useful tips for either parents or children as to how each can
contribute to the on-going creation of the other.

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The Sacrament of Marriage strengthens and guides


people in their life together
Jesus, the Son of God, renewed God’s original plan for marriage (Matthew 19:4–6).
To help people overcome the difficulties of original sin that undermined this plan, Jesus
raised marriage to the dignity of a sacrament.

The purpose of this sacrament is to help restore the relationship God originally intended
between husband and wife. Husbands and wives relate with God in this Sacrament, the
married love that is needed to deepen the communion of their special life-long love, grows.

God seeks to strengthen and guide a married couple in their life together
When two baptised people commit themselves publicly to married love within the
Church community, Jesus consecrates their love. This means that:

‘… (Jesus) himself gives the strength and grace to live marriage in the new dimension
of the Reign of God.’ (Catechism 1615)

Through the Sacrament of Marriage, Jesus strengthens married people so that, for
example, they can:
• face the daily problems that arise in marriage
• reopen communication when there is tension
• renew their marriage commitment
• forgive each other
• support each other
• overcome temptations to be unfaithful, such as a sexual attraction to someone else.

Jesus also guides them when, for example, they need to:
• work out any problems they may be facing
• make decisions about their home and family life
• address issues related to parenting
• make decisions about finance, moving house, the necessity for both to
work outside the home
• what to do if their marriage seems unhappy.

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Baptised people confer the Sacrament of Marriage


upon one another
Baptised couples confer the Sacrament of Marriage upon one another when they
exchange the vows of marriage before a priest or deacon and two other witnesses. It is
then that Christ consecrates the love between them.

To receive the Sacrament of Marriage, people firstly need to accept Christian faith and
Baptism. All who have done so can receive the gifts of this sacrament.

A man or a woman may feel close before they marry, and deeply in love: however,
married love is fulfilled in them when they commit themselves to each other by
exchanging the vows of marriage.

Most people have been present at – or at least have seen on TV – a marriage ceremony.
There are different forms of ceremonies across the world, but what is common to all is
the statement of consent by each spouse. A baptised couple marrying in the Catholic
Church celebrates the Sacrament of Marriage as they exchange the following vows:

I … take you … to be my (husband/wife). I promise to be true to you in good times or


in bad, in sickness and in health. I will love you and honour you all the days of my life.

OR

I … take you … for my lawful husband/wife to have and to hold from this day
forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health until
death do us part.

This consent is completed and the marriage bond sealed by God when the couple
express their total self-giving love for each other through sexual intercourse.

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The Sacrament of Marriage involves a three-way relationship between the


two marriage partners and between each marriage partner and Jesus.

Married couples need to develop their personal relationship with Jesus


A marriage begins with a ceremony. However, much more is needed for marriage as a
life-long relationship. Just because a couple has received the Sacrament of Marriage is
no guarantee of success. Rather, they need to continually draw upon what Jesus offers
through this sacrament.

The Sacrament of Marriage involves a three-way relationship between the two marriage
partners and between each marriage partner and Jesus. To experience what is offered
through this Sacrament, the couple individually and together needs to keep developing
their personal relationship with Jesus. They do so by:
• praying daily
• worshipping together
• receiving Jesus personally in Holy Communion
• getting to know Jesus and striving to live as he taught, especially the commandments.

To help married couples, Jesus raised marriage to the dignity of a sacrament. Like other
sacraments, the special spiritual gifts that baptised husbands and wives receive, need to
be developed to achieve their purpose. Married couples develop these gifts through their
mutual love for one another. They also develop the spiritual gifts of sacramental
marriage through their daily prayer and worship, and by striving to live each day as
Jesus taught.

In their daily prayer couples need to bring before Jesus their real life challenges,
questions and difficulties such as:
• relationship and communication issues
• concerns about their children
• financial and other pressures
• fears
• temptations to be unfaithful
• employment problems.

Those sharing the Sacrament of Marriage have been bonded together by God. Their
prayer needs to reflect the openness of those who approached Jesus in the Gospel.
Christian married couples have found that they need to develop their special
relationship further.

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‘Love is a decision – the greatest gift


of self to another person.’
The vocation to married life – one couple’s story.

Peter and Jan married in 1974. They have


two children, a daughter and a son. They
became involved in Marriage Encounter in
1994 and they are now the Western
Australian co-ordinators. (Marriage
Encounter is a world-wide organisation,
which assists couples to develop closeness
and commitment in their marriage through
participation in weekend seminars.)

Peter jokes that they first met one another


in the strong room of the bank in which
they both used to work. They knew one
another for about twelve months before
they became engaged. During the year
prior to their engagement, Jan lived and
worked in Melbourne and New Zealand.
Despite distance and time apart, their
romance blossomed. Peter tells of how Jan
would phone him from Melbourne and New Zealand. The thought that she made such an effort
to phone him regularly, even though they were so far apart, made him feel ‘very special’.
Communication and commitment are guiding principles in their marriage. These are some of
their reflections on marriage…

Marriage is a commitment to the one you love. It is a covenant rather than a contract. It is
unconditional, the greatest gift of self to another person.

You have to work at it. Love is a decision it is not just about ‘falling in love’. You make a
decision to love and to do the hard things and die to self. It means going out of your comfort
zone to do things you do not want to do, so as to be present for the other, but this should not
be one sided. Both partners need to do this.

When we were first married we had expectations influenced by our parents, friends and what
we saw around us. We thought that we were smart enough to avoid the hurts and
disillusionment we saw in other marriages. There were times when we had to learn to modify
our expectations, to try to heal hurts and see things in a positive light.

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It all comes down to attitude. Take bringing in the washing for example. When Peter brings in
the washing, the majority of the time I (Jan), would see it as a positive and helpful thing. But
during periods of disillusionment, I would think that instead of being helpful, he had created
more work – I now had more ironing to do because he had just thrown everything into the
basket.

All marriages have periods of disillusionment. That is normal but it seems to be almost
unheard of in society to recognise this. It is at these times that ‘opting out’ seems more
attractive than working at it. Marriages are cyclical – they have periods of disillusionment,
romance and joy and couples have to be creative about recovering and nurturing the romance
that leads to joy.

The Church calls us to be romantic. It is part of our spirituality. It is God’s plan for us
to be romantic and make the effects of our romance visible to others. Romance in our
lives does not just happen. It is a result of making an effort to do something out of the
ordinary to spark a feeling in the other that brings about a loving response. It is a
discipline and we have to continually work at it.

Each partner has to make a decision to expend energy and effort daily in order to
benefit the relationship with the other, knowing that the other person will feel loved
and their life will be enriched by the love and attention. We get less stressed about daily
hassles when we focus on each other. The challenges that we face during the day, (often
with teenage children), do not always seem so tough. The greatest gift a couple can give
their children is to love one another unconditionally.

Marriage is not an outdated institution. Many people who have made other choices –
living together and having children without being married, eventually want the deep
sense of commitment that marriage brings. Unfortunately many people, including
teenagers, are put off marriage by what they see around them. They need to look
beyond their personal pain and media representations of marriage and relationships.
If they live the experience of a marriage breakdown it is understandable that they
develop such attitudes, but the reality is that most Australian marriages are successful
and couples stay together. Teenagers need opportunities to see the richness that a
committed and loving marriage can bring to the lives of a couple and their children.

As the closeness of our marriage relationship has grown, it has had a very positive effect
on our spiritual growth. As our relationship with each other has deepened, so too has
the desire to deepen our relationship with God. Each of us is more aware of God in our
lives and the graces God gives us.

To be married is a truly wonderful vocation and a way of life that allows us to know
God everyday through our love for each other. There are things that happen to us on
most days that bring us joy and a special look at how God loves us.

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Married love needs developing


Marriage is one of the most challenging of human relationships. It requires husband and
wife to work hard to develop their relationship. At first this is easy, while they feel
emotionally in love. However, for the marriage to strengthen, the love between the wife
and husband needs to go beyond emotions to ever-deeper total personal commitment.

A relationship of mutual service


For married love to develop, people need to support and care for each other. This
includes being concerned for each other’s needs, helping and encouraging each other
and supporting each other’s interests and efforts.

People who marry need to be prepared to put themselves out for each other. They need
also to be willing to talk with each other about their feelings, their hopes, their
disappointments, their worries and their fears. They need to share what happens during
the day, their work and any problems that they are facing.

A relationship of shared responsibility


Usually, married people have children. Family life requires new responsibilities from
husband and wife. Children have to be cared for, teenagers need support and love, and
these needs can be very demanding.

As parents, the couple needs to provide for their children in many ways. However, as
wives and husbands, they need also to support each other in their efforts to provide for
their children. It is maturing married love that enables them to give this mutual support.

At times, the husband and wife may become stressed or exhausted by the demands of
family and work obligations. Clashes may occur about the roles each has in caring for
children, the household, or about pursuing a career. One spouse may have personality
clashes with one or more of the children, and the other may make mistakes in handling
discipline in the family.

Not all married people have children. Their marriage is no less wonderful or complete
than those marriages with children and they too must continually work at their
relationship together.

These are a few examples of why married couples need to keep supporting each other
continually, serving and helping each other. Many find it hard to live the demands of
marriage. They can succeed in doing so provided they continue to work at their
marriage relationship together.

Some who marry find it difficult to remain committed to their marriages. They have not
reached sufficient maturity to relate deeply enough or to accept the ‘give and take’ that
marriage requires. There are those who allow their employment, their careers and their
ambitions to take over their lives so that they find it hard to give sufficient time and
energy to their marriages. Others again fail to respect the rights of their spouses and
enter into sexual relationships with people to whom they are not married.

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In Class Work

1. Describe how marriage is portrayed in the media today.


2. What pressures do couples face in keeping true to their marriage
commitment?
3. In groups or with a partner discuss why it is important that couples work
at their marriages.
4. Research Australian statistics on:
– the number of church weddings per year
– the number of couples who lived together before marriage
– the number of couples living in de facto relationships
– the number of divorces and remarriages.
6. Outline what you think is needed to help young people recognise the
vocation of Christian marriage.
7. What can Christians who share in the role of Jesus as prophet do to
promote the values of the Sacrament of Marriage?

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapters 3 and 4 to answer these questions

1. Catholics believe that at Mass the bread and wine are changed into
Jesus’ body and blood through the action of the ______ and by the
power of the ______
2. What is a simple way a Christian can offer their life to God as a spiritual
sacrifice each day?
3. A prophet is one who:
a) offers sacrifice to God b) foretells the future
c) speaks on behalf of the powerless d) is a sacrificial victim
4. Catholics believe the greatest of all prayers that people can offer
to God is ______
5. The Christian vocation is to ______ ______ over all creation as Jesus did
when he fulfilled his mission as king.
6. What are the two main purposes God has for marriage?
7. Who confers the Sacrament of Marriage?
8. Name two ways married couples can develop their relationship with Jesus.
9. Explain the symbolism of the rib in the Yahwist Creation Story.
10. Jesus raised marriage to the dignity of a:
a) Sacrifice b) Sacrament
c) Celebration d) Union

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5 Ministerial priesthood
is a vocation

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Jesus supports his followers personally through the ordained priesthood
 Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders
 The call to follow God is personal
 The priestly vocation is a call to serve
 The priestly vocation is a call to celibate love

Jesus supports his followers personally through the


ordained priesthood
Jesus knew that his followers would find it difficult at times to share in his mission as
priest. He warned them that they would meet opposition:

A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted me, they will persecute
you too ... (John 15:20)

You will be brought before governors and kings for my sake ... (Matthew 10:18)

During his life-time, Jesus supported his


followers personally. He:
• took them away to rest (Mark 6:31)
• continued to explain what they did not
understand (Mark 9:24–28)
• promised the Holy Spirit to strengthen
them (Matthew 10:20)
• encouraged them, even after correcting
them (Luke 22:28).

Jesus knew that future generations would also


need his support. For this reason, he:
• established his special community,
the Church
• instituted ways through which he could
continue to teach and guide them
• instituted the seven sacraments through
Jesus Christ is our High Priest who unites earth
which they could receive special spiritual with Heaven, 1993 (oil on panel) by Wang, Elizabeth
gifts, and nurture those gifts. (Contemporary Artist)

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Jesus appointed twelve Apostles

For your information…


An apostle is someone who is ‘sent’, from the Greek apostolos meaning ‘one sent’.

Jesus called twelve disciples to lead


his followers. He called them
‘Apostles’ and gave them the special
spiritual gifts and responsibilities
they needed to lead their fellow
Christians. As the Apostles
exercised their responsibilities and
spiritual gifts, it would be Jesus
who was leading his Church
through them.

The Jewish people were descended


from the twelve tribes of Israel. In
selecting twelve Apostles, Jesus was
consciously establishing his Church
as the New Israel.

Examples of spiritual gifts that Jesus gave the Apostles


Examples of specific spiritual gifts given to the Apostles by Jesus included the powers to:
• preach and protect the accurate teaching of the Gospel (Matthew 28:20)
• baptise, making people new members of the Church (Acts 2:41 and Matthew 28:19)
• exercise authority within the Church for its good order (Matthew 16:18; 18:18)
• confirm baptised believers so that they would receive the spiritual power or strength
of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8:17)
• celebrate the Eucharist, fulfilling the command of Jesus: ‘Do this in remembrance of
me’ (Luke 22:19)
• forgive sins through the Sacrament of Penance (John 20:23)
• anoint the sick, through which Jesus would give special spiritual strength and support
(Mark 6:13; James 5:14–15).

Jesus taught his followers whenever the Apostles exercised the special spiritual gifts he
gave them as they went about their work of teaching in his name.

Jesus wanted to ‘sanctify’ or help his followers to grow in holiness and close relationship
with God. The sacraments of the Eucharist, Reconciliation and Anointing of the Sick are
three examples of the special spiritual gifts Jesus gave the Apostles to develop the
holiness of the people they were called to serve.

Through the special spiritual leadership or governing gifts he gave the Apostles, Jesus
led his Church in an orderly way.

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Jesus instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders


Jesus wanted to support his followers personally throughout time. For this reason he
wanted the Apostles to pass on the special spiritual gifts and responsibilities to others
through the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

The Apostles celebrated this


sacrament by laying their hands For your information…
on the head of the man who was
Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the
to receive the spiritual gifts Jesus
mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles
first gave them and then saying a
continues to be exercised in the Church until the
prayer of special consecration. In
end of time: it is the sacrament of apostolic
their turn, in the same way this
ministry. It includes three degrees or grades:
person would pass on to others
bishop, priest, and deacon.
the spiritual gifts first given by
Jesus to the Apostles.

Bishops: the apostolic succession


Today those who have inherited the spiritual gifts and responsibilities that Jesus first
gave the Apostles, are called bishops. The Church restricts the term ‘Apostle’, as in the
twelve Apostles, to those who had actually seen the Risen Jesus.

The spiritual gifts and responsibilities bishops receive, through which Jesus personally
leads the Church, have been passed down the generations over the past two thousand
years. This is called the apostolic succession.

The successor to St Peter: the Pope


Jesus appointed Peter the head of the
Apostles. Jesus gave him the name
‘Peter’, changing it from Simon, to For your information…
make it clear to his first followers Peter (in Greek, Petros; in Latin, Petrus) is
that Peter’s role was to serve as the derived from the Greek word for rock, petra.
rock upon which his Church was
founded (Matthew 16:18).

As the head of the Apostles, Peter received the


spiritual gifts needed to teach, sanctify and govern
the world-wide Church. Peter eventually went to
Rome, the centre of the Roman Empire to
perform these responsibilities.

Today, the successor to Peter is called the ‘Pope’.


The Pope continues to fulfil his responsibilities as
Bishop of Rome. As the line of bishops stretches
back over the past two thousand years to the
Apostles, so the line of Popes stretches back to
Peter, the first of the Popes.

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Priests
The Apostles and the earliest bishops found that, as the early Church expanded, they
could not fulfil all their responsibilities. For example, they could not celebrate Mass
sufficiently in all the growing communities. They realised that they needed to share with
others some of the spiritual gifts Jesus first gave the Apostles. This involved appointing
ordained ministers to serve the spiritual needs of the people in each new Christian
community. These leaders, who became known as priests, served their communities in
three main ways, by:
• being with others in a personal, loving way that gave witness to Jesus’ presence
• leading the believing community
• celebrating Christ’s presence in the sacraments
• celebrating the Eucharistic sacrifice of the Mass
• preaching the word of God.

This is how the order of priests started in the Church. Through the Sacrament of Holy
Orders, priests today receive sufficient of the spiritual gifts Jesus first gave the Apostles
to assist the bishops with their responsibilities as successors of the Apostles.

Of the three grades or degrees of the Sacrament of Orders, the one most frequently
encountered by people today is that of priests. Tens of thousands are called to work as
priests throughout the world. This is the specific purpose of their lives.

At some stage in their life every person is faced with the question ‘What is the meaning
and purpose of my life?’ Some may feel called to be a priest or deacon.

People called to the vocations of priest or deacon find happiness, fulfilment and other
spiritual rewards from Christ by performing the work these vocations involve.

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Deacons
Jesus proclaimed his message through actions of
service as well as through words. As the numbers of For your information…
poor and needy people in the early Church grew, the
‘Deacon’ comes from the Greek word
Apostles found that they needed to use their
diakonia meaning ‘service’.
governing gifts so much that they could not fulfil
some of their roles of service satisfactorily. They
needed more helpers (Acts 6:1–12).

This led the Apostles to appoint a special group who would help them in their roles of
service. They shared the spiritual gifts for service that Jesus first gave them with this
special group, called Deacons.

The call of a deacon


Deacons are called to serve the Church through a ministry of liturgy, word and charity.
They do this by assisting a bishop or priest with his responsibility of teaching,
sanctifying and governing the Church.

Deacons can perform the same teaching functions as priests. In this ministry, Jesus works
through them just as he does through priests exercising their teaching function.

Their duties also include: to preside over public prayer, to baptise, to assist at marriages
and bless them, to give Viaticum to the dying, and to lead funeral rites.

Deacons cannot administer the sacraments as a


priest can. They can assist with sacramental For your information…
celebrations by:
From the earliest years of the Christian
• assisting a priest or bishop as he celebrates
Church, dying people received absolution
the Eucharist
and communion. This final communion is
• preaching the word of God
called Viaticum, from the Latin word
• administering Baptism
meaning ‘provision for a journey’. It is food
• blessing marriages
for the journey from this world to eternity.
• administering Viaticum to the dying
• presiding at funerals
• leading community prayer gatherings.

Bishops and priests govern by serving the Church community for which they are
responsible. The deacon’s role is particularly concerned with works of charity.

There are two kinds of deacon. Those who are deacons because they are going to be
ordained later to the priesthood (transitional deacons) and those permanently ordained
to this ministry for life (permanent deacons).

For your information…


Married men may be ordained as permanent deacons.

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The call to follow God is personal


There are several Gospel stories of Jesus calling his Apostles personally to join in his
work (Matthew 4:18–22; Mark 1:16–20; Luke 5:1–11; John 1:35–42). In this way, they
discovered through Jesus, the answer assumed to the question: ‘What is the meaning and
purpose of my life?

God also called Old Testament leaders personally. The activities or work their calling
involved only became clearer as their lives went on.

Abraham

Yahweh said to Abram, ‘Leave your country, your kindred and your father’s house for
a country which I shall show you; and I shall make you a great nation, I shall bless
you and make your name famous; you are to be a blessing! (Genesis 12:1–2)

Abram, the ancestor of the chosen people, hears the command of God to leave behind
the life he knows and God will one day bless the entire world through him. How this
will happen, and why, is a mystery to him. Nevertheless, he has faith in God and obeys.
God later changes his name to Abraham. The Church still refers to him as ‘Abraham, our
father in faith’ in the words of the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass.

Samuel
Samuel is just a young boy when he hears the call from Yahweh. Recognised as a holy
man, he becomes a judge of the Hebrew tribes. Samuel is the last judge; when he is old
the people ask him to appoint a king to lead them. God tells Samuel to appoint Saul and
later to anoint David as Saul’s replacement.

Now, the boy Samuel was serving Yahweh in the presence of Eli; in those days it was
rare for Yahweh to speak; visions were uncommon. One day, it happened that Eli was
lying down in his room. His eyes were beginning to grow dim; he could no longer see.
The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying in Yahweh’s sanctuary,
where the ark of God was, when Yahweh called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He answered,
‘Here I am’, and, running to Eli, he said, ‘Here I am, as you called me.’ Eli said, ‘I
did not call. Go back and lie down.’ So he went and lay down. And again Yahweh
called, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ He got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I am, as you
called me.’ He replied, ‘I did not call, my son; go back and lie down.’ As yet, Samuel
had no knowledge of Yahweh and the word of Yahweh had not yet been revealed to
him. Again Yahweh called, the third time. He got up and went to Eli and said, ‘Here I
am, as you called me.’ Eli then understood that Yahweh was calling the child, and he
said to Samuel, ‘Go and lie down and, if someone calls say, “Speak, Yahweh; for your
servant is listening.” So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Yahweh then came
and stood by, calling as he had done before, ‘Samuel! Samuel!’ Samuel answered,
‘Speak, Yahweh; for your servant is listening.’ (1 Samuel 3:1–10)

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Jeremiah
God reveals to Jeremiah that he was chosen and appointed as a prophet long before his
birth. As a prophet of Israel his ministry is marked by increasing hardship as he calls his
people back to God. His dire predictions come true with the destruction of Jerusalem by
the Babylonian army and the taking of the people into exile.

The word of Yahweh came to me, saying:


‘Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
before you came to birth I consecrated you;
I appointed you as prophet to the nations.’
I then said, ‘Ah, ah, ah, Lord Yahweh; you see, I do not know how to speak:
I am only a child!’
But Yahweh replied,
‘Do not say, “I am only a child.”
for you must go to all to whom I send you
and say whatever I command you.
Do not be afraid of confronting them,
for I am with you to rescue you,
Yahweh declares.’ (Jeremiah 1:4–8)

Sistine Chapel Ceiling: The Prophet Jeremiah (pre resoration) by Buonarroti, Michelangelo (1475–1564)

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How the personal call to ordained ministry is discerned


As the baptised person grows, the Holy Spirit stirs thoughts and feelings that point to a
call for some to become a priest or deacon.

To recognise the Spirit’s action, several things are required:


• praying daily
• receiving Holy Communion, through which Jesus strengthens the influence of the Spirit
• drawing on the gifts the Sacrament of Confirmation which all relate to providing guidance
• growing in understanding of the teachings of Jesus.

Young men today may be called to a vocation to the ordained ministry, but if they fail to
recognise the Spirit’s action they may never recognise their calling so may never find
their true vocations.

Careful thought and discernment is required to determine whether one is called to be


priest or deacon. Possession of the required faith, the necessary intelligence and
reasonable health is one sign of whether a calling to ordained ministry will fulfil
someone’s purpose in life.

Jesus never calls someone to follow a call to ordained ministry without giving them the
basic gifts needed to follow it, even though these may not be very developed. A person
called to become a priest will have the basic gifts needed for this vocation. These include
a desire to dedicate their life to God and the mission of Jesus and a love of people
shown by a desire to help people find genuine inner happiness. A priest, therefore, has a
concern that others find God as well as a concern for their social welfare.

The Church in turn needs to discern whether or not someone is


truly being called. For someone thinking of becoming a priest
this occurs in a seminary. The word ‘seminary’ is based upon
What is the
the idea that a person enters with the ‘seed’ of a vocation
which needs to be nurtured. They enter a program that meaning and purpose
develops them more fully as a human person, intellectually, of my life?
spiritually and pastorally.

The seminary program, includes university studies, spiritual


accompaniment, parish experience, work with people in need,
retreats and many other activities. Seminary studies usually
take six or seven years, during this time the young man
comes to see whether or not he really is being called by
Christ to serve as a priest. One of the roles of seminary
staff is to help him discern this.

Some leave the seminary because they realise they have


not been called to become a priest. Usually they
appreciate their experience because it has enriched
them deeply at a personal level.

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Fr Joseph Tran
‘Seek in your heart to know yourself and the gifts that God has given you.’

This is the advice that Fr Joseph Tran would


give any young person but particularly any
young man thinking about becoming a priest.
Fr Joseph is the out going, soccer playing
parish priest of Our Lady of the Mission
Parish, Whitfords. He is a firm favourite with
the kids at the local Catholic primary schools,
in big demand as a celebrant for weddings and
someone who is there for people when their
families face their darkest moments.

So how did the qualified civil engineer decide


that God was calling him to be a priest? While
he was a student at John XXIII, Fr Joseph
did the usual things that students do about considering their future careers. By the time
he was in Year 11 he felt very clear about God calling him to the priesthood. His fellow
students reacted in a variety of ways, ‘Some guys laughed and teased me.’ However
Fr Joseph was fortunate to find that another student in his class was also intent on
becoming a priest. The two mates began their search for a way to fulfil their calling.
When they sought entry to the Redemptorist Order of priests they were advised to go to
university, finish their education and think about their calling. Joseph Tran did his
thinking whilst completing a civil engineering degree.

Fr Joseph says that even as a young child he had an interest in the priesthood. He used
to tell his sisters that he was going to become a priest and then they would not be able
to boss him around! The Tran family history was rich in experiences of faith. Faith was
however, far from easy to keep and nurture in the poverty and rigidly controlled society
of Vietnam in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The Communist government imprisoned
many people including Fr Joseph’s father who was a doctor. His mother struggled to
support the family.

Fr Joseph recalls that things such as the television began to disappear from the family
home as his mother sold their possessions to feed them. For the Trans the ‘Our Father’
was a source of comfort and a way of asking for God’s help. Fr Joseph says: ‘Give us
this day our daily bread had real significance for us’ in the daily struggle for survival.

Eventually Dr Tran was released from prison and sent to work in the country. Although
the family was separated, both parents worked hard to reunite the family every Sunday.
Fr Joseph describes this period as ‘a rough time and a tough time’ not only for his family
but for most Vietnamese people. Catholic priests were the ones who in Fr Joseph’s
words ‘reached out and helped the poor’ and were a source of comfort and inspiration.
They ministered to the people despite great personal risk. Many priests were imprisoned
by the communists. People had to learn about their faith in secret. Fr Joseph recalls that

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he did not make his first communion until he was about 12 years old. The catechists
who taught the children waited until it was safe for the priest and the people.
During this time two special priests inspired the young Joseph: Jesuit Fr Tam Nguyen
Thanh and Redemptorist Fr Thanh Nguyen. They gave people hope by teaching that
God walked with them and loved and cared for them even in the most desperate of
times. This message had a lasting impact on Joseph.

Fr Thanh Nguyen used music extensively in liturgy and often as many as 2,000 young
people attended Masses that he celebrated. The strength of his appeal to young people
upset the communists and they imprisoned him. For Fr Joseph he was a role model of
courage and his involvement of young people through music was to influence Fr Joseph
in his own priestly ministry. Eventually Fr Nguyen was released from prison. In 2006
Fr Joseph and students from Sacred Heart College, Sorrento visited him in Vietnam.
Fr Joseph says that even though Fr Nguyen is well into his 60s young people attend his
Masses in large numbers because they enjoy the music and respect his wisdom.

The Communists also felt threatened by Fr Joseph’s father because he was a skilled
doctor and highly valued by those he treated. The communists accused him of working
for the CIA. He realised that if he was to survive he would have to escape from
Vietnam. His second attempt was successful but terrifying. Their boat was attacked by
pirates who took everything of value including the fuel tank. One woman’s finger was
cut off when she could not remove a diamond ring. Dr Tran lost his wedding ring which
had great sentimental value. Dr Tran described the experience as ‘very cruel and very
sad’. Some of the young women were abducted by the pirates and taken to Thailand to
an unknown and no doubt horrific fate while the rest of the passengers were left to drift
for five days with no food and water. Some people died and those left alive prayed hard
for rescue. Eventually their prayers were answered with what they saw as a miracle.
They were rescued by an oil tanker and taken to a refugee camp in Malaysia.

Dr Tran firmly believes that prayer saved his life and it helped to reunite him with his
family later in Australia. After his father escaped from Vietnam, young Joseph prayed
that if he could see his father again he would do something for God. For Fr Joseph
prayer continues to be an important part of his life. He says of talking with God; ‘He
doesn’t talk to me in a human voice. I feel peace and joy in my heart.’ Prayer is one way
that Fr Joseph gets the energy and strength to deal with the emotional rollercoaster ride
that is often involved in a priest’s work.

Fr Joseph said; ‘I am a human being, a man before I am a priest but I am still part of a
family. I spend most Mondays with my parents and talk by phone with my sister in
Melbourne everyday.’ For Fr Joseph friends are also very important; ‘They keep me
down to earth and even swear at me when I play soccer with them.’ He says that it is
important for young people to maintain their links with close friends who accept them
for who they are rather than making comparisons. In the face of peer pressure and the
materialism,
Fr Joseph says that one of the greatest challenges facing young people today is to be
happy with who they are and what they have, to find joy in being themselves and the
gifts that God has given them.

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In Class Work

In his role as a priest, Fr Joseph finds that dealing with people’s grief takes
considerable energy and is one of the most important aspects of his role of
a priest. He will ’be still with people, listen to them and their pain and help
them surrender the experience to God.’

• How can being ‘still with people’ help them? What types of strengths
do you think a priest could bring to this type of situation?

• Fr Joseph comments that his job is ‘24/7’. As a priest his vocation would
not only be hard but unfair on a wife and family. List some of the
situations that a priest might face that are relevant to this.

• Who are the people in your life who can help you to
discern a vocation?

• Pray for God’s guidance in discerning your vocation.

In his role as a priest,


Fr Joseph finds that dealing
with people’s grief takes
considerable energy and is
one of the most important
aspects of his role of
a priest.

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The priestly vocation is a call to serve


Priests serve a community or group within the Church. They serve as parish priests,
assistant parish priests, chaplains and priests assisting people in special areas and works
of the Church, such as migrant care, health care and educational endeavours. They make
available spiritual gifts to the communities they serve. Through these gifts, Christ the
Priest strengthens and supports community members.

Teaching the Gospel


The first task of a priest is to teach the Gospel. They do this in various ways, including:
• homilies during the Mass
• instruction of people wanting to become Catholics
• preparing couples for marriage
• helping parents prepare for the baptism of their children
• teaching in various ways and within various contexts
• helping people to work out the meaning of the questions, problems and issues of their lives
• preparing with grieving people the funerals of loved ones
• consoling the sick
• accompanying those seeking to discover the guidance of the Holy Spirit in their lives
• counselling people from the perspective of the teachings of Jesus
• advising people on difficult moral questions that arise in their lives.

‘Sanctifying’ to become holier


Priests are called to ‘sanctify’ believers so that, as they grow in holiness, they can draw
closer to God who is holy. Jesus does this by strengthening the influence of the Holy
Spirit within the hearts of all sincere participants in celebrations of the sacraments and
community prayer.

It is Jesus acting in the person of Christ who says through the priest:
• ‘This is my body’ ‘This is my blood’ during celebrations of the Eucharist
• ‘Now I absolve you from your sins’ during the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
• ‘I baptise you ...’ during the public celebration of Baptism.

The only sacrament a priest cannot celebrate is Holy Orders.

Guiding the community


Priests are called to help the bishop to guide the Church community as Jesus did. This
means doing so through acts of ‘service’. These include:
• calling community members to help with the works of the parish
• ensuring that the parish is properly administered
• encouraging the parish community to provide for people’s needs through
parish-based organisations, such as the St Vincent de Paul Society and the
Catholic Women’s League
• gathering together in discussion groups those who want to learn more about
Christ’s teachings
• caring for community members with special needs, such as those who are
– troubled
– sick
– dying
– in prison
• encouraging community members to provide for the poor.

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Priests serve a community
or group within the Church.
In Class Work

Discuss the variety of the tasks that a parish priest might typically be
expected to carry out. If possible, interview a priest beforehand. Compose an
imaginary diary of a week in the life of a priest. When the entries are
complete, go through them and note a ‘T’ for those tasks that involve
teaching, ‘S’ for those involving sanctifying (helping people grow in
holiness) and ‘G’ for guiding.

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5. MINISTERIAL PRIESTHOOD IS A VOCATION

The priestly vocation is a call to celibate love

Jesus did not marry, but lived a single life that enabled him to respond to the needs of
all people at any time they needed his love. This inclusive love of a single person is
called ‘celibate love’. It is not a call for everyone, but there have always been those
people whom Jesus called to love in this special way:

Jesus said, ‘In truth I tell you, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters,
mother, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will
not receive a hundred times as much, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and
land – and persecutions too – now in this present time and, in the world to come,
eternal life.’ (Mark 10:29–30)

Those called to the priesthood are called by Jesus to be available to respond to the needs
of all people at all times by living a life of celibate love.

Apart from the example of Jesus, there are many cultural and spiritual reasons for a
celibate priesthood. From time to time, the Church reviews this requirement of celibacy
for its priests. The requirement is a Church discipline that the Church has the power to
change if it is proved to be in the interests of its mission to the world.

Throughout the history of the Church to the present time, there have been priests who
married. Since the eleventh century the Church has required of most priests that they do
not marry and that they live a celibate life. There are married Catholic priests in the
Catholic Churches of Eastern origin (e.g. Ukranian, Melkite or Maronite rites). These
priests must marry before they are ordained and married priests are not eligible to
become bishops. In the Catholic Church of the West (i.e. the Latin or Roman rite), there
are situations where married clergy of other Christian denominations decide to join the
Catholic Church. In these cases, they are allowed to continue their married vocation
while being ordained to the Catholic priesthood.

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What is celibate love?


Many people today do not understand celibate love. This leaves them with the idea that
it is self-denial of marriage and a family.

For a priest to think of celibacy simply as self-denial would not be sufficient to live this
calling. Just as a couple who are getting married are not thinking about ‘giving up’ all
the other people they might have married, those responding to celibate love are not
thinking in terms of ‘giving up’ anything. Like married love, as celibate love grows
stronger, the priest is able to resist temptations to be unfaithful to his calling.

Like married love, celibate love needs to be developed. Like married love, celibate love
can weaken through neglect, especially the celibate’s personal relationship with Jesus or
service of the community he is called to serve. As with marriage, those called to celibate
love can succumb to temptations to be unfaithful to their calling.

They can also be tempted to become more concerned with their own selfish interests,
comforts, relaxation and enjoyment rather than the needs of those they are called to
love.

Developing the gift of celibate love


The first requirement for developing the gift of celibate love is for
the priest to centre his life upon Jesus. As the priest relates personally
with Jesus, Jesus deepens in the priest the love Jesus himself has for
humanity. However, if the celibate priest fails to pray or to relate
closely enough to Jesus, or neglects his celibacy in other ways, he can
find it hard to remain true to his commitment.

The second requirement for developing celibate love is to


exercise it within the community the priest is called to serve.
This includes reaching out to all people he can in this
community through home visitations, and seeking out those
who have given up their religious practice to remind them that
they will always be welcome should they wish to return.

It is important to remember here that


priesthood is not a human right. It is a
calling from God. Many more enter
seminaries to study for the priesthood than
are actually accepted for ordination. The
Church accepts no one for ordination until
it is as sure as it can be that he has been
called by God to the priesthood.

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In your journal, reflect on the following questions:


• What have I learned about ordained ministers (priests,
deacons and bishops) that is new to me? For example,
do I now have a clearer understanding of:
- The priest’s commitment to celibate love?
- The nature of their work?
- Their vocation?

• What do I find most interesting, encouraging and/or


challenging in what I have learned?

• What has this learning taught me about myself? For example,


– am I attracted to explore and understand this vocation
further?
– do I see the need to take more seriously the process
of discerning my own vocation?

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6 Religious life is a vocation

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 People called to religious life seek to imitate Jesus by taking
vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
 Religious sisters, brothers, and priests work in many
different apostolates.

People called to religious life seek to imitate Jesus


by taking vows of poverty, chastity and obedience
The origins of religious life can be traced back to the earliest centuries of the Church.
During these centuries, some were called to live the Gospel of Jesus in radical ways.
They took up the call of Jesus to:

‘... come, follow me ...’ (Matthew 19:21)

They also took up lives of


celibate love, living Christ-like
total self-dedication to God
and to serving others. Their
goals were to meditate and to
have deep mystical experiences
of God. Before long, these
people moved away from
society out into deserts, for
they found it difficult to grow
closer to God in the ways they
desired in urban society.

In the deserts, they tended to


gather into communities and to
vow themselves to obedience
within the community,
imitating Jesus who was always
obedient to God the Father.
Saint Catherine’s Monastery, one of the oldest continuously functioning
Christian monasteries in the world, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

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6. RELIGIOUS LIFE IS A VOCATION

The history of the development of the religious life within the Church is rich and varied.
The common characteristic of the religious life is the calling to imitate Jesus himself by
following certain principles Jesus demonstrated in his life called ‘the evangelical
counsels’ (Gospel advice):

• chastity, imitating Christ who loved God the Father and people in a celibate way that
is totally available to everyone

Then Peter answered and said, ‘Look, we have left everything and followed you. What
are we to have, then?’ Jesus said to them, ‘In truth I tell you … everyone who has left
houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, children or land for the sake of my name will
receive a hundred times as much, and also inherit eternal life.’ (Matthew 19:27, 29)

• poverty, owning nothing personally in imitation of the poverty of Christ.


Surrendering all goods and earnings to the Church and depending on the Church
for support

One of the scribes then came up and said to him, ‘Master, I will follow you wherever
you go.’ Jesus said, ‘Foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son
of man has nowhere to lay his head.’ (Matthew 8:18b–19)

Jesus said (to the rich young man), ‘... Go and sell what you own and give the money
to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ (Mark 10:21)

• obedience, imitating Christ who gave his entire life to obeying God the Father, by
placing one’s talents, and even one’s choice of how best to use those talents, at the
complete disposal of the Church.

Jesus said, ‘I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of
him who sent me.’ (John 6:38)

Jesus said to his disciples, ‘You did not choose me, no, I chose you; and I
commissioned you to go out and to bear fruit, fruit that will last ... (John 15:16)

Women and men who follow these evangelical counsels are referred to as ‘consecrated
religious.’ They publicly promise, or make a profession of vows, to live a life of gospel
chastity, poverty and obedience in the service of God’s people. These consecrated
religious include sisters, nuns, brothers and priests.

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6. RELIGIOUS LIFE IS A VOCATION

For your information…


To be consecrated means to be set apart as sacred, to be devoted to God. Consecrated
religious by their lives dedicated to God give witness to the holiness of the Church.

About one third of priests are consecrated religious. They are the ‘religious’ or ‘order’
priests who belong to a religious community and serve the Church as that community
directs. They take the three vows of chastity, poverty and obedience, and the community
provides for their needs. The rest of the world’s priests are ‘diocesan’ or ‘secular’ priests
who serve in a variety of ways in a diocese. They promise obedience to the local bishop
and live a life of celibacy, but do not make a vow of poverty; they earn a salary or
receive a stipend which provides for their needs.

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Monastic life
Some religious live in community in a monastery.
They withdraw from society in order to live For your information…
ascetical lives of community prayer and work.
Not all religious sisters are
The men in a monastery are called ‘monks’ (from
‘nuns’. Those who live in
the Greek word monos, ‘alone’), while women
enclosed communities, such as
who live the monastic life are called ‘nuns’ (from
the Carmelites in Nedlands, are
the Latin word nonna, ‘elderly woman’).
‘nuns’. Those women who
Monasteries are also sometimes called ‘convents’
belong to non-enclosed orders
(from the Latin conventus, ‘coming together’).
e.g. Mercy or Loreto Sisters are
not nuns, even though many
The monastic life revolves around the regular
people refer to them by that
celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours. This
name, rather they are religious
daily liturgy is celebrated in community several
sisters.
times a day, from early morning until night. It
includes hymns, psalms, readings and prayers
offered on behalf of the entire Church.

Monks and nuns also devote time each day to reading spiritual material and meditation
in silence. This systematic reading which leads to personal prayer is called lectio divina,
(Latin for ‘divine reading’).

The monastic life includes work for the service of the Church. This work may range
from normal household tasks and gardening to conducting retreats and offering spiritual
direction for visitors to the monastery. Sometimes the monastic community will be
involved in the wider work of education or parish ministry. However, the ideal of
monastic life is ‘life alone with God’. To this end, many monasteries are ‘enclosed’ or
‘cloistered’, and their religious members are called ‘contemplatives’. The members rarely
leave the monastery and its grounds, except for medical needs or some special reason.
Likewise, visitors are not allowed access to the entire monastery, but only the church
and some ‘visiting parlours’. In this way, the quiet and regular life of the monastery is
preserved and prayer is continually offered on behalf of the Church and the world.

Western Australians can find Benedictine monks at New Norcia, and Carmelite nuns in
Nedlands and Bunbury. These monks and nuns are happy for people to join in their
liturgical services. The monks also offer spiritual guidance upon request.

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6. RELIGIOUS LIFE IS A VOCATION

Religious sisters, brothers, and priests work in many


different apostolates
Communities of apostolic life
Besides monastic communities which are usually found in more rural areas there are
communities of apostolic life. The members pray daily, both in community and in private.
These communities were usually founded to meet specific needs found in more populated
areas. They are sometimes called ‘active-contemplative communities’. They work:
• among the poor
• caring for the sick
• helping migrants and refugees
• educating people in the light of the Gospel
• praying on behalf of humanity in general, and for the specific needs of particular
people and groups.

Through consecrated religious, Jesus seeks to:


• keep before all people his own special dedication for the poor, the sick and those
religious are called to serve
• reach out to those they serve in a special spiritual way
• encourage other Christians and people of good will who also work in these areas.

In Western Australia, there are apostolic consecrated religious Orders and Congregations
in many areas of the Church’s work. For example:
• various works among Aboriginal people (e.g. Pallottine Fathers, Christian Brothers,
Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart, Presentation Sisters, St John of God Sisters)
• schools (e.g. Sisters of Mercy, Josephite and Presentation Sisters, Marist Brothers,
Oblate Fathers, Norbertine Canons, Christian Brothers)
• medical care (e.g. Camillans, St John of God Sisters, Little Sisters of the Poor,
Daughters of Charity)
• services to migrants (e.g. Scalabrinian Fathers, Sisters of St Joseph
of the Sacred Heart, Salvatorian Fathers, Sisters of Our Lady of
the Missions)
• outreach to those in society with special needs (e.g. Little Sisters
of the Poor – aged, poor; Good Shepherd Sisters – family
and community support; Daughters of Charity – emergency
accommodation for women and children; Marist Brothers –
summer camps for disadvantaged children; Christian
Brothers – legal advocacy service for youth)
• tertiary students (e.g. Jesuit Fathers, Redemptorist
Fathers, Oblate Fathers)
• people with disabilities (e.g. Sisters of Mercy, Servite Sisters,
Brigidine Sisters)
• adult education (e.g. Carmelite Brothers, Servite Sisters,
Jesuit Fathers, Marist Brothers)
• parish life (e.g. Franciscan Fathers, Redemptorist Fathers,
Dominican Sisters, Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart).

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In Class Work

Using the internet and any other resources available to you, research one of
the religious orders/institutes working in Western Australia to answer the
following questions:
1. Who founded the Order or Congregation?
2. In what year was it founded?
3. In what country was it founded?
4. What was the pressing need in society that motivated the founder to
start the work of the order/institute?
5. What is the full (official) name of the order/institute?
6. By what name are they commonly known?
7. When did this order/institute first arrive in Australia?
In Western Australia?
8. What was the first work they went into on their arrival?
9. What apostolate is the order/institute involved in today?

Asking for guidance on callings


No one can be truly happy unless they follow their vocation (Luke 9:25): All Christians
need to pray and ask for God’s help to discover their vocations. As they do so, they
discern the specific answer to the question ‘What is the meaning and purpose of my life?’

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapters 5 and 6 to answer the following questions:
1. Define ‘Apostle’.
2. Name two of the specific spiritual gifts Jesus gave his Apostles.
3. What is the name of the first pope – John, Paul, Peter or Benedict?
4. What are the three roles of a deacon in assisting a priest or a bishop?
5. Name three ways in which a priest exercises his role as a teacher.
6. People called to religious life seek to imitate Jesus by taking vows of
_______ and _______
7. Chastity means giving money to the poor – true or false?
8. Name two orders of religious women active in Western Australia.
9. Name two orders of religious men active in Western Australia.
10. To which religious order did the first group of monks to arrive in
Western Australia belong?

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7 Life Everlasting

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 The basic purpose of every person’s life is to experience
a loving relationship with God
 Christians believe in life everlasting
 Jesus revealed what happens after people die

The basic purpose of every person’s life is to


experience a loving relationship with God
The question, ‘What is the meaning and purpose of my life?’
is another way of asking, ‘Why did God create me?’ God has
revealed the answer to this question for every human being.
The answer reveals the basic human vocation or calling. ‘What is the
God created every human being through love that they might meaning and
find their happiness in and through their personal relationship purpose of my life?’
with Him. The basic human vocation, therefore, is to relate
personally with God and become the person God calls each to be.

There can be no greater human happiness than oneness with the


Creator. It is the one thing that completely satisfies all yearnings
of the human heart.

Some people try to find happiness without God – through possessions,


status, power, sporting success, money. However, no matter what they
have, they always want something more. They are never fully satisfied.

Jesus cautioned people against turning material things into their ‘gods’
instead of putting a loving relationship with God first in their lives:

‘Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth


and woodworm destroy them and thieves can break in and steal.
But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven … For wherever
your treasure is, there will your heart be too.’ (Matthew 6:19–21)

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Christians believe in life everlasting


I believe…in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. (Apostle’s Creed)

Humans exist to have a loving relationship with their creator. The call to relationship is
ultimately a call to an eternal relationship in which the deepest human longings will be
fulfilled.

Jesus consistently taught that there was to be a life after death. On one occasion he said:

For this is how God loved the world:


he gave his only Son,
so that everyone who believes in him may not perish
but may have eternal life. (John 3:16)

Jesus revealed what happens after people die


God wishes to be close with each human being
after death. Jesus revealed that this closeness is
called ‘heaven’. Heaven, therefore, is not a
physical place but a spiritual existence where
‘What exactly
people experience the happiness that flows happens after
from closeness with God.
people die?’
‘What exactly happens after people die?’ is a
common human question that people ask when
thinking about their own death or the death of
someone close to them.

The answer that Jesus revealed to this question


can be summarised as follows.

Particular judgement after death


Relationships can only be entered into freely
including a relationship with God who created
each human person with free will.

Immediately after death, people encounter the


Risen Christ. At this moment, Jesus sees whether
or not the person has accepted God’s invitation to
eternal relationship. Those who have done so
have followed their basic human vocation.

One example of the particular judgement after


death is given in the story of the Rich Man and
the Beggar in the Gospel of Luke (Luke 16:19–31).

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7. LIFE EVERLASTING

In Class Work

Read the story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31) and the account
of the good thief (Luke 23:39–43). Identify how the rich man and the good
thief respond to God’s invitation to eternal relationship.

How people show their acceptance


of a relationship with God
Christians show their acceptance of the
relationship God wants with them by
accepting Christ as their Lord and
following his way of life. They do this by
praying daily, worshipping in the liturgical
assembly and living the commandments of
Jesus, including the Ten Commandments
(Matthew 5:17–19).

People of other religions show their


acceptance of God’s invitation to eternal
relationship by living the requirements of
their particular faith. Those who have
never heard of God do so by obeying the
calls of their consciences to love, to do
what is good and to avoid doing wrong.

For your information…


Referring to Jesus as ‘Lord’ recognises his sovereignty and divinity. The Apostle Thomas
encountered the risen Jesus with the words, ‘My Lord and my God!’ (John 20:28)

Repentance before death


Sometimes people only repent of their wrong-doing immediately before they die. Even
though the approach of death may force a person to examine their life sincerely, it is not
too late for them to change and show their repentance by asking God’s forgiveness for
all past sins.

Those who repent before death are welcomed into heaven as well and no-one can judge
whether someone has or has not entered heaven.

Sometimes people think it is unfair that someone who repents on their deathbed can
experience heaven in the same way as someone who has lived a saintly life. God’s love
for human beings is always merciful and is greater than human mercy or understanding.

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7. LIFE EVERLASTING

God is perfect love and


goodness. To share in the
divine life of God a person
must be free of all
trace of sin.

The final purification


God is perfect love and goodness. To share in the divine life of God a person must be
free of all trace of sin.

Before people with unforgiven venial sins can enjoy eternal happiness with God they
must be ‘purged’ or ‘purified’ by the experience Catholics refer to as ‘purgatory’.

The Church prays for all those undergoing this experience so that they might be freed
quickly of all that keeps them from God’s presence. It does so in:
• Masses for the dead
• Funeral Masses (Requiem Masses)
• during the Eucharistic prayer of every Mass
• daily prayer for the dead
• the month of November, which is dedicated to prayer for those in purgatory
• the feast of ‘All Souls’ (2nd November).

For your information…


The term, ‘Requiem' Mass, derives from the opening words of the Latin Mass for the dead:
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine meaning ‘Rest eternal grant them, O Lord’.

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7. LIFE EVERLASTING

Heaven
Heaven is the happiness experienced by all who accept God’s call to personal
relationship with the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is the destiny God
wishes, but does not force upon, every human being.

For the ancient Israelites, heaven was in the sky above. It was the dwelling place of God
and closed to creatures of the earth. Jesus made heaven accessible to mankind promising
his followers,

‘... you will see heaven open ...’ (John 1:51)

Scripture describes heaven using images such as life, light, peace and wedding feast.
Jesus often spoke of heaven as being in the presence of God. At the Last Supper he told
his disciples they were not to be afraid because,

‘In my Father’s house there are many places to live in ...’ (John 14:2).

On the cross Jesus promised the good thief he would be with him in paradise that very
day (Luke 23:43). ‘Paradise’ brings to mind a beautiful garden.

The writer of the Book of Revelation refers to the heavenly Jerusalem as a holy city
where there will be no more pain or sorrow and where people will see God ‘face to face’.

Nevertheless, no one can say exactly what heaven is like. St Paul reminded the
Christians of Corinth of the words of the prophet Isaiah,

... no eye has seen and no ear has heard, what the mind of man cannot visualise;
all that God has prepared for those who love him ... (1 Corinthians 2:9).

Heaven is the happiness experienced


by all who accept God’s call to
personal relationship with the
Father, the Son and the
Holy Spirit.

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7. LIFE EVERLASTING

Hell
People cannot be united to God unless they freely
choose to love him. When people knowingly do
wrong and sin gravely against God, against others or
against themselves they are choosing to be separated
from God. If people die in mortal sin without
repenting they will remain separated from God
forever. This state of separation from God and all
those who choose him is called “hell”. No-one can
make a judgement that any particular person has
been condemned to hell.

Scripture calls the abode of the dead, ‘hell’ – sheol


in Hebrew or hades in Greek – a great abyss in the
deepest regions of the earth from which no-one can
escape. Those who are there live in shadows and ‘are
deprived of the vision of God’ (CCC 633).
The Rich Man in Hell, illustration
for ‘The Life of Christ’, c.1886–94
The imagery used to describe hell takes on a more (w/c & gouache on paperboard) by
Tissot, James Jacques Joseph
sinister aspect when associated with eternal (1836–1902)
punishment. A place for the damned is developed in
the Old Testament as a scene of horror where,

‘... their worm will never die


nor their fire be put out ...’ (Isaiah 66:24).

This picture of hell as a place of fiery torment is echoed in the New Testament in the
story of the rich man and Lazarus (Luke 16:19–31).

Jesus spoke of Gehenna, the unquenchable fire reserved for those who refuse to believe
and be converted (cf CCC 1034). He was using an image understandable to his listeners.
Gehenna was a valley south of Jerusalem associated with a pagan fire rite which, in
Jesus’ day, was a stinking, smouldering rubbish tip where refuse was burnt.

Although no one on earth can know for sure what hell is like, eternal separation from
God is to be avoided at all costs. Certainly God does not desire that any person be
condemned rather:

... [God is] being patient ... wanting nobody to be lost and everybody to be brought
to repentance. (2 Peter 3:9)

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7. LIFE EVERLASTING

The Last Judgement


When the world ends, Jesus will
return in glory. All who have
died will be raised from the dead.

This will be a moment when


God’s power will renew the
universe as we now know it to
become ‘a new heaven and a new
earth’ (Revelation 21:1) where
there will be only love and
goodness. To experience the
actual presence of God is called
‘the beatific vision’.

The Apostle’s Creed reminds


Christians that Jesus will come
again at the last judgement.

He ascended into heaven, and


is seated at the right hand of the
Father. He will come again to
judge the living and the dead.
(Apostles’ Creed)

In Class Work

Use the information from this chapter to decide whether or not each of the
following is an accurate statement of Catholic teaching. Answer Yes or No

1. Humans exist to have a loving relationship with God, their creator. Y/N

2. Immediately after death people encounter nothing. Y/N

3. Non-Christians can never get to heaven. Y/N

4. Heaven is only for those who live a perfect life. Y/N

5. Final purification after death is called ‘Hell’. Y/N

6. At the end of the world Jesus will judge the living and the dead. Y/N

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
1 Freedom to make responsible
moral choices

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 All people desire freedom
 Teenagers become increasingly capable of taking responsibility
for their actions
 There are two questions required for responsible decision-making
 Responsible choices are moral choices
 People can find it difficult to make responsible choices
 Some people deliberately enter into situations that weaken
their ability to make responsible decisions.

All people desire freedom

All people are endowed with free will.


The desire for freedom is one of the
most basic of all human yearnings.
From their earliest years people want
freedom and work at discovering and
experiencing true freedom.

The basic human question


Young people are often very aware of
external limits on their freedom. Parents
and others limit the choices they can
make.

As they grow older, young people grow


more aware of the fact that there are
some limitations on their freedom that
come from within themselves. For
example, selfishness can stop them from
loving others as they should, or fear can
prevent them standing against peer
pressures.

The desire for freedom


is one of the most basic
of all human yearnings.

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1. FREEDOM TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE MORAL CHOICES

Teenagers become increasingly capable of taking


responsibility for their actions
As they mature, teenagers sense that they are
becoming increasingly capable of taking
greater responsibility for their actions. Their
desire grows for greater freedom to make
decisions.

Sometimes teenagers resent that their parents


seem to give them less freedom than some of
their peers. This can lead teenagers to ask:
• Why can’t I be left completely free to
make my own choices?
• When will others accept that I am capable
of taking full responsibility for my actions?

To answer these questions, it is necessary to


ask another: ‘What makes a choice
responsible?’

In Class Work

What do you think it means to be a ‘responsible person’? (You may find there
are several different ways in which the expression can be used). As a group,
write down a number of characteristics you would expect to find in a person
of your own age who ’behaves responsibly’. As a class, try to create a profile of
such a person.

Check the dictionary definition for ‘responsible’ and note the various
ways it can be used.

List choices that you have made or know that you will have to
make this year, for example, choosing subjects for next year.

Reflect on the processes you used to make these choices. How


are the choices you are making in Year 10 different from those
you made in Year 8?

Reflect on how prayer can help you make good decisions.


Write a personal prayer you can use to ask God’s help in your
decision-making.

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1. FREEDOM TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE MORAL CHOICES

There are two questions required for responsible


decision-making
Young children cannot always be held
responsible for their actions. There are
three reasons why this is so:
• they do not have a developed sense of
right and wrong
• they do not recognise how pressure
from others, or their own emotions
affect them
• they are less able to make deliberate
choices and are more likely to act on
impulse.

For these reasons, children can never be


given complete freedom. Teenagers, on the
other hand, can be given greater freedom
because their ability to judge the
circumstances of their actions grows as they
mature.

?
Young people can begin to make responsible
decisions by first asking themselves two
questions:
• Have I sufficient relevant knowledge?
• Have I sufficient personal freedom?

Relevant knowledge
The first skill needed to make a responsible choice is the ability to work out
whether or not what seems to be a good thing to say or do is in fact a good thing
to say or do. This is the skill of weighing up the pros and cons, the arguments or
reasons for and against.

Often there are at least two alternative possible courses of action. To make a
responsible choice, it is necessary to work out which is the correct alternative.

To do this, the person making the decision needs to learn all that they can about
each alternative. Before making their choice, therefore, they need to ask:

Do I have enough relevant knowledge in order to make a responsible choice?

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Sufficient personal freedom


To be responsible, a choice needs to
be made freely, without undue
pressure. So anyone wishing to make
a responsible choice needs to ensure
that they are not being influenced by
either internal or external pressures.

Everyone is vulnerable to internal


and external pressures. Examples of
inner pressures include:
• strong emotions such as fear,
desire or anger
• personal habits such as tendencies
to lie, to take the easy way out,
to be aggressively critical, to be
Everyone is
jealous, or to follow the crowd
• strong temptations such as to vulnerable
steal, to be vengeful, or to be
resentful. to internal
External pressures, on the other and external
pressures.
hand, include social trends,
advertising, peer pressures and the
expectations of others.

Reflect on an experience you have had of pressure that was


positive. Think about what you chose to do and how things turned
out. Where did you feel the pressure coming from? How did this
pressure influence your decision? How did you feel afterwards
about the choice you made?

In a similar way, reflect on an experience of pressure that was


negative.

I C E S! To make responsible choices, therefore, people need to:

CHO •

discover if any pressures are affecting their choices
appropriately control any emotions, habits or temptations
• prevent themselves from becoming dominated by external
pressures and do everything possible to avoid them.

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Choices have consequences


A choice is a decision to behave or to
not behave in a certain way.

RISK
For example, where a person chooses
to take an unprescribed or an illicit
drug, or to drink alcohol to excess,
then he or she is responsible for any
consequences that follow. People who
knowingly take drugs, or drive under
NEXT EXIT
the influence of alcohol, are
responsible for any road accident,
damage to property or injury they
cause.

Responsible choices take time


Some choices are easy however, this may not always be the case. A person may be
confused about what is the best option. There can be fears, for example, of upsetting
others or going against their wishes. Inner influences can include habits, strong negative
emotions, attitudes, or other weaknesses. External pressures, such as pressures from
some peers and societal expectations, can also be strong.

Responsible choices, therefore, take time. No one should rush into making decisions, or
take them without due care.

Time is needed to:


• make sure that the options are understood together with their possible consequences
• recognise whether or not there are inner influences or external pressures affecting them.

A choice is a decision to behave or


to not behave in a certain way.

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1. FREEDOM TO MAKE RESPONSIBLE MORAL CHOICES

Responsible choices are moral choices


What everyone is really looking for in making choices is long-term happiness. People
regret choices that cause unhappiness, even ones where there was initial short-term
happiness.

People have discovered that there is one key requirement if a choice is to lead to long-
term happiness – it must be a morally good choice. A morally good choice is one
directed to what is truly good and conducive to long-term happiness.

Choices that are not morally good are called ‘immoral choices’. Sometimes, the harm
and unhappiness that an immoral choice leads to cannot be foreseen at the time. Many
people today carry emotional hurts and may find it difficult to relate fully with others
because of choices they or others may have made a long time ago.

This is not to say that all unhappiness is the result of immoral choices. There are other
causes as well.

People make immoral choices because they are tempted by some short term benefit.
Rather than focussing on their true happiness, they give in to some internal or external
pressure.

What everyone is really looking for in making choices is long-term happiness.


People have discovered that there is one key requirement if a choice is
to lead to longterm happiness – it must be a morally good choice.

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People can find it difficult to make responsible choices


It can be quite difficult and challenging
sometimes to make a responsible choice.
Responsible choices require people to take all
reasonable steps to work out the good or best
option, including working out what is morally
right.

People find it hard at times to make


responsible choices for a variety of reasons.
These include:

Lack of sufficient understanding


People can fail to make responsible choices
because they do not understand the options
sufficiently. They can also rush into decisions
rather than take time to reflect so as to come
to a correct decision.

Lack of adequate information causes people to


become confused, especially about what is right and wrong in practical situations. They
may lack knowledge about the alternatives of moral principles and laws relevant to the
decision.

Lack of knowledge is most obvious when people make decisions that lead to damage,
harm or other unforeseen consequences that they did not intend. These kinds of
decisions leave people feeling regretful, embarrassed or even guilty.

Habits of doing wrong


Wrongdoing diminishes human freedom. To do wrong deliberately once, makes it easier
to do wrong deliberately a second time. For example, if a person deliberately lies once,
they find it easier to lie a second and third time. Before long, a bad habit can develop.

The same is true for other wrong-doing, such as stealing, thinking of others as ‘sex
objects’, speaking rudely or behaving selfishly. All can become habits that diminish a
person’s inner freedom and weaken their will to do what is good.

Many of the negative things in society today began with the first wrong action of an
individual or group of people. For instance, unrestrained anger may lead to violence or
even murder. Using pornographic material and the lustful thoughts it stirs may lead to
rape. Name calling and bullying may lead to racial discrimination and social injustices.

To grow in freedom, people need to keep striving to do what is good. Doing what is
good grows easier with practice.

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Strong emotions
Strong emotions and feelings can arise in daily life situations. If not properly directed,
strong emotions can lead to the kind of thinking that makes responsible choices difficult.

Strong emotions can also cause people to be misled about which is the good or the best
option. People can think that what is wrong is in fact the right thing to do. Many people
make the mistake of thinking that something is right just because ‘it feels right’.

In Class Work

a) Identify a situation from some television show or movie in which a


character made a decision based solely on their feelings rather than
considered judgment about the matter.

Recall and retell the details of the situation including the steps they took
in making their decision.

What other factors should have been taken into account rather than the
character’s feelings?

b) A common saying is, ‘If it feels good, do it.’ Give examples to illustrate why
this is a dangerous principle on which to base good decision making.

Strong emotions can also pressure


people to rush into saying or doing Recall and reflect on
things they later regret. They can find times when you have
it difficult to take the time needed to acted solely on your
think through the alternatives and to emotions and later
ask: ‘What is the morally right thing regretted what you did.
to say or do in this situation?’

Strong emotions can


also pressure people
to rush into saying
or doing things they
later regret.

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Some people deliberately enter into situations that


weaken their ability to make responsible decisions
Some people deliberately enter
into situations that weaken their
ability to make responsible
decisions. Examples include:
• using drugs, which impair
their judgement
• associating with people
whose negative influence is
hard to resist
• joining in activities, or going
into situations, which they
know stir emotions to the
extent that they take over
thoughts and behaviours.

People who place themselves


in situations that they know will
endanger their freedom are still
responsible for the consequences
of their actions. For example,
someone who:
• drives while under the People who place themselves in situations
influence of alcohol, is still
responsible for any accident
that they know will endanger their freedom
• goes with peers to commit a are still responsible for their actions.
crime, shares responsibility
for the crime
• takes drugs, and then kills or
harms another person, is responsible for the death or the harm.

Responsible people are honest with themselves about the inner and external pressures
that make it hard for them to behave responsibly. They do everything that they can to
avoid occasions of risk.

People do not need to be free of weaknesses to be responsible. What is necessary is that


people recognise their personal weaknesses honestly and strive to overcome them. They
should try to avoid situations which exploit their weaknesses and lead them to make
irresponsible decisions.

Inadequate moral education


What is genuinely good is also morally right. To make responsible choices, people need
to understand moral principles, and learn how to apply these principles to everyday
situations. This requires moral education. Many people lack the adequate moral
education needed to decide what is good and right in the particular instance.

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Other personal pressures


People experience other negative inner pressures. These may include:
• attitudes, such as a sense of superiority over others, cynicism and lack of trust
• habits, such as tending always to say ‘yes’, to be negative, to be critical or to ‘fly off
the handle’.

Such inner pressures can make it harder for people to give due thought to a situation
before acting. Responsible people strive to understand the inner pressures they
experience and try to avoid or overcome negative ones. They do not imagine themselves
to be perfectly in control of their lives, but are honest about their personal weaknesses.

Social pressures
Everyone likes to feel accepted by others. This can leave them vulnerable to pressures to
conform to the expectations of others, rather than to make their own independent
choices.

There are many social pressures on people today. These can discourage the kind of
thinking needed to work out what really is the good or right thing to do.

There are a variety of factors that are so much a part of ordinary daily life that people
can overlook their influence on them, such as:
• the media and other influences that promote certain social values, attitudes and
expectations that are not necessarily life-giving. These may vary from fashion in
clothes and hairstyles, to ways of speaking and behaving. People can accept the
standards of these influences without thinking about them.
• famous people in entertainment, sport and other areas. People often wish that they
could be more like these celebrities, especially in the ways they dress, speak or
behave so as to be more popular and accepted by others. It is this desire to be
accepted that is exploited by advertisers in using famous people to sell their product.
• negative peer pressures discouraging people from making responsible choices, and
encouraging teenagers and older people to ‘go with the trend’.

The basic human desire


The more people realise that responsible choices lead to long-term happiness, the more
prepared they are to accept the challenges involved in making responsible choices. They
are able to ask: ‘How can I find the true inner freedom needed to make such choices?’

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CONTENTS CHAPTER
2 How can people know if their
choices are morally good?

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 People need to learn moral principles
 Natural law expresses the moral principles God gave to people
 The revealed laws of God consist primarily of the Ten Commandments
and the two great commandments of Jesus.

People need to learn moral principles


While people might want what will lead to long-term happiness for themselves and
others, they can make mistakes. What can seem a good choice at the time can turn out
to be a mistake, often leading to hurt instead of happiness.

Moral choices are about right and wrong. To work out right and wrong, people need to
learn moral principles. They then need to learn to apply these moral principles to the
decisions they are going to make.

Moral principles teach right and wrong


Moral principles are used for evaluating whether a thought, word or action is right or
wrong. Many, but not all moral principles have been discovered by the human race over
thousands of years. There are important moral principles that people have not
discovered on their own but which have been revealed by God.

When people obey moral principles,


they do what is right. When they
disobey these principles, they do
what is wrong.

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2. HOW CAN PEOPLE KNOW IF THEIR CHOICES ARE MORALLY GOOD?

God established all moral principles


God established all moral principles by creating human nature in God’s own image and
likeness.

Original sin damaged human nature in many ways. One way was to make it difficult for
people to recognise all the moral principles God gave.

As a result, people can see the most obvious principles but became confused about less
obvious ones. People make mistakes about right and wrong and are unsure about how
the moral principles they recognise apply to decisions they have to make in daily life.

People also become confused by emotions and other influences. Sometimes what is
morally wrong, ‘feels right’.

To rediscover the moral principles that are part of human nature it is necessary to recall
that human nature was originally created by God.

When creating human nature:

‘... in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves ...’ (Genesis 1:26)

God was establishing the first of all moral principles – that human beings should always
behave in God-like ways.

All other moral principles are based upon this principle. For example, it is because they
are created to reflect God, a Trinity of persons existing in perfect love, unity and
goodness that human beings should always strive to:
• relate closely to God, for God always wants to relate more closely to them
• behave in loving ways, because God behaves only in loving ways
• do good, because God does only what is good
• care for themselves properly, for God always cares about them
• avoid doing wrong, because God never does wrong
• treat every human being with respect, because God loves all human beings equally,
regardless of race, ability, age or any other consideration
• be just always, because God is always just
• be merciful and forgiving, because God is merciful and forgiving
• treat human life as sacred, because God created life as sacred
• respect the goodness of creation, because God sees all of creation as good (Genesis 1:31).

Every human being is obliged to live by these principles. Behind them is the authority of
the Creator. To live by these principles leads to a genuinely happy life and brings long-
term happiness to oneself as well as to others.

These principles are not clear to everyone because of original sin. They are made
clear by God’s moral commandments and laws. The most important are the
Ten Commandments and the commandments of Jesus.

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2. HOW CAN PEOPLE KNOW IF THEIR CHOICES ARE MORALLY GOOD?

Natural law expresses the moral principles


God gave to people
God created human beings with the ability to reason. Humans are able to use their
ordinary intelligence to determine what is right and what is wrong according to the
moral principles God wants them to obey. The moral law that follows from the
understanding of these principles by human reason is called ‘natural law’ because
reason is part of human nature.

For your information…


The term ‘natural law’ does not refer to laws of nature such as the law of gravity.
‘Natural law’ refers to laws natural to people, that is, laws in harmony with the nature
of every human being. These are laws that a person with God-given reason can perceive
will bring true happiness.

For example, from the moral


principle that human life must
be respected as sacred, people
can discover moral laws such as
it is wrong to murder another
human being, be they born or
unborn, and that the poor and
the needy must be provided
with the necessities of life.

Likewise, from the moral


principle that every human
person should be treated fairly,
people can discover such moral
laws as that racism is wrong, as
is every form of prejudice and
unfair treatment of others.

As people use their reason to discover how to behave as individuals created in


God’s own image and likeness, they discover natural law.

Natural law applies to all people


God intends all people to behave in God-like ways. This is why people of all religions
and cultures tend to value love, goodness, justice and the other moral principles
identified above.

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2. HOW CAN PEOPLE KNOW IF THEIR CHOICES ARE MORALLY GOOD?

every human society is made up of


individuals, each of whom depends
upon God for their every breath
and movement.

Natural law can never change


Natural law is found within human nature as created by God. Therefore, as human
nature can never change, so natural law can never change.

Social trends may lead people to ignore different aspects of natural law, but this can
eventually lead to social divisions and unhappiness. No institution in society, be it a
parliament or even the Church, has the authority to change or to permit people to
disobey natural law.

There are many examples of social institutions claiming the right to permit people to do
what God has revealed to be wrong.

Examples of laws made by parliaments in different countries that have violated God’s
laws include statutes permitting:
• abortion
• racial or religious segregation
• slavery
• the separation of Aboriginal children from their families
• capital punishment.

As the creator of the human race God’s authority is always greater than any human
authority. This is because every human society is made up of individuals, each of whom
depends upon God for their every breath and movement.

In Class Work

Natural law is knowable to humans through the power of reason. For instance,
it is natural for each person to desire to preserve their own life. To destroy
one’s own life or the life of anyone else would be in direct contradiction to
this natural instinct. It follows that no one has the right to do anything that
would destroy a human life, that is, human life is sacred.

Discuss the proposition, ‘Capital punishment is against natural law.’

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Moral relativism
In a democracy, every
person of voting age has
a say in electing the
government. The elected
government makes the
decisions that affect the
whole nation. One of the
misconceptions that may
arise from the democratic
process is that every
person’s opinion is of
equal value. To hold that
what is right or wrong
depends entirely on an
individual’s point of view
is called ‘moral relativism’.

Moral relativism ignores absolute ethical standards and maintains that moral principles
can change according to culture, circumstances or personal choice. Moral relativism is
contrary to the fact that there are universal principles of natural law that govern what is
right and wrong.

Freedom of choice cannot impose decisions which are against natural law. A demand for
individual freedom does not make right or excuse morally wrong decisions made by the
majority. The common good is not served by changing fashions and opinions.

The history of the twentieth century demonstrates the dangers of moral relativism, one
example is the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany. Another example was seen in the
case of apartheid in South Africa where whites were treated more preferentially than
blacks. In both cases universal principles of natural law were ignored and the fates of
many depended instead on the opinions of certain powerful people.

In Class Work

Discuss and list decisions made by groups or countries that have


been popular but morally wrong.

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2. HOW CAN PEOPLE KNOW IF THEIR CHOICES ARE MORALLY GOOD?

The revealed laws of God consist primarily of the


Ten Commandments and the two great commandments
of Jesus
Because natural law is not always easy for people to see, God revealed other laws to
help them live in ways that lead to true happiness. The most important of these are
called the Ten Commandments or Decalogue. They teach people how to live in ways
consistent with human nature as God originally created it. Jesus taught people how to
understand the Ten Commandments or Decalogue. He taught two great commandments,
selected from Old Testament summaries of the Law, which enable all who obey them to
live the Decalogue:

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with
all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. The second resembles it:
You must love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:37–39 cf Deuteronomy 6:5
and Leviticus 19:18)

The first great commandment helps people to understand the first, second and third
commandments of the Decalogue. The second great commandment helps people to
understand the other seven commandments.

For your information…


Jesus took a proverb well known in the ancient world, ‘Do to no one what you would not
want done to you.’ (Tobit 4:15) and restated it in a positive form as an important moral
principle;

‘... always treat others as you would like them to treat you ...’ (Matthew 7:12)

This is known as ‘The Golden Rule.’

Reflect on the two great commandments taught by Jesus


(Matthew 22:37–39). What do these mean for you at this stage in
your life? How do they apply to you? How can you love God
better? Who is the ‘neighbour’ you need to love?

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In Class Work

Use the information in Chapters 1 and 2 to select the best answer for each of
the following.

1. In order to make a responsible decision two things are necessary:


a) principle and practice b) nature and reason
c) knowledge and freedom d) image and likeness

2. A moral choice contributes to long-term happiness because it is


directed towards:
a) true goodness b) obeying the law
c) what feels right d) avoiding pain

3. Moral principles teach:


a) ancient wisdom b) right and wrong
c) discipline and confidence d) fables and myths

4. Humans are created in God’s image, nevertheless, moral principles can be:
a) confused by original sin b) damaged by human nature
c) impossible to know d) naturally obvious to all

5. Natural law expresses the moral principles God inscribed:


a) in the laws of nature b) in stone on Mt Sinai
c) in human nature d) in natural justice

6. Natural law can be discovered by using:


a) physical science b) legal enquiry
c) Bible study d) human reason

7. Natural law is absolute. This means natural law:


a) is a fundamental standard b) can never change
c) applies to everyone d) all of the above

8. Changing moral principles according to fashions, fads or feelings is


called:
a) moral democracy b) moral relativism
c) moral tolerance d) moral freedom

9. ‘Decalogue’ is another name for:


a) the first five books of the Bible b) The Ten Commandments
c) the two Great Commandments d) a morally decadent person

10. Jesus taught that Divine Law is based on love of God and:
a) love of yourself b) love with all your heart
c) love of your friends d) love of your neighbour

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3 God begins to restore
human freedom

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 The parents of the human race were created by God to be free
 People experience God’s call through creation
 God initiated the Sinai Covenant so that the people of Israel would
be free to relate more closely with Him
 God called humanity through the Israelites.

The parents of the human race were created


by God to be free
When they deliberately chose to disobey God, the parents of the human race destroyed
their original relationship with God. As a result of their rebellion, they experienced a
loss of the harmony of their being. As the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains:

‘The harmony in which they had found themselves ... is now destroyed: the control of
the soul’s spiritual faculties over the body is shattered ...’ (Catechism 400)

Their descendants would now experience weakness in the face of temptations and
conflict between what they know to be right, and what they really want to do.

They would discover in themselves a range of other failings and weaknesses such as
selfishness, jealousy, difficulty in resisting peer and social pressures, difficulty in letting
go of grudges, confusion about themselves and negative self-images.

Finally, they would discover a range of sufferings in their experience that God never
intended such as illness and distress that results from the greed, injustice and wrong-
doing of others.

God resolved to renew humanity


From the moment the parents of the human race disobeyed God their original nature
was impaired, God determined to renew human nature and to make it possible for
people to again relate closely with Him.

They would then be able once again to draw on their Creator’s limitless spiritual power
and strength. This grace would empower them to grow stronger so that gradually their
freedom and ability to make responsible choices would return.

Close relationships can only be accepted freely, not imposed. For this reason, God
sought new ways to invite human beings into closer relationship with Him.

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CONTENTS
3. GOD BEGINS TO RESTORE HUMAN FREEDOM

People experience God’s call through creation


Since the beginning, even
before they sinned, God
called the parents of the
human race into
relationship through
creation. The beauty of
nature, the vastness of the
starry night, the powers and
forces of the universe, the
spectacle of the crashing
surf – are all part of
creation. God planned
these to be one great
advertisement or sign that
says to every human being:
‘I am here, present for you
– will you love me as I love
you?’

Human beings grow in awareness of God as they wonder: ‘How did all of this come to
be?’ ‘Who created it all?’ And as they continue to grow in awareness of God, they begin
to question: ‘How should I relate with the all-powerful God who is always near to us?’

What people learn from their experiences of God through creation


Throughout history people have been led by their experiences of creation to the
realisation that God is present everywhere and calling them into relationship.

The call of God through creation seeks a response from human beings. They learn that
two things are required for a relationship with God. These are:
• to acknowledge God’s presence
• to communicate with God.

Many people’s lives today are too busy to appreciate the creation that surrounds them.
They fail to recognise God in creation and to accept God’s call to relationship. They do
not look beyond what they see to recognise the meaning or basic purpose of all creation.

Others do become aware of God’s presence through their experiences of creation. Some
go the further step of communicating with God.

God wants a much deeper and more personal relationship with human beings than
creation alone makes possible. This led God to take the step of revealing to Abraham,
ways to live this relationship more deeply. God made a covenant with Abraham. God’s
revelation continued with Abraham’s son Isaac, Isaac’s son Jacob and Jacob’s
descendants, the Israelites.

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3. GOD BEGINS TO RESTORE HUMAN FREEDOM

For your information…


An ‘Israelite’ is a descendent of the patriarch Jacob who was also called ‘Israel’ (Hebrew
yisrael meaning ‘God struggles’ Genesis 32:29). A ‘Jew’ was an inhabitant of the southern
Israelite kingdom of Judah. After the fall of the northern Israelite kingdom with the
capture of Samaria around 721BC, the southern kingdom of Judah became the centre for
the regrouping of all Israelites. Even after the capture of Jerusalem 65 years later, and the
subsequent deportation to Babylon, Judah remained the spiritual homeland of the
dispersed Israelites. By the time of Jesus those called Jews were recognised as the only
genuine Israelites.

God initiated the Sinai Covenant so that the people of


Israel would be free to relate more closely with Him
The Israelites were led by God into Egypt where they became very numerous. Around
1290BC, Rameses II became the Pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt. He was afraid that the
Israelites could contribute to the downfall of the government of Egypt and so forced
them into slavery.

The story of God calling Moses to lead the people of Israel out of slavery is well known.
When God first spoke to Moses, it was as:

‘… the God of your ancestors … the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God
of Jacob.’ (Exodus 3:6)

A critical moment in the relationship between the people of Israel and the God of their
ancestors Abraham, Isaac and Jacob was reached when the divine name, ‘Yahweh’, was
revealed by God to Moses:

‘You are to tell the


Israelites, “Yahweh, the
For your information…
God of your ancestors, The divine name Yahweh, if translated from the Hebrew, probably
the God of Abraham, the means, ‘He is’. When God speaks in the first person the name
God of Isaac and the God translates as, ‘I am’, or more literally, ‘I am what I am’. Hence, when
of Jacob, has sent me to Jesus is teaching in the Temple and says, ‘I am He’ (John 8:24), he is
you.” This is my name claiming to be God. The word “Yahweh”, Jahweh or Yehovah is not to
for all time, and thus I be pronounced but it is to be substituted when reading by other
am to be invoked for all names such as Lord or God etc. The reason for this is to show
generations to come.’ reverence for the name of God in people’s daily life, emphasising the
(Exodus 3:15) power of language as an act of devotion and worship. There is a need
to be aware of this sensitivity when reading scripture as the sacred
and ancient Hebrew name of God is held to be unpronounceable.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 115


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3. GOD BEGINS TO RESTORE HUMAN FREEDOM

God led the people of Israel to Mount Sinai


Through Moses, God called on Rameses to release the people of Israel to freedom.
Through Moses, God commanded Pharaoh:

‘Let my people go ...’ (Exodus 5:1)

Eventually, with the necessary help of God’s intervention, the Israelites fled Egypt.
God led the people of Israel through the Sinai desert to Mount Sinai. There God said
to Moses,

‘Say this to the House of Jacob! Tell the Israelites ... “if you are really prepared to
obey me and keep my covenant ... you shall be a kingdom of priests, a holy nation.”’
(Exodus 19:3, 5)

God instituted a new covenant


with the people of Israel. Now
free from human slavery the
Israelites learnt that the aim of
this covenant would be to free
them to relate more closely
with God.

Under the leadership of


Moses, the people of Israel
discovered much more about
God. For example, from being:
• freed from slavery in
Egypt, they learned that
God is a freeing and
liberating God (Exodus)
• led through the Sinai
desert, they learned that
God guides God’s people
(Exodus 16)
• fed in the desert, they
learned that God provides
for them.(Exodus 16:4–36).
Moses (Approaching Mt. Sinai), 1905–07
(oil on canvas) by Ury, Lesser (1861–1931)

God revealed himself to Moses as a:

‘... God of tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in faithful love and
constancy, maintaining his faithful love to thousands, forgiving fault, crime
and sin ...’ (Exodus 34:6)

116 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
3. GOD BEGINS TO RESTORE HUMAN FREEDOM

God called humanity through the Israelites


God called people into
a new and deeper
relationship with their
Creator through the
religion of Israel which
developed into the Jewish
religion (Judaism). This
relationship was deeper
because it required a
greater personal
commitment to God who
had called and chosen the
Israelites to be God’s
special people. God
initiated the religion of
Israel in two broad stages.
These were by:
• calling the different
Israelite tribes together
to make a single people
• initiating the Sinai
Covenant.

Noah receiving the White Dove, Moses receiving the Tables of the
Law, the sacrifice of Abraham, Moses and the Brazen Serpent,
late 13th century (vellum) by French School, (13th century)

What the people of Israel learned from their experiences of God


In the seven hundred years after the time of Abraham, the people of Israel grew in
number and influence. From a group of wandering herders they eventually became a
settled nation united under a king. They also grew in their knowledge and experience
of God. They came to know that God is the one true God, the God of the covenant.
They could relate more closely with God than could people of other nations and other
religions whose experiences of God were more limited. Most importantly, the Israelites
discovered that:
• God communicates, not just indirectly through creation, but also personally and directly
• God promises blessings
• God keeps these promises.

From these experiences the Israelites learned that, to relate closely with God, they needed:
• to worship and pray personally to God who listens
• to be open to the guidance of God
• to seek God’s blessings
• to put their trust in God
• to have faith in God’s promises.

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3. GOD BEGINS TO RESTORE HUMAN FREEDOM

Reflect on and write about the times when you have experienced:

• the freedom that comes from the grace of God who frees from
the dominance of emotions and fear of peer pressures

• God’s guidance in times of personal confusion or when


confronted with important life questions

• the care of God in times of loneliness or when feeling that no


one is interested in you

• God’s tenderness in times of hurt, rejection or feelings of


being misunderstood.

118 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
4 God revealed the Old Law

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 God gave the people of Israel commandments and laws
 The Ten Commandments identify responsibilities towards God and others
 The Ten Commandments summarise God’s rules for human conduct.

God gave the people of Israel commandments and laws

The people of Israel learned much in the early centuries of their history about how to
relate with God, the source of true freedom. For this relationship to grow they needed
to learn more about God and what is required for an even deeper relationship.

They needed to observe God’s commandment:

‘Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.’ (Leviticus 19:2)

Holy people behave in God-like ways. As they do so, they realise their true nature as
created in the image and likeness of God. They do not behave deliberately in unholy
ways. Holy ways are moral ways. They lead to true and lasting freedom.

To help them avoid behaving in unholy ways, God gave the people of Israel a series of
commandments and laws as part of the Sinai Covenant. These made clear to them what
was and what was not holy. God told the people:

‘You will keep my commands and put them into practice. I am Yahweh …
who make you holy.’ (Leviticus 22:31–32)

holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I,
hweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your Go
holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy
Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your
d, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be
y, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahw
r God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am hol
holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I,
hweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your Go
holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy
Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your
d, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be
y, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahw
r God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh your Return
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10
God,toam holy Be holy,
Return to for I, Yahweh your God, am hol
119

holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy Be holy, for I, Yahweh


CONTENTS CHAPTERyour God, am holy Be holy, for I,
4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

The Old Law was also called the Torah


The human behaviours God designated as ‘holy’ and ‘unholy’ are found in the first five
books of the Bible – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy.
Collectively, these books came to be referred to as ‘The Law’. Jesus was referring to
these books when he said:

‘Do not imagine that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets. I have come
not to abolish but to complete them.’ (Matthew 5:17)

Today, the Torah is called ‘the Old Law’ to distinguish it from the ‘New Law’ completed
by Jesus.

For your information…


The Hebrew word Torah, meaning ‘instruction’ or ‘law’, refers to the first five books of the
Bible. Many of their chapters comprise instructions given by God through Moses. Judaism
recognised 613 laws in the Torah, for example: ‘If you have resident aliens in your
country, you will ... treat (them) as though they were native-born and love them as
yourself ...’ (Leviticus 19:33–34)

All who keep these laws draw closer to God, who is holy. As they relate more closely
with God, they also grow in real freedom.

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4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

The ‘Decalogue’ or Ten Commandments


The people of Israel suffered greatly while slaves in Egypt. Their liberation by God led
them to realise that God gave real freedom. It was at the beginning of their new
experience of freedom that God, through Moses, led the people to Sinai.

The most significant laws given by God at Mount Sinai were originally called the
‘Ten Words’ – or, in Greek, the Decalogue (Exodus 34:28). All who kept these Words
would be freed from sin, just as the Israelites were freed by God from slavery in Egypt.

The Ten Words are preserved in the Books of Exodus and Deuteronomy (Exodus 20:1–17
and Deuteronomy 5:6–22). Though written differently – the Deuteronomy version gives
more detail than the Exodus version – both versions come from the same oral tradition.
Both were recorded by authors inspired by God.

To make the Decalogue easier to remember, a great Christian teacher, St Augustine


(354–430AD), the bishop of the ancient African city of Hippo, presented the basic
Ten Words in the format commonly known and used by Catholics today. In this format,
they are called the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments

1 I am the Lord your God... you shall not have strange gods
before me.

2 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.

3 Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

4 Honour your father and your mother.

5 You shall not kill.

6 You shall not commit adultery.

7 You shall not steal.

8 You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.

9 You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.

10 You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.

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4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

The Ten Commandments identify responsibilities


towards God and others
The people of Israel knew from Moses that keeping the Ten Commandments or the Ten
Words was proof of a person’s love for God. In fact, anyone who loved God would take
them to heart:

‘Listen, Israel: Yahweh our God is the one, the only Yahweh. You must love Yahweh
your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength. Let the
words I enjoin on you today stay in your heart.’ (Deuteronomy 6:4–5)

‘You must love Yahweh your God and always keep his observances, his laws, his
customs, his commandments.’ (Deuteronomy 11:1)

The Ten Commandments identify


values of God that people need to
share if they are to love God.
They also command people’s
responsibilities towards God and
other people.

Responsibilities towards God


The first three commandments
identify the responsibilities towards
God that come with the covenant at
Sinai. Each is concerned with
particular values. To deliberately
fail to fulfil these responsibilities
damages a person’s relationship
with God. The following chart
gives examples of values and
responsibilities with which each of
God gives the Ten Commandments to Moses on
the first three commandments is Mount Sinai, 2004 (w/c on paper) by Wang, Elizabeth
concerned. (Contemporary Artist)

Commandment Value Responsibilities


m the Lord your God...Firstyou shall not have strange gods before me. To2 You
Faithfulness to God
shall not take the name of the
relate with God
d your God in vain. 3 Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. 1 I including am the praying
Lord daily
your God... you shall n
strange gods before me.Second
2 You shall not takeRespect
the namefor God
of the Lord To showGod
your proper
inrespect
vain.for3 Remember to k
God and the things of God,
the Lord’s Day. 1 I am the Lord your God... you shall not have strange includinggods
God’s before
name me. 2 You shall n
Third Human closeness with God To worship, praise and
the name of the Lord your God in vain. 3 Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day. 1 I am the Lord yo
thank God, especially on
the Lord’s Day.
.. you shall not have strange gods before me. 2 You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vai
member to keep holy the Lord’s Day. 1 I am the Lord your God... you shall not have strange gods befo
2 You shall not take the122name of the Lord your God in vain. 3 Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10
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CONTENTS
to
before
CHAPTER me. 2 You shall not take the name of the
4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

Responsibilities towards others


The remaining commandments identify people’s responsibilities to others, each of whom is
loved by God. Fulfilling God-given responsibilities towards others is a sign of love for God.
To deliberately fail to fulfil these responsibilities damages a person’s relationship with God.

Commandment Value Responsibilities

Fourth Family To give and receive respect


as a member of a family

Fifth Life To respect the rights of


every human person to the
necessities of life and to
protection from the
moment of conception to
natural death

Sixth Marriage To respect chastity and


commitment in marriage

Seventh Ownership To respect people’s rights


to a legitimate share of the
resources of the earth and
private property

Eighth Truth To respect people’s rights


to a good name and the
esteem of others

Ninth Purity To respect every human


being as a person, and
never reduce anyone to a
‘sex object’

Tenth Contentedness To respect people’s rights


to security of legitimate
possessions.

e
not
keep
not
our
in.
ore
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4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

The Ten Commandments summarise God’s rules


for human conduct
The Ten Commandments were divine declarations to remind people of the laws of God
found in the first five books of the Bible. They applied to many areas of life. The
following are a few examples of specific laws of the Torah which relate to the
Ten Commandments.

I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me

‘Do not turn to idols and do not cast metal gods for yourselves. I am Yahweh your
God.’ (Leviticus 19:4)

‘You will not practise divination or magic.’ (Leviticus 19:26)

You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain

‘You will not swear by my name with intent to deceive and thus profane the name of
your God. I am Yahweh.’ (Leviticus 19:12)

‘If a man makes a vow to Yahweh or a formal pledge under oath, he must not break
his word: whatever he promises by word of mouth he must do.’ (Numbers 30:3)

‘Anyone who curses his God will bear the consequences of his sin ...’ (Leviticus 24:16)

Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day

‘You will keep my Sabbaths properly, for this is a sign between myself and you
for all your generations to come, so that you will know that it is I, Yahweh, who
sanctify you. You will keep the Sabbath, then; you will regard it as holy ...’
(Exodus 31:13–14)

‘Work must be done for six days, but the seventh day will be a day of complete rest,
consecrated to Yahweh.’ (Exodus 31:15)

Honour your father and your mother

‘Honour your father and your mother so that you may live long in the land that
Yahweh your God is giving you.’ (Exodus 20:12)

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4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

You shall not kill

‘If someone beats his slave, male or female, and the slave dies at his hands, he must
pay the penalty.’ (Exodus 21:20)

‘You will not oppress the alien; you know how an alien feels, for you yourselves were
once aliens in Egypt.’ (Exodus 23:9)

‘You will not exact vengeance on, or bear any sort of grudge against, the members of
your race, but you will love your neighbour as yourself. I am Yahweh.’ (Leviticus 19:18)

You shall not commit adultery


You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife

‘None of you will approach a woman who is closely related to him, to have
intercourse with her. I am Yahweh.’ (Leviticus 18:6)

‘Furthermore, you will not have intercourse with your fellow-citizen’s wife; you
would become unclean by doing so.’ (Leviticus 18:20)

‘You will not have intercourse with a man as you would with a woman. This is a
hateful thing.’ (Leviticus 18:22)

You shall not steal


You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods

‘If anyone steals an ox or a sheep and slaughters or sells it, he will pay back five
beasts from the herd for the ox, and four animals from the flock for the sheep.’
(Exodus 21:37)

‘If a fire breaks out, setting light to thorn bushes and burning stacks, standing corn or
the field as a result, the person who started the fire will make full restitution.’
(Exodus 22:5)

‘You will not be unjust in administering justice as regards measures of length, weight
or capacity.’ (Leviticus 19:35)

‘When you reap the harvest of your land, you will not reap to the very edges of the
field, nor will you gather the gleanings of the harvest; nor will you strip your vineyard
bare, nor pick up the fallen grapes. You will leave them for the poor and the stranger.
I am Yahweh your God.

‘You will not steal, nor deal deceitfully or fraudulently with your fellow-citizen.’
(Leviticus 19:9–11)

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4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

You will not bear false witness against your neighbour

‘You will not spread false rumours. You will not lend support to the wicked by giving
untrue evidence.’ (Exodus 23:1)

In Class Work

Research some other laws of the Torah. The Book of Leviticus contains
lists of these laws, for example dietary laws (Leviticus 11).

For your information…


Other names for the first five books of the Bible or Torah are ‘The Five Books of Moses’
and ‘Pentateuch’. Pentateuch derives from the Greek word meaning ‘five containers’.

God promised a Messiah


Despite God’s efforts, the people
of Israel soon began to take God
for granted. In the seven
hundred years after Moses, there
were periods when they obeyed
the Ten Commandments, drew
closer to God and experienced
God’s guidance and power
freeing them, but
for much of this time, they
ignored God and disobeyed the
Ten Commandments. They
behaved in unholy ways, and
damaged their relationship with
God. They weakened their
capacity to recognise God’s
guidance and power.

This led them to experience great


unhappiness. The children of
Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lost
both their inner and external
freedom. For much of the time
after Moses, they were
dominated by foreign powers.

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4. GOD REVEALED THE OLD LAW

They made decisions that often led to defeat in wars. The nation divided into two
kingdoms at odds with each other and both were eventually overrun. Around 587BC
Jerusalem was captured and the inhabitants deported to Babylon. The Israelites were
totally subjugated once more.

God wanted to help the people of Israel overcome the obstacles that prevented them
relating with God, the one who loved them. This led God to promise to change the
situation by renewing their hearts. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God promised:

‘I shall pour clean water over you and you will be cleansed ... I shall give you a new
heart ... I shall put my spirit in you ... You will be my people and I shall be your
God.’ (Ezekiel 36:25–29)

To fulfil this promise, God would send a Messiah. This Messiah would be filled with
God’s Holy Spirit, and share this Spirit with all who believed in him.

In Class Work

Based on the information in Chapters 3 and 4, answer Yes or No to the


following statements:

1. Illness and other sufferings come from God. Y/N

2. Human nature is fundamentally and permanently flawed. Y/N

3. Creation is a sign of God’s love. Y/N

4. God has no name. Y/N

5. The covenant given on Mount Sinai was the first covenant. Y/N

6. The religion of Israel was the forerunner of Judaism. Y/N

7. The first three commandments are concerned with


relationships with God. Y/N

8. There is more than one list of the Ten Commandments in the Bible. Y/N

9. The Torah does not contain just ten laws but hundreds. Y/N

10. Jesus rewrote the Ten Commandments. Y/N

11. The Israelites discovered that it is right to take God for granted. Y/N

12. When the Israelites disobeyed God and suffered exile,


they were left to their fate. Y/N

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5 Jesus gave the New Law
of freedom

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Jesus gave a New Law to empower his followers to live as God called.
This law consists of four elements:
– Jesus shares with all who believe in him the Holy Spirit who can
change the human heart
– Jesus gives the gift of charity, the power of divine love, through
Baptism
– Jesus presented the Sermon on the Mount as the basic way
Christians need to think and behave
– Jesus revealed two great commandments which are about
changing peoples’ hearts to live God’s laws.
 Jesus calls all people to experience happiness and true freedom.

Jesus gave a New Law to empower his followers


to live as God called
The earliest Christians recognised Jesus as the
promised Messiah. He was both fully human and
fully divine. He loved in perfect ways and always
did what is good.

The secret to the perfection of Jesus was the


perfect love in his heart for both God the Father
and the rest of the human race. From within his
heart he lived all God’s laws perfectly – both
natural and revealed.

Jesus gave a New Law as part of the New


Covenant, to fulfil the Law and the Covenant of
Moses. This New Law would empower his
followers to live as God called them to live.
The New Law consisted of four elements:
• sharing with all who believe in Jesus, the Holy
Spirit, who can change the human heart
• the power of divine love, infused by the Holy Spirit and received through
Baptism and nourished by the Eucharist. This love is called charity.
• the Sermon on the Mount
• the two great commandments of Jesus.

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The Holy Spirit


Jesus promised his followers
the Holy Spirit. This
promise was first fulfilled
at Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit is received


into people’s hearts today in
many ways, especially
through the sacraments of
Baptism and Confirmation.
To the extent that they
respond to the Spirit’s
guidance, believers find the
Spirit changing their hearts.
Their hearts become more
like the heart of Jesus as
they inwardly experience
the Spirit stirring thoughts
or feelings that:
• inspire, or urge them to
love God and their
neighbours, as Jesus did
The same Spirit who comforted Christ in Gethsemane can console us,
• guide them in how to 2000 (oil on panel) by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)
love like Jesus in the
situations of daily life
• cause their consciences to help them see when they are in danger of not loving
or doing good
• move their consciences to recognise past actions that are wrong
• strengthen them to resist temptations to break God’s commandments and to
live as Jesus did.

The early Christians realised that they could:

‘… begin living a new life.’ (Romans 6:4)

as they experienced the Holy Spirit inspiring, guiding, challenging and strengthening them.

They were able to leave behind the ‘old life’ of selfishness, resentments, and temptation
to do wrong and grow in love and God-like goodness.

As they drew on the guidance and power of the Spirit they found it easier to keep God’s
commandments and laws and to experience the kind of freedom that would bring them
lasting happiness. They saw that not to draw on the Spirit’s guidance and power, would
make it more difficult to keep God’s laws. People would lack the necessary freedom that
brings lasting happiness.

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Charity: the power of divine love


Jesus shares the Holy Spirit with his followers today through Baptism. Through this
sacrament, the Holy Spirit, the personified love of God, gives the believer the gift of
charity.

‘ … the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has
been given to us.’ (Romans 5:5)

Charity is divine love. It empowers Christians to love God and others as Jesus does.
Christians develop the gift of charity by praying daily, by worshipping God, and
receiving Holy Communion and by trying to live daily as Jesus taught. As this divine
power grows within them, Christians find themselves empowered:
• to love God above all else
• to love others for God’s sake.

In Class Work

1. Explain the Christian understanding of charity.

2. What does it empower Christians to do in their lives?

3. How can Christians develop the gift of charity?

Charity gradually frees people to keep God’s


laws – natural and revealed. Their hearts are
freed from everything that attracts them away
from the ways of God. As the baptismal gift of
charity grows, Christians develop into people
of virtue. As selfishness and self-centredness
decline, they become persons of faith and hope.

These virtues enable people to find themselves


growing in their ability to believe in themselves
as well as in God. They learn to overcome
crises rather than give in to despair. Personal
prejudices decline as does the inclination to
panic and to rush prematurely into decisions
they might later regret.

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People change as charity grows within them. St Paul describes many of these changes:

Love is always patient and kind; love is never jealous; love is not boastful or
conceited, it is never rude and never seeks its own advantage, it does not take offence
or store up grievances. Love does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but finds its joy in the
truth. It is always ready to make allowances, to trust, to hope and to endure whatever
comes. Love never comes to an end. (1 Corinthians 13:4–8)

St Paul was describing the love (charity) that the Holy Spirit gives as a share in God’s
very own love which our human love in some ways reflects. People often choose these
words for their wedding ceremonies.

The gift of Charity empowers all who nourish it to develop:


• strong friendships based on sharing this God-given love
• self-giving in the way that Jesus was self-giving
• forgiveness even of the greatest hurt.

Charity has empowered Christians since the earliest times to follow their call to love as
Jesus did. Many live lovingly as husband and wife and are good parents to their
children. Others are empowered to live as unmarried people. Some respond to the call
to give their lives to serve as priests and religious. At various times, many of these
people are able to work for others in need through organisations such as the St Vincent
de Paul Society, Young Vinnies, the Catholic Women’s League and the Legion of Mary.

The Eucharist nourishes charity


Charity requires spiritual nourishment if it is to develop within a Christian. This is
achieved through daily prayer, but especially through the Eucharist, which gives strength
to love like Jesus in everyday life.

Many Christians today do not grow in charity as much as they could because they do
not receive the Eucharist regularly enough. Though they received the gift of charity
through Baptism, it remains underdeveloped because they suffer ‘spiritual malnutrition’.

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The Sermon on the Mount


Charity can change hearts. The Sermon on
the Mount presents the basic ways Christians
need to think and behave for this to happen.

In the Sermon on the Mount, the Gospel


of Matthew presents Jesus teaching his
followers how to develop the New Law
in their lives (Matthew 5–7).

The New Law requires a transformation of


the heart, drawing on the divine power of
love to grow inwardly more loving towards
others and to express this in loving
The Sermon on the Mount, from the Sistine Chapel,
behaviour. It does not mean, for instance, c.1481–83 (fresco) by Rosselli, Cosimo (1439–1507)
behaving politely while secretly thinking
nasty thoughts about others.

In Class Work

Divide the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7) amongst groups in the class.
Each group is to summarise their section for the rest of the class.

The Beatitudes of Jesus


In the Gospel of Matthew, the first sermon of Jesus was the Sermon on the Mount. It
began with what are called the Beatitudes (or blessings).

The Beatitudes identify attitudes of Jesus. As baptised people develop these attitudes,
they become more alert to the guidance of the Holy Spirit within them. Without these
attitudes, it is hard for people to be alert to the Spirit.

One thing many people do not realise is that the Holy Spirit works normally in gentle
and peaceful ways in people. The Spirit is never dominating or violent.

To recognise the Holy Spirit’s inward guidance and strengthening it is necessary to deal
appropriately with emotions, attitudes and ways of thinking that can otherwise take over
our lives.

The key to living the Sermon on the Mount is to develop the attitudes of Jesus. These
are the attitudes which change a Christian’s heart so that the inspiration, guidance,
correction and strengthening of the Gifts of the Holy Spirit received in Baptism and
further developed in Confirmation grow within them.

The Beatitudes identify specific ways of behaving that lead to this.

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The first of the Beatitudes is:

‘Blessed are the poor in spirit: the kingdom of Heaven is theirs.’ (Matthew 5:3)

Behaving in ways that are ‘poor in spirit’ means people accepting their dependence on
God for all their needs and for their every breath. This is easiest to develop for those
who are defenceless, oppressed, lonely or who are materially poor.

The opposite behaviour involves the desire to acquire wealth, possessions or power, and
to make them, not God, the basis of one’s life, or the tendency to associate only with
the popular, the powerful or ‘those who have made it’ in life.

The second Beatitude is:

‘Blessed are the gentle: they shall have the earth as inheritance.’ (Matthew 5:4)

This calls people to be unassuming and undemanding. It is the opposite from people
being suspicious and impatient, or becoming angry when things fail to go their way.

The third Beatitude is:

‘Blessed are those who mourn: they shall be comforted.’ (Matthew 5:5)

In this context, to ‘mourn’ is to be sad about life’s tragedies, sin and death. This
Beatitude encourages people to yearn for God as the basic value of their lives, and to
accept the closeness with God that Jesus offers. As they do so, ‘they shall be comforted’.

The fourth Beatitude is:

‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for uprightness: they shall have their fill.’
(Matthew 5:6)

This Beatitude calls people to accept God’s personal guidance, especially through prayer
and worship. It also calls for a searching attitude to understand more fully all that God
has taught, and a sincere effort to put into practice all that God commands.

For young people, this Beatitude is particularly relevant when considering questions
relating to identity, career and other future decisions, for true answers to these questions
require taking into account all God has taught.

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The fifth Beatitude is:

‘Blessed are the merciful: they shall have mercy shown them.’ (Matthew 5:7)

People who are merciful are those who forgive readily and love others in need – even if
they are enemies (Matthew 6:12, 14–15; 9:13; 25:31–46; 5:44–47). Their hearts
develop in ways that make it possible to truly experience God’s mercy.

The sixth Beatitude is:

‘Blessed are the pure in heart: they shall see God.’ (Matthew 5:8)

This Beatitude calls Christians to make God’s will, and the fulfilment of that will, the
primary purpose of their life and to try as sincerely as they can to live as Jesus taught. It
also calls them to repent when they fail, and to ask God’s help for their renewed efforts.
Their reward will be direct and personal experiences of God.

The seventh Beatitude is:

‘Blessed are the peacemakers: they shall be recognised as children of God.’


(Matthew 5:9)

In this Beatitude, Jesus wants his followers to love and to do what they can to provide
for the needs of others. They should try to heal tensions between others, to resolve
differences and to restore relationships. It is the opposite of stirring tensions and discord
within the family, among friends or in the wider community.

The last two Beatitudes are:

‘Blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of uprightness: the kingdom of
Heaven is theirs.’ (Matthew 5:10)

‘Blessed are you when people abuse you and persecute you and speak all kinds of
calumny against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will
be great in heaven; this is how they persecuted the prophets before you.’
(Matthew 5:11–12)

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These Beatitudes highlight how, when people remain faithful to God, they receive all the
spiritual guidance and power needed to live as God wants – even if they have to endure
suffering in order to follow God’s will.

The key to living the Sermon on the Mount is to develop the attitudes of Jesus. These
are the attitudes which change a Christian’s heart so that the inspiration, guidance,
correction and strengthening of the Holy Spirit grows within them.

Spend time reflecting on and writing about some practical


examples of when you might need the Holy Spirit’s:

• inspiration because Christian teachings are hard to live.


Which teachings are the most difficult to live today?

• guidance because it is not always easy to see how Christian


teachings should be lived. What are some examples of
complex issues today that are hard to relate to Christ’s
teachings?

• correction because you have not lived as Jesus called.


Which Christian teachings do people generally tend to
ignore today?

• strengthening in the face of temptations and peer and


social pressures, to break God’s laws, and to do wrong.
Which temptations and pressures are the most difficult
to face today?

These attitudes lead to true and long lasting happiness – or ‘beatitude’. This is why they
are referred to as ‘the Beatitudes’.

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The works of Mercy


God cannot be outdone in generosity. Jesus told his listeners on the mountain that
people who are merciful shall have God’s mercy shown to them (Matthew 5:7).
Elsewhere he said that when people give to those in need they shall be rewarded
abundantly (Luke 6:36–38). Based on the parable of the Last Judgement
(Matthew 25:31–46) the Church has developed a list of works of mercy, acts of charity
by which Christians can come to the aid of those in need. The corporal (bodily) works
of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the
naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned and burying the dead (Catechism 2447).

The Spiritual gift of Right Judgement has been linked to the beatitude of mercy. This
gift can be applied to the spiritual works of mercy which consist of instructing, advising,
consoling, comforting, forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently.

Jesus’ two great commandments


God taught the people of Israel how to behave in God-like ways by revealing the Ten
Commandments. They forbade behaviour that would damage a person’s capacity to
relate closely with God and helped the people to:

‘Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy ...’ (Leviticus 19:2)

Jesus revealed two commandments which he called the greatest. These commandments
are:

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all
your strength and with all your mind ...’ (Luke 10:27)

‘You must love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 22:39)

These commandments empower a person to


live the Ten Commandments by changing their
heart. As the love for God and others grows in
their hearts, people express this in actions that
keep the Ten Commandments.

The focus of the two great commandments


of Jesus is not simply upon external legal
observance. They are about changing a
person’s heart so that they are empowered
to live God’s laws in imitation of Jesus.

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Jesus’ first great commandment


Christians who strive to love God as
Jesus described, find charity gradually
changing their attitudes towards God.
They are empowered increasingly
to keep the first three of the
Ten Commandments.

Jesus’ second great


commandment
In the same way, as Christians strive
to love their neighbours as
themselves, charity gradually changes
them from within so that they are
better able to keep the remaining
seven of the Ten Commandments.

Christians grows in freedom to live


When we repent of our sins Jesus Christ looks on
the moral life Jesus taught. They are us with tenderness, 1995 (oil on panel), Wang, Elizabeth
helped to overcome their human (Contemporary Artist)

weaknesses and frailties, as well as


temptations to sin. This is why Jesus
said, using the Old Testament image
of a ‘yoke’ to refer to his commandments:

‘Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’ (Matthew 11:30)

For your information…


A yoke was a piece of timber worn across the shoulders in order to carry heavy loads such
as buckets of water at each end. A roughly made yoke could be uncomfortable. The ‘yoke
of the law’ was a term used by Jewish teachers when speaking of the burden imposed by
the Torah and religious observances.

To deepen his followers’ understanding of how to apply the two great commandments to
daily life, Jesus also gave specific ways in which he wanted his followers to live them.
The following relate to the first great commandment:
• to pray (Luke 11:1–4)
• to celebrate the Eucharist (Luke 22:19–20)
• to teach his message to the whole world by word and example (Matthew 28:19–20)
• to baptise all who believe (Matthew 28:19)
• to pray that more will work to spread the message (Matthew 9:37)
• to love enemies (Matthew 5:38–48).

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Jesus also helped his followers to understand better the second great commandment by
forbidding behaviours that disobey it:
• the deliberate harbouring of anger and grudges (Matthew 5:21–26; Luke 12:57–59)
• false oaths or perjury (Matthew 5:33–37)
• retaliation and vengeance against others (Matthew 5:38–42)
• showing generosity for the wrong motives (Matthew 6:1–4)
• prayer for the wrong motives (Matthew 6:5–6)
• the accumulation of too many possessions (Matthew 6: 19–34)
• the judgement of people (not actions) (Matthew 7:1–5)
• the neglect of personal talents (Matthew 25:14–30)
• the failure to respond to those in need (Matthew 25:31–46; Luke 16:19–31).

Jesus also reinforced Old Testament laws against sexual immorality. He forbade:
• lustful behaviour (Matthew 5:28)
• adultery (Matthew 5:32)
• remarriage after divorce (Mark 10:1–12)
• sex outside marriage (or fornication) (Matthew 15:19).

Jesus calls all people to experience happiness


and true freedom
When Jesus told his followers to make disciples of all nations he was promoting true
freedom for all people. This involves encouraging people to live the Beatitudes and his
two great commandments. To the extent that people do so, they experience the
happiness and true freedom in life that God wills for them.

As people live the Beatitudes and the ‘greatest and first’ commandment, people have
experiences of God’s closeness. They experience God’s closeness and guidance in their
daily decisions and problems. They grow in inner spiritual strength – and become freer
to love others and to keep the laws of Jesus.

If all people were to live the second commandment of Jesus and his laws,
society would become more peaceful. Many of the sufferings people take
for granted today such as family break-up, exploitation in its various forms
and neglect of the needy, would be avoided.

Christians need to keep thinking about what


society would be like if all people lived as
Jesus taught. They need to recognise that
much human suffering can be the result of
people not living as Jesus taught. As they do
live as Jesus taught, Christians will
recognise opportunities to improve society.
They will bring to it God’s love and the
freedom from inner and external pressures
that God wants every human being to have.

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God calls all people to grow in inner


spiritual strength by living the laws of
Jesus, his two great commandments and
the Beatitudes. As they do so, people
become freer to love others and they
experience the true freedom that is God’s
will for them.

Imagine that instead of operating the way it


currently does, Australian society is
modelled on the Beatitudes and the
commandments of Jesus.

What laws would be passed through


Parliament that would enable Australians
to live the laws of Jesus?

How would the lives of Australians be


different?

In what ways would people begin to


‘experience true freedom’?

In Class Work

Your class has just formed a new political party based on the commandments
and Beatitudes of Jesus (Matthew 5:3–10). Decide on a name for your party
and prepare a speech outlining the election promises and policies with
which you will go to the next election.

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6 The New Law of true freedom

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Charity frees people to live God’s commandments
 Loving God is the first great commandment of Jesus
 Loving one’s neighbour is the second great commandment of Jesus.

Charity frees people to live God’s commandments

Charity can free a baptised Christian to live the Ten Commandments. As people grow in
this freedom, they grow closer to God. Charity helps to overcome human weaknesses
and leads to freedom.

Charity frees us from ... Charity frees us by developing the desire to ...

doubts and disbelief about God and what grow in faith, the spiritual virtue given by
God has revealed the Holy Spirit to empower people to
believe

despair and the sense of hopelessness grow in hope, the spiritual virtue given
by the Holy Spirit to empower people to
trust in God’s promises

feelings of indifference towards God and grow in charity, the spiritual virtue given
ingratitude for all that God gives by the Holy Spirit to empower people to
love God and others for God’s sake alone

having no interest in responding to God grow in the virtue of religion, which is the
in ways that God wants virtue of respecting the rights of God to:
• adoration (acknowledging God as
Creator of all that exists, and the
Saviour of the world)
• prayer (lifting the mind to God to
express, thanks, sorrow, requests and
the needs of others)
• sacrifice (especially by trying to live
each day as God wants)

weakness in commitment to God and keep religious promises and vows


commitments made to others

negative attitudes towards others who respect the religious freedom and
have a religious commitment commitment of others.

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Loving God is the first great commandment of Jesus

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul,
with all your strength and with all your mind ...’ (Luke 10:27)

Those who understand this first great commandment open their hearts to the
grace which enables them to keep the first three commandments:
• I am the Lord your God: you shall not have strange gods before me.
• You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
• Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

The Ten Commandments

The first commandment: I am the


Lord your God, You shall not have
strange gods before me
Faith, trust and love are essentials for any
I am the Lord your
close relationship. So are communication God, You shall not
and respect for the rights of the other
person. The First of the Ten
have strange gods
Commandments is concerned with before me
protecting these essentials so that
people can develop a closer
relationship with God.

As a result of charity, people will be freed from replacing God


with other objects of adoration such as money, wealth or
power. Superstitions and occult practices and divination such
as horoscopes are avoided. Atheism (rejecting the existence of
God, living as though there is no God) and agnosticism
(believing that nothing certain can be known about God) are
dismissed as untrue.

Charity empowers people to choose to show honour and


respect towards God, worship God as the author of all
creation and trust in the great love God has for all His people.

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The second commandment: You shall not take the name


of the Lord your God in vain
Respect is also essential for any close relationship, as is the need to speak of other
people with respect. This commandment is concerned with showing the respect
needed for a close relationship with God.

As a result of charity, people will be freed from using the names God or Jesus
Christ as swear words or curses. Misusing God’s name in making an oath,
whether true or untrue, can be avoided. People are able to avoid destructive
behaviours such as blasphemy (expressing irreverence towards God or sacred
things) and perjury (lying under oath in a court of law).

Charity frees people to bless, praise and glorify God’s holy name. This includes
always speaking of God and the saints with respect. Those giving evidence in a
court of law will have the courage to state the truth.

The third commandment: Keep Holy the Lord’s Day


People need to spend quality time together to relate closely. They need also to
give each other their full attention and not be preoccupied with personal worries
and stresses. This commandment is concerned with ‘quality time’ with God. It is
concerned also with the recreation people need, to be free of undue stresses and
pressures which can impair their health.

As a result of charity people can overcome temptations to neglect God’s right to


Sunday worship even when this may involve persecution. They are able to see the
necessity of a day of rest, recreation and time for family.

Charity frees people to give time to God and to those in need such as the sick, the
frail and the elderly. It allows them to follow pursuits other than work such as
culture and social life.

For your information…


For Christians, Sunday replaces the observance of the Jewish sabbath. Sunday
fulfills the moral command of the Old Covenant. "Sunday was not chosen by the
Christian community but by the Apostles, and indeed by Christ himself, who
on that day, ‘the first day of the week’, rose and appeared to the disciples ...
Sunday is the day on which the Risen Lord makes present among his
followers, invites them to his banquet and shares himself with them so that
they too, united and configured to him, may worship him properly." Pope
Benedict XVI, 27 November 2006

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Loving one’s neighbour is the second great


commandment of Jesus

‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 19:19)

This commandment frees people’s hearts so that they can observe the remaining
seven of the Ten Commandments:
• Honour your father and your mother.
• You shall not kill.
• You shall not commit adultery.
• You shall not steal.
• You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
• You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
• You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.

The Ten Commandments

The fourth commandment:


Honour your father and your mother
God created the communities of the family and
the wider human society. Both of these are
Honour your
necessary for every individual to develop. This father and your
commandment is concerned with the effective
functioning of these communities because it
mother
acknowledges the dignity of each person, not
because of what they can do but because of who
they are.

As a result of charity, children, both young and adult, are freed from neglect of
parents and temptations to deliberate disobedience. Able members of society are
freed from resentment or indifference towards those in need, especially, the
elderly and the sick.

Charity frees parents and others in authority from neglecting their responsibilities
towards those in their care. These responsibilities extend to the religious, moral,
physical and vocational needs of children.

Charity frees children to love, respect and obey their parents. Parents and
guardians are also able to respect and provide for the total development of the
children in their care. All society’s members can respect and obey legitimate
authority and fulfil social responsibilities.

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The fifth commandment:


You shall not kill
Every human person is sacred in the sight of
God. This means respecting the life of every
human person from the moment of
conception to the moment of natural death. You shall not kill
The fifth commandment is concerned with
protecting this sacredness of every human
being. To draw closer to God, it is necessary
to share this value.

Charity frees people from giving in to the desire to harm others, physically or
emotionally, to the extent of torture, murder, euthanasia and abortion or
supporting suicide. It also frees from such forms of self harm as drug and alcohol
abuse, risk taking on the road and putting health and safety at risk in other situations.

Charity frees people to overcome emotions such as anger, hatred and vengeance
which can lead to bullying and other forms of violence.

Charity frees people to be merciful, to respect human life as sacred and so defend
and care for the wellbeing of themselves and others. It assists people to become
agents of peace and forgiveness.

The sixth commandment: You shall not commit adultery


To draw closer to God, it is necessary to love others genuinely as God does.
Because of original sin, inordinate or inappropriate sexual desires and feelings can
confuse people about what is genuine love. This commandment is concerned with
protecting people against giving in to sexual feelings that can cause confusion
about what is genuine love in human relationships.

Charity frees people from expressing sexual


desires in inappropriate ways such as sexual
relationships outside marriage, masturbation
and viewing pornography. It also frees people
You shall from giving in to temptations to break the

not commit marriage bond.

adultery Charity deepens the commitment to the


integration of sexual desires into one’s total
personality leading to the respect of one’s
own sexuality and the sexuality of others.
This is demonstrated by the gentleness, love
and respect shown by a husband and wife to
each other.

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The seventh commandment:


You shall not steal
To draw close to God, it is necessary to respect
the purposes for which God gave the earth and its
resources to human beings. This commandment is You shall not steal
concerned with giving this respect.

Charity frees people from greed and indifference


to those who lack the necessities of life (food,
clothing, housing, health care, basic education,
employment, a living wage, social welfare). It helps overcome desires to steal,
cheat, damage other people’s property, waste resources and needlessly damage or
destroy the environment and other living creatures.

Charity frees people to hunger and thirst for uprightness and to respect God’s
plan that the resources of creation provide for the basic needs of every human
being. It frees people to respect the property of others and exercise stewardship
of their own resources.

The eighth commandment: You shall not bear


false witness against your neighbour
To draw close to someone, it is necessary to respect that person. This
commandment is concerned with respecting other people in order to draw
closer to God.

Charity frees people from telling lies,


disclosing the faults of another person
(detraction) or making up untrue
You shall not bear stories about another (calumny),
gossiping and breaking secrets.
false witness against
your neighbour Charity frees people to be
peacemakers, tell the truth, keep
confidences and respect everyone’s
right to a good reputation. It gives
people the courage to repair damage
done to the reputation of another.

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6. THE NEW LAW OF TRUE FREEDOM

The ninth commandment: You shall


not covet your neighbour’s wife
Temptations against the commandment
‘You shall not commit adultery’ start within You shall not
a person. This commandment is concerned
with overcoming these temptations. It covet your
makes it easier to draw closer to God by
loving others in genuine ways that are not
neighbour’s wife
weakened by inappropriate sexual feelings
and desires.

Charity frees people from seeing and


thinking of others as sex objects.

Charity frees people to develop the spiritual gift of purity of heart. They do this
through building habits of chastity, prayer and personal modesty.

The tenth commandment: You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods
Temptations against the commandment ‘You shall not steal’ also start within a
person. This commandment is concerned with making it easier to grow closer to
God by resisting inner weaknesses that make it harder to respect God’s purposes
for creation.

Charity frees people from being consumed by the desire for amassing earthly goods
and excessive riches and power and from being envious.

Instead, charity enables people to be


poor in spirit, to be detached from
material things and be happy at the
You shall not successes of others and respect what
covet your belongs to them.

neighbour’s goods If every human being drew upon the


divine power of the New Law, the
world would be a very different place.
Conflict would be replaced by peace.
Inner stresses and emotional pressures
would be replaced by a sense of inner
harmony.

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To love God the commandment which empowers


Many people associate Christianity with love of neighbour. Yet, for Jesus, this was not
the first, but the second great commandment.

The first great commandment of Jesus is to love God with one’s whole heart, soul, mind
and strength. Many wonder ‘Why is this the first?’ The reason is that it is the
empowering commandment enabling people to keep all the others.

To draw upon God’s power requires closeness to God. Only with this power can people
overcome serious barriers to love others such as resentments, jealousy, deep emotional
hurts and prejudices.

Only then can true personal freedom grow. The first great commandment provides the
foundation answer to the question: ‘How can I achieve true inner freedom?’

What are some of the barriers in your life to loving others? What
resentments, jealousies, emotional hurts and prejudices prevent
you from attaining true inner freedom?

Reflect on how you can become closer to God.

Write a prayer asking for help to grow closer to God.

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In Class Work

Use the information in Chapters 5 and 6 to complete the words in the


paragraphs below:

The earliest Christians recognised Jesus as the promised M _ _ _ _ _.


He lived all God's laws per _ _ _ _ _ _ and gave a New Law that
emp _ _ _ _ _ his followers to also li _ _ as God calls them to.
To live the New Law requires a trans _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of h _ _ _ _ .

There are f _ _ _ elements to the New Law. Firstly there is the promise of
the H _ _ _ S _ _ _ _ _ who is the love of God pers _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
This promise was fulfilled at P _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . Secondly, Christians are
infused at B _ _ _ _ _ _ with divine love called C _ _ _ _ _ _ which
empowers them to love G _ _ and o _ _ _ _ _ and to develop strong
friendships, self-g _ _ _ _ _ and forg _ _ _ _ _ . This divine love is
nourished by the E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ . Thirdly, in the S _ _ _ _ _ on the
M _ _ _ _ which begins with the Beatitudes, Jesus taught a new standard of
behaviour. One Beatitude reads, 'Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for
up _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ; they shall have their f _ _ _ .’ From the teaching of
Jesus, the Church was able to develop a list of charitable actions including the
c _ _ _ _ _ _ _ (bodily) works of mercy such as f _ _ _ _ _ _ the hungry.
Fourthly, Jesus emphasised t _ _ great commandments. In order to follow the
first great commandment, that is to love G _ _ , it is important that Christians
p_ _ _.

The New Law does not dispense with the requirements of the
Ten Commandments. The fifth commandment, for instance, commands
respect for the s _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ of human life. The eighth
commandment respects everyone's right to a good r _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
Obeying the commandments is made easier by the gift of C _ _ _ _ _ _
which helps to overcome human w _ _ _ _ _ _ _ and leads to
f_ _ _ _ _ _.

The New Law is for everyone. When Jesus said, ‘make disciples of _ _ _
nations’, he was promoting true f _ _ _ _ _ _ for _ _ _ people.

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7 The sacraments of true freedom

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 True freedom grows by drawing on the graces of the sacraments
 People need to nourish the graces of the sacraments
 The New Law of Christ.

True freedom grows by


drawing on the graces of
the sacraments
Jesus shares the divine power he promised
with the special community he established,
his Church. This community is called the
Body of Christ. He is its Head.

Jesus shares the Holy Spirit with every


member of his Church. Each can
experience God’s saving power in the
many spiritual gifts the Spirit gives.

The most important of these are the


graces (or ‘spiritual gifts’) received
through the seven sacraments. Church
members can draw upon particular graces
to help them rise above the personal
temptations, faults and weaknesses that
make it hard for them to live as God calls
them to live.

The inner freedom to live the


commandments grows within Christians
to the extent that they pray, celebrate
the sacraments – especially the Eucharist –
and try to live daily as Jesus taught.

Jesus Christ is truly present in the Blessed Sacrament, 2005 (w/c on paper)
Some of the graces of the sacraments are
by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)
general and can apply to any human
failing or weakness. Others relate to being
freed from specific human weaknesses.

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7. THE SACRAMENTS OF TRUE FREEDOM

The freedom offered through Baptism


Baptism destroys original sin which is the cause of all human sin and inclinations to sin.
Baptism recreates a person, through this sacrament the Holy Spirit comes to dwell
within the baptised person.

The Spirit gives spiritual gifts that can help complete the human personality. Charity,
for example, can help the baptised person to overcome selfishness and resentments.
Their personality gradually becomes more loving.

A baptised person becomes a ‘new creature’ and more like Christ in how they think,
speak and behave. They are progressively transformed into Christ’s image.

‘And all of us, with our unveiled faces like mirrors reflecting the glory of the Lord, are
being transformed into the image that we reflect in brighter and brighter glory: this is
the working of the Lord who is the Spirit.’ (2 Corinthians 3:18)

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7. THE SACRAMENTS OF TRUE FREEDOM

prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
fortitude and tempe
Baptism destroys all sin prudence, justice, fo
Baptism by freeing people from original sin enables them to relate closely with God temperance, pruden
through the practice of the virtues of faith, hope and charity. It enables people to relate fortitude and tempe
with each other through the virtues of prudence, justice, fortitude and temperance. prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
Faith frees people to believe in a loving God and in all that Jesus has taught. fortitude and tempe
prudence, justice, fo
Hope frees people to overcome undue anxiety and trust in the promises Christ gave temperance, pruden
concerning the happiness of heaven and the guidance and strength the Spirit would fortitude and tempe
bring in dealing with daily questions and challenges. prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
Charity is the virtue whereby people are freed to love God for God’s own sake rather fortitude and tempe
than for any personal benefit. It enables people to love God in times of trial, difficulty prudence, justice, fo
and tragedy. Through charity, God empowers people to love all others, even enemies. temperance, pruden
God is totally good and is deserving of people’s love without any expectation of fortitude and tempe
personal gain. prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
Jesus modelled perfectly how human beings should live to relate closely with God. He fortitude and tempe
modelled all the human virtues and how to live in complete inner freedom. prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
Jesus was guided and strengthened by the Holy Spirit throughout his life on earth. fortitude and tempe
Through Baptism, the Spirit gives Christians the spiritual gifts of guidance and strength prudence, justice, fo
throughout their lives. temperance, pruden
fortitude and tempe
Through Baptism the Spirit empowers people to behave like Christ prudence, justice, fo
Through Baptism a person receives the four basic moral virtues of prudence, justice, temperance, pruden
fortitude and temperance. fortitude and tempe
prudence, justice, fo
Prudence frees a person to see the true good in every situation and the right way to temperance, pruden
achieve it. fortitude and tempe
prudence, justice, fo
Justice frees a person to recognise and respect the rights of God and of others and temperance, pruden
overcome temptations to violate these. fortitude and tempe
prudence, justice, fo
Fortitude frees a person to be spiritually strong in times of challenge, difficulty, temperance, pruden
temptation and pressures from others. It frees people from weakness and ensures fortitude and tempe
constancy in the pursuit of what is good. prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
Temperance frees people to be spiritually strong enough to harmonise emotions and fortitude and tempe
desires with reason and one’s personal conscience. prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
fortitude and tempe
For your information… prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
Faith, Hope and Charity are called the Theological Virtues because they relate to God. fortitude and tempe
Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance are called the Cardinal Virtues because they prudence, justice, fo
are pivotal to a life of uprightness. temperance, pruden
fortitude and tempe
prudence, justice, fo
temperance, pruden
fortitude and tempe
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CONTENTS CHAPTER temperance, pruden
fortitude and tempe
7. THE SACRAMENTS OF TRUE FREEDOM

Jesus established his Church


as the community through
which people can have
experiences of him.

Membership of Christ’s Community


Jesus established his Church as the community through which people can have
experiences of him. In this way, they can keep coming to know him better.

From earliest times, the Church has been referred to as the Body of Christ. Through
each of its members, Christ is present in the suburbs, towns and countries of the world.

Through Baptism, the Spirit gives the essential graces (spiritual gifts) to come to know
Christ personally through the Church. These are the gifts needed also to share in the
work of Jesus in the world today.

The Spirit makes a baptised person a member of the Body of Christ and enables the
person to share in all the spiritual gifts that Jesus gave his Church. This is done in
sharing in the activities of Christ as priest, prophet and king.

Sharing in the activities of Christ as priest frees a person to join in the prayer and
worship of Jesus through liturgies and to offer personal sufferings and trials to God,
for the good of oneself and others, as Jesus did.

Sharing in the activities of Christ as prophet frees people to behave and speak in ways
that lead others to understand and appreciate the life and teachings of Jesus. It can
enable them to live Christ’s teachings in the face of fear and despite societal pressures
to do the opposite.

God’s saving power, exercised through the kingship of Christ, frees people to draw on
this power to develop self-mastery. They are then empowered to try to change aspects of
society that are contrary to the Gospel, and to serve others, especially those they find it
difficult to serve.

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Knowledge

The freedom offered through Confirmation


Confirmation strengthens the spiritual gifts received
through Baptism. Through Confirmation, the Christian
receives the special strength of the Holy Spirit, just as did
the Apostles at Pentecost. It empowers the Christian to
spread and defend the Christian faith by their words and Right
actions. Judgement
The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit – Knowledge, Wisdom,
Understanding, Right Judgement, Courage, Reverence and
Wonder and Awe – are offered through Confirmation.

Over thousands of years, the special strength of the Holy


Spirit empowered martyrs to witness to their faith even to
the point of death. This strength has empowered other
saints to overcome fear and physical, social and other
challenges they faced in the living of the Christian life.
They remained faithful to the Christian community despite
temptations and disillusionment at the behaviour of some
other Church members.

Reverence Courage

For your information…


The biblical origin of the "Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit" is
found in Isaiah 11: 1–3 where he is foretelling the
qualities of the Messiah. The seven gifts are the signs that
the Messiah will be guided by the Spirit. The word
"Messiah" means anointed. At Confirmation people are Wonder
anointed with the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is "God's first and Awe
gift to those who believe." (Eucharistic Prayer IV).

Understanding

Wisdom
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The freedom offered through the Eucharist


The spiritual gifts or graces of all the sacraments relate in one way or another to give
people true freedom. The Eucharist is needed to nourish all spiritual gifts received
through the other sacraments.

People may receive Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage, but the special gifts they have
received remain spiritually undernourished without regularly receiving the Eucharist.

The Eucharist nourishes the graces that bring people into closer personal relationship
with Christ. Other effects of the Eucharist are that it nourishes spiritually, cleanses from
venial sin, preserves from mortal sin, unites people within the Church, commits people
to the poor and promotes Christian unity.

The Eucharist frees people to develop a deeper relationship with Christ, and through
him, with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. This strengthens them to:
• grow in the influence of Christ over their lives, and in the power of the Holy Spirit
• grow stronger in the spiritual gifts received through other sacraments (Baptism,
Confirmation, Marriage)
• grow in love, goodness, mercy and justice and so overcome the spiritual weaknesses
caused by venial sin, to grow closer to God and to become spiritually stronger
• resist temptations to break grave laws of God deliberately
• develop closer personal relationships with other baptised people
• become more like Christ in sensitivity and concern for the poor and others in need
• develop the same concern as Christ for Christian unity, as expressed in his prayer
‘May they all be one’

In Class Work

What are some of the strengths that result from receiving


Holy Communion regularly?

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7. THE SACRAMENTS OF TRUE FREEDOM

The freedom offered through Reconciliation


The degree to which a person is free to enjoy the blessings and spiritual gifts God gives
depends upon their personal relationship with their loving Creator. This relationship is
seriously weakened by grievous sin.

People find that saying ‘sorry’ after behaving in a way that causes offence to a close
friend can bring forgiveness. This does not necessarily mean that the earlier closeness in
the relationship is fully restored. For this, further reconciliation is needed.

In Class Work

Suggest one scenario relevant to students your age, where further


reconciliation may be needed in order to restore the closeness of a
friendship. Create a role play to demonstrate how reconciliation can
be achieved in this situation.

In the same way, God can forgive all sins


whenever a person is truly sorry. However, to
restore a close relationship with God after
serious sin, full reconciliation is needed. God
gives this through the Sacrament of Penance.

The graces of the Sacrament of Penance bring


forgiveness of sins, the restoration of a close
relationship with God and the Church
community, and the harmonies God
originally created.

The Sacrament of Penance frees people from:


• the spiritual weakening caused by sins
• the spiritual weaknesses caused by a
weakened relationship with God
• difficulty in drawing on the spiritual gifts
received through the sacraments and the
other spiritual gifts Christ gave the
Church
• feelings of guilt, regret and fear of facing
personal judgement after death
• a weakened capacity to love, forgive and God can forgive
to develop the other qualities needed for
genuine relationships
all sins whenever a
• greed, insensitivity, to the environment person is truly sorry.
and the desire to exploit creation.

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The freedom offered through the Sacrament of Marriage


Jesus offers the freedom to love as husband and wife through all the challenges of
married life. To achieve this mutual commitment in love, husband and wife need to pray
daily, to worship and to try to live as Jesus taught.

This sacrament empowers married people to fulfil the commandments: ‘Honour your
father and your mother’, and ‘You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife’ (Catechism of
the Catholic Church 1641–1642).

The Sacrament of Marriage deepens the love of husband and wife and gives graces to
perfect the couple’s love, to strengthen their unity and make them aware of Christ’s
support throughout all their married life in good times and bad.

The Sacrament of Marriage frees couples from:


• selfishness, resentments and other weaknesses that could weaken their love
• conflicts, attitudes and values that could divide a couple
• having to rely solely upon their personal efforts to remain faithful to their vows
• being alone in having to face personal temptations and difficulties in keeping faithful
to their marriage vows
• being alone in renewing their efforts to live the ideals of marriage
• trying to forgive hurts, and even infidelities, by human effort alone
• resentment when one seems always to need endless support from the other
• tendencies to try to dominate the other spouse, rather than to give themselves to
each other in love
• losing the tenderness in their love because of the stresses and strains of a long
relationship.

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People need to nourish the graces of the sacraments


Just as human beings need physical nourishment, the spiritual gifts of the sacraments
need spiritual nourishment. Without this, these gifts cannot function to help followers
of Christ as Christ intends.

The Eucharist gives this spiritual nourishment. This is why Jesus commanded his followers:

‘... do this in remembrance of me’. (1 Corinthians 11:24)

It is the reason also why the Church calls Catholics to join in celebrations of the
Eucharist on Sundays.

Many today have received the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Marriage, but
do not nourish the gifts of these sacraments with the Eucharist. As a result, they do not
gain the help God intends them to receive through these sacraments.

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 7 to correctly match the statements:

Column A Column B

1. True freedom grows by … A. … of Christ and he is


the head
2. The Church is the Body … B. … Marriage are nourished
in the Eucharist

3. The spiritual gifts of the C. … in Jesus’ work of Priest,


sacraments … Prophet and King

4. Baptism frees people to D. … drawing on the graces of


relate to God … the sacraments

5. Through Confirmation the E. … the special strength of


Christian receives … the Holy Spirit

6. The graces of other F. … help people rise above


sacraments such as … human weakness

7. Sacramental grace allows G. … through the practice of


Christians to share … the virtues

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7. THE SACRAMENTS OF TRUE FREEDOM

The New Law of Christ


The key to understanding the New Law of Christian morality is empowerment by
‘… the love of God … poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit …’ (Romans 5:5)
Because of this love, Christians can always:
• change for the better
• hope to live their ideals
• overcome temptations, as well as personal weaknesses and failings.

The New Law is the gift that provides the answers to the human heart question:

‘How can I find true inner freedom?’

In Class Work

Write a review of the unit that shows your understanding of how Catholics
can find answers to the question: “How can I find true inner freedom?”

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1 Alone with God

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Conscience is at the core or heart of every person
 People experience the call to goodness in a number of ways
 Human heart questions begin in the conscience.

Conscience is at the core or heart of every person

The call to goodness is part of


human nature. People cannot
repress it. It is expressed even in
small ways. The source of all
human goodness is human
nature as created by God.
God, who is love and goodness,
created people in the image
and likeness of their Creator.
All people express at least some
degree of love and goodness
in their lives because no one
can completely repress their
likeness to God. There have
been famous people throughout
history who have been
responsible for great evils, yet
they also performed acts of
kindness in their lives.

People are moved from within


to love and to do good. Human
conscience is the gift that The source of all human
recognises this stirring. goodness is human nature
Conscience is a person’s most as created by God.
‘secret core and sanctuary’
(Gaudium et Spes 16). It is
within conscience that a person can recognise echoes of the voice of God, the voice of
the One who created them and in whose image and likeness they were made. It calls
constantly to be respected. This is why conscience is described as the sanctuary or ‘holy
place’ within a person. People who listen to their consciences ‘can hear God speaking’.

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1. ALONE WITH GOD

In Class Work

The Dignity of the Moral Conscience

In the depths of his conscience, man detects a law which … holds him in
obedience. Always summoning him to love good and avoid evil … For man
has in his heart a law written by God. To obey it is the very dignity of man;
according to it he will be judged.

Conscience is the most secret core and sanctuary of a man, There he is alone
with God, whose voice echoes in his depths. In a wonderful manner conscience
reveals that law which is fulfilled by the love of God and neighbour …

Taken from the Vatican II document on the Church in the Modern World –
Gaudium et Spes (The Joys and the Hopes) para. 16

Rewrite the Vatican II statement on the dignity of the moral conscience


using first person pronouns, e.g. ‘In the depths of my conscience, I detect
a law which … holds me in obedience.’

How is the Vatican II statement on the dignity of the moral


conscience relevant to your life? Express your reactions to
this question in your journal.

Goodness is a common human characteristic. People can forget this because the news
media and other influences tend to focus more upon negative aspects of human
behaviour. Frequently television and print media are more inclined to report bad,
rather than good news.

For example, while the majority of marriages are successful, the media tends to focus
more on the divorce rate. While most parents love and provide for their children there
are parents who neglect and mistreat them. And most young people live good and
law-abiding lives but there are examples of violence and law breaking among youth.

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In Class Work

Do a media search of events occurring over the last week which focus
on the goodness of young people.

How difficult was it to find examples of the media reporting good


news stories?

Why do you think the media are more likely to report bad rather
than good news?

How does God speak?


God does not speak with a human voice. Rather, God does not speak
God stirs inner thoughts and feelings such as
love, joy, peace, patience and kindness
with a human voice.
(Galatians 5:22). Rather, God stirs
inner thoughts and
For those who listen, these thoughts and feelings
feelings such as
gradually come together, like pieces of a jigsaw
puzzle. The picture of what God is saying love, joy, peace,
becomes clear. patience and
kindness.
People recognise these thoughts and feelings as
(Galatians 5:22)
they ‘listen’ for God’s guidance. They become
sensitive to the voice of conscience by praying
daily, and by worshipping God, especially
through the Eucharist. The thoughts and feelings
may not arise during prayer and worship, but
rather at the moment they are needed – such as
when making decisions. Without daily prayer and
worship, the thoughts and feelings are less likely
to be recognised.

While some experiences of conscience are strong,


others are more gentle. For this reason, people
need to be in touch with their inner selves. Most
of all, they need to pray daily.

Reflect on recent times when you have been moved to love,


to rejoice, to be peaceful, to be patient or to be kind.

Write about what happened to stir you to think and


feel in these ways?

Spend some time in prayer asking God for the guidance


needed to think, speak and act in ways that reflect God.

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People experience the call to goodness in


a number of ways
God calls people to become ‘holy’ by inspiring them through thoughts, words and actions
that are good. The call to goodness is really a call to reflect the goodness of God.

God revealed that each person needs to:

‘Be holy, for I, Yahweh your God, am holy’ (Leviticus 19:2).

People experience this call to goodness in a number of ways. Examples are the personal
experiences of:
• ideals
• being inspired by others
• feelings of guilt
• the desire for truth
• the call to love.

Ideals
An ideal is a standard or
moral principle to which
people aspire. Loyalty to
friends, being honest, and
being courageous are three
examples. These ideals
reflect the faithfulness,
justice and spiritual power
of God.

Personal ideals begin to


develop during adolescence.
They are part of the process
of maturing towards adulthood. Ideals are one of the ways people experience echoes of
God’s voice.

Being inspired by others


Inspiration is the feeling that arises when a person’s conscience resonates to the love,
goodness, courage or admirable qualities seen in others.

The desire to behave like someone else because of the qualities that are highly regarded
in others is another experience of the call of conscience. People can become inspired by
the qualities of others in a range of situations.

They may have shown heroic behaviour in times of adversity or in situations of great
challenge or they may show consistent goodness in their lives.

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Feelings of guilt
If a person does wrong, instead of behaving as God wants them to behave, they can be
left feeling guilty. They may ‘feel bad’ or afraid that someone else might discover what
they have done.

Usually guilt is the result of saying or doing something that represses a person’s deep
human need to reflect the love and goodness of God. For example, people can feel
guilty if they:
• neglect someone in need instead of showing love
• steal the property of another instead of being honest
• turn their back on a friend because of fear of ridicule instead of showing loyalty
• lie instead of being truthful
• kill or harm someone instead of showing respect for human life
• behave in sexually immoral ways instead of being chaste.

People who feel guilty can discover their likeness to God by asking themselves: ‘Why did
I say or do that?’

In most people, these feelings are examples of the voice of God calling a person to
behave as God created them to behave. For some people, however, guilty feelings can
have psychological causes and not be stirred by conscience.

Fear of inner conflict


Sometimes people are tempted to do wrong. This means behaving in a way that goes
against human nature as created by God.

Conscience can suddenly arouse fear, to warn the person that they have fallen short of
their best self if they give in to the temptation. This can surface suddenly and strongly
and cause the person to stop in their tracks.

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Human heart questions begin in the conscience


As they mature towards adulthood, young people ask many important questions. Some
are easily answered, but others are not. Some are of passing interest; others will keep
coming back at different stages in their lives.

Questions that keep coming back are sometimes referred to as ‘questions of the human
heart’. Common examples are:
• ‘What is the purpose of my life?’
• ‘Who am I?’
• ‘Why do people suffer?’
• ‘What happens after people die?’
• ‘How do we really know right and wrong?’

Human heart questions begin in the conscience. God is calling everyone to seek the
truth. People can never fully answer a genuine human heart question. People may find
an answer that temporarily satisfies them, but then find that this answer is inadequate
when the situation next arises.

For your information…


‘Conscience’ comes from the Latin conscientia, literally meaning, ‘with knowledge’.

A teenager’s answer to the first question about the purpose of life, for example, is
unlikely to satisfy an older person who may face this question again at later crucial times
in life. True answers to questions of the human heart will satisfy people in all stages and
life situations. These unfold gradually for those who seek God.

Questions of the human heart, therefore, can only be answered completely by the
Creator of the human heart. God created the human conscience to stir these questions
so as to lead people to God.

??? ????? ? ?? ? ?

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?168

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CONTENTS
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CHAPTER
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10
1. ALONE WITH GOD

The call to search for God


Many religious questions can arise in people’s minds during the teenage years:
• ‘Why do people believe this?’
• ‘How can there be evil in a world created by a loving and good God?’
• ‘Why should I go to church?’
• ‘Why did my best friend die?’
• ‘Why should I worry about God’s commandments?’
• ‘What is the relevance of religion today?’

These questions are stirred by someone’s conscience when that person genuinely wants
to find answers. They are calls by God through conscience to search for answers that
will lead the searcher to God.

The call to join other searchers


Questions of the human heart are common to all people. As their conscience stirs these
questions in teenagers, they are beginning to experience their humanity in deeper ways
than when they were younger.

They are being called to join with others who are searching for God. This is one way
that conscience calls those who are open to the call to become part of a formal religious
community. In such communities those who choose to be guided by correct conscience
can support each other in the search for answers to human heart questions.

The call to love


Other common adolescent questions of conscience relate to social development, that is,
the development of the potential to relate with others in increasingly more loving ways.
With the growing awareness of relationships and relationship responsibilities, questions
arise such as:
• ‘How do I recognise a true friend?’
• ‘Why do I find it hard to relate?’
• ‘Why do I tend to fight with my parents?’
• ‘Why should I put myself out for others?’
• ‘Why shouldn’t I do whatever I feel like?’

It is within conscience that people recognise the echoes of God’s voice, calling them to
love. Through conscience God stirs in young people the desire for genuine friendship
which can grow into the desire for deeper relationships such as marriage.

It is important to remember that the complete answers to questions about relating


personally with others are ultimately known by the Creator of the human heart.

? COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CHAPTER
169
1. ALONE WITH GOD

The most basic human yearning


As people recognise that their conscience is the source of their human heart questions,
they want to grow more in touch with it. For people of good will, this desire becomes
particularly important as they realise that answers to genuine conscience questions lead
them to God. They are led to question: ‘How do I recognise God’s call through my
conscience?’

Write a list of the questions that arise for you about, God,
religion and the need for deeper human relationships.

Remind yourself that all people have questions like these that
can draw them closer to God.

Decide how you are going to take time to reflect on your


questions of the human heart.

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 1 to answer these three questions:

1. Conscience is at the core or heart of every person. ’What does this mean?

2. Cartoonists often represent conscience as an angel on one shoulder


and a devil on the other. Why is this representation inaccurate?

3. What are human heart questions?

170 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
2 Making judgements of conscience

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Conscience calls people to do good and to avoid evil
 Natural law is the law of God inscribed in human nature
 Divine law includes the Ten Commandments in light of the teachings of Jesus
 God wants to forgive and heal.

Conscience calls people to do good and to avoid evil

Conscience calls on a human person to:

Turn away from evil and do good … (Psalm 34:14)

It stirs the person to make moral judgements about how they intend to behave or how
they have already behaved. Deep within conscience, every human person hears God
calling them to love.

This leads them to wonder:


• ‘Would that be a loving and good, or a wrong thing to say?’
• ‘Is this a loving and good, or a wrong thing to do?’
• ‘Was that loving and good, or wrong?’

These questions stir people to make what are called moral judgements or judgements of
moral conscience.

In Class Work

The words of Psalm 34, Turn away from evil and do good, are used directly by
St Peter (1 Peter 3:11) and paraphrased by St Paul (Romans 12:9) and St John
(3 John 1:11). Read Romans 12:9–21 and list St Paul’s practical suggestions for
putting these words into action. Add your own examples to the list.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 171


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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

The three elements of any moral decision


People are obliged to faithfully follow sincere moral conscience judgements about what
is the right thing to do and to avoid what their consciences tell them is wrong. These
judgements examine the three elements of any moral decision:
• the action itself
• the intention
• the circumstances.

Action
Actions that obey God’s laws are morally good and actions that disobey God’s laws are
morally wrong. God’s laws are the criteria for deciding whether an action is right or
wrong. God’s laws are summarised in the Ten Commandments and fulfilled by Jesus as
the Gospels reveal.

Any action that disobeys God’s laws is always morally wrong by its very nature. For
example, there is never an occasion when it is right to murder, steal or sexually abuse
another.

Intention
For a judgement to be morally good, the person’s intention must be right as well. It is
always morally wrong to perform an action for the wrong intention even if the action
itself is morally good.

For example, telling the truth is morally good. However if the intention of telling the
truth is to unnecessarily cause another person serious embarrassment or harm it would
be morally wrong to give out this information.

Circumstances, including relevant consequences


Sometimes an action can be morally right in itself, but it would be wrong in some
circumstances. For example swinging a golf club is not wrong in itself but swinging a
golf club in a crowded lift would be wrong because of the possible injury to others.

The circumstances include consequences. If a person does something that is morally


acceptable in itself, and the consequences of the action are against God’s law, it would
be morally wrong to carry out this action.

For example, it is morally acceptable for an adult to have a glass of wine. If, however,
a person drives whilst knowing that their driving ability has been impaired, to drink
before driving becomes morally wrong. The consequence of this is that the person or
others is placed in danger.

intention
action circumstances
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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

When is an act morally good?


An act is morally good when the three conditions of action, intention and circumstances
are all good together. None of the conditions can be ignored.

intention
circumstances
action

The act is morally good when all


three conditions are all good together.

In Class Work

Give examples of how an action that is good in itself can be spoiled by


intentions or circumstances.

Some actions are always wrong and cannot be justified even if the intention is
good. It is not lawful to do evil so that good may result from it, that is, the end
does not justify the means. On the other hand, an evil intention undoes the
good of an action that is good in itself.

Circumstances may spoil an action that is good in itself. On the other hand,
circumstances never make good an act which is in itself evil.

Although circumstances cannot change the moral quality of bad acts they can
increase or decrease the responsibility of the person doing the action. For
example, a person’s responsibility for injuring another person by carelessly
throwing a baseball bat, may be diminished if they had been distracted at
the time by, say, a bee sting.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 173


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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

Natural law is the law of God inscribed in human nature


God created human nature with a natural sense of what is right.

However, this sense was damaged by sin. As a result people can be:
• mistaken about what is right and wrong
• confused by feelings, which can mislead by suggesting that a certain action
‘feels right’ or ‘feels wrong’.

Feelings can easily change. For instance, a feeling of intense


dislike towards someone as a result of an argument may quickly
change after reconciliation with that person.

Bring to mind a situation where your feelings have undergone a


rapid change. Write about your state of mind before and after
the change. Consider how you might have acted if your attitude
had not changed.

People retain something of the


sense of right God created in
human nature. They can use
their reason to work out right
and wrong.

The laws they discover from this reasoning are collectively called natural law. For example:
• the moral principle that human life must be respected as sacred leads to laws, such as:
– it is wrong to murder another human being
– people are obliged to ensure that the poor and the needy have the necessities of life
• the moral principle that every human person should be treated equally, leads societies
to make laws that recognise and prohibit injustices, such as:
– racism
– all forms of unjust discrimination.

Natural law comes from human nature as created by God. The moral teaching of the
Catholic Church is based upon a second theory of natural law. History shows that,
because of sin, people can be very confused about natural law. For example, good people
in different societies can permit:
• abortion, instead of respect for human life
• forms of unjust discrimination, instead of respect for human equality
• human sacrifice and death penalties, instead of respect for human life.

174 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

Divine law includes the Ten Commandments


in light of the teachings of Jesus
God revealed divine moral laws so that human beings could be clear about right and
wrong. Divine law frees people from confusion that may stem from misunderstandings
or confused feelings.

Revealed divine law includes the Ten Commandments as understood in the light of the
teachings of Jesus and his two great commandments.

Good and bad, right and wrong, are taught by God. What is right for one is right for
all; what is wrong for one is wrong for all. Right and wrong do not vary in different
situations.

The conditions for sin


Sin is any deliberate thought, word or
deed against the law of God.
‘Deliberate’ means knowing that the
thought, word or deed is against a
law of God and doing it intentionally.
Sin, therefore, is disobedience against
God by deliberately thinking,
speaking or acting in an ‘unholy’ or
‘ungodly’ way.

People can work out whether or not


they have sinned by asking
themselves these three questions:
• Which law of God did the
thought, word or action
disobey?
• Did I know beforehand that it
was against a law of God?
• Did I do it on purpose?

People need always to have these


questions in mind so that:
• when they feel guilty about
something, they reflect on the
first question
• if the answer is ‘no’ there is no
sin, no matter how guilty the
person might feel
• when they realise they have
Thou Shalt Not Kill, 2000 (acrylic & silver leaf on canvas)
done wrong, they reflect on the by Shawa, Laila (b.1940)
second and third questions. If the
answer to either question is ‘no’
there is no sin.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 175


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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

It is always wrong to break a law of God. However, a person must know that their
behaviour will break God’s law for the behaviour to be a sin. Let us take two examples.

1. Many pagan religions over past centuries thought that human sacrifice was right, and
the best way to honour their gods. However, human sacrifice involves the deliberate
killing of human life, and so breaks the fifth commandment. It is always wrong.
Those who did the sacrificing did not know this, and so, though they did wrong,
they did not sin.

2. Many nations, and even a number of religious traditions in the past, believed that
slavery was acceptable. Good people owned and sold slaves. Yet, slavery is wrong,
also breaking the fifth commandment. Those who did not know this and owned
slaves, did not sin.

Even today, there are laws that break God’s law. Examples include civil laws on
abortion, euthanasia and remarriage after divorce. Such laws break the fifth and sixth
commandments. Those people who are ignorant of the fifth and sixth commandments
and who carry out these behaviours do not sin.

The ignorance must be genuine


To avoid sin, a person must be in genuine ignorance. This means that their ignorance
must not be due to their own fault. For example, their ignorance cannot be due to
deliberate failure to find out if the action might be wrong or just plain carelessness.

Consent
Consent means on purpose. There can be many reasons why people have broken a law
of God but, because they did not give personal consent, they did not sin.

One example is of a person who has been taking prescribed drugs not being fully aware
of their actions and as a consequence do something wrong. They do not sin because they
did not do wrong on purpose.

Sometimes, emotions can be so powerful that a person may break God’s law before they
realise it. For example, panic may stop someone helping another person who needs
immediate assistance. Serious depression or fear of torture can lead someone to commit
suicide.

People can be forced by others to do wrong when they wish to do the opposite. For
example, a person may be forced to engage in a robbery because a gun is being held
against their head or the head of someone else. Again, though they are breaking the
seventh commandment, they do not sin.

In situations like these, if the person genuinely lacked the freedom to choose, they did
not sin.

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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

The loss of freedom to consent must be genuine


None of these examples is valid unless a person genuinely suffers in these ways
through no fault of their own. For example, a person still sins who:
• loses their ability to consent because they have been drinking alcohol to
excess and breaks a law of God while drunk
• chooses to go into a situation in which they know others will force them
to break a law of God
• normally manages a psychological illness with medication, but chooses to
take other drugs they know will interfere with the medication, leading
them to break a law of God
• goes knowingly into a situation when they know that sexual or other urges
may become irresistible, leading them to break the sixth commandment
• uses drugs knowingly, and breaks a law of God while under their influence.

Serious habits may lessen the seriousness of a sin


People can develop physical and psychological habits that break a law of God. They may
or may not know this when starting the habit. Later, they may want to stop breaking the
law. This means trying as hard as they can to break the sinful habit. However, the habit
may be too strong to stop immediately. For example, a person may suffer an addiction
to drugs including alcohol or have a persistent habit of bullying others or stimulating
themselves sexually.

Addictions are usually attempts to escape deeper, unpleasant feelings such as low self
esteem, fear of failure, stress, tension or difficulty in making real friends.

Sometimes, addictions can start for other reasons as well, such as curiosity that leads to
experimentation or wanting acceptance from others.

The seriousness of strong sinful habits is lessened if the following three conditions
are applied:
• The person genuinely tries to resist the habit
• The person avoids the situation in which they know that the habit is likely to arise
• The person makes a concerted effort to understand and to address the causes
of the habit.

In Class Work

As a class, brainstorm some of the seriously bad habits that year ten students
might develop.

1. What strategies would you recommend to help young people


recognise these habits?

2. What strategies would you recommend to help young people


overcome these habits?

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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

God wants to forgive and heal


One of the most important teachings of Jesus is that God forgives and heals. There are
many Gospel stories of Jesus forgiving sins and healing. The following story is one
example which looks at the forgiving and healing power of Jesus:

Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘My child, your sins are forgiven’.
Now some scribes were sitting there, and they thought to themselves, ‘How can this
man talk like that? ... Who but God can forgive sins?’ And at once, Jesus … said to
them, ‘Why do you have these thoughts in your hearts? Which of these is easier to say
to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven” or to say, “Get up, pick up your stretcher
and walk?” But to prove to you that the Son of man has authority to forgive sins on
earth’ – he said to the paralytic – ‘I order you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go
off home.’ And the man got up, and at once picked up his stretcher, and walked out in
front of everyone … (Mark 2:5–12)

Baptism forgives all sins.


Throughout their lives people
can draw on two of the other
sacraments Jesus gave his
Church to continue to forgive
and to heal:
• Reconciliation, through
which Jesus forgives sins and
heals a person’s relationship
with God and with the Church
• Anointing, through which
Jesus gives strength, peace
and courage to overcome the
difficulties that go with
serious illness.

The Healing of the Paralytic of


Capernaum, Scenes from the Life of
Christ (mosaic) by Byzantine School,
(6th century)

Catholic Tradition also recognises other means of reconciliation with God, especially the
Eucharist. For example, in the penitential rite at the beginning of Mass, in which, on
occasion, the celebrant sprinkles the people with water, the following prayer is made:

‘May almighty God cleanse us of our sins, and through


the Eucharist we celebrate make us worthy to sit at
the Lord’s table in the heavenly kingdom’.
(Roman Missal)

178 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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2. MAKING JUDGEMENTS OF CONSCIENCE

For your information…


The Church teaches that Holy Communion (Eucharist) forgives all venial sins. It also
restores spiritual strength, just as nourishing food restores the bodily strength of
someone who is weak with hunger.

The basic human yearning


People gradually discover that true happiness comes from always behaving in moral ways
that is by doing good and avoiding evil. They learn that, in listening to their conscience,
they can make life-giving choices. These discoveries are made as people develop the
habit of asking, ‘How do I recognise God’s call through my conscience?’

Read some of the Gospel stories of Jesus forgiving and healing


people. e.g. Luke Chapter 15.

Think about what it is in your life that needs forgiving and healing
and place these things before the Lord.

Resolve to make a time to bring these to the Sacrament of Penance.

In Class Work

Use the information in Chapter 2 to complete the following:

1. Conscience calls on a person to do good and ____________________

2. The three considerations moral conscience must make to judge any


decision are:
A__________, I_________ and C___________

3. The three conditions for sin are: K____________, F___________


and C____________

4. The three ways the seriousness of sinful habits may be lessened are:
R___________, A___________ and Efforts to understand and address the
causes.

5. The two sacraments of forgiveness and healing are R____________


and A____________

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 179


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
3 The four principles of conscience

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 There are four principles of conscience
- everyone is obliged to form their conscience
- everyone is obliged to follow sincere conscience
- conscience does not decide right and wrong
- a good end does not justify immoral means.

Four important principles in


developing conscience
It is important that people are able to hear
FOUR PRINCIPLES
and follow their conscience. It is a person’s OF CONSCIENCE
conscience that enables them to take
responsibility for their actions. The following
principles are critical if people are to make
right judgements that are based on reason You are obliged to form
and divine law.
your own conscience

Think about the last


two weeks. In your Follow sincere
journal describe a conscience judgements
situation in which you
took responsibility for
your actions. Write
about how you felt
Conscience does not
as a result.
decide right or wrong

A good end does not


justify immoral means

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 181


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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

First principle: everyone is obliged to form


their conscience
Every area of human potential needs development.
This means that, just as people need to develop
their physical or intellectual potential, they also
need to develop the potential of listening to and
obeying their conscience. Everyone is obliged to
form or mould their conscience by discipline,
training and instruction.

Learning to distinguish between


right and wrong
The first step in the development of any human gift
is to learn and use necessary skills. Athletic gifts
develop, for example, as people learn to use a
range of physical skills.

The skill needed to develop a moral conscience is the ability to learn right from wrong.
The first requirement for the formation of moral conscience is to learn the
commandments of God as taught by Jesus.

Developing moral conscience through


behaving morally
As with other human gifts, people develop a formed moral
conscience by practising its use. This means:
• recalling God’s laws before acting, and working out the
right thing to think, say or do
• recalling God’s laws after an event, and working out
whether what they thought, said or did was right or
wrong.

It can be difficult to obey moral conscience in practical daily


life situations. People may feel pressured by peers, by the
expectations of others, or by social trends and attitudes.
People need to keep trying to become more aware of when
such pressures are affecting them. They need to withdraw
and to ‘take time out’. They need to think before they act.

It is also important to try and think ahead about the possible


situations in which moral choices need to be made. It is
much easier to do what is right when people can think ahead
about the choices they have to make, and work out the right
thing to do, that is, to practise the virtue of prudence.

When people can foresee situations in which they may be


pressured to do wrong, they are better off avoiding them.

182 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

Think of a time when you were pressured to do wrong.

1. Why did you choose to act this way?

2. What alternatives did you have at the time?

3. What were the consequences of your choices?

4. Write a mission statement for yourself which sets out how


you will try to remember God’s laws to help you work out the
right things to say or do. As you are writing your mission
statement, think about the situations you are better off
avoiding in order to do what is right.

A mission statement is usually no longer than fifty words. Look at


your school mission statement if you need a model.

Is it ‘right’ if it ‘feels right?’


Many people confuse ‘formed’ conscience with what ‘feels right’. They may say, ‘I
should be free to follow my conscience’, when what they really mean is ‘I should
be free to follow what I feel to be right’.

What ‘feels right’ is just a feeling; it is not formed conscience and needs to be
given no more weight than any other feeling. Feelings can be misleading such as a
groundless fear of the dark or irrational hatred in reaction to an imagined hurt.

People with formed moral consciences are able to do two things. They can:
• understand the moral principles behind a moral choice
• relate the principles to the actual situation in which the choice is being made.

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

Second principle: everyone is obliged to follow


sincere conscience
God created human beings to be good, and to always do what is right. Therefore, people
are obliged by the Creator to obey what their conscience tells them is the right thing to
do. This is true even if their conscience is mistaken, provided that the mistake is not
made through some fault of the people concerned.

It should be noted that society does not always accept ‘conscience’ as suitable grounds
for a person to deliberately violate the laws of the community. One such example is the
treatment of a conscientious objector who refuses to fight in a time of war. Similarly, in
a situation where a person refuses to obey a lawful command or where a genuine protest
may result in property damage, society will not accept that the person is following their
conscience. Whether through their own fault or not, and no matter how sincere they
may think that they are, a person acting on formed conscience may well be seen as
behaving in a way that conflicts with society’s generally accepted principles.

For your information…


St Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest thinkers in human
history, expressed the most basic of all moral principles as,
‘Good is to be done and to be sought after, and evil is
to be avoided.’ (compare with Psalm 34:14)

Long before Aquinas, Jesus taught a higher principle that


people should apply whenever moral judgement is
needed. It is so important that it has become known as
‘The Golden Rule’: ‘Treat others as you would like
people to treat you.’ (Luke 6: 31)

In Class Work

1. Spend some time discussing what the


principles in the ‘for your information
box’ mean.

2. Try explaining the principles in your own


words.

3. In groups develop slogans that have the


same meaning as the ‘The Golden Rule’
that are relevant to young people today.

4. Display the slogans around your class.

184 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

For many reasons people


can make mistakes
about what is right and
what is wrong.

Conscience can be mistaken


For many reasons people can make mistakes about what is right and what is wrong.
They may be misinformed, lack good moral education or be pressured by circumstances.
They may be unduly influenced by others or by bad habits.

People are obliged to do all they can to ‘form’ their conscience. They are also obliged to
avoid, as far as possible, situations in which their emotions are likely to cloud their
better judgement and their conscience. They are also obliged to recognise and to try to
change bad habits and attitudes.

In Class Work

Name situations that illustrate where people might do the wrong thing
whilst believing they are acting in good conscience.

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

Third principle: conscience does not decide right


or wrong
Only God the Creator ultimately knows and determines what is right and what is wrong.
The role of moral conscience is to discern whether a particular action conforms to God’s
law and therefore is right or disobeys God’s law and is wrong.

Right and wrong, therefore, are not determined by conscience. The role of an individual’s
conscience is to answer the questions:
• ‘Which moral principles apply to this situation?’
• ‘How do they apply?’
• ‘What should I do?’

No human person has the right to disobey God. Nor does anyone have the right to tell
others that they may disobey God.

Sometimes a society or parliament makes laws which disobey God’s laws. In such cases,
the Church finds it necessary to defend those who are harmed by such laws. For
example, the Church has spoken out strongly in favour of:
• respect for international law, especially for the resolution of conflicts between nations,
a fairer distribution of the world’s resources, and the humane treatment of refugees
• the rights of the unborn
• religious and other freedoms.

Even so, with the best intentions in the world, people can
make honest mistakes in discerning what is right and wrong.
When they do, they are in ‘good conscience’, because it is an
honest mistake, but they will still do wrong unintentionally.
The fact that they are following a mistaken conscience does
not make their action right.

Across the world today, there are other examples of people in


good conscience doing wrong. This is not to suggest that all
who do these things are in good conscience – only those who
sincerely do not know God’s laws can be in good conscience.

Four examples are:


• discrimination against people of other races
• not allowing women to participate properly in society by,
for example, not allowing them to vote
• killing sick babies or female babies
• stoning adulterers to death.

These actions are wrong, even if those who commit them


cannot see this.

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

Moral conscience, therefore, does not determine what is right or what is wrong.
Conscience can only tell people whether they are intending to do what they believe
to be right or wrong.

In Class Work

Research situations where people have not accepted society’s commonly held
moral principles but instead, have heroically followed their conscience, e.g.
Otto Schindler and Chiune Sugihara. Stories about today’s conscientious
objectors may be found online at sites belonging to social justice groups such
as Caritas, Ozspirit and UNIYA or in magazines such as ‘Eureka Street’ and
‘Australian Catholic’.

Is this right for me?


As discussed earlier, good and bad, right and wrong, are taught by the Creator. This
means that what is right for one is right for all: what is wrong for one is wrong for all.
Right and wrong cannot vary in different situations.

It cannot be right for me, for example, to do wrong by deliberately causing harm to
myself or to someone else, whether I can foresee or intend it or not. So there is no such
thing as something being ‘right for me’ and wrong for others. Right and wrong do not
depend upon the ideas of individuals or upon their consciences.

People can only say that: ‘As far as I can see, this word or action is the right thing for me
to say or do’; or ‘As far as I can see, this is right in this situation’; or ‘My intention is
good’.

Conscience, therefore, does not decide what is right or what is wrong for anyone. It can
only help people to work out whether something they want to do is right or wrong. This
highlights the importance of people doing all that is possible to educate or to ‘form’
their consciences.

Right and wrong do not depend


upon the ideas of individuals
or upon their consciences.

COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10 187


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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

A person needs to consider


not just a good end, but
also the means or the way
people go about achieving
the good end.

Fourth principle: a good end does not justify immoral means


People usually have good intentions when they are faced with choices that require a
moral judgement. Few people ever set out to do something that will deliberately harm
others.

In every case that requires a moral judgement, a person needs to consider not just the
good end, but also the means or the way people go about achieving the good end.

An example of a good end is putting a stop to bullying in a school. If students or staff


decided that the best means for solving the problem of bullying in their school involved
delivering threats to bullies, or actually using violence against them, their ‘solution’
would be immoral – even if it succeeded. A good end cannot be based on something that
is wrong in itself, in this case threatening or actually using violence. Instead, nonviolent
and moral strategies need to be used to deal with the issue and the bullies themselves.

Another example of a good end is to live simply and not waste the earth’s resources
through over-consumption. If the means chosen to achieve this end involved destroying
others’ property because the owners were seen to be wasteful – or worse, harming the
owners themselves – a morally wrong choice will have been made.

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

Daily examination of moral conscience


The purpose of an examination of conscience is for an individual to discover whether
or not they have behaved as God taught. Where they have, they need to give thanks.
Where they have not, they need to ask for God’s forgiveness and for the help to change
for the better.

People examine their conscience as they review past thoughts, words and actions.
They try to:
• discover examples of when they have done what is right, such as acts
of kindness, cooperation or forgiveness
• find examples of improvement in their lives where they are trying to
change for the better
• identify deliberate thoughts, words or actions that were wrong
• recognise guilty feelings and work out whether or not they are justified.

People need to examine their consciences


every day. This helps them in three ways:
1. It helps them to build upon their good
behaviour and see if and where they may
still need to change People are
2. It helps them to see that they have not
disobeyed God and therefore do not
encouraged to
need to feel guilty.
3. It helps them to prepare for death, which
examine their
can come unexpectedly, and for the
judgement of their lives by Christ after
conscience
death. They can see where they have
done wrong deliberately, and ask for
regularly,
God’s forgiveness. even daily.
People are encouraged to examine their
conscience regularly, even daily. An
examination of conscience is part of the
preparation for the celebration of the
Sacrament of Penance. The following form
of examination of conscience is intended to
help people to reflect on whether or not
they have behaved as God taught.

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

AN EXAMINATION
OF CONSCIENCE
1. Place yourself in God’s presence and ask for help to be truthful and
kind to yourself in this process.

2. Thank God for the day you have experienced.

3. Examine your day in the light of Jesus’ great commandments:


Jesus said “You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart…”

• Do I pray regularly and try to establish and maintain my


relationship with the God who loves me?
• Have I allowed other things to replace God in my life – money,
power, material possessions, sex?
• Do I use the name of God or of Jesus in a disrespectful way?
• Do I worship God regularly in a public way such as in the Mass
each Sunday?

Jesus said “You shall love your neighbour as yourself”

• Do I respect and obey my parents?


• How do I show my love for my parents and other members
of my family?
• Have I hurt anyone physically?
• Have I bullied others or watched others being bullied and done
nothing about it?
• Have I done anything that could lead to harming someone –
e.g. excessive use of alcohol, taking drugs?
• Have I done anything to hurt myself physically?
• Have I allowed my anger to lead me to hurt others?
• Have I made peace with anyone I have hurt?
• Have I tried to help those who are experiencing physical suffering?

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

• How do I relate to other people? Do I respect them or do I use them


for my own sexual gratification and pleasure?
• Do I respect my own body as a temple of the Holy Spirit?
• Have I taken anything that belongs to someone else?
• Do I respect the environment and public property?
• Have I cheated and claimed other’s ideas and writings as my own?
• Have I told lies?
• Do I gossip about others?
• Can I be trusted with a secret?
• Have I tried to destroy another person’s reputation?
• Do I stand up for those who are unjustly accused?
• Do I appreciate my own talents, qualities and possessions?
• Do I entertain envious thoughts about the possessions and abilities
of others and allow them to influence the way I treat people?
• How have I used my talents, time and strength today to become a
better person and to help others I have been with today?
• Do I love? Do I ever hate?
• Do I love and respect myself as God’s creation?
• Do I love those close to me?
• Do I love even my enemies as Jesus said?
• Do I forgive others?

Pray for God’s forgiveness for any faults committed today and
for the strength and courage to be a better person in at least
one way tomorrow.

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3. THE FOUR PRINCIPLES OF CONSCIENCE

The basic human yearning


The more people recognise that doing what is right leads them into closer relationship
with God, as well as to longer-term happiness, the more they want to avoid doing what
is wrong. Yet it is not always easy to see how God’s laws apply in the world of today.
This leads them to ask the question: ‘How do I recognise God’s call through my
conscience to love and to do good?’

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 3 to answer Yes or No to the following


statements:

1. To form a moral conscience means to decide what is right and wrong Y / N

2. It is important to think ahead and so avoid occasions of sin Y/N

3. I am free to follow my conscience means ‘I am free to do what Y/N


feels right’

4. A person is obliged to follow their conscience even if it mistaken Y/N

5. God alone determines what is right or what is wrong Y/N

6. As long as your intentions are good you are justified in not Y/N
considering the facts

7. Sometimes it is appropriate to commit ‘a necessary evil’ to Y/N


achieve a good outcome

8. An examination of conscience is not a test of the will but a Y/N


study of one’s behaviour

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4 Challenges to recognising the
voice of conscience

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 There are many factors which can make it difficult for people
to recognise the voice of God.

There are many factors which can make it difficult for


people to recognise the voice of God
Though conscience is at the core of every human person, people often find it difficult to
recognise the voice of God echoing within their depths. This can be due to a variety of
external factors which can be difficult to recognise as well as being due to a number of
personal factors.

Social trends
In every society, there are accepted ways of behaving. It is easy for individuals to think
and do the same as everyone else. It is common for people to follow social trends
without questioning the values they reflect.

These trends are sometimes the result of powerful social agencies such as the media.
Advertising and television programs can often set trends. Other examples of trends that
are influenced by society are:
• buying designer label clothes
• religion being unfashionable with some groups in society.

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4. CHALLENGES TO RECOGNISING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

Social trends can influence people’s ideas on right and wrong. More recent trends include:
• pre-marital sex becoming accepted
• couples living in de facto relationships
• divorce being accepted as the way to deal with problems in marriage
• cloning and destruction of human embryos for research
• euthanasia
• recreational drug use.

Social trends bring consequences which can be negative or positive. Unfortunately, some
of the negative consequences can include a rise in the rate of:
• suicide among young people
• home violence and abuse
• crime in the community
• scepticism about permanence in marriage.

Peer pressure
Peer pressure can be positive and life-giving, such as encouraging friends not to act in a
dangerous manner or encouraging members of a group to strive to do their best.

However, peer pressure can also violate the freedom of the individual. Peers can
pressure individuals to speak, dress and behave in ways that conform to a group. Peer
pressure can reflect the attitude: ‘We do not care about you, your personal gifts or
opinions – we expect you to behave as we think’.

Similar to social trends, peer pressure can be difficult to resist for fear of being rejected
by the group. Peer pressure can incline individuals to accept peer expectations without
question. In this case, people forget to listen to their conscience.

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4. CHALLENGES TO RECOGNISING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

Strong emotions
Strong emotions have an important place in human life. They can motivate people to act
with great courage or heroism on behalf of others. On the other hand, emotions can
dominate people to such an extent that they are unable to make good moral judgements.
As a result, they act in an inappropriate or immoral way.

In Class Work

Strong emotions such as anger at injustice and love of others can be


channeled into acts of great courage. Saint Maximilian Kolbe, for example,
courageously gave up his life for another person.

1. Research the story of St Maximilian Kolbe.

2. Research the story of another person you admire for their ability to direct
their strong emotions in a positive way, to show great courage or heroism
on behalf of others.

3. Design a book-jacket for a biography about the person that covers the
following points:

• Some biographical background about the person

• The ways in which their actions helped others

• Identify the emotions that motivated their actions

• Explain why the person is a suitable role model for teenagers.

Write about a situation in your life when you experienced an


emotion so strongly that it dominated your thinking.

How did you cope with it?

Write a prayer for strength in times of strong emotional turmoil.

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4. CHALLENGES TO RECOGNISING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

Habits: ‘virtues’ and ‘vices’


People can react repeatedly in the same way to situations so that habits develop. Habits
of doing good are called ‘virtues’, and habits of doing wrong are called ‘vices’.

Examples of bad habits are lying, stealing, gossiping, putting others down, thinking
about people in sexual ways and masturbation. Other examples include tendencies that
grow unconsciously, such as those of:
• arguing
• criticising
• looking at situations negatively
• ‘looking down’ on people who are different
• resenting authority.

These bad habits tend to be performed without thinking. Unless a person becomes
conscious of these and tries to break them, they can make it difficult to listen to
conscience.

Inadequate moral formation


Many people fail to recognise the calls of moral conscience because they lack moral
formation. They do not know right from wrong. Conscience can become confused with
habits, emotions and attitudes based upon social trends.

Conscience always calls a person to love and to do what is good. If people are confused
about these, they can confuse temptations from other external and internal influences
with what is truly loving and good.

Guilt and rationalisation


Guilt is an uncomfortable feeling. People try to ignore it if they can. This can lead them
to avoid thinking about the wrong they have done or the right they should have done.

When guilt is hard to ignore, another common response is to rationalise – or to try to


justify the wrong behaviour. People may say ‘Everyone is doing it’ or ‘It’s okay for me
because …’

Often people who feel guilty fail to realise that their behaviour is the result of an
emotional habit. Hence, they do not ask themselves how they might change the habit.
Guilty feelings incline people to ignore their consciences. They do not want to hear the
call of God within because of the challenging and sometimes painful feelings it stirs.

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4. CHALLENGES TO RECOGNISING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

Neglect to develop charity


Charity is a gift of God that empowers baptised people to love and to do what is good.
If developed, it can gradually grow stronger than all emotions, habits and other
influences.

Many baptised people neglect the means for developing charity – particularly daily
prayer and Sunday Mass. Charity then cannot empower them in the ways God planned.

The basic human yearning


In their hearts, people know that they need to follow their consciences if they are to
find lasting happiness. They desire to resist temptations and pressures and to change for
the better. They are called to wonder: ‘How can I recognise God’s call through my
conscience?’

People know that they need


to follow their consciences
if they are to find
lasting happiness.

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4. CHALLENGES TO RECOGNISING THE VOICE OF CONSCIENCE

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 4 to correctly align the two sides of the
following table (the first match is indicated):

Factor which may dull Possible matching statement


conscience

Social trends “Serves them right, they can get out of


their own mess.”

Peer pressure “That’s just the way things are these days.”

Strong emotion “Everyone’s doing it so that must mean


it’s right.”

Habits, virtues and vices “Someone suggested it and I went along


with the group.”

Inadequate moral formation “I feel bad about it but it couldn’t be


helped.”

Guilt and rationalisation “That sort of thing makes me mad and


I lashed out.”

Neglect to develop charity “It’s useless; I just keep doing it again


and again.”

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5 Jesus promised the Holy Spirit
to guide conscience

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 The Holy Spirit guides conscience
 The Pope and bishops seek to help form people’s consciences
through teaching and example
 There are different levels of teaching in the Church

The Holy Spirit guides conscience

The Holy Spirit guided Jesus and he promised the same guidance to his followers:

‘… you know him because he is with you, he is in you … the Holy Spirit whom the
Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have
said to you.’ (John 14:17, 26)

Baptised believers, through


their consciences can
experience direct guidance by
the Holy Spirit. They are able
to see more clearly:
• how to love
• what is good
• how to apply God’s laws
to daily life situations.

As believers develop the


influence of the Spirit’s gifts in
their lives through daily prayer,
worship – especially Sunday
Mass – and trying to live daily
as Jesus taught, the influence of
challenges to conscience
gradually weaken.

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5. JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE CONSCIENCE

The Spirit strengthens against temptations


The Bible explains that the devil is the spiritual source of all that is evil. This includes
temptations to do wrong. Sin damaged human nature and as a result it also damaged
how the human conscience operates. Jesus came to renew human nature. This includes
renewing people’s consciences. He offered his saving power to all who are willing to
accept it.

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would conquer the devil’s power, influence and
temptations in people’s lives. This means that the Holy Spirit will strengthen those who
develop the spiritual gifts they have been given in order to resist temptations.

During his life, Jesus was tempted by the devil. He demonstrated how to draw upon the
Spirit’s power to resist temptations by the devil (Matthew 4:1–11; Mark 1:12–13;
Luke 4:1–3).

‘… the Spirit drove him [Jesus] into the desert and he remained there for forty days,
and was put to the test by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels
looked after him.’ (Mark 1:12–13)

Jesus showed through exorcisms that he had the power to free people from the power of
the devil and of demons (e.g. Mark 1:23–28; 5:1–20). He told the disbelieving Pharisees

‘… if it is through the Spirit of God that I drive out devils, then be sure that the
kingdom of God has caught you unawares.’ (Matthew 12:28)

Through his Church Jesus supports those who follow their conscience.

Jesus knew that his followers would remain vulnerable to the social trends and peer
pressures of their time and that these would make it hard for them at times to hear and
to follow their conscience. There would also be different cultural beliefs and attitudes in
different parts of the world. This meant that there would be moral confusion because
what some people thought was good, others would think was wrong.

One reason Jesus instituted the special community of his Church was to help his
followers guide the formation of conscience. He promised that his Church would never
be conquered by evil forces because he would remain with it always

‘And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.’ (Matthew 16:18)
‘… I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’ (Matthew 28:20)

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5. JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE CONSCIENCE

For your information…


In Jesus’ day, Jewish people thought that the ‘gates of the underworld’ opened to let
out the powers of evil. These powers were released into the world of the living to
lead people into sin. The gates would close on the sinners, who would be drawn into
the underworld after death.

These ‘Gates’ contrast with Peter receiving the keys of the kingdom from Jesus
(Matthew 16:19).

Jesus made the promise that evil powers will never overcome the Church nor draw it
into the underworld, that is, hell.

Even if most members of the


Church turned from God or
experienced persecution, Jesus
would remain with his Church. He
would renew it through the Holy
Spirit. This has been the Church’s
experience at different stages over
the past two thousand years.

Jesus supports his followers’ efforts


to hear and to follow the call of
God through their
consciences in several ways. He:
• charged Peter and the Apostles,
and those who would succeed
them as leaders of his Church,
to ‘teach (people) to observe all
the commands I gave you’
(Matthew 28:20) St. Peter Preaching, predella from the Linaiuoli Triptych, 1433
(tempera on panel) by Angelico, Fra (Guido di Pietro) (c.1387–1455)
• appointed the Apostles to serve
as official teachers in his name
within the Church. This meant that, when they taught officially as a group, it was
Jesus who was teaching through them. They were to pass on this role to others
through the sacrament of Holy Orders and also the spiritual gifts Jesus first gave
them
• appointed the Apostle Peter as ‘the rock’ on which his Church would be built, and
gave him the “power of the keys”.

So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community.
And the gates of the underworld can never overpower it. I will give you the keys of
the kingdom of Heaven: whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven;
whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. (Matthew 16:18–19)

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5. JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE CONSCIENCE

The Pope and bishops seek to help form people’s


consciences through teaching and example
Together, the Pope and the
bishops form the Magisterium,
the body that officially teaches
in Jesus’ name within the
Church. Each bishop has
received the spiritual gifts Jesus
first gave his Apostles. These
have been handed down
through generations of bishops
over the past two thousand
years.

To help people form their


consciences, the Pope and
bishops:
• continue teaching all the
commands given to his
Church by Christ
• teach how these commands
apply to contemporary
situations.
The Baldacchino, the high altar and the chair of St. Peter
(photo) by Bernini, Giovanni Lorenzo (1598–1680)

The teaching authority Jesus gave the Church is unparalleled in other institutions.
It provides stability in changing times and ensures the truths of Christ are taught
consistently. Thus the deposit of faith handed down from the Apostles is preserved
intact and not subject to relativism.

Yet there are people today who reject Jesus’ teachings as handed on by the Pope and
Bishops, and criticise them for affirming these teachings. This was also true of the
people in Jesus’ time who rejected his teachings because they went against the ideas that
prevailed in their society. Many people found it so difficult to accept his teaching that it
eventually led to his being crucified.

For your information…


The Church is called, ‘The Guardian of Orthodoxy’. This title also applies to the Magisterium.
The word ‘orthodoxy’ comes from a combination of the Greek words orthos and doxos
meaning ‘straight’ (or ‘right’) and ‘opinion’.

Opposite: Fol. 64r A young man asks Christ how one can attain eternal life
(vellum) by Italian School, (15th century)

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5. JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE CONSCIENCE

There are different levels of teaching in the Church


There are different levels of teaching in the Church’s Magisterium. The level of teaching
depends on the seriousness of the issue and how it relates to faith and morals. When
studying the teachings of the Church’s Magisterium on any matter relating to moral
conscience, the level of teaching that has been presented must be distinguished in order
to understand its authority.

Christians must always remember that the Magisterium is endowed with the authority of
Jesus to teach people things that will lead them to God, just as Jesus did with the young
man in the Gospel. Replying to the question:

‘… what good deed must I do to possess eternal life?’ (Matthew 19:16)

Jesus referred the young man to God and reminded him of the moral commandments in
the Old Testament, and he invited the young man to follow him in humility and love:

‘… come follow me’ (Matthew 19:21)

The human conscience in God’s plan


The human conscience is essential to God’s plan for the human race. Through
conscience, God planned:
• to call people into ever deeper relationship with their Creator
• to guide people so that they would always do what was loving towards God and others
• to guide people so that they would always do what was good.

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5. JESUS PROMISED THE HOLY SPIRIT TO GUIDE CONSCIENCE

In Class Work

Imagine you have been commissioned to construct a web page announcing


that the Kingdom of God has arrived. This is based on the evidence that
people now listen to and follow their consciences. Use the following headings
to describe the appearance of your web page:
• Logo (that symbolises the nature of the Kingdom)
• Written text
• Graphics

Make sure that you link conscience to the arrival of the Kingdom.

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 5 to answer the following questions:

1. Explain the special help available to baptised believers to follow God’s


laws in daily situations.

2. Jesus said, ‘You are Peter and on this rock I will build my community’
(Matthew 16:18). How is this ‘rock’ of Peter in evidence in the modern
Church?

3. The teaching of the Magisterium guides the Church. Where does the
authority of the Magisterium come from? Explain.

204 COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10


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CONTENTS CHAPTER
1 The characteristics of the Church

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 The Church is the body of Christ
 The Church has qualities of being One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic
 The Church is the universal sacrament of salvation.

The Church is the body of Christ

Jesus shares the Holy Spirit with all


who receive Baptism. Through the
thoughts and feelings that the Spirit
stirs in their conscience, each
baptised person is led to believe and
is drawn together with other
baptised people into a visible body.
Since earliest times, this body has
been called the ‘Body of Christ’. In
the words of St Paul:

… all of us, though there are so


many of us, make up one body
in Christ … (Romans 12:5)

The members of the Church form


this visible body. They can be seen
by others, particularly when they
gather together to worship.
The Holy Spirit is the invisible
One who dwells within each
Church member and who binds
all together.

Our churches are holy places consecrated for prayer and worship,
2006 (w/c on paper) by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)

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CONTENTS
1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH

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208 the Holy
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Return to
COME FOLLOW ME – YEAR 10
embers.It is Jesus who shares the CONTENTS Holy Spirit who, CHAPTER in turn, guides and strengthens its memb
Jesus who shares the Holy Spirit who, in turn, guides and strengthens its members. It is Je
1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH

s who
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his only Son, our Lord.
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Holy • One
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• Apostolic.
ngthens
embers. Catholics express their belief in these central teachings about the qualities of the Church
Jesus when they pray The Apostles’ Creed. The Apostles’ Creed is an early formulation of the
shares Church’s basic belief dating from the time of the Apostles.
Holy
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ngthens On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the
embers. right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
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Holy the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen.
rit who, in
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bers. It CONTENTS CHAPTER
sus who
1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH

The Nicene Creed is even more specific as to the characteristics of the Church. It
concludes: We believe in one, holy, catholic and Apostolic Church. The Nicene Creed
was formulated by the first Council of Nicaea in 325, affirming that Jesus was True God
and True Man.

The Nicene Creed


We believe in one God,
the Father, the Almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all that is, seen and unseen.

We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,


the only Son of God
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, one in
Being with the Father.
Through him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven:

by the power of the Holy Spirit


he was born of the Virgin Mary,
and became man.

For our sake he was crucified


under Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, died, and was buried.

On the third day he rose again


in fulfillment of the Scriptures;

he ascended into heaven


and is seated at the right
hand of the Father.
He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead,
and his kingdom will have no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit,


the Lord, the giver of live,
who proceeds from the
Father and the Son.
With the Father and the Son
he is worshipped and glorified
He has spoken throught he Prophets.
We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one
baptism for the forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the dead,
and the life of the world to come. Amen

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1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH

The Church is One


The Holy Spirit is working to unite
all members of the Church. The
Spirit does this by gifting responsive
baptised believers with:
• charity, ‘the love of God …
poured into our hearts’
(Romans 5:5)
• faith, the spiritual gift of belief
in and worship of God,
especially through:
– the Eucharist and the other
sacraments
– the Apostles’ Creed (which
contains the basic teachings
of Jesus)
– the Church’s Magisterium,
exercised through the
successors of Peter and the
Apostles.

The foundation of the Church’s unity derives from all its members sharing the one
fellowship in the Holy Spirit through Baptism (2 Corinthians 13:13).

There are divisions in the Church due to human confusion and disbelief among its
members. These will be overcome to the extent that all baptised people open themselves
fully to the Holy Spirit.

The Church is Holy


The Church is holy for two reasons. First, Jesus its Head is holy. Second, the Holy Spirit
whom Christ shares with each baptised member is holy.

Because the Church is made up of human beings there are examples of Church bodies
and members breaking God’s laws. It is important to remember that these situations are
a result of human weakness. The holiness of Christ and the Spirit will always prevent
the Church from collapsing. It is Christ and the Spirit who have stirred the renewal of
the Church after periods of corruption.

Even in dark periods in the Church’s history, individual members have always been able
to draw on the strength and holiness of Jesus and the Spirit. They have always been able
to draw on the gifts of the sacraments.

Jesus and the Spirit empower believers to grow in holiness. They empower those who
develop the spiritual gifts each has received through the sacraments, to keep God’s laws.
Love, justice, compassion and other qualities that reflect their likeness to God are
strengthened. They become ‘holy’ as God is holy.

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1. THE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CHURCH

The Church is Catholic


The word ‘catholic’ means ‘universal’. The Church is catholic in a double sense. Firstly,
it is catholic because wherever Jesus is, so too, is the Catholic Church.

Through his Church, Jesus gives each of his followers the means of salvation. Catholics
are called to form their consciences in order to always do what is good in the world.

They are called to deepen their spiritual gifts by participating in all aspects of the
Church, especially the sacraments.

Secondly, the Church is catholic because the mission of the Church is to the whole of
the human race. Christ gave the members of the Church the task of spreading his Gospel
‘universally’. He commanded:

Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations … (Matthew 28:19)

The Church has spread throughout the world today because the Apostles and others
worked to fulfil this command of Christ.

The Church is Apostolic


The Church is apostolic because it is founded on the Apostles and shares the gifts and
mission received from Jesus through the Apostles. It continues to be served by the
successors of the Apostles, the Pope and bishops.

In Class Work

Divide the class into small groups. Each group is allocated one of the
following characteristics of the Church: One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic.

Groups generate a mind-map illustrating their understanding of the meaning


of their allocated characteristic. From ideas generated in the mind-map, create
a mime or brief dramatic presentation illustrating how the Church of today
demonstrates this quality.

OR

Use the information from the mid-map to create a ‘recipe’ for how the Church
can demonstrate this characteristic in the contemporary world. What
ingredients would be needed (e.g. people who are ‘givers’)? What needs to
happen to the ingredients to develop this characteristic (e.g. people to gather
together)?

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The Church is the universal sacrament of salvation


When God created human nature, God intended all people to live in harmony, and that,
as each person related closely with God, they would draw closer to each other.

Sin destroyed this plan. As people stopped listening to their consciences and obeying the
commandments they drew away from God. As a result conflict and tensions spread
among people. This remains the case today. There are conflicts between individuals, and
conflicts between and within nations.

From the moment the parents of the human race sinned, God resolved to restore
harmony. To do this, God first had to restore the relationship that leads to peace
between human beings and God. God therefore planned the Church from the time when
sin first occurred in the human race.

A sacrament is a visible sign of the invisible presence and action of God. In Baptism,
through the visible sign of immersion or the pouring of water, Jesus frees the person
from original sin and shares the Holy Spirit with them. The Church is like a sacrament
for it, too is a visible sign and expression of the invisible actions of God.

When people see a gathering of


Church members, such as at Mass,
they see a body of people. This is
a sign of the invisible reality that
these people are in spiritual union
with Christ.

People throughout the world


gather for Mass. This is because
the Church includes people from
different nationalities, cultures and
ethnic groups. Catholics all over
the world are a sign of Jesus
drawing together people of all
nationalities, bringing them closer
to God and to each other.

The community of the Church is


like a sacrament. It is a sign and
an instrument of Christ bringing:
• union between God and
individuals
• union between the peoples of
the earth, to the extent that
each is in union with God.

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In Class Work

World Youth Day is a great


gathering of youth from around
the world. Every three years
young people gather for
fellowship, prayer and worship,
including Mass with the Pope.

This is one example of the


Church being a sign and an
instrument of Christ bringing
unity with God and with other
people. Give other examples.

For your information…


As sacrament, the Church is God’s visible plan of love for humanity and the means by
which all people can find salvation. God wants to make everyone holy and for all people
to come together to love and serve him in holiness. For this purpose God established a
group of people – the Church – who, guided by the Holy Spirit, would become one.

Jesus made clear God’s plan for the Church to be a sign and instrument of the union
between God and people, and between people across all nations. He commanded his
Apostles:

Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations … (Matthew 28:19)

‘Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation.’ (Mark 16:15)

‘As the Father sent me, so am I sending you.’ (John 20:21)

‘… you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit which will come on you, and then
you will be my witnesses … to earth’s remotest end.’ (Acts 1:8)

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In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 6 to answer these questions.

1. What are the three ways in which Christ is recognised as


Head of the Church?

2. Belief in Christ is one requirement for membership of the Church,


what is the other one?

3. What are the four qualities of the Church?

4. How is the Church holy?

5. What does it mean to say the Church is apostolic?

6. Describe how the Church is a sacrament.

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2 The growth of the Church

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 The Holy Spirit is the source of the Church’s growth
 The growth of the Church can be studied in five contexts,
related to its growth and expansion:
– in Jerusalem
– beyond Jerusalem to Israel and Palestine
– across the Roman Empire
– during the period of ‘Christendom’
– expansion beyond Europe.

The Holy Spirit is the source of the Church’s growth

Jesus founded the Church by his words and actions


as the means by which God’s plan of salvation
would be fulfilled. Since Jesus returned to heaven
after the Resurrection, the Holy Spirit has been
moving baptised Christians to spread the Gospel.
The Holy Spirit has been guiding people through
their consciences to live God’s law and to seek out
what is true and good in order to transform the
world and do the will of God.

Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, the Church


began in what are now modern Israel and Palestine.
From just a few people, it has spread across the
earth. In each place, it is a sign and instrument of
Christ. It calls people to become members so that
they can be more consciously united to Christ, and
become united with others of every culture and race.

In Class Work

The Catholic Church has spread across the world and is truly universal.

Research the College of Cardinals and the countries from which the members
of the College of Cardinals originate. How many Cardinals does each region
have? What are the names of the Australian Cardinals?

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2. THE GROWTH OF THE CHURCH

The growth of the Church can be studied in five contexts

The growth of the Church can be studied in five geographical and historical contexts:
• in Jerusalem
• beyond Jerusalem to Israel and Palestine
• across the Roman Empire
• during the period of ‘Christendom’
• expansion beyond Europe.

A. The Church’s growth in Jerusalem


The first story of the Spirit stirring the expansion of the Church is the story of Pentecost
itself. In 30AD, the Spirit stirred the Apostles to invite others to join the Church. The
Spirit:

• attracted many, by a sound like a violent wind, to where the Apostles were gathered:

When Pentecost day came round, they had all met together, when suddenly there came
from heaven a sound as of a violent wind which filled the entire house in which they
were sitting; and there appeared to them tongues as of fire, these separated and came
to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and
began to speak different languages as the Spirit gave them power to express
themselves.

Now there were devout men living in Jerusalem from every nation under heaven, and
at this sound they all assembled, and each one was bewildered to hear these men
speaking in his own language. (Acts 2:1–6)

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• empowered the Apostles to speak in the languages of different nations:

They were amazed and astonished. ‘Surely,’ they said, ‘all these men speaking are
Galileans? How does it happen that each of us hears them in his own native
language? Parthians, Medes and Elamites; people from Mesopotamia, Judea and
Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya
round Cyrene; residents of Rome-Jews and proselytes alike-Cretans and Arabs, we
hear them preaching in our own language about the marvels of God.’ Everyone was
amazed and perplexed; they asked one another what it all meant. Some, however,
laughed it off. ‘They have been drinking too much new wine,’ they said. (Acts 2:5–12)

• moved many to believe and become members of the Church:

They accepted what he said and were baptised. That very day about three thousand
were added to their number.’ (Acts 2:41)

• gave the power to work miracles:

So that people would listen to them, the Spirit gave the Apostles the power to work
miracles, like those of Jesus. One example is the cure of the cripple by Peter:

Once, when Peter and John were going up to the Temple for the prayers at the ninth
hour, it happened that there was a man being carried along. He was a cripple from
birth; and they used to put him down everyday near the Temple entrance called the
Beautiful Gate so that he could beg from the people going in. When this man saw
Peter and John on their way into the Temple he begged from them. Peter, and John
too, looked straight at him and said, ‘Look at us.’ He turned to them expectantly,
hoping to get something from them, but Peter said, ‘I have neither silver nor gold, but
I will give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, walk!” Then he
took him by the right hand and helped him to stand up. Instantly his feet and ankles
became firm, he jumped up, stood, and began to walk, and he went with them into
the Temple, walking and jumping and praising God. Everyone could see him walking
and praising God, and they recognised him as the man who used to beg at the
Beautiful Gate of the Temple. They were all astonished and perplexed at what had
happened to him. (Acts 3:1–10)

• Peter then preached to the crowds attracted by this miracle:

Men of Israel, why are you so surprised ...? It is faith in him (Jesus) that has restored
this man to health, as you can all see. (Acts 3:12, 16)

Now I know, brothers, that neither you nor your leaders had any idea what you were
really doing, (when Jesus was killed) … Now you must repent and turn to God, so
that your sins may be wiped out. (Acts 3:17–20)

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• many came to believe and were baptised so that soon:

… the total number of men had now risen to something like five thousand. (Acts 4:4)

B. The Church’s expansion beyond Jerusalem to Israel and Palestine


Around 33–34AD the number of Christians in Jerusalem had grown under the impetus
of the Spirit to the extent that the Jewish religious leaders began to plan their
destruction. This was the first official persecution of Christians for their beliefs.

The first to die for his Christian faith was Saint Stephen. Many Christians then escaped
from Jerusalem to other towns and regions, where they began to bring others to
Christian conversion.

In Class Work

Research the story of St Stephen.

What does his name mean?

Why is he considered a martyr?

How did he want his persecutors to be treated by God?

Philip
The Spirit kept stirring Christians to invite others to receive Baptism. One example was
Philip, who went to Samaria. Philip:

• proclaimed the Gospel to the people:

And Philip went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. (Acts 8:5)

• worked miracles:

The people unanimously welcomed the message Philip preached, because they had heard
of the miracles he worked and because they saw them for themselves … (Acts 8:6)

• drove unclean spirits from people:

For unclean spirits came shrieking out of many who were possessed …. (Acts 8:7)

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• cured paralytics and cripples:

… and several paralytics and cripples were cured. As a result there was great rejoicing
in that town. (Acts 8:7)

• baptised the many who became believers:

But when they came to accept Philip’s preaching of the good news about the
kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptised, both men
and women ... (Acts 8:12)

The Apostles then sent Peter and John to confer on them the fullness of the Holy Spirit
through what is now called the sacrament of Confirmation:

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God,
they sent Peter and John to them, and they went down there and prayed for them to
receive the Holy Spirit, for as yet he had not come down on any of them: they had
only been baptised in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and
they received the Holy Spirit. (Acts 8:14–17).

Later, Philip was told by an angel to go to a road on which an important man from
Ethiopia would be travelling. The Spirit then moved Philip to convert the Ethiopian to
become a Christian:

The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip saying,’ Set out at noon and go along the road
that leads from Jerusalem down to Gaza, the desert road.’ So he set off on his
journey. Now an Ethiopian had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem; he was a eunuch
and an officer at the court of the kandake, or queen, of Ethiopia; he was her chief
treasurer. He was now on his way home; and as he sat in his chariot he was reading
the prophet Isaiah. The Spirit said to Philip, ‘Go up and join that chariot.’ When
Philip ran up, he heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, ‘Do you understand
what you are reading?’ He replied, ‘How could I, unless I have someone to guide me?’
So he urged Philip to get in and sit by his side. Now the passage of scripture he was
reading was this:

‘Like a lamb lead to the slaughter-house,


like a sheep dumb in front of its shearers,
he never opens his mouth.
In his humiliation fair judgement was denied him.
Who will ever talk about his descendants,
since his life on earth has been cut short?’ (Acts 8:26–35)

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The eunuch addressed Philip and said, ‘Tell me, is the prophet referring to himself or
someone else?’ Starting, therefore, with this text of Scripture Philip proceeded to
explain the good news of Jesus to him:
Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, ‘Look, here
is some water; is there anything to prevent my being baptised?’ He ordered the
chariot to stop, then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water and he
baptised him. But after they had both come up out of the water again Philip was
taken away by the Spirit of the Lord, and the eunuch never saw him again and he
went on his way rejoicing. Philip appeared in Azotus and continued his journey,
proclaiming the good news in every town as far as Caesarea. (Acts 8:36–40)

In Class Work

Use Bibles or the internet to find maps which outline St Paul’s


missionary journeys.

Trace his journeys onto maps and identify the current names of
the countries to which St Paul travelled.

Research what it was like to travel in those countries during


the time of St Paul.

Paul
One of the great persecutors of the first Christians was Saul. He approved the stoning to
death of Saint Stephen:

‘… (the members of the council), thrust him out of the city and stoned him … (Acts 7:58)

Saul approved of the killing. That day a bitter persecution started against the church
in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles scattered to the country districts of
Judaea and Samaria.’ (Acts 8:1)

Opposite: The Stoning of St. Stephen, from the Triptych of St. Stephen
(oil on panel) by Rubens, Peter Paul (1577–1640)

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For your information…


The word martyr comes from the Greek martureo meaning ‘to witness’. A martyr is a
person who is put to death, often after enduring great suffering or torture. A martyr’s
belief in their faith, principles or cause is so great that they cannot renounce or give them
up to save their own life. Some of the earliest Christian martyrs were Saints Stephen,
Lawrence, Paul and Sebastian, Felicity, Perpetua, and Polycarp.

On a journey to persecute Christians in Damascus (in modern Syria), Saul had a


vision of Jesus, who personally called Saul to become a member of his Church:

Meanwhile Saul was still breathing threats to slaughter the Lord’s disciples. He went
to the high priest and asked for letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, that
would authorise him to arrest and take to Jerusalem any followers of the Way, men or
women, that he might find.

It happened that while he was travelling to Damascus and approaching the city,
suddenly a light from heaven shone all around him. He fell to the ground, and then
he heard a voice saying , ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?’ ‘Who are you,
Lord?’ he asked and the answer came, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Get up
and go into the city, and you will be told what you are to do.’ The men travelling
with Saul stood there speechless, for though they heard the voice they could see no
one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing
at all, and they had to lead him into Damascus by the hand. For three days he was
without his sight and took neither food nor drink.

There was a disciple in Damascus called Ananias, and he had a vision in which the
Lord said to him, ‘Ananias!’ When he replied, ‘Here I am, Lord,’ the Lord said, ‘Get
up and go to Straight Street and ask at the house of Judas for someone called Saul,
who comes from Tarsus. At the moment he is praying, and has seen a man called
Ananias coming in and laying hands on him to give him back his sight.’

But in response Ananias said, ‘Lord, I have heard from many people about this man
and all the harm he has been doing to your holy people in Jerusalem. He has come
here with a warrant from the chief priests to arrest everybody who invokes your
name.’ The Lord replied, ‘Go for this man is my chosen instrument to bring my name
before gentiles and kings and before the people of Israel; I myself will show him how
much he must suffer for my name.’ Then Ananias went. He entered the house, and
laid his hands on Saul and said , ‘Brother Saul, I have been sent by the Lord Jesus,
who appeared to you on your way here, so that you may recover your sight and be
filled with the Holy Spirit.’ It was as though scales fell away from his eyes and
immediately he was able to see again. So he got up and was baptised, and after taking
some food he regained his strength.’ (Acts 9:1–19)

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Saul preaches in Damascus


Saul was immediately moved by
the Spirit to begin inviting other
Jews to become members of the
Church as well. Saul
• preached the Gospel
• upset the Jewish leaders to the
extent that they plotted to kill
him
• had to escape by being lowered
from the city wall in a basket.

Saul changed his name to Paul.


Moved again by the Holy Spirit, he
went on three journeys to proclaim
the Gospel. As he did so, the
Church began to spread to other
cities and countries.

St. Paul escapes Damascus in a basket, 12th/13th century (mosaic)

After he (Paul), had spent only a few days with the disciples in Damascus, he began
preaching in the synagogues, ‘Jesus is the son of God.’ All his hearers were amazed,
and said, ‘Surely, this is the man who did such damage in Jerusalem to the people
who invoke this name, and who came here for the sole purpose of arresting them to
have them tried by the chief priests?’ Saul’s power increased steadily, and he was able
to throw the Jewish colony at Damascus into complete confusion by the way he
demonstrated that Jesus was the Christ.

Some time passed, and the Jews worked out a plot to kill him, but news of it reached
Saul. They were keeping watch at the gates day and night in order to kill him, but the
disciples took him by night and let him down from the wall, lowering him in a
basket. (Acts 9:20–25)

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Ruins with the Apostle Paul preaching, 1744 by Pannini or Panini, Giovanni Paolo (1691/2–1765)

Paul’s first journey (46–49AD)


Paul’s first journey was through modern Cyprus, Turkey and Syria. Paul set out from
Antioch and visited places such as Salamis, Paphos, Perga, Antioch, Iconium, Lystra,
Derbe, Attalia. Paul then returned by sea to Seleucia and Antioch. Later Paul and
Barnabas went to Jerusalem. During his journey, he:

• healed a cripple in Lystra:

There was a man sitting there who had never walked in his life, because his feet were
crippled from birth; he was listening to Paul preaching, and Paul looked at him
intently and saw that he had the faith to be cured. Paul said in a loud voice, ‘Get to
your feet-stand up,’ and the cripple jumped up and began to walk. (Acts 14:8–10)

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• stopped the people thinking he was a god:

When the crowds saw what Paul had done they shouted in the language of Lycaonia,
‘The gods have come down to us in human form.’ They addressed Barnabas as Zeus,
and since Paul was the principal speaker they called him Hermes. The priests of Zeus-
outside-the-Gate, proposing that all the people should offer sacrifice with them,
brought garlanded oxen to the gates. When the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard what
was happening they tore their clothes, and rushed into the crowd, shouting, ‘Friends,
what do you think you are doing? We are only human beings, mortal like yourselves.
We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living
God who made sky and earth and the sea and all that these hold. In the past he
allowed all the nations to go their own way; but even then he did not leave you
without evidence of himself in the good things he does for you: he sends you rain
from heaven and seasons of fruitfulness; he fills you with food and your hearts with
merriment.’ With this speech they just managed to prevent the crowd from offering
them sacrifice.’ (Acts 14:11–18)

Having preached the good news in that town and made a considerable number of
disciples, they went back through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch. (Acts 14:21)

The Spirit stirred in many the faith needed to join the Church.

Paul’s second journey (approximately 49–53AD)


Paul’s second journey in response to the Holy Spirit was through modern Syria, Turkey
and Greece. During this journey Paul visited places such as Celicia, Derbe, Lystra,
Iconium, Antioch, Troas, Neapolis, Phillipi, Thessalonica, Athens, Corinth and Ephesus.
During this journey, Paul:

• was imprisoned in Philippi, when an earthquake occurred:

In the middle of the night Paul and Silas were praying and singing God’s praises,
while the other prisoners listened. Suddenly there was an earthquake that shook the
prison to its foundations. All the doors flew open and the chains fell from all the
prisoners. When the gaoler woke and saw the doors wide open he drew his sword and
was about to commit suicide, presuming that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul
shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Do yourself no harm; we are all here.’ (Acts 16:25–28)

• preached to his jailer and his family:

Then they preached the word of the Lord to him and to all his household. (Acts 16:32)

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• received the jailer and his family into the Church:

Late as it was, he took them to wash their wounds, and was baptised then and there
with all his household. Afterwards he took them into his house and gave them a meal,
and the whole household celebrated their conversion to belief in God. (Acts 16:33–34)

Paul’s third journey (approximately 53–58AD)


The Spirit then moved Paul to preach in new towns in the countries he had already
visited (Antioch, Galatia, Phrygia, Ephesus, Macedonia). During this journey, more
people were converted to Christ and became members of the Church.

In the Greek city of Ephesus, Paul preached and taught God’s laws in the Jewish place
of worship called a ‘synagogue’. At first, many did not like what he said. However, after
two years of preaching, many became members of the Church.

In Ephesus, the Spirit worked many miracles through Paul, including the casting of
demons out of people:

So remarkable were the miracles worked by God at Paul’s hands that handkerchiefs or
aprons which had touched him were taken to the sick, and they were cured of their
illnesses, and the evil spirits came out of them. (Acts 19:11–12)

Miracles of St. Paul at Ephesus, 1693 (oil on canvas) by Restout, Jean (1663–1702)

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There were other men in Ephesus who used to cast out demons during this time. They
tried doing so in the same way that Paul did. However, they saw that Paul’s way was
more powerful and tried to do what he did. The evil spirits they were trying to cast out
overcame the men, treating them violently. This happened because they were not filled
with the Holy Spirit as was St Paul.

But some itinerant Jewish exorcists too tried pronouncing the name of the Lord Jesus
over people who were possessed by evil spirits; they used to say, ‘I adjure you by the
Jesus whose spokesperson is Paul.’ Among those who did this were seven sons of
Sceva, a Jewish chief priest. The evil spirit replied, ‘Jesus I recognise and Paul I know,
but who are you?’ and the man with the evil spirit hurled himself at them and
overpowered first one and then another, and handled them so violently that they fled
from that house stripped of clothing and badly mauled. Everybody in Ephesus, both
Jews and Greeks, heard about this episode; everyone was filled with awe, and the
name of the Lord Jesus came to be held in great honour.’ (Acts 19:13–17)

Paul in Rome
Paul was arrested in Jerusalem for
preaching the Gospel. The Jewish leaders
tried to assassinate him, so the Roman
authorities moved him to Caesarea.

Paul then claimed his right, as a Roman


citizen, to be tried in Rome. He was sent
to Rome by boat, and eventually arrived
after being shipwrecked off the cost of
Malta. In around 68AD, Paul was
beheaded.

The other Apostles


There is little historical evidence to state
definitely where the Twelve Apostles
went to spread the Gospel. Second
century stories suggest that:
• Thomas went to Parthia (an empire
east of Palestine), and then to India
• Andrew, went to the Scythians, in
what is now southern Russia and
Ukraine
• Bartholomew also went to India, and The Martyrdom of St. Paul, right hand panel from the Stefaneschi Triptych,
c.1320 (tempera on panel) (detail of 214100) by Giotto di Bondone (c.1266–1337)
then to southern Arabia
• Philip went to Phrygia, in what is
modern Turkey.

It is also believed that all the Apostles, except John, were martyred.

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C. The Church’s spread across the Roman Empire


The Roman Empire was largely at peace during the early centuries of the Church. The
Emperor Augustus brought this peace about by conquering all political rivals for the
leadership of Rome. The last of these rivals was Mark Antony who, with his lover,
Queen Cleopatra of Egypt, was defeated by Augustus in 31BC.

The Empire enjoyed prosperity and provided citizens with a variety of entertainments.
These ranged from baths to theatres, to stadiums for sports and amphitheatres for big
events, merriment and spectacles. The people however, were seeking answers to their
human heart questions. Many religions, particularly from Greece and Asia, sought to
provide answers to what people were seeking. With all of this there were signs of people
seeking to do good and the Holy Spirit stirring people through their consciences to do
the will of God.

In Class Work

1. Research the religions of the Roman Empire.

2. How did these religions seek to fill the spiritual vacuum the people
of the time were experiencing?

3. How do people today seek to find answers to their human heart


questions?

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What attracted people to Christianity


Christianity began to grow throughout the Empire. As the Spirit moved ordinary
Christians to live their faith in an un-Christian society, other people were attracted by
the message of salvation through Jesus Christ. They were attracted by the power of the
love Christians showed both towards each other, and to all other people, a love flowing
from the Spirit, which all Christians receive as a result of the death and Resurrection of
Jesus. Christians could rejoice even in their hardships because:

… perseverance develops a tested character, something that gives us hope, and a hope
which will not let us down, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts
by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.’ (Romans 5: 5–6)

Led by the Spirit of God, Christians began to


support the poor, the sick, the infirm and the
disabled. They showed practical care to
prisoners, slaves in mines, those struck by
disaster and those unable to provide for burial.
They provided work for the unemployed,
cared for travellers and financially supported
Christian communities in poverty or peril.

Many were attracted by the moral teachings


Christians lived in their daily lives, for
example, that:
• every human individual had personal
dignity, and was loved by God, even if
they were a slave
• married couples could enjoy life-long love
and happiness, instead of experiencing
turmoil and unhappiness in Rome’s
divorce-oriented society
• people had God-given social
responsibilities, which contrasted with the
generally accepted Roman neglect of the
poor and those in need
• business and commerce should follow
ethical principles and not be characterised
by exploitation, fraud and dishonesty.

The Christian religion also answered the


questions in people’s hearts about who they With God's love we can help pray for those we carry in our hearts,
were and the meaning of their lives. It shared 2000 (oil on panel) by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)
God’s answers to questions about death, life
after death and resurrection.

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The persecutions
Several Roman emperors became unhappy with the growth of Christianity. They began
persecutions of Christians that would continue on and off for over two hundred years.

The first official persecution began in 64AD during the reign of Nero. He exploited
public opinion, which at first saw Christians as atheists and immoral because they
refused to worship pagan gods.

For your information…


Emperor Trajan appointed Pliny the Younger as legate to the province of Bithinia (part of
modern day Turkey) around 110AD. Letters survive in which Pliny seeks the advice of the
emperor on what to do with Christians. Pliny writes, ‘Meantime this is the course I have
taken … I have asked them whether they were Christians, and if they confessed, I asked
them a second and a third time with threats of punishment. If they kept to it I ordered
their execution …’ The emperor commended Pliny on his actions.

The most severe persecutions began in the third century. The Roman government
decided to deal seriously with what they saw as the Christian menace. One of the
problems for the government was that Christians cared for those in need, which
highlighted government neglect. Christians also only accepted the authority of the
emperor and empire when their laws were consistent with the Law of God.

Persecution of Christians was intermittent. Emperor Septimius Severus (193–211AD) did


not single-out Christians but issued an edict which forced prominent governors across
the whole Empire to persecute anyone who would not worship the Roman gods. It was
Septimius’ persecution that Saints Perpetua and Felicity suffered martyrdom in Carthage,
North Africa. Emperor Alexander Serverus (222–235AD) and Emperor Philip 1
(244–249AD), on the other hand, were relatively friendly to Christians.

Then came the Emperor Trajan Decius (249–251AD), a harsh persecutor, who
condemned all suspected of being Christians, unless they also worshipped pagan gods.
Many people, including Pope Fabian, died after enduring terrible tortures. Others denied
their Christianity in the face of threats of torture.

The persecution started by Trajan Decius lead also to the martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II
and his deacon, Lawrence.

The last, and perhaps most terrible persecution of the Church, began in 303AD as a
result of a decree of the Emperor Diocletian. This affected Christians across the Empire
from all ranks of Roman society. This was followed by a second decree which singled
out bishops, priests and deacons for particularly cruel deaths. In all of this, the Spirit
was present with the Church, sustaining faithful Christians throughout their torment.

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In Class Work

Read the story of the martyrdom of Perpetua and Felicity or the story of the
martyrdom of Pope Sixtus II and Lawrence.

The Emperor Constantine


Diocletian reorganised the Roman Empire in 285AD. By 311AD, there was an Eastern
Roman emperor and a Western Roman emperor. Constantine became the emperor of the
West after conquering his rival Maxentius at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312AD.
Constantine attributed his victory to the Christian God.

For your information…


A legend has it that before the battle of the Milvian Bridge
Constantine had a vision in which he saw a cross together with
the words, ‘With this sign you will conquer.’ Following his victory
he supported Christianity although he was not baptised until
near the end of his life. Constantine used the Christian symbol
known as the labarum on coins bearing his name and on his
imperial standard. The labarum is a monogram for Christ formed
from the Greek letters chi (X) and rho (P).

By 312AD, historians estimate that


around one seventh of the Roman
Empire’s population of forty nine
million people were Christians. This
was despite severe and systematic
persecutions.

That same year the persecution started


by Diocletian was finally stopped after
the Eastern Roman Emperor
Maximinus Daia bowed to pressure
from Constantine. Religious freedom
was given to Christians in the Edict of
Milan in 313AD.

Opposite: Relief depicting the victory of


Constantine the Great (270-337) over Maxentius
(280-312) at the Battle of Pons Milvius in 312AD
(stone), Roman (4th century AD)

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Over the following years, Constantine:


• lavished donations on the Church, and built great churches
• gave the Lateran Palace to the Pope
• recognised Christian clergy, and exempted them from military service and
forced labour
• modified Roman law to make it consistent with Christian moral values
• commanded a more humane attitude towards slaves, children, orphans and the needy
• decreed punishments for misbehaviour, such as adultery and prostitution, that
undermined marriage and family life.

In 324AD, Constantine defeated the Eastern Roman Emperor, Licinius, who had begun
another persecution of Christians in defiance of the Edict of Milan. Constantine became
sole emperor of the East and the West and moved his capital from Rome to
Constantinople, a city more geographically central in the Empire.

The First Ecumenical Council


At this time there was a controversy about the exact nature of Jesus. Arius, a priest from
Egypt, was teaching that Jesus was created by God and therefore not equal to God. This
became known as the Arian Heresy. In 325AD, Constantine called on all the bishops to
resolve the issue. The bishops met in Nicea, a town conveniently located not far from
Constantinople. The Council of Nicea was the first Ecumenical Council, that is, a
council of the whole Church. The bishops adopted the Nicene Creed which is recited at
Sunday Masses.

In Class Work

Compare the Nicene Creed with the older Apostle’s Creed given in Chapter 6.
Which phrases of the Nicene Creed specifically define the divine nature of
Jesus?

The Spirit moved Christians’ consciences


The terrors of the emperors could not stifle the faith of Christians. Recognising the
movement of the Spirit within their consciences, they:
• lived publicly as Jesus taught
• moved away from centres of persecution and towns, to rural areas and more peaceful
parts of the empire, sharing their faith with others as they went.

Strengthened by the Spirit, the Christian martyrs left a deep impression upon others.
Many of those who witnessed the sufferings of Christians found themselves asking
questions such as: ‘Why are they enduring such tortures?’ ‘Why are they willing to die
for their religion?’ ‘What does their religion offer that they will not give it up, even
though they will suffer for it?’

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D. Growth of the Church during the period of ‘Christendom’


The boundaries of the Roman Empire were set in the second century after Christ. The
northern boundary was Hadrian’s Wall in Britain and the Rhine and Danube rivers. The
southern boundary was the Sahara Desert and the interior mountains of Africa. The
boundary to the east was the Euphrates River in Syria, and the western boundary was
the Atlantic Ocean.

Gradually, the Western half of the Roman Empire came under pressure from the Franks,
the Alemanni, the Vandals and the Visigoths, all of whom were Germanic tribes.
Increasingly, economic resources were used for defence. In 378, the Goths massacred
Roman imperial forces, and the Emperor Valens was killed in battle.

Now the tribes could move at will within the Empire. Rome was sacked, captured,
plundered and looted in 410AD, and the Empire was divided between the Germanic tribes.

Persecution and mission


The Popes during this time saw that the tribes were a reality with which they had to live.
They saw that the Church’s mission was to convert them.

However, the Church at this time again experienced persecutions. Church assemblies
were prohibited, property seized and bishops driven from their dioceses.

Clovis
Change began in 486AD when a Frank
leader, Clovis, defeated the ruler of
northern Gaul (modern France) and
established himself as king of all Gallic
territory north of the Loire River. He
married a Christian princess, Clotilda,
and went on to be baptised in 496AD
together with three thousand of his men.

A warrior by nature, Clovis then


proceeded to conquer other areas.
Christians and their bishops who were
eager to be free of their persecutors
supported him during this time. Italy
continued under the rule of various tribes.
Rome was besieged and conquered several
times.

Despite this, the Church began to spread


throughout Europe. The following people
were particularly significant.

The Baptism of Clovis I (465–511) King of the Franks


(oil on canvas) by Puget, Pierre (1620–94)

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Pope St Gregory I
In 590AD, Pope Gregory I, also called Gregory the Great, was elected. He gave new
impetus to the conversion of the rulers of Europe. A monk himself, he sent out monks
to establish monasteries throughout rural Europe, as country areas were the refuge of
urban people fleeing warring tribes.

Monks also strengthened those Catholic communities that were weak in Celtic lands.
One example was Ireland where the Church had been brought to the people by
St Patrick.

Monks spread throughout Europe. They shared in the life and work of rural peasants.
More and more people joined the Church. Monasteries became centres for the Church
and for scholarship.

For your information…


The Angles (Latin, Angli) were a people who dwelt in early Britain. Pope St Gregory, upon
seeing some slave children from England (Latin, Anglia) and being impressed by their
blonde hair, fair skin and blue eyes apparently said, ‘Non Angli, sed Angeli’, meaning,
‘These are not Angles, but angels’.

England
Pope Gregory sent a Benedictine monk,
St Augustine of Canterbury, to England. Gregory
was moved to do this when he saw young men
from that country, then known as Angles, being
sold in the Roman slave market. The Church
spread rapidly in England, and an English
missionary, Boniface, then went on to convert
Germany.

Charlemagne
In 771AD, a Frank King, Charles came to his
throne. He extended his rule over most of
Western Europe. He conquered present day
Austria and parts of Hungary. Eventually, he also
St. Gregory and St. Augustine,
c.1510 (tempera and gold on panel) conquered the Slavs, and virtually reconstituted
by Borgona, Juan de (fl.1495–1533) the Western Roman Empire. Known now as
‘Charlemagne’ (Charles the Great), he was
crowned Emperor of the Romans by Pope Leo III
on Christmas Day, 800AD. The reconstituted
Western Roman Empire gradually converted to
Christianity and became known as ‘Christendom’.

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Christendom
The story of Christendom, therefore, is about a Church suffering at the hands of
military conquerors on the one hand, while on the other, spreading the Gospel as
followers of Christ, especially monks, moved around an unstable former Roman Empire.
The Spirit moved them, especially the popes, to carry out the command of Jesus to
preach his Gospel ‘to all nations’.

As military conquerors were converted, beginning with Clovis, Church persecution


stopped. The Gospel could now be spread without violent opposition.

The boundaries of Christendom continued to grow from the sixth to the fourteenth
centuries. Northern Germanic and Slavic tribes were converted between the ninth and
the eleventh centuries. Christianity was adopted as the official religion for Russia and
Ukraine by Czar Vladimir the Great before he died in 1015. The Baltic people became
Christians in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries.

The East West Schism, or the Great Schism, divided medieval Christendom into Eastern
(Greek) and Western (Latin) branches, which later became known as the Eastern
Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church.

The schism between the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Church of Rome became
definitive in 1054. One of the first causes was the gradual separation of East and West.
To a great extent this estrangement was inevitable. The East and West grouped
themselves around different centres, used different rites and spoke different languages.

Tension between the two Churches dates back to the division of the Roman Empire into
an Eastern and a Western part, and the transferral of the capital city from Rome to
Constantinople in the 4th century. An increasingly different outlook developed within
the two churches causing a split along doctrinal, theological, linguistic, political and
geographic lines. One of the central questions was the authority of the Pope in Rome.

For your information…


The origins of the Ukrainian Catholic Church began long before Czar Vladimir made
Christianity the official State religion in 988AD.

In the very early years of the Church (50AD), the Apostle Andrew preached on the hills of
what later became the capital of Ukraine – the city of Kiev. In spite of St Andrew’s efforts,
Slavic peoples such as the Russians, Poles and Ukrainians did not begin to convert to
Christianity in large numbers until at least 800 years later.

The Baltic peoples, who today live mostly in Lithuania and Latvia, were Christianised by
preachers and, in some cases, by armies of knights who forced pagans to convert at the
point of a sword. This was a fairly common method of “winning converts” during this
period. It was practised by both Christians and Muslims.

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The two Churches remain unreconciled today, although a dozen or so communities that
originally were with the East eventually recognised the authority of the Pope in the
centuries following the schism, and are now called Eastern-Rite Catholic churches, such
as the Ukrainian Catholic Church and the Melkite Catholic Church, both of which have
communities in Perth.

There have been various attempts to heal the schism but these reunions did not last.
In recent years the dialogue between the two Churches to heal the schism has been
re-opened, increasing goodwill between them and hopeful dialogue.

E. The Church’s growth beyond Europe


In the second millennium the Holy Spirit guided Christ’s followers to carry the good
news beyond Europe to new communities. The Church grew to become an important
part of the new world order.

The sixteenth century saw the dawn of the ‘Age of Discovery’. It was the age of Henry
the Navigator, who explored previously unknown areas of the African coast, and
Christopher Columbus, the discoverer of the Americas.

As explorers opened up new areas of the world, Christian missionaries sought to travel
with them to proclaim the Gospel to all nations. Henry established missions in Africa,
and Columbus brought missionaries to the Americas.

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Christianity in Africa
In 1849, David Livingstone, a Protestant missionary, penetrated Africa, demonstrating
that it was a suitable place for migration. This aroused other missionaries to become
interested in Africa, south of the Sahara Desert.

In 1868, the Society of Missionaries of Africa, or White Fathers, was founded.


Missionaries first went to Uganda. There they faced severe hardship and dangers –
sudden death in the bush, attacks by indigenous peoples, wild animals, severe heat and
frequent illness.

There were other missionary societies established as well to serve in Africa. The Holy
Ghost Fathers, now called the Spiritans, and the Mill Hill Fathers are two examples.

Christians again faced torture and martyrdom. In one incident in Uganda, twenty-two
Catholics and eleven Protestants were burned alive for following their consciences and
refusing to deny their Christian beliefs. They were canonised as the Uganda Martyrs by
Pope Paul VI during the last century. Over the years, more Ugandans converted to
Christianity so that by 1914, there were 150,000 converts. By the mid-twentieth
century, thirty six percent of all Ugandans were Catholic.

The Church in North, East and West Africa rapidly expanded with millions of new
members over the twentieth century. The Church in Africa still has the strongest growth
rate of the whole Church.

Today, the Church in African countries is led mostly by African bishops, priests and laity.
Indigenous leaders have long replaced those of European backgrounds.

In Class Work

A translation of Annuario Pontificio, the Vatican’s statistical yearbook, is


available on the internet.

1. Use the Annuario Pontificio to find how many Catholics there are
in the world.

2. Determine the increase or decrease in the number of Catholics over


12 months.

A breakdown of the worldwide figures may be found at other sites such


as ‘BBC statistics’.

3. With this information create a column graph of the number of Catholics


in various continents.

4. Determine which individual country has the highest number of Catholics.

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The United States


Three dioceses were established in North America as early as 1511. As they flourished,
missionaries went in turn from these dioceses to Central and South America.

The earliest missionaries in America were the Jesuits, Franciscans, and Capuchins. Their
concern was to proclaim the Gospel to Native American Indians. They suffered many
hardships, including torture and death. French missionaries moved north to the Huron
and other Indian tribes. St Isaac Jogues and St Jean Brebeuf were early martyrs in the
United States.

The influence of these missionaries extended from Florida to California in the modern
United States. It remains in names like San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and San
Antonio.

Catholics and other Christians like the Puritans and Quakers went to the first thirteen
States in America, to escape persecution. Most Catholics lived in Maryland and
Pennsylvania.

In 1790, after the American War of Independence, Fr John Carroll, a Jesuit priest, was
appointed Bishop of Baltimore. He was the first bishop to be American-born. Within
fifty years, there were sixteen American dioceses in thirteen states. The Church
continued to grow in the United States, particularly with the immigration of Catholics
from other countries.

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Asia
In the ‘Age of Discovery’, missionary movements were stirred by the Spirit to go to Asia,
or the ‘Far East’ as it was called. This began with the arrival of the Portuguese in India
and Goa became the missionary centre.

In 1542, one of the most famous of all missionaries, St Francis Xavier, another Jesuit,
landed in Goa. He began to preach, baptise and convert multitudes. He travelled
extensively between India and Indonesia.

Japan
In 1549, St Francis Xavier landed at Kagoshima in Japan. The mission he left flourished,
but a terrible persecution broke out in 1638. Thirty five thousand Japanese Catholics
were martyred. Before their deaths, many endured cruel torture for days.

In 1853, an American naval squadron led by Commodore Perry arrived in Edo Bay in
Japan. A treaty of friendship was signed between Perry and the Japanese ruler in 1854.
Catholic missionaries again began preaching in Japan.

In 1855, missionaries were surprised to notice a small group of Japanese showing


devotion in the mission chapel in Nagasaki. These people were descendants of the
persecuted Catholics of 1638. They kept their faith for two centuries without priests or
support from the outside world.

In all, there were approximately ten thousand of these people. Their religious life was in
communities in which lay leaders conducted Sunday prayers, baptised and cared for the
dying.

The Japanese authorities were furious on learning of these Catholics, and renewed their
persecution. Some Catholics were killed while others fled into exile. As a result of world
opinion stirred by the media of the time, persecution ceased in 1889 and religious
freedom was granted. The growth of the Church in Japan has been slow.

In 1945, 8,500 Catholics were killed by the atomic bomb dropped over Nagasaki. Today,
the Church in Japan is led by Japanese bishops and priests. Religious brothers and sisters,
most of whom are Japanese, conduct schools, hospitals and charitable institutions.

For your information…


The Japanese Catholic population in 2000AD numbered nearly half a million people, in a
country with a total population of over 130 million (ie. less than 1% of the population).
There were nearly half a million Catholics from other countries also living in Japan at that
time, many of them Filipinos and Brazilians.

Despite the deaths of so many Japanese Catholics in the atomic explosion over Nagasaki
on August 9, 1945, the percentage of Catholics in the city’s population today is still much
higher than in the rest of Japan (4.5% in Nagasaki).

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China
St Francis Xavier died in 1552 on
his way to China. The Church did
not reach China until 1581 when a
number of Jesuits led by Fr Matteo
Ricci arrived. At the time Ricci
won prestige for his scientific
knowledge, his clocks and his
maps. Although there were
converts, the clash between
Christianity and Chinese culture
was a major deterrent to the
missionaries.

Progress over the next two


centuries was slow. Colonial
powers invaded China in the later
half of the nineteenth century.
Chinese culture and tradition were
torn apart by Western influences,
and the ancient monarchy was
replaced by a republican
government. This led also to a
weakening of traditional Chinese
St. Francis Xavier dying at Sancian, China, and the church
religions. Christianity grew rapidly, built on his place of death (coloured engraving) by Chinese
and there were nearly two million School, (19th century)

Catholics in 1922.

By the end of World War II, the Church in China included twenty archdioceses and
seventy nine dioceses. Catholics were involved in many ministries, schools, orphanages,
homes for the aged and other charitable works.

The persecution of Christians began again in 1950 with the Communist conquest of
China. Hundreds of thousands of Christians lost their lives, and others were imprisoned.

In 1958, the Communist Government set up a ‘Catholic Patriotic Church’. Ever since,
there has been little information on the situation of the Catholic Church in China.

Other Asian countries


Today, the Church is growing in a many Asian countries – the Philippines, Pakistan,
Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Indonesia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Burma, Korea, Thailand and
Vietnam. The Philippines has a higher percentage of Catholics than any other Asian
country; the former Spanish colony is nearly 80% Catholic.

In some countries, such as Sri Lanka, Taiwan and Thailand, the Church is completely
free. In others, such as Malaysia, Burma and Vietnam, it experiences persecution in
varying degrees.

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Australia
The Church in Australia began with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788. Of the
1,044 convicts who arrived, 316 of them were Catholics. For some years, there
were no priests or religious to lead the people. Led by the Spirit, they continued
to keep their faith alive. In 1820 priests arrived to minister to Catholics in the
colony and in 1838 the Sisters of Charity were the first religious order to set up
communities to work with the people. In the 1920’s about 1 in 5 Australians
claimed affiliation with the Catholic Church. However, after World War II, the
population was boosted significantly by migrants, with many coming from
traditionally Catholic countries. By the end of the century over one-quarter of the
population was Catholic. The Church in Australia today is made of people from
different cultures and is actively involved in many ministries.

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The Church continues to grow in the world today


Since the time of the Apostles, followers of
Jesus have fulfilled his command to spread his
Gospel to ‘all nations’. In each case, a follower
has been inspired to play his or her part by the
Holy Spirit. They have recognised the
thoughts and feelings stirred by the Spirit
through their consciences.

While many famous figures played a part in


the spread of the Gospel, the major work was
done by millions of ordinary people – priests,
religious and laity – who are not recorded in
history.

The Church continues to spread in the world today by the Spirit stirring the consciences
of people everywhere to seek out what is good and do the will of God.

In Class Work

Use the information from Chapter 7 to answer these questions.

1. Saint S_________ was the first martyr of the Christian Church.

2. Where did Saul first encounter Jesus?

3. What were the three missionary works carried out by Philip in Samaria that
are recorded in the Acts of the Apostles?

4. Why were many people of Rome attracted to Christianity in the first and
second centuries AD?

5. Who promulgated the Edict of Milan in 313 and what was its effect?

6. What was the importance of the monks in the story of the Church in the
late sixth and early seventh centuries? What role do they play in the
Church today?

7. Name the religious order that was the first to set up a community in
Australia.

8. Which nation has a smaller Catholic population, Indonesia or Australia?

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3 The renewal of the Church
through the Holy Spirit

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 The Holy Spirit stirs renewal of the Church through various
religious orders and lay movements
 The Church experienced upheaval, then renewal, through the
Protestant and Catholic Reformations
 The Holy Spirit constantly renews the Church.

The Holy Spirit stirs renewal of the Church through


various religious orders and lay movements
Over the centuries, there were many people who were disturbed by the pressures
experienced by those who wanted to follow Christ and live his Gospel. They wanted to
help people overcome the difficulties of living Christian lives in societies that did not
reflect the teachings of Jesus.

The Spirit stirred ‘saints’ to establish religious orders where the members could live with
a renewed spirit of Christ-like poverty.

The Franciscans
St Francis of Assisi founded the Franciscan order in 1209.
The Franciscans sought to return to the life of the early
Church, following the example of Jesus and his first
disciples.

St Francis was the son of a wealthy Italian merchant. In


1206 he recognised, through the Holy Spirit, the call to
rebuild the Church. At first, he thought this call referred to
the damage at the church of St Damiano, where he heard
the call. On rebuilding St Damiano, he realised that the call
related to the Church in general.

One of the most famous events in St Francis’ life was when


he renounced all wealth before the Bishop of Assisi,
symbolically leaving behind even his clothes. After a few
years of living as a hermit and caring for lepers, St Francis
began preaching. In 1208, he attracted followers and
established the Franciscan order. By 1221, there were
St. Francis Renounces all Worldly Goods,
between three and five thousand Franciscans. He died in
detail of Pietro di Bernardone, 1297–99 (fresco)
1226 and was canonized two years later by Pope Gregory IX. by Giotto di Bondone (c.1266–1337)

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3. THE RENEWAL OF THE CHURCH THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT

The Poor Clares


In 1212 the Poor Clares, a
religious Order for women,
was founded by St Clare of
Assisi, a close friend and
supporter of St Francis.
Inspired by the spirit of
St Francis, the Poor Clares
also follow the ideal of
poverty of spirit. They do
not preach, but live lives of
contemplative prayer and
mental and manual work.
St Clare was canonised
in 1255.

Saint Clare receiving the rules of her Order from Pope Innocent IV,
from Nuremberg or Bamberg, c.1360–70 (painted wood) by
German School, (14th century)

The Dominicans
This Order was founded in Southern
France in 1215 by a Spaniard,
St Dominic de Guzman, for the purpose
of teaching and preaching the Gospel.
The Dominican Order grew to around
twenty thousand members between 1215
and 1347.

St Dominic’s followers also embraced a


spirit of poverty, so that they could move
about freely according to where their
preaching was needed. They were free of
property ties and financial concerns.

According to legend, Our Lady appeared


to St Dominic to charge him to promote
devotion to the Rosary. She promised
that its power would change people’s
The Virgin Offering the Rosary to St. Dominic,
hearts.
1641 (oil on canvas) by Crayer, Gaspar de (1584–1669)

The Cistercians
Founded in the early twelfth century, this Order also expanded and its members were
active in preaching. They also embraced a spirit of poverty and rejected wealth and the
acquisition of material things.

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The Church experienced upheaval, then renewal, through


the Protestant and Catholic Reformations
The ‘Reformation’ is the term that refers to the division of European Christianity into
Catholic and Protestant, and the changes that resulted from this division. There were
several causes.

The Great Schism (Schism of the West or the Reformation)


In 1309, Pope Clement V (a Frenchman) moved the papacy to the French Archdiocese of
Avignon at the insistence of the French King Philip VI. Rome had become too dangerous
as various groups tried to gain control of the papacy.

Avignon remained the residence for five successive popes before Pope Gregory XII
returned to Rome in 1377. Gregory died the next year and an Italian, Pope Urban VI,
was elected by the cardinals who were pressured by the Romans to return to an Italian
pope.

In September 1379, the cardinals subsequently announced that Pope Urban’s election
was invalid. In his stead they elected Pope Clement VII, who lived in Avignon. This led
to great confusion, for both popes were considered by different parties to be the
legitimate successor of St Peter.

Pope Clement and his successor in Avignon, Benedict XIII, came to be called
anti-Popes, that is, illegitimate claimants to the papacy.

Meanwhile, Pope Urban’s successor in Rome was Pope Gregory XII. In 1409, the
cardinals attempted to resolve the situation by calling the Council of Pisa. The Council
attempted to depose both Pope Benedict in Avignon and Pope Gregory in Rome and to
elect a new Pope, Pope Alexander V.

Neither Alexander V nor his successor John XXII, were recognised by either Pope
Benedict or Pope Gregory and both Benedict and Gregory resisted all efforts to have
themselves removed. This meant that there were three claimants to the succession of
St Peter when, in reality, there could be only one.

Another council was called to resolve the issue and between 1414 and 1418 the Council
of Florence was held. By 1418 anti-Pope John XXII had been removed, Pope Gregory
had resigned, and anti-Pope Benedict had fled.

A new Pope was elected, Pope Martin V. The Great Schism was over. One of the key
figures who helped to bring this about was St Catherine of Siena.

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In Class Work

Research the history of the Great Schism. Create an illustrated time line.

The decline of the Papacy


The Great Schism caused a serious decline in the standing and influence of the papacy.
Corruption again grew in the Church. Church titles were sold to raise money, and the
clergy often lived immoral and greedy lives.

The efforts of Pope Martin and later Popes to bring about reform were undermined by
many bishops, as well as kings and other rulers. Popular dissatisfaction was widespread
and anti-clericalism flourished.

Martin Luther
In 1517, a priest, Martin Luther, protested against Church corruption. He believed that
moral failure was due to theological failure. He then proceeded to develop his own
theology, which rejected many of the fundamental beliefs of the Catholic Church,
handed down since the time of the Apostles.

This led to the establishment of the Lutheran Church in Germany. By 1544, Lutheranism
had spread to Sweden, Denmark and Norway.

John Calvin
John Calvin, a French Protestant who fled to Switzerland for his own safety, established
another Church in 1541. Calvinism became more radically anti-Catholic than
Lutheranism. Calvin rejected everything that was not found explicitly in the Bible.

King Henry VIII


In 1534, King Henry VIII of England broke with Rome because Pope Clement VII
refused to grant him an annulment of his marriage to Queen Catherine of Aragon.
He founded the Church of England and declared himself its head.

The Church of England became the official religion in England when Henry’s son,
Edward VI (1547–1553), became king. His half-sister, Queen Elizabeth I (1558–1603),
consolidated the position of the Church of England.

Around 350 Catholics who refused to give up their Catholic faith were martyred. They
were beheaded, burned at the stake or hung, drawn and quartered. Among the most
famous martyrs were Saints Thomas More, who had served Henry VIII as Chancellor of
England, John Fisher (Bishop of Rochester), Margaret Clitherow (a lay woman) and
Edmund Campion and Robert Southwell (Jesuit priests).

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For your information…


Before England had prime ministers, the highest office in the land was ‘Chancellor’. Sir
Thomas More was appointed to this position by Henry VIII in 1529 and served the king
until he resigned the office in 1532. Just three years later he was beheaded. His “crime”
was to refuse to swear to new laws which would have acknowledged that Henry, and not
the Pope, was the head of the Church in England. While on the scaffold, St Thomas
declared that he died, “the king’s good servant, but God’s first.” Thomas More was
canonised in 1935. He is the patron saint of lawyers, politicians and large families.

The Council of Trent


In the fifteenth century, there was
need for another response within
the Church to the corruption that
was affecting it. Individuals and
movements were led through
their consciences to restore the
Church. The Spirit led them to
recognise that some ideas and
practices in the Church had
moved a long way from the
teachings and life of Jesus.

New spiritual writings appeared,


such as the Imitation of Christ by
Thomas a Kempis. Diocesan
priests began to live in
community, though without vows.
One of the great reforming Popes,
Paul IV, had been a member of
such a community. The First Chapter of the 25th Council of Trent,
Venetian School, c.1630 by Italian School, (17th century)

The greatest force for reforming the Church at this time was the Council of Trent. This
Council was called by Pope Paul III and met three times in the northern Italian city of Trent.

In Class Work

Why did the Church feel that there was need for reform?

Research one of the reforming councils or events and make a list of dot points
about the activities and the key figures involved in the reforms.

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For your information…


Pope Paul III is remembered as the Pope who had Michelangelo paint The Last
Judgement in the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, and who excommunicated Henry VIII
in 1538.

Last Judgement, from the Sistine Chapel, 1538–41 (fresco) by Buonarroti, Michelangelo (1475–1564)

The Council of Trent renewed Catholic beliefs, the celebration of the Mass and the
sacraments, the training of priests and the responsibilities of Bishops. It made laws that
addressed the areas of Church corruption.

This council was so successful that its influence continued until the Second Vatican
Council (1962–1965).

Usually the term ‘The Reformation’ refers to the establishment of non-Catholic


Churches in response to corruption within the Catholic Church.

The Catholic reforms to this corruption are usually collectively referred to as the
‘Counter-Reformation’. However, the more correct historical term is ‘the Catholic
Reformation’, for this reform came from within the Church.

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The Holy Spirit constantly renews the Church


The Holy Spirit constantly influences and renews the Church. In an ever changing world
the Spirit moves people to follow Christ even though historical events may cause major
upheavals in all aspects of their lives.

A new era of human history began in the eighteenth century, now called ‘the
Enlightenment’. Scientific discoveries, European political changes, such as those
associated with the French Revolution, and the ideas of philosophers led to people
placing an emphasis on human reason.

Enlightenment thinkers argued that earlier traditions and authorities should be replaced
by what the human reason could work out for itself.

This led to a rejection of many religious beliefs. God’s Revelation, for example, was
rejected because it did not always conform to what people thought. Religious authority
and ideas of social responsibility were also rejected. This way of thinking led many to
leave the Church.

However, over time, some came to see the limits of personal reason and personal
opinions. For example, human reason cannot explain many ordinary realities of life
such as love and grief.

There were many scientific and technological


developments during the eighteenth century. With For your information…
growing communication, the world seemed more and
In 1998 Pope John Paul II wrote an encyclical
more like a global village.
letter which made it clear that, rather than
being in conflict, faith and reason are both
In the world of religion also, there were developments.
necessary in the search for truth. It begins:
This led to the breaking down of barriers caused by the
Faith and reason are like two wings on
Reformation. Ecumenical dialogue began.
which the human spirit rises to the
contemplation of the truth, and God has
The wars of the Twentieth Century, particularly the two
placed in the human heart a desire to
World Wars, also caused much soul-searching for the
know the truth …(Fides et ratio, preamble)
Churches, who had tended to be inward looking. They
realized that they would need to engage with the world
to influence it to bring about God’s law.

During this time atheism (belief that there is no God) and agnosticism (belief that God
cannot be known) were gaining popularity. The reasons for this included:
• the ideas of the Enlightenment and the writer, Karl Marx
• the sense of control caused by scientific and technological development
• strong anti-clericalism in some countries
• the destructive influences of the Great Depression and two World Wars.

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The Spirit stirs renewal


Many believers were moved by their consciences to recognise the pressures facing those
wanting to follow Christ. During this time the Holy Spirit moved some members of the
Church to counter these pressures.

Some people in the Church were inspired to found new religious congregations to serve
those in need. These included the educational and health needs of the poor who were
growing in number as a result of social change.

Many of these congregations are found in Western Australia today, for example, the
Mercy and St John of God Sisters founded by Catherine McAuley and Mother Visitation
Clancy respectively, and the Marist and Christian Brothers founded by St Marcellin
Champagnat and Blessed Edmund Rice respectively.

In Australia, Blessed Mary MacKillop founded the Sisters of St Joseph to teach young
Australians, especially those who lived in poverty. Her idea was for the sisters to move
with the people when, for example, gold mining wound up in one place and opened in
another.

Lay movements also began


to care for the poor and
needy, for example the
St Vincent de Paul Society,
founded by Frederick
Ozanam.

The official Church also


recognised the need to
engage in the care and needs
of the poor and oppressed in
new ways. Pope Leo XIII
(1878–1903) published a
now famous encyclical on
the conditions of working
people, called Rerum
Novarum (‘Of New Things’).
In this, Leo XIII insisted that
workers have the rights to
form trade unions, collective
bargaining, a just wage and
Portrait of St. Vincent de Paul (1576–1660) (pencil on paper) by
decent working conditions. Dumonstier, Daniel (1574–1646) (attr. to)
These rights were not generally
recognised at the time, for the rich were growing richer but exploiting the poor to make
greater profits.

Pope Leo claimed for the Church the right to promote justice at all levels of society. This
encyclical was followed by other such encyclicals and Church documents which continue
to be issued by the different Popes right down to today.

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Ecumenism
The movement for Church
unity, began as Churches
entered into dialogue. Over
time, ecumenical movements
have gained momentum.
Churches recognised that they
have much in common while
there still remain important
areas of sincere disagreement
that need to be prayed about
and resolved.

For your
information…
The word ‘ecumenical’
derives from a Greek
word meaning ‘of the
whole world.’ An
ecumenical council is a
great council of the In Class Work
whole Church. An
ecumenical movement Find examples of ecumenism
aims to bring the in Australia today.
separated Christian
Churches together.

One of the areas of disagreement between Christian Churches is the role of the pope.
Unlike the Catholic Church, most other Churches function by a majority vote of
members. These Churches do not accept that the teaching authority of the Church
is something Jesus gave to Peter and the bishops.

During the twentieth century, many Catholics and other Christians resisted governments,
systems and ideas that were oppressing people, particularly Communism and Nazism.
As a result, many of these people were martyred for their beliefs and actions. Shared
sufferings in the struggle for justice and peace led to greater closeness between Catholics
and other Christians. Catholic saints included St Edith Stein and St Maximilian Kolbe.
Other Christian heroes include the Lutheran minister, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, and Baptist
minister, Martin Luther King, Jr.

These are just some examples of changes stirred by the Spirit to renew the Church and
its efforts to spread the Gospel. The greatest of all events, however, was the Second
Vatican Council – the twenty-first general council in the two thousand year old Church.

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In Class Work

Research the history of one of the religious orders or congregation’s


in WA to determine:

• When and where the religious order or congregation was founded

• When members of the order or congregation arrived in WA

• What apostolate the order or congregation undertook in WA

• The extent of the expansion of the order or congregation’s work in WA

• Evidence of the order or congregation’s presence that can


still be found in WA.

Pope John XXIII calls the Second Vatican Council


From 1939 to 1958, a strong and dynamic Pope served
the Church. He was Pope Pius XII. Though controversial
in some respects, Pope Pius won wide-spread
acceptance for the Church in the world.

After the death of Pope Pius, on 28 October


1958, the Cardinals elected a seventy-seven year
old successor, Pope John XXIII. Pope John XXIII
was thought of as a ‘stop-gap’ Pope who would
keep the Church calm after the energy of Pope Pius.

Pope John XXIII revealed on 25 January, 1959, that he


had been moved by the Holy Spirit to call the Second Vatican
Council. He opened the Council on 11 October 1962. Approximately 2500 bishops
from all around the world participated in the Council. Its purpose was to renew the
whole Church so that it could play the role Christ intended for his Church in the
modern world.

For your information…


Nobody in 1958 expected the newly elected Pope John XXIII to do anything that would
“rock the Church”. He was widely liked for his warm personality and sense of humour;
most people in the Church, including the cardinals who elected him, thought he
would be a ‘stop-gap Pope’.

The Church was surprised when the aged Pope John XXIII called the Second Vatican
Council. This is an example of the constant movement of the Holy Spirit towards
renewing the Church so that it can be what God wants it to be – the chief means of
assisting the Spirit to build the kingdom of God on earth.

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Pope John XXIII died eight months after opening the Council. However, he left a new
way of thinking about the role of the Church in the modern world that affected the
work of the Council. An open and engaging personality, Pope John XXIII broke through
barriers with those hostile to the Church, such as the Communist Party in Italy and
elsewhere.

Pope John XXIII recognised all the good in the world as the action of the Holy Spirit,
and refused to see only the negatives. He was deeply pastoral and people-oriented. In
2000, Pope John Paul II declared him Blessed John XXIII.

Pope Paul VI
On 21 June, 1963, Pope Paul
VI was elected. He was a man
of vast diplomatic experience,
having worked as a kind of
‘foreign minister’ to Pius XII.
It would be Pope Paul VI who
would lead the Council to a
successful conclusion.

When Pope John XXIII opened


the Council, it was thought
that its work would require
one session of two months. In
fact, it required four sessions
between 1962 and 1965.

Changes by the Second


Vatican Council
The Council of Trent was
called to reform the Church
from within, so that it would
be the spiritual body Christ
intended. Where the Church
had been mainly preoccupied
with the Church in Europe, the
Second Vatican Council, was
calling for reform of how the
Church engaged with the
whole of the modern world.

It was a Council with bishops


from Syria, Africa, Oceania,
the Pacific and many other
non-European countries – and,
so, was radically different from
the Council of Trent.
Second Vatican Council Convened in 1963 (photo) by St. Peter's, Vatican, Rome, Italy

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The Second Vatican Council produced sixteen documents


that have changed the Church radically, even though their
implementation has not been completed.

Changes that Catholics have experienced include:


• the Mass and the sacraments being celebrated in the language of the people
• the Church being seen primarily as the sign of Christ’s presence in the world, and
not primarily an institution or organisation
• recognition that the Church is made up of all who have received Baptism, and not
simply bishops, priests and religious
• recognition that the role of the laity is to bring the Gospel of Jesus into ordinary
society: the Church’s mission is not just the responsibility of bishops, priests and
religious
• consultation in Church decision-making, which is necessary to discover more fully
the guidance of the Holy Spirit
• efforts to work with other churches for Christian unity, and to work with
non-Christian religions
• an emphasis on the dignity of the human person.

Reflect on the changes that took place in the Church as a result


of Vatican II. In your journal write about one or two of them that
you consider the most relevant to you as a young adult.

Since the Council, the Church has grown enormously throughout the world, about
40 percent between 1978 and 2001. This is despite decline in religious practice in
European countries, and countries like Australia which, because of materialism and
individualism, are in danger of fulfilling the prophecy of Jesus that, ‘those concerned
with the love of riches and the worries of the world’ will not develop in the kind of
faith that leads to real closeness to God (Mark 4:19).

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The Spirit leads people to follow the Gospel of Jesus


Because it is for people who do not think themselves perfect, the Church will always
reflect imperfections. Jesus was criticised by the Pharisees for associating with sinners.
He was thought a bad judge of character. He replied that he had come for sinners, for
he came for those who recognised their need for God (Matthew 9:12–13).

However, it is the Holy Spirit who leads believers through


their consciences to judge when events, institutions and
people are not following the Gospel of Jesus. In this way,
the Holy Spirit has moved people throughout its history
to renew the Church by:
• working against corruption
• challenging leaders, including Popes
• standing against immoral social trends, and political powers –
even at the cost of lives
• developing further the teachings of the Church
• re-expressing teachings in ways that people can better understand
and live in their current situations
• changing structures that interfere with the Church playing its role in the world.

The human element will never dominate the divine element in the Church. The events
studied in this Chapter are some of the ways that the promises of Jesus for the Church
have been fulfilled, for example:

‘… the gates of the underworld can never overpower it.’ (Matthew 16:18)

‘I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’ (Matthew 28:20)

This chapter has emphasised the


importance of the work of the
Holy Spirit in renewing and
creating hope in the Church.

What gives you hope in your life?

Write a prayer in which you focus


on the strength and guidance of
the Holy Spirit to give you hope in
your life.

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In Class Work

Use the information in Chapter 8 to answer the following questions.

1. Three religious orders founded in the Thirteenth century were the


C___________, the F___________ and the P______ C__________.

2. What was the Great Schism?

3. Name three people who, in their efforts to reform, broke away from
the Catholic Church.

4. What were some of the areas in which the Council of Trent renewed
Catholic beliefs?

5. What is meant by the Age of Enlightenment?

6. What was the important work of Pope Leo XIII?

7. List three of the religious orders that operate in WA.

8. List three of the changes brought about by the Second Vatican Council.

9. What is the aim of the ecumenical movement?

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1 God created in people a
concern for justice

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 God created within people the potential to love justly
 All people are members of the human family
 Just love leads to peace.

God created within people the potential to love justly

It is easy to see that justice is


an important human concern.
Widespread human experience
shows that everyone likes to be
treated fairly and justly, though
there are differing views on
what is fair.

People can become very annoyed


when they see injustices. Everyone
gets upset when they are treated
unfairly. For example, people get
angry when someone steals what
belongs to them. They get annoyed
when they see a friend being
treated unfairly. They feel upset if
they see people missing out because
of other people’s greed.

Young children can be quite self-


centred. ‘It’s not fair’ is a cry often Justice, 1998 (graphite and pastel on paper)
heard when they feel that others by Taylor, Stevie (Contemporary Artist)
are not treating them fairly. They
argue, cry or fight when games are
not played fairly, when someone
cheats or if someone takes something Write about a situation
that is theirs. From when they are when you saw someone
very young, people show a basic being treated unfairly.
sense of fairness, even if it is self- Describe how you felt.
interest that motivates their actions.

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1. GOD CREATED IN PEOPLE A CONCERN FOR JUSTICE

One sign of maturity is a


growing concern that others
are being treated fairly. It goes
beyond them to their family
and friends. Even if they treat
others unfairly at times, they
become annoyed if someone
else does the same. Likewise,
young people may argue with
teachers, parents or peers if
they feel that a particular
person’s version of a story is
not being listened to.

Another sign of maturity is that they can feel guilty if they do something they know is
unjust, especially if someone else finds out. They feel this guilt because God has created
human nature to be just. Otherwise people would have no regrets and they would not care.

Many people actively seek to foster justice in society


In many societies, people are treated unfairly because of their colour, race, opinion,
gender or religious beliefs. Mature people become concerned at this unfairness, and try
to do whatever they can to bring about change.

They may join organisations such as those that are concerned with:
• the protection of the lives of the unborn
• the human rights of asylum seekers
• the rights of Aboriginal people
• the rehabilitation of law breakers
• the needs of single parents
• fair sharing of the world’s resources between all countries
• the release of prisoners whose only ‘crime’ is that they had different political
views from the government of their country
• care for the environment.

There are many examples in history of people’s basic rights being violated by those who
are more powerful. In some situations, people feel that they have been treated unjustly,
and they try to gain freedom to exercise their human rights through revolutions and
wars. Many wars in history have resulted from one nation violating the rights of another
and the other wanting to redress the injustices it has suffered.

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1. GOD CREATED IN PEOPLE A CONCERN FOR JUSTICE

Human societies reflect degrees of concern for justice


All societies reflect some concern for human rights in varying degrees. For example, all
have some form of justice system, ranging from courts to village elders and leaders.

Each system tries to protect the rights of at least some of its people. For a society to be
truly just, however, it needs to protect the rights of all of its citizens, and not just some.

Justice is a sign of true love


People commonly show concern for justice. It is part of human nature as God created it.
Every day examples of people showing this concern can be seen in people’s homes, on
the television, in newspapers, in magazines and in history books.

Justice is a basic human value. It is a feature of truly human love, a love that is
concerned for the good of others. The development of such love is one sign of real
maturity.

If a person’s sense of justice matures as created by God, two other concerns will
also develop:
• concern for the rights of the Creator
• the growing ability to love others as members of the human family.

Respecting the rights of the Creator


People realise that human nature did not create
itself, nor did the rest of Creation. Ultimately they
realise that all creation is the work of God.

People see that they are dependent upon creation


for food, shelter and the other necessities of life.
This means that their daily existence depends upon
the Creator who keeps all creation in existence.

As they become aware of these things people


realise that the Creator has special rights. This is
one factor that leads people to practise religion.
Religious people show respect for God’s rights
through worship and prayer and by trying to live
as God desires.

The religions of the world are proof that many


respect the just rights of the Creator. Among
them, Christianity is unique. Not only do
Christians know that God is the Creator of all,
but that Jesus, the Son of God, became human as
well. He showed people how to relate with God
and to live as God wants people to live.
Great crowds followed Jesus as he preached the Good News, 2004
(w/c on paper) by Wang, Elizabeth (Contemporary Artist)

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All people are members


of the human family
While there are differences between people in
personality, race, physical and cultural values,
social position or financial status, all are human
beings and all share the same human nature.

Part of growing into a mature human person and


developing just love is to learn to recognise that all
people belong to the same human family.

For someone to see themselves as part of the human


family means recognising that:

‘In our brothers and sisters, we see the children of our parents; in our cousins, the
descendants of our ancestors; in our fellow citizens, the children of our country; in
the baptised, the children of our mother the Church; in every human person, a son
or daughter of the One who wants to be called “our Father”. In this way our
relationships with our neighbours are recognised as personal in character. The
neighbour is not a “unit” in the human collective; he [or she] is “someone” who
by his [or her] own origins deserves particular attention and respect.’ (Catechism 2212)

Recognising that people belong to the human family means recognising and accepting
each member of the human race as someone who is loved personally by God. It means
seeing others as individuals who love and are, in turn, loved by others.

In Class Work

Using the format of a family tree, show the relationships between the groups
of people described in the Catechism quote and how they constitute the
human family.

What does this suggest about how people should live if they are to recognise
their responsibilities to the human family?

People learn to love justly in their families


To learn to love others in the human family justly, people need to begin with those in
their own lives. They cannot really learn to be concerned for others whom they do not
know, while they ignore the needs of those they do know. These include the human
needs for love and respect, friends, encouragement, especially when facing challenges
and respect for other’s property.

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Young people can learn about how to treat other members of the human family from the
experience of life within their own families. Families use the resources they have to
provide for the needs of their members. They accept that each has a right to a share of
these.

Parents provide for their children and other family members and share such things as
food, shelter, clothing and money for entertainment. Family members tend to stand by
each other if the rights of any family member are threatened by others from outside the
family, or if they are being treated unjustly in some way.

People show they have learnt that they belong to the human family when they do what
they can to ensure that the needs of other members of the human family are met and try
to stand by them when they need help.

As people mature, they grow in their awareness of the needs and rights of others beyond
their families and friends. They also become more concerned when others lack the basic
necessities of life. This is part of a person’s social development.

People need to go beyond appearances


To see others as members of the human family, people need to look beyond appearances.
They need to see what makes each a member of the human family like themselves.

It is easy to see the obvious, such as people’s colour, ethnic background, age or physical
abilities. People need to learn to look beyond these things and to see that, behind these
appearances, is a person just like themselves.

As people get to know the person behind the appearance, they learn that they share
many human characteristics. For example they each enjoy the love of people special to
them, such as parents and other family members. They have experiences that leave them
feeling hurt and a determination to protect those they love. They also experience similar
hopes, disappointments and needs such as for food, shelter, medical care and protection.

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Just love leads to peace


At times, trying to be fair can be difficult.
However, if they show just love by being
fair they find themselves becoming
happier and more contented. They are
glad they have done the right thing.

When people recognise the rights of


Care for and
others, not only do they find
themselves ‘feeling good’ but their
respect others
sense of justice gradually matures.

On the other hand, when people realise


that they have ignored others’ rights, it is
natural for them to feel guilty. Their guilt
reminds them that it is in human nature to be just.
It prompts them to try and make up for what they have
done, and to be more just in the future.

The human potential to love justly develops with practice, like physical fitness and other
human gifts. This potential develops as people seek opportunities to provide for other
members of the human family. Examples including giving to appeals for:
• blankets, canned food and clothing to organisations such as the
St Vincent de Paul Society
• money to diocesan organisations such as Centacare (Broome and Geraldton),
Catholic Care (Bunbury) or Lifelink (Perth) set up to provide funding for social
service agencies.

In Class Work

Research the work of the St Vincent de Paul Society or one of the


social service agencies supported by your diocese, e.g. Daydawn,
Shopfront, Personal Advocacy or Emmanuel in the Perth Archdiocese.

What involvement does your school have with these organisations?


As a class, decide on a project that you could undertake during Advent
to assist one of these organisations.

People realise that there cannot be true peace without justice. They notice that injustices
lead individuals and nations into tense situations. People who feel that they are being
treated unjustly often resent those they believe to be the cause of their treatment. This is
evident in media stories of protests, strikes, demonstrations, violence and even war. Feelings
of injustice are not resolved until there is negotiation and reconciliation. Many people
today work hard to promote peace at all levels – between nations, groups and individuals.

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Peace needs to be promoted


People know that peace is not simply the absence of war or conflict. It requires trust and
good will between people. In order for there to be peace, each person must love and
recognise the rights of others.

Peace is delicate, and easily disrupted. This happens when people feel that they are being
taken advantage of, or groups and nations feel that their basic rights are being denied.
The basic cause of behaviour that disrupts peace lies within people’s hearts. It is there
that greed, jealousy, distrust, pride and other forms of selfishness lead to people treating
others unjustly.

‘For it is from within, from the heart, that evil intentions emerge …’ (Mark 7:21)

Those seeking to mature by developing their inner potential to love justly continue to
reflect on their behaviour within their families, among friends, at school and wherever
they may be.

Everyone needs to do what they can to keep working for peace. This means working to
ensure that all people including themselves are treated justly. To do this, people need to:
• face and try to overcome personal feelings of selfishness
• respect the rights of all, beginning with those they know and see in everyday life
• do all that they can to correct injustices at personal, group and national levels.

Reflect on a time when you overcame personal feelings


of selfishness to act justly. Describe the initial situation and
your feelings. What caused you to change? What did you do
as a result?

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Questions of the human heart


As a sense of justice grows within them, people become concerned whenever they see
injustices. These include injustices within families and other groups, within their own
country and in other countries.

They become concerned about a basic question that stirs within their hearts: ‘How can
lasting justice be promoted in the world today?’

In Class Work

Use the information in this chapter to answer the following:

1. Why is justice a sign of true love?

2. Name two organisations in Australia that support people living in poverty.

3. Explain what is required for true peace?

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2 Human injustice in the world

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 People are capable of behaving unjustly
 Failure to recognise that disunity in the human family causes injustices in the world.

People are capable of behaving unjustly

Anyone who watches the news or reads the paper can see almost endless examples of
human injustices. People behave in unjust ways within their families and in wider society.
There are examples of injustices in every society and country.

Injustice within
families
Fights within families,
particularly between
brothers and sisters can
start over any number of
causes. There are other
serious examples of
injustices within families
which can have long-
lasting effects on people.
These include
consistently ‘putting
down’ a family member,
habitually pointing out
someone’s weaknesses,
regularly reminding a
family member about
past mistakes and
consistently ridiculing
and being sarcastic,
particularly towards
younger family members.
Injustice can also include
failing to forgive or
blaming others for
wrong doing.

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2. HUMAN INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD

In Class Work

The story of Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:1–16) is symbolic of how God forgives
human frailty even at its most extreme. Biblical commentaries indicate that
the Yahwist tradition moved this story back to the beginning of the record of
God’s interaction with humanity. Read the story and answer the following:

1. Why did Cain kill Abel?

2. What was the purpose of the ‘mark of Cain’?

3. What moral lesson and lesson for survival does the story teach?

4. How is this story linked to Jesus’ two great commandments?

5. What features of the story suggest it has been moved to an earlier context?

6. What reasons could have prompted the Yahwist writer(s) to move


the story?

Injustice within the wider society


While everyone has the potential to love justly, often there are
times when people ignore others’ rights. People can be unjust
by treating others unfairly either by direct action such as
stealing or indirect action such as ignoring the needs of others.

Everyone needs to see that many of the unjust tendencies they


may criticise in others may also be found in their own
behaviour. They need to identify those tendencies and work
hard to change them.

Injustice between nations


Injustices can be seen between nations, for example:
• some powerful nations dominate others economically
• some nations are dominated militarily by others
• billions of people suffer poverty and hunger
• the wealthy 20% of the world’s population consumes 86% of its goods.

The sources of injustices between nations can always be traced back to greed
and selfishness within individuals.

In Class Work

Research how the world’s wealth is distributed. Represent your findings by a


cake to be shared among 100 people, demonstrate by dividing the cake into
pieces how the world’s wealth is distributed among different groups.

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“God has a right to


thanks and praise from
every human person.”

Injustices against God


As the Creator of all, God has a right to thanks and praise from every human person.
Each person depends upon God for everything, including the air they breathe, the food
they eat, the people in their lives and all their material goods.

In Class Work

Choose one of the injustices mentioned in this chapter.

1. Research the print media to find current examples of these.

2. Paste examples on posters to create a ‘Prayer Wall’ as a reminder


of the injustices people need to pray for in the world.

3. Create a daily prayer roster for the class.

4. Each day pray for those experiencing injustice in one of the


following areas:
– within families
– within wider society
– between nations
– against God.

People have an obligation to relate with God. Many in Australian society ignore this
right of God and do not recognise the need to treat God justly. They take God for
granted. This weakens their relationship with God. They do not draw upon the
guidance, strengthening and other blessings that God alone can give.

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Failure to recognise that disunity in the human family


causes injustices in the world
Injustices in today’s world are often due to people’s failure to recognise others as
persons. This happens when employers see workers simply in light of what they
produce, when governments make decisions without considering how these will affect
people’s lives or when people exploit others for sexual gratification. Racism, religious
prejudices, negative attitudes to unemployed people and pornography are also examples
of unjust and dehumanising practices.

Questions of the human heart


People, who are developing social maturity, as well as a personal sense of justice, become
very concerned at how some are being treated by others. They also become concerned
that the rights of God are being ignored.

This leads them to a growing awareness of the question: ‘How can lasting justice be
promoted in the world today?’

In Class Work

Use the information from this chapter to answer the following:

1. What can the source of injustice between nations always be traced


back to?

2. What is meant by the human family and explain why is it important


to recognise it.

Injustices in today’s world are


often due to people’s failure to
recognise others as persons.

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3 Jesus – the realisation of
God’s justice

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Originally, God created a just world
 Original sin destroyed the state of original justice
 Justification restores the relationship between God and the human race
 God empowered people to promote a just world

Originally, God created a just world

Originally, God created a just world. The sin of human beings disrupted God’s plan for
the world. Human sinfulness is the root cause of all injustices in the world today.

For your information…


‘Revelation makes known to us the state of original holiness and justice of man and
woman before sin: from their friendship with God flowed the happiness of their existence
in paradise.’ – Catechism 384

The state of “original holiness and justice” was meant to include four harmonious
relationships where people were created to be in:
• harmony with God
• harmony within themselves
• harmony with each other
• harmony with the rest of creation.

This entire harmony of original justice was lost through original sin.

God does not wish people to suffer injustices. God loves everyone and sent his Son,
Jesus Christ to bring justice to the world, offering all God’s healing power
of love and reconciliation.

The earliest recorded words of Jesus are:

‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe
the gospel.’ (Mark 1:15)

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The power of the gospel offers to each person the opportunity to accept the justice of
God into their daily lives. As more individuals accept this power by praying,
worshipping and trying to live as Jesus taught God’s justice is gradually realised
throughout the world.

The parents of the human race Adam and Eve were created in complete harmony with
God. The original relationship that God created with human beings brought with it four
harmonious relationships. These were:
• harmony with God
• harmony within themselves
• harmony with each other
• harmony with the rest of creation.

Harmony with God


As with the first parents people were originally created to live in a harmonious
relationship with God on whom their lives depend.

People owe obedience to their Creator who is more powerful than any force on earth or
in the universe.

Complete happiness will only come when people develop a personal relationship with
God. They will grow in happiness as this relationship develops by worshipping God, by
praying and by behaving in ways that are in accordance with God’s will for them.

Harmony within themselves


Flowing from their peace with God the first parents enjoyed harmony within themselves.

By drawing fully on God’s guidance people today are able to experience inner peace and
personal direction in their lives. By drawing on God’s strength people are empowered
to resist temptations.

harmony
with god
within themselves
with each other
with the rest of creation

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Harmony with each other


Flowing from their relationship with and respect for God, the first parents respected
each other.

People with inner peace, or people who are at peace with themselves, also tend to be
peaceful towards others. If, on the other hand, they are angry or upset with themselves,
they tend to be angry and upset with others. By seeing the goodness and likeness of God in
each other they are able to see each other totally as human persons and to love each other.

Harmony with the rest of creation


The first parents were created in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:27). They
appreciated creation for its goodness and continued as partners with God in the
development of creation, as people are called to do today.

God saw that His creation was good and continues to care for it, 2004 (w/c on paper) by Wang, Elizabeth

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Original sin destroyed the state of original justice


The foundation for the state of original justice was the human relationship with God.
The other harmonies grew out of this relationship.

The first parents, in disobeying God, destroyed their relationship with God. It is because
of this original sin that people today experience personal confusion, emotional conflicts,
guilt and inner struggles.

The same is true of the tensions and injustices that exist today between individuals,
within families and societies, and between nations. Bullying, violence, war, hunger, the
growing gap between rich and poor, marriage breakdowns and family tensions – all are
the results of human sinfulness. So are addictions, such as those to alcohol and drugs
that reveal inner conflict within people.

Pollution, environmental degradation and the decline in some of the earth’s resources
are also consequences of the breakdown of the harmony between human beings and the
rest of creation.

All of these are not how God wants human beings to live. The cause of all injustices is
human sinfulness. To restore justice to the world, therefore, God needed to save people
from their sinfulness and to restore the relationship of harmony with the human race.
This is called ‘justification’ – the destruction of the power of original sin over people
and the restoration of each human being’s relationship with God.

No matter how much God wants this relationship it cannot be forced on people. God
needs the personal consent of each individual.

For your information…


God commanded Moses that once the Israelites had settled in the Promised Land, every
seventh year be kept as a Sabbath (Leviticus 25). The Sabbatical Year was to be a year of
remission of debts and rest from labour. Today a Sabbatical Year is a year taken off work
for travel or study.

God also commanded every fiftieth year to be a Jubilee Year when family land was to be
returned, debts forgiven and slaves freed. It was a year to right injustices. Since the Middle
Ages the Jubilee Year or Holy Year has been kept by the Church as a year of pilgrimage
and pardon.

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Justification restores the relationship between


God and the human race
‘Justification’ restores the relationship between
the Creator and the human race. There are
two aspects to justification:
• people are forgiven and saved from sin
through the grace of the Holy Spirit
• people are sanctified, that is, they
receive a share in the very life of God.

By offering his life to his Father as a life


lived in obedience, loving selflessness and
submission to the Father, Jesus justified the
human race. The climax of this self-offering was
his suffering, death and resurrection. By instituting
Baptism Jesus made it possible for all who believe in
him to accept forgiveness and to share in his relationship
with God his father.

Through Baptism, the Holy Spirit dwells within people and heals their relationship
with God. The Spirit does this by:
• empowering the baptised person to convert increasingly to God, that is, to relate
more closely with God, and to turn from sin
• gradually helping to overcome the human weaknesses that lead people to sin
• giving the spiritual gifts a person needs to deepen in relationship with God
– faith (the spiritual power to believe in God and all that God has revealed)
– hope (the spiritual power to trust God’s promises)
– charity (the spiritual power to love God and other human beings)
• increasingly freeing people from influences which can dominate the will or tempt
them to ignore their conscience.

Developing baptismal graces is essential in order to deepen one’s


relationship with God
The extent to which baptised people actually experience these effects depends upon
how seriously they try to develop their baptismal gifts by:
• praying daily
• joining in community worship, especially Sunday Mass
• trying to live each day as Jesus taught.

Over the following week spend some time each day reflecting
on your own relationship with God. How will you continue
to try to develop your baptismal gifts?

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Many baptised people do not experience the effect of God’s grace in their lives because
they neglect their baptismal gifts. For this reason, they:
• fail to draw close to God
• give in to human weaknesses that lead to sin
• have doubts about God, and what God has taught through the teachings of Jesus
• lack hope and experience a sense of hopelessness at times, and even despair
• lack charity and remain selfish and self-centred weakening their love for God and
others
• allow influences to dominate the will.

Justification is God’s free gift


God is merciful. Mercy flows from God’s unconditional love and tenderness:

Yahweh is tenderness and pity …


He does not treat us as our sins deserve,
Nor repay us as befits our offences. (Psalm 103:8, 10)

Justification is a free gift from God which humans have done nothing to deserve. It is
purely out of God’s tender mercy that humans are justified or made right with God.

But God, being rich in faithful love … even when we were dead in our sins, brought
us to life with Christ … (Ephesians 2:4, 5)

God was under no obligation to restore the relationship with people. It was love alone
that moved God the merciful Father to do this. The gift for God’s self-communication in
relationship with people and the help God gives to grow in that relationship is called ‘grace’.

Every gift of God is a ‘grace’ freely given and without obligation.


Other examples of graces from God are:
• the human capacity to make choices and to choose to accept
God’s invitation to relationship
• the capacity to convert to God
• the spiritual gifts received through the Eucharist and other
sacraments.

State of grace
The term ‘state of grace’ means that a person has a living
relationship with God. People lose the state of grace by committing
mortal sin. People need to die in the state of grace to enter heaven.

God is merciful. Mercy flows from God’s


unconditional love and tenderness.

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God empowered people to promote a just world


God empowered the parents of the human race to be in harmony with each other and
with the rest of creation. Today, through the grace of the Holy Spirit, God empowers
followers of Jesus to help restore the harmony between human beings and between
human beings and the rest of creation. As they work to do so, followers of Jesus find
the true answer to the human heart question: ‘How can lasting justice be promoted in
the world today?’

In Class Work

Imagine a world in which the four harmonies of God’s original justice were
restored. Brainstorm what this world looks like. What does it feel like to be
part of such a world? How do people treat themselves, each other and
creation? How do they relate to God?

Use your ideas to create a poem about this world. Each line could be based
on a different aspect of this world.

• What it looks like – colours, shapes

• What people are like – how they treat themselves and each other

• How people and creation interact?

• What it feels like to be part of this world?

• Try to capture a sense of how the Holy Spirit empowers people to live
justly in this world.

In Class Work

Use the information from this chapter to answer the following:

1. What are the four harmonies of God’s original justice?

2. What is the cause of all injustices?

3. What are the two aspects of justification?

4. What is meant by ‘a state of grace’?

5. Jesus wants all people to share in his relationship with the Father. What
sacrament makes this possible for believers? What sacrament allows the
relationship to be restored if it is later damaged due to sin?

6. How does God empower people to promote a just world?

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Imagine the world free of all injustices,


if all people lived in harmony:
• with God
• within themselves
• with each other
• with the environment.

Imagine what sort of experiences would be


evident in a world free from:

The destruction of the relationship with


God that has led to human experiences
such as:
• confusion about God
• reluctance to worship
• difficulties with prayer
• tendencies to prefer other values, such
as money, social status and peer
acceptance.

The destruction of inner harmony that has


led to human experiences such as:
• eating disorders caused by comparing
oneself to unhealthy body images in the
media
• mistaken decisions about careers or the
choice of a marriage partner
• selfishness, resentments and racist
attitudes
• seeking happiness in money and status.

The destruction of harmony with each


other that has led to human experiences
such as:
• violence and war
• bullying
• tensions and jealousies between people
• failed relationships
• fraud and other crimes
• family tensions
• divorce.

The destruction of harmony with the rest of


creation that has led to human experiences
such as:
• pollution
• soil salinity
• environmental damage
• destruction and over-use of resources
to satisfy the greed of a minority.

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4 Jesus restores justice in
people’s hearts

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Jesus came to restore God’s original state of justice
 The Ten Commandments are related to the four harmonies of God’s justice
– Living in harmony with God
– Living in harmony within yourself
– Developing harmony with other people
– Developing harmony with creation
 Jesus restores relationships through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.

Jesus came to restore God’s original state of justice

Jesus came to restore God’s


original state of justice. He
did this in two ways. First he
NO JESUS,
restored the relationship of the
human race with God. Then, by
NO PEACE
his own example, he answered
the question: ‘How can justice
be promoted in the world
today?’

Jesus shares the Holy Spirit with


those who follow him. He told
his followers to live the two
KNOW JESUS,
“Great Commandments” he
gave with the power of this
KNOW PEACE
Spirit. Jesus also told his
followers to do what they could to teach others these Commandments:

‘Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them … and teach them to
observe all the commands I gave you.’ (Matthew 28:19)

Through his followers Jesus seeks to promote justice in the world as they carry out
his commands. An important way of bringing about justice is to relate each of God’s
Commandments to one of the four levels of harmony that characterised God’s original
justice.

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4. JESUS RESTORES JUSTICE IN PEOPLE’S HEARTS

You must love the Lord your God with all


your heart, with all your soul, with all
your strength, and with all your mind.

The Ten Commandments are related to the


four harmonies of God’s justice

Living in harmony with God


This is the basic relationship people need if they are to be spiritually empowered
to develop harmony within, harmony with others and harmony with the rest of
creation. The following Commandments of Jesus teach how to develop this
relationship.

‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with
all your strength, and with all your mind.’ (Luke 10:27)

The Holy Spirit helps people to develop greater harmony with God by keeping
the Ten Commandments.

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1st
COMMANDMENT
I am the Lord your God: you shall
not have strange gods before me

This Commandment calls people to draw on the power of the Spirit


to develop personal harmony with God by deepening:
• the spiritual gift of faith, which strengthens belief in God and
God’s teachings
• the spiritual gift of hope, which strengthens trust in God’s promises
• the spiritual gift of charity, which empowers a baptised person to love
God and all those God loves which includes the whole human race.

To develop personal harmony with God, and the gifts of faith, hope
and love, this Commandment also calls Christians:
• to adore God as the One on whom they, and everything else in creation,
depends for its existence
• to pray, communicating thanks, praise, needs and sorrow to God
• to acknowledge God as Creator by offering sincere worship, particularly
through the Eucharist
• to keep promises to God
• to keep vows of dedication to God.

Relationships with God, just like human relationships, require faith, hope
and love in God. Therefore, this Commandment forbids:
• refusing to believe in God and all that God teaches
• failing to address religious doubts
• giving up hope in God, especially by despairing in difficult times
in life
• taking God for granted by presuming on God’s help
• ignoring or being ungrateful towards God.

This Commandment also forbids activities that damage a person’s


relationship with God:
• superstition
• idolatry
• trying to tame occult powers through sorcery and divination
• putting God to the test
• treating unworthily, people and objects, such as the sacred vessels used
during the Mass dedicated to God
• simony, trying to buy or sell something spiritual.

Finally, this Commandment forbids atheism which denies God’s existence and
agnosticism which denies that people can know and learn about God.

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2nd
COMMANDMENT
You shall not take the name of
the Lord your God in vain

This Commandment calls people to respect the names of God, of Jesus


Christ, of the Virgin Mary, and of the saints. In human relationships using
people’s names disrespectfully weakens the relationship. This is also the
case in people’s relationship with God. Disrespectful use of God’s name
weakens people’s relationship with God.

This Commandment, therefore, forbids:


• swearing or using disrespectfully in other ways, the names of God, of
Jesus Christ, of the Virgin Mary and of saints
• perjury, or lying under oath
• blasphemy, or speaking in words of hatred or defiance against God.

3rd
COMMANDMENT
Keep holy the Lord’s Day

Human relationships deepen as people give time to each other. A person’s relationship
with God deepens as they give the Sabbath to God.

This Commandment calls people to dedicate each Sunday of the week to God by:
• worshipping – especially through the Eucharist
• taking rest and leisure to celebrate God, and all that God has done for people
• engaging in good works, such as visiting the sick and elderly especially family members.

People who do not set time aside for God weaken their relationship with God.
This Commandment forbids:
• failing to worship God
• unnecessary work on Sundays
• not taking time for good works.

Where people cannot fulfil their responsibilities to God on Sundays, they need to fulfil
their responsibilities on another day of the week.

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10th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods

God wants people to enjoy harmony and peace with their Creator. This is why:
• the Holy Spirit stirs those feelings called ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22–24)
• Jesus told his followers: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit…’ (Matthew 5:3).

God can fully satisfy the yearnings and desires of the human heart. People should seek
God and live as God wants, before anything else.

In order to avoid weakening harmony with God the Tenth Commandment calls
people to overcome:
• excessive desires for material things
• excessive concerns for wealth and power.

Spend some time reflecting on the following:

• What is required to develop a greater harmony with God?

• What are those things that weaken a close relationship with God?

• Does God call for anything that would not also be required for
a close human relationship?

• How can I deepen my relationship with God?

Avoid weakening
harmony with God
to overcome excessive
desires for material
things and excessive
concerns for wealth
and power.

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Living in harmony within yourself


Jesus identified the second greatest Commandment as:

‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ (Matthew 19:19)

There are two parts to this Commandment: ‘love yourself ’ and ‘love your
neighbour in the same way’.

‘Love yourself ’ means loving yourself as God loves you. It does not mean
‘be selfish’ or ‘self-centred’.

In your journal list ten things that you like/love about who
you are and how you strive to model yourself on Jesus.

Next to each reflect on how each of these ten aspects helps


you to develop inner harmony.

One way to understand what ‘love yourself ’ means is to remember that God
originally created people to be in total harmony within themselves. To love
oneself is to strive to model oneself on the model that God gave us in Jesus,
the perfect human who lived in total inner harmony.

Six of the Ten Commandments relate to people developing true love for
themselves. As they do so, they develop greater inner personal harmony.

love yourself
love your neighbour in the same way

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3rd
COMMANDMENT
Keep holy the Lord’s Day

Adequate rest, leisure and recreation


are needed for harmony within. For
this reason, this Commandment calls
people to make Sundays the special
day when they attend to ensuring that
they are adequately rested and
refreshed.

Growing levels of stress, emotional


exhaustion, physical tiredness and
inner conflict weaken harmony within
a person. This is one reason why the
Third Commandment calls people not
Sunday:
to engage in unnecessary work on
Sundays.
a day of rest and time to
This Commandment is not observed spend with the family.
widely in Australia. As a result, many
people experience stresses of various
kinds that can even damage relationships. These stresses can dominate the lives of some
individuals to the extent that they can cause people to experience serious problems.

4th
COMMANDMENT
Honour your father and mother

God created the family to provide for the physical, emotional, religious, social and other
needs of its members. The wellbeing of individual members can be affected by the health
of the family to which they belong.

For this reason, the Fourth Commandment requires people to contribute to the
community life of the family.

The opposite is also true. A weak family community may weaken a person’s inner
harmony.

The Fourth Commandment is not observed by those who:


• are selfish and contribute little to the life of their families
• fail to support the development of family members by being negative about them
• refuse to share in family tasks and activities
• behave uncooperatively and cause tension in the families.

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5th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not kill

Inner harmony grows with inner peace


and good health. This Commandment calls
people to:
• love enemies and those who cause hurt
Take care of physical health
or, in Jesus’ words, ‘… love your through proper nutrition,
enemies and pray for those who exercise and avoiding
persecute you …’ (Matthew 5:44–45)
unnecessary risks.
• take care of their physical health
through proper nutrition, exercise and
avoiding unnecessary risks
• try to understand and to direct
feelings, such as anger, hatred and
vengeance against other people, that
are likely to lead to fights and
violence.

Inner harmony weakens if people ignore the requirements of the Fifth Commandment by:
• surrendering to thoughts and feelings of anger, hatred or vengeance against other people
• neglecting their health
• eating an inadequate diet
• taking excessive risks
• abusing food
• taking drugs, except for medical reasons.

6th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not commit adultery

For inner harmony, a person needs a healthy sexuality. This affects the unity within the
whole person, conscience, emotions, thoughts, sexual feelings and love need to function
as one.

This Commandment calls people to develop chastity, the virtue that gives people the
freedom to govern their passions. Chastity strengthens against sexual feelings that may
grow so strong that people are stirred to violate God’s laws and their consciences.

Sexual feelings can begin to control people’s lives if they stir them in ways that violate
God’s law. This Commandment, therefore, forbids:
• pre-marital sex
• homosexual actions
• pornography
• deliberate masturbation.

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9th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife

To develop inner harmony, people need to avoid seeing others in ways that stir
sexual desires, for these tempt behaviours that violate the Sixth Commandment.
The Ninth Commandment promotes inner harmony by calling people to behave
modestly, that is to:
• think about and to see others as persons
• dress and behave in ways that help others to see them as persons and not
as ‘sex objects’.

This Commandment forbids thinking about others in immodest ways by:


• thinking about or seeing them as ‘sex objects’ or as sources of sexual pleasure
outside marriage
• deliberately thinking about others in lustful ways
• studying media and advertisements in immodest ways
• continuing deliberately to think about spontaneous sexual thoughts so that
they become lustful.

10th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods

To develop inner harmony, people need


to avoid developing excessive desires for
material things. Material things can
never satisfy the human heart. This
Commandment calls people to keep
their desires for pleasant things within
the limits of reason and moral
conscience.

This Commandment forbids allowing


material desires to disturb inner
harmony. These desires include:
• envy
• greed
• avarice.

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Developing harmony with other people


Jesus taught his followers to imitate God’s mercy by being merciful in turn. In
fact, he told them that they would be judged according to the mercy they show
towards others:

Be compassionate just as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you


will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned; forgive
and you will be forgiven. (Luke 6:36, 37)

Jesus ultimately commanded his followers to love others. They were to:

‘... love one another, as I have loved you.’ (John 15:12)

The love of Jesus was totally focussed on the good of others. He modelled self-
giving for others, teaching his followers:

‘No one can have greater love than to lay down his life for his friends.’ (John 15:13)

Only love brings harmony and peace between people.

‘Be in harmony with each other’.

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1st
COMMANDMENT
I am the Lord your God: you shall not have
strange gods before me

This commandment calls people to recognise the rights of others to religious freedom.
This includes the rights:
• to worship
• to have one’s religious beliefs respected
• to follow one’s conscience in religious matters
• to acceptance by others, regardless of religious beliefs, provided that these do not
suggest that the lives and rights of others be violated.

The First Commandment forbids all forms of religious discrimination:


• religious persecution
• ridiculing or rejecting others because of their religious beliefs or practices
• pressuring others to violate religious conscience.

4th
COMMANDMENT
Honour your father and mother

This Commandment is primarily concerned with harmony and peace within family life
and society.

To develop harmony with others in their family


The Fourth Commandment calls:
• children to fulfil responsibilities to parents
• parents to fulfil responsibilities towards children.

To develop harmony with others in society


Harmony in society requires the cooperation of all its members. The Fourth
Commandment calls people:
• to recognise and obey legitimate authority, except where laws disobey God’s laws
• to respect the just rights of members of society
• to contribute to the running of society, such as by paying taxes.

Authorities have basic responsibilities towards members of society:


• to respect the God-given rights of members
• to pass laws that are just, and in keeping with God’s laws.

Harmony in society also requires governments to respect the following rights of the family.

In general, society has a responsibility to:


• protect and support marriage and the family
• safeguard moral standards
• promote family prosperity.

These responsibilities should be considered in political policies related to taxation,


employment, education, health and housing.

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Family rights taught by the Catholic Church


The Catholic Church identifies seven basic family rights that governments in particular
are bound to respect. These are the right to:
• the freedom to have children and bring them up according to the moral
and religious beliefs of the parents
• a stable marriage and family life
• the freedom to profess their faith, to hand it on and to raise their
children in that faith
• the right to private property and the freedom to work, to have
somewhere to live and to emigrate
• medical care, assistance for the aged and family benefits, according to the
country’s institutions
• security and the protection of public health, especially with regard to
such dangers as drug abuse, pornography and alcoholism
• the freedom to associate with other families.

The Fourth Commandment forbids behaviours by children that weaken harmony


in the family. Behaviours such as:
• deliberate disobedience
• showing disrespect for other family members
• failing to care for members who are sick, young, elderly or who have some
special need
• not respecting parents’ wishes while living under their roof, even if one is
an adult son or daughter
• being argumentative and uncooperative in the home.

The Fourth Commandment forbids parents from:


• neglecting the needs of their children
• neglecting their children’s religious development
• failing to help children discover their vocations or life-callings
• pressuring their children to follow a certain career or to enter into a marriage.

The Fourth Commandment forbids citizens from disobeying legitimate civil authorities.
It forbids governments from passing laws that disobey God’s law or laws that violate the
just rights of people.

Human beings have the


right to have a life of
freedom and harmony.

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5th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not kill

For harmony with others, it is essential to recognise their right to life. God created
human life as sacred. This Commandment calls people, therefore:
• to respect everyone’s right to life, from conception to natural death
• to defend people from aggressors
• to do all that they can to protect human life
• to do whatever they can to see that all people have the necessities of life – food and
clothing, housing, health-care, basic education, employment and social assistance
• to support the dying
• to promote peace and the avoidance of war.

The Fifth Commandment forbids actions that kill or endanger human life unnecessarily:
• murder
• abortion
• euthanasia
• suicide
• refusing to contribute to provide for those who do not have the necessities of life
• endangering the health of others
• terrorism
• kidnapping
• expressing hatred for others
• venting anger in harmful ways.

6th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not commit adultery

When a man and woman exchange marriage vows, they are committing themselves to a
life-long partnership. Each builds their future life on the promise made to them by the other.

A stable marriage relationship provides a firm foundation for a stable family life.
Respect in marriage leads to harmony between husband and wife which is essential to
harmony within families.

Through this Commandment, God calls:


• husbands and wives to remain faithful to their marriage vows for the rest of their lives
• family members to encourage and support the relationship between married couples.
• all other people to encourage and support the relationship between married couples.

The Sixth Commandment forbids behaviour that weakens the marriage relationship:
• adultery
• marrying again after divorce
• ‘trial marriages’ or de facto relationships.

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7th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not steal

This Commandment is concerned with respect for what others own. Those lacking the
necessities of life have first claim to what they need. Private property is a right people
have, provided this does not conflict with the needs of someone lacking life necessities.
God gave the resources of the earth to provide for the needs of the human race. This
Commandment calls people:
• to ensure that those lacking the necessities of life are provided with what they need
• to respect private property
• to keep business contracts and promises
• to love the poor
• to pay just wages to workers.

Cheating others out of what is legitimately theirs violates the Seventh Commandment.
It forbids:
• theft
• not returning what was borrowed
• business fraud
• taking unfair business advantage over others
• breaking business contracts and promises
• excessive gambling
• reducing others to slavery, including economic slavery.

8th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not bear false witness against
your neighbour

There cannot be real harmony with others unless there is basic trust. This in turn
requires truthfulness between people.

The Eighth Commandment calls all people to be truthful in their words and deeds. The
Commandment forbids the many ways people can be untruthful. These include:
• lying
• perjury by lying under oath
• damaging the reputation of others through calumny; saying what is untrue about
them or detraction; gossiping or repeating what is true without serious reason
• making rash judgements; forming opinions and views about others without sufficient
evidence or reflection
• flattering others
• boasting; exaggerating truth about oneself
• refusing to give information needed to protect others from harm, or to violate
their privacy
• revealing secrets
• breaking others’ confidences.

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Harmony between human beings


and the rest of creation –
calling people to respect the
integrity of creation; the
environment and its laws; and
the needs of future, as well as
the present generation, to use
the mineral, vegetable and
animal resources of the earth.

Developing harmony with creation


Laws of God which are concerned with safeguarding harmony between human
beings and the rest of creation are also found under the Seventh Commandment.

7th
COMMANDMENT
You shall not steal

The Seventh Commandment promotes harmony between human beings and the rest of
creation by calling people to respect:
• the integrity of creation
• the environment and its laws
• the needs of future, as well as the present generation, to use the mineral, vegetable
and animal resources of the earth.

People weaken this harmony by abusing creation for greedy and self-centred purposes.
The Seventh Commandment forbids:
• exploiting the resources of the earth without giving due concern to the needs of
others of present or future generations
• unnecessary cruelty to animals
• environmental degradation and pollution.

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Jesus restores these relationships through the Sacrament


of Reconciliation
The foundation for true justice is each person’s personal relationship with God. The
Holy Spirit draws baptised people closer to God. People grow spiritually stronger. Their
ability to live the Commandments and to resist sin grows.

When they sin, people’s spiritual strength weakens. Human weaknesses, such as greed
and selfishness, become more influential. People find it harder to live the
Commandments and the harmonies within themselves, with others and with the rest of
creation.

Jesus gave the Church the Sacrament of Reconciliation so that baptised people who sin
can receive God’s forgiveness and restore their relationship with God. People can
strengthen this relationship further through daily prayer, Sunday Mass, and by trying to
live as Jesus taught.

As well as restoring a person’s relationship with God, this Sacrament restores the other
relationships needed for true justice:
… reconciliation with God leads… to other reconciliations, which repair the other
breaches caused by sin. The forgiven penitent is reconciled with himself in his inmost
being… reconciled with his brethren… and reconciled with all creation.
(Pope John Paul II, Reconciliatio et paenitentia cited
in Catechism of the Catholic Church 1469)

In Class Work

Use the information from this chapter to answer the following:

1. Name three activities forbidden by the First Commandment.

2. How does the Fifth Commandment call people to develop harmony


within themselves?

3. Name four basic family rights the Catholic Church identifies that
governments are bound to respect.

4. How does the Sixth Commandment call people to develop harmony


with others?

5. How does the Seventh Commandment call people to develop


harmony with creation?

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5 Jesus calls Christians to promote
social justice

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Every human person has basic developmental needs
 The earth’s resources are intended to meet every person’s basic needs
 Jesus taught about corporal works of mercy
 The Eucharist nourishes commitment to the poor.

Every human person has basic developmental needs

God intended to provide for the


needs of every human being through
others, through parents, spouses,
family members, friends and wider
society. With the growth of
selfishness, self-centredness, greed
and many other human weaknesses as
a result of original sin, God’s plan
could no longer continue.

Of the four harmonies of God’s


original justice the harmony between
people affects the development of
human beings in important ways.
As a result of this not everyone
has the same opportunities to develop
as God wishes.

God created potential in human


beings. People need to develop this
potential to experience personal
fulfilment. Though they vary in their
potential in many ways, because there
are many different human gifts,
human beings share certain basic
elements in common.

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In your journal draw a timeline. Begin from the time before your
birth, when you were growing and developing in your mother’s
womb. Continue the timeline up until the present. On this timeline
indicate the people who have provided for you along the way and
given you the opportunities to develop as God wishes.

Pray to God asking God to bless these people who have given you
so much in your life.

Everyone, for example, has physical potential. Yet people vary in their physical gifts.
Some may become athletes, others dancers and others are skilled in crafts. However, all
share the same basic physical needs, such as food and shelter.

In the same way, human beings share intellectual and emotional potential. The gifts they
share due to these potentials may vary, but all have intellectual and emotional needs.
Emotional potential reaches fulfilment when people can love selflessly.

People have the social potential to develop strong relationships.

A person’s spiritual potential provides the inner spiritual strength needed to rise above
personal challenges and difficulties.

Human beings share the potential to recognise goodness and beauty in creation. They
also have the potential to be moral and to do what is right.

Most importantly, people share religious potential. This is the potential to respond to
God, who calls all people into personal relationship through creation and through the
yearnings in their hearts that God alone can satisfy.
I want to
be a dancer I want to
be a father I want to
I want to get married
be a doctor I want to
I want to
help others serve God

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The basic requirements for life and human development


Among the various human needs, some are basic requirements for human
life and development.

These are:

… food and clothing, housing, health care, basic education, employment


and social assistance. (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2288)

As people develop each of the areas of their personal potential, they can
develop the harmonies God intended them to experience. The human
weaknesses and failings caused by original sin work against this. This
conflict can be overcome only to the extent that people draw on the power
of the Kingdom of God, which Christ promised to all who ‘Repent and
believe’ his gospel (Mark 1:15).

God provides for the basic human needs


God intends that everyone should reach their full potential. God created in
everyone the human will, giving them the freedom to take responsibility for their
own personal development as they mature. To help them with this, God created:
• the resources of the earth
• human society.

The resources of the earth


God has provided for human needs through creation. These include food, water,
air, and materials for building shelters against the weather, clothing, and what is
needed for medicines. God has also provided beauty in nature to assist people to
recognise their Creator.

God planned all these resources for the benefit of the human race. God’s
intention that the basic needs of every man, woman and child be provided from
the resources of the earth is like a moral law. Human beings are obliged to obey
this intention of the Creator.

God’s plan frustrated by sin


God’s original intention that the resources of the earth provide for human needs
was frustrated by original sin. Today, there are people who lack the basic
necessities of life. Reasons for this include:
• the growing gap between rich and poor across the earth
• twenty percent of nations using eighty six percent of the earth’s resources
• colonial powers depleting the natural resources of countries under their rule.

Many rivers are polluted, as is the air in many places. Children in some countries
are dying of measles and other diseases easily cured or prevented by modern
medicine.

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The earth’s resources are intended to


meet every person’s basic needs
God’s intention that every human being draw
from the resources of the earth for their basic
needs is called the Principle of the Universal
Destination of Goods. It means that, where
someone is starving or lacking any basic
essential for life, they are entitled to take
whatever basic resource they need from the
surplus of another person who has more than they
need. The resource is theirs by God’s authority.

God intends human beings to have from the earth’s resources


what they need to live. Life saving food or medicine belongs
to those who need them to survive, not the person who has
more than they need.

In Class Work

Research Caritas Australia and Catholic Mission Australia, two of the


Catholic agencies who work for development and justice.

Make a bullet point summary of the information they provide about poverty
in the world and the disparity between rich and poor.

What work do these organisations do to help provide for the basic necessities
of life for people throughout the world?

These organisations do not spend large sums from the donations they receive
on self-promotion. They rely on promotion within the church and its agencies,
such as Catholic schools.

In groups develop strategies that promote these agencies and their work to
students in Catholic schools.

As a class decide on which strategies could be implemented in your school.

Where the Principle of the Universal Destination of Goods seems to be in conflict with
the God-given right to own property, the first principle must prevail. In Catholic
teaching:

The right to private property … does not do away with the original gift of the
earth to the whole of (the human race). The universal destination of goods remains
primordial … (Catechism of the Catholic Church 2403)

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It is hard to see situations in which there could be conflict between this Principle and
the right to private property in Australia, a country with many social services. It is
however, an important principle to remember when discussing how to promote justice
in the world.

For your information…


Primordial means existing in the very beginning. God’s gift of the earth to the whole of
humanity existed before the development of the concept of ‘private property.’

This principle does mean, however, that the better off are obliged to give to the needy.
They can do so through organisations such as Caritas Australia and Australian Catholic
Missions Australia.

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Jesus taught about corporal works of mercy


Jesus emphasised God’s intention for the resources of the earth. In two parables, he
warned that those who fail to provide for the needy from any surplus that they have
beyond their own needs will be condemned. These parables are:

The Parable of the Rich Man and the Beggar

‘… one of those gathered round the table said to him, ‘Blessed is anyone who will
share the meal in the kingdom of God!’ But he said to him, ‘There was a man who
gave a great banquet, and he invited a large number of people. When the time for the
banquet came, he sent his servant to say to those who had been invited, “Come
along: everything is ready now.” But all alike started to make excuses. The first said,
“I have bought a piece of land and must go and see it. Please accept my apologies.”
Another said, “I have bought five yoke of oxen and am on my way to try them out.
Please accept my apologies.” Yet another said, “I have just got married and so am
unable to come.”

‘The servant returned and reported this to his master. Then the householder, in a rage,
said to his servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring
in here the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.” “Sir,” said the servant, “your
orders have been carried out and there is still room.” Then the master said to his
servant, “Go to the open roads and the hedgerows and press people to come in, to
make sure my house is full; because I tell you, not one of those who were invited
shall have a taste of my banquet.” (Luke 14:15–24)

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The Parable of the Last Judgement

‘When the Son of man comes in his glory, escorted by the angels, then he will take his
seat on his throne of glory. All nations will assemble before him and he will separate
people one from another as the shepherd separates sheep from goats. He will place the
sheep on his right hand and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on
his right hand, “Come, you whom my father has blessed, take as your heritage the
kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and
you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you
made me welcome, lacking clothes and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in
prison and you came to see me.” Then the upright will say to him in reply, “Lord,
when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did
we see you a stranger and make you welcome, lacking clothes and clothe you. When
did we find you sick or in prison and go to see you?” And the King will answer, “In
truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine,
you did it to me.” Then he will say to those on his left hand, “Go away from me,
with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For
I was hungry and you never gave me food, I was thirsty and you never gave me
anything to drink, I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, lacking clothes
and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me. “Then it will
be their turn to ask, “Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty, a stranger or
lacking clothes, sick or in prison and did not come to your help?” Then he will
answer, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of
these, you neglected to do it to me.” And they will go away to eternal punishment
and the upright to eternal life. (Matthew 25:31–46)

Corporal works of mercy


Feeding the hungry, giving a drink to the thirsty, sheltering the homeless, clothing the
naked, visiting the sick, visiting the imprisoned and burying the dead are called corporal
works of mercy. Among all of these works of mercy, Jesus focussed especially on giving
money or alms to those people in need:

So when you give alms, do not have it trumpeted before you; that is what hypocrites
do in the synagogues and in the streets to win human admiration. In truth I tell you,
they have had their reward. But when you give alms, your left hand must not know
what your right hand is doing; your almsgiving must be secret, and your Father who
sees all that is done in secret will reward you.’ (Matthew 6:2–4)

‘When all the people asked him, ‘What must we do then?’ he answered, ‘Anyone who
has two tunics must share with the one who has none, and anyone with something to
eat must do the same.’ (Luke 3:10–11)

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‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say,
“My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just
arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him” and the man answers from
inside the house, “Do not bother me .... I cannot get up to give it to you.” I tell you,
if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will make
him get up and give his friend all he wants.’ (Luke 11:5–8)

‘If one of the brothers or one of the sisters is in need of clothes and has not enough
food to live on, and one of you says to them, ‘I wish you well; keep yourself warm
and eat plenty,’ without giving them these bare necessities of life, then what good is
that?’ (James 2:15–16)

If anyone is well off in worldly possessions and sees his brother in need but closes his
heart to him, how can the love of God be remaining in him? (1 John 3:17)

These teachings apply where people have what exceeds their own life needs and what
they need to provide for their families. People are not exempt from giving to the poor
because of their financial or material ambitions. Responsibilities to the needy should be
factored into plans for funding extra luxuries.

In Class Work

‘Corporal’ means of the body.

Why do you think Jesus placed so much importance on caring for people’s
physical as well as spiritual needs?

Why does Matthew 6:2–4 say that almsgiving should be secret? Find a
proverb or make up your own saying that summarises the teaching of this
excerpt from the Gospel.

What does Luke 3:10–11 teach about the proper use of material possessions?

What does the passage from Luke 11: 5–8 teach about true friendship and
how to treat strangers and travellers? Who are the strangers and travellers in
Australian society today?

The extracts from the epistles of James and John indicate that in order to
follow Christ’s teachings and to achieve Salvation, Christians need to have
more than faith alone. What else must they do to live as God taught?

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The Eucharist nourishes commitment to the poor


When people receive Jesus in Holy Communion he draws them into deeper relationship.
As with human relationships, the closer people become to Jesus, the more they are
influenced by his attitudes and ideas.

God so loves the poor


that Jesus was born
poor, and lived in a
poor family. Jesus
deepens love for the
poor in those who
receive him in Holy
Communion.

In Australia, with the


decline in religious
practice, there has
been a decline in the
percentage of
people working in
voluntary organisations
that help the poor.
There have been
declines also in:
• individual
donations for works
for the poor
• Australian national
funding for
overseas aid.

Jesus teaches that


people have a moral
responsibility to care
Door Carving, depicting the Eucharist, Via Tornabuoni (wood)
for the poor by
supporting non-government
agencies that help the poor
and by encouraging elected
officials to adopt policies Jesus teaches that people have a moral
that assist the poor in
Australia and overseas. responsibility to care for the poor.

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6 The Church promotes
social justice

This chapter presents the following key learning points:


 Jesus calls his Church to promote social justice
 Social justice organisations within the Catholic Church help those in need
 The social teachings of the Catholic Church promote justice.

Jesus calls his Church to promote social justice

To develop their potential, people need others. They cannot develop socially without
communities or societies.

People need communities in a special way when they are young, sick or elderly. Without
others, how could they be educated? Or be fed with the range of foods needed for good
nutrition? Or be given adequate medical care?

The purpose of communities


The basic purpose of any human community, therefore, is to provide for the needs of the
individuals who belong to it. The life of any community includes giving and receiving.
Communities in cities, towns and suburbs care for the needs of the individuals who belong
to them. In rural areas, country towns are the key to rural life because they provide a
focus of support for a wider community. In rural and urban societies, there are also
organisations and associations that contribute to the lives of members of the wider society.

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These organisations and


associations are
important because they
help contributors to
develop their own
personal qualities, and
to provide opportunities
for them to develop
initiative and
responsibility. Many
organisations, such as
unions are important for
protecting members’
rights.

In every community
there needs to be an
authority. Without this,
unity is weakened. As
the basic role of every Organisations and associations are
community is to serve
the needs of people,
impor tant because they help contributors to
legitimate authority is develop their own personal qualities, and to
meant to serve. It
should never see others
provide oppor tunities for them to develop
as its own servants. initiative and responsibility.
Sin weakens communities
The human weaknesses and failings caused by original sin also weaken communities.
Authorities can become corrupt and self-serving. There can be power struggles and
individuals may focus upon personal gain and prestige, rather than contributing to the
service of others.

Injustices can also develop in social institutions. Some people can be treated in
privileged ways, while others are treated unfairly. Some people can be forced to take an
unfair share of responsibility; others can be subjected to unfair discrimination.

A community in which individuals and groups get a fair share of the benefits available is
representative of a just society. The term ‘social justice’ refers to justice in the areas of
economic activity and social matters.

Social justice is an important part of the gospel of Jesus. It is also an important element
in the mission he gave the special community he established – his Church. The Church
fulfils this mission in two important ways. The first, through its organisations, the
second is through its teachings.

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6. THE CHURCH PROMOTES SOCIAL JUSTICE

Social justice organisations within the


Catholic Church help those in need
Church organisations are formed as a result of the
action of the Holy Spirit moving members to join
together to contribute to helping those in need.
There are organisations at national, state, diocesan
and parish levels.

A variety of Church organisations assist poor


people in many ways, by providing:
• financial assistance
• food, shelter and clothing
• advice and counselling about employment
opportunities, forms of government assistance
and training that might be available to them.

A range of Church organisations and groups assist


people with special needs. These include:
• the homeless
• people with disabilities
• those in prison
• refugees and asylum seekers
• migrants
• alcoholics
• mariners.

A range of Church organisations cares for


the sick and elderly. They include:
• hospitals
• hospices
• retirement centres
• nursing homes for those needing
permanent extended care
• medical support services.

A range of Church organisations


provides for those needing special
support. They include:
• counselling
• emergency help.

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Project Compassion:
Reaching more than 40 countries in over 100 villages
and camps, the number of patients Project Compassion
has treated exceeds 250,000: including disaster relief to
those afflicted in the recent hurricanes, earthquakes and
tsunamis.

Many human beings around the world live in


serious poverty. Two important Church
national organisations are:
• Caritas Australia (Project Compassion is
an important activity of this organisation)
• Catholic Mission Australia.

Anyone involved in a Church organisation is following his or her vocation or calling.


Some give their lives completely, such as:
• priests
• permanent deacons
• religious brothers or sisters.

Others work within the Church as paid employees. There are many volunteers too who
do unpaid work for the welfare of others at various times. Many of today’s young
people will be among those needing assistance from tomorrow’s priests, deacons,
religious and lay people. The extent to which they can be assisted will depend upon how
many of today’s young people become involved in the Church’s social justice works as
priests, deacons, religious and lay people.

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6. THE CHURCH PROMOTES SOCIAL JUSTICE

The social teachings of the Catholic Church


promote justice
The social teachings of the Catholic Church are admired widely throughout the world.
Catholics have been at the forefront in movements committed to promoting justice.

These teachings have been derived from Popes and Bishops applying the teachings of
Christ, especially those related to the Seventh Commandment, to situations in different
societies and countries around the world. In applying Christ’s teachings, the Holy Spirit
has guided the Pope and Bishops through the special spiritual gifts they have inherited
from the apostles.

The Church’s social doctrine upon which many Catholic social


teachings are founded is based on:
• the Universal Destination of Goods
• the Common Good
• the three Principles of social justice.

For your information…


The Church has developed a considerable body of social teaching over the past
100 years starting with Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891) which
reflected on the condition of working people. John Paul II also developed
social justice encyclicals:
• Laborem Exercens (1981) teaches that labour is more important than
capital, and makes the person and human work central to social issues.
• Sollicitudo Rei Socialis (1987) deals with social concerns and the structures
of sin which hinder development of peoples. It calls for a conversion of heart
and an option for the poor.
• Centesimus Annus (1991) marked the 100th anniversary of Rerum Novarum.
While defending the right to private property, it says all people are entitled to
a fair share of what God has created. Governments must watch over the
common good and ensure that every sector of social life contributes to it and
receives a just share from it. The Pope recognises some positive features of
the free market, while warning about the self-centred materialism of affluent
Western societies.

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The Common Good


The word ‘common’ refers to needs individuals have in common. It does not mean what
benefits the majority.

The common good requires even the overwhelming majority in a society to provide for
the basic needs of a small group in society. Practical examples include:
• wheel chair access to buildings
• the provision of special carers to people with disabilities
• pensions
• unemployment benefits.

These meet the basic needs people share in common:


• to participate in society
• to care for a person when they cannot provide this for themselves
• security when someone is unable to work
• security when society cannot provide adequate employment opportunities.

It can be difficult at times to apply the principle of the Common Good. In practice,
three questions need to be asked:
1. What fundamental rights of people need to be respected?
2. What is needed for the development of the spiritual and material resources of society?
3. Will this decision endanger the peace and security of the group and its members?

The answer to the first question is that people have the rights needed to develop all the
various elements of human potential.

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The answer to the second question is based upon the obligation of a society to help
people to develop all the elements of their potential; society needs both spiritual and
material resources. Spiritual resources include churches, religious leaders, moral
expectations, art and places for people to ‘get in touch’ with their spiritual, religious and
moral potentials.

Material resources include food, shelter, medicines and the other resources needed for
people’s physical, educational and other non-spiritual potential.

The needs of society follow from its purpose, which is to provide for the needs of
individuals within it. The Common Good is one reason why governments are entitled to
tax people, and why other communities have collections or fees.

If a policy threatens the resources society needs to meet the needs of its members, the
policy threatens the Common Good.

The answer to the third question is that if the future of society or community becomes
endangered by a policy, the policy is a threat to the Common Good.

The three principles of social justice


Social justice is concerned with providing people
and associations with the conditions needed to
respect their basic entitlements. Social justice is
linked to the Common Good. Social justice needs
to be practised at the family, local, national and
international levels. Social justice is based upon
three principles:
• the dignity of every person to be respected
• every human being to be treated equally,
regardless of differences
• that people should support each other
in solidarity.

In Class Work

The patron saints of social justice are


St Joseph and St Martin de Porres.
Research the lives of these saints and
the reasons why they are seen as men
St. Joseph and the Christ Child,
of justice. Create prayer cards for each 1597–99 (oil on canvas), Greco, El
saint using your research to (Domenico Theotocopuli) (1541–1614)

demonstrate how they lived the three


principles of social justice.

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6. THE CHURCH PROMOTES SOCIAL JUSTICE

Societies and communities exist to provide


for the basic needs of their members.

The dignity of every human person to be respected


Societies and communities exist to provide for the basic needs of their members.
A society or community that does not respect the God-given dignity of every member
loses its legitimacy.

In many countries, people’s dignity is not respected. The poor are looked down upon
in some; women are denied the right to vote in others. In some countries, people are
imprisoned because of their political views. Some governments are dictatorships through
which the leaders enrich themselves at the cost of ordinary people.

Respect for the dignity of the human person also applies to individuals. It calls for all to
treat everyone as ‘another self ’:

‘... love your neighbour as yourself ’ (Matthew 19:19)

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In particular, it means helping others in need and even forgiving others for offences.
In the words of Jesus:

‘… in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me.
… in so far as you neglected to do this to the least of these, you neglected to do it to me.’
(Matthew 25:40; 45)

Every human person must be treated equally regardless of differences


Since all people share God-given dignity, all are equal. They share the same human
nature and are capable of reflecting God.

This principle applies to everyone, regardless of differences. There can be differences


in age, skin colour, physical ability, intelligence and social background. Some have
special needs, others are elderly and others are not yet born.

In Class Work

The right to life and human dignity is the cornerstone of Catholic social
teaching. The fact that ‘All human beings are born free and equal in dignity
and rights’ is also acknowledged in the first article of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights. This declaration was proclaimed by the United
Nations General Assembly in 1948. Read the preamble and articles of this
document and highlight those parts that clearly reflect the principles and
teachings of the Catholic Church’s social doctrine.

Promoting Justice in Australia


Many injustices exist in society
because good people are not sensitive
to them. This is true in Australia as
well as other countries.

Australians need to reflect on


injustices in Australian society to
promote the justice intended to
benefit all. Two questions they
need to ask are:
• is every human person benefiting
from the Common Good?
• can I see examples of social
injustices that need to be
addressed?

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Spend some time reflecting on the injustices you are aware


of in your community and in Australian society today.

What needs to happen to address these injustices?

Is there anything you and your family and friends can


do to help address these injustices?

People should support each other in human solidarity


Human solidarity means ‘pitching in’ to share spiritual and material goods with others.
It includes:
• those with plenty sharing with those in need
• poor people working together to overcome poverty
• joining in to work with others to help them meet their needs
• wealthy nations helping poorer countries through various development and aid projects.

For Christians, solidarity with others means sharing the spiritual resources Christ has
given for the benefit of all. The primary way Christians practise solidarity here is by
fulfilling Christ’s command to:

‘... make disciples of all nations …’ (Matthew 28:19)

In Class Work

Use the information from the last two chapters to answer the following:

1. What are the corporal works of mercy?

2. Explain, with an example, the Principle of the Universal Destination


of Goods.

3. How does the Eucharist nourish commitment to the poor?

4. Use the words ‘community’ and ‘fair’ to explain the term ‘social justice’.

5. What are the three principles of social justice?

6. What is meant by ‘the common good’?

7. Read one of the encyclicals that are part of the Social Teaching of the
Catholic Church mentioned in this chapter. List three rights discussed in
the encyclical that are relevant to issues in Australian society today. Then
make a list of three responsibilities that correspond to each of these rights.

Right Responsibility

1. ___________________________ 1. __________________________

2. ___________________________ 2. __________________________

3. ___________________________ 3. __________________________

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APPENDICES

Our Prayers

1. Sign of the Cross 5. Grace Before Meals


In the name of the Father, and of the Bless (+) us, O Lord, and these your
Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. gifts which by your goodness we are
about to receive,
through Christ our Lord.
2. The Lord’s Prayer
(Our Father) R: Amen.
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
6. Grace After Meals
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done We give you thanks for all your gifts,
on earth as it is in heaven. almighty God, who lives and reigns
Give us this day our daily bread; now and forever.
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass R: Amen.
against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil. Amen 7. Prayer of Sorrow
(Act of Contrition)
O my God, I am very sorry
3. Hail Mary
that I have sinned against you,
Hail Mary, full of grace, because you are so good,
the Lord is with you; and with the help of your grace,
blessed are you among women, I will not sin again.
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
Jesus.
8. Act of Faith, Hope and Love
Holy Mary, mother of God,
My God, I believe in you,
pray for us sinners
I trust in you,
now and at the hour of our death.
I love you above all things
Amen
with all my heart and mind and
strength. Amen

4. Glory Be to the Father


(Gloria Patri)
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit:
As it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be
world without end. Amen.

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9. Prayer to the Guardian Angel 11. Morning Offering


Angel sent by God to guide me; Lord, I give you today my prayers,
be my light and walk beside me, thoughts, works and actions,
be my guardian and protect me; that they may be for your glory.
on the paths of life direct me. and for the good of the world.

OR
12. Come, Holy Spirit
Angel of God, my guardian dear,
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts
to whom God’s love commits me here,
of your faithful.
ever this day be at my side
R: And kindle in them the fire
to light and guard, to rule and guide.
of your love.
Send forth your Spirit and they shall be
created.
10. Prayer for Meetings
R: And you will renew the face
We come before you, Holy Spirit, of the earth.
conscious of our sinfulness,
but aware that we gather in your name. Let us pray.
Come to us, remain with us, Lord,
and enlighten our hearts. By the light of the Holy Spirit
Give us light and strength: you have taught the hearts of your
to know your will faithful.
to make it our own, In the same Spirit
and to live it in our lives. help us to be truly wise
Guide us by your wisdom, and always rejoice in your consolation.
support us by your power, We ask this through Christ our Lord.
for you are God, R: Amen.
sharing the glory of Father and Son.
You desire justice for all: 13. A Prayer for Christian Unity
enable us to uphold the rights of
Across all our barriers of language,
others;
race and nationality,
do not allow us to be misled by
R: Unite us, Jesus.
ignorance
Across all our mutual ignorance,
or corrupted by fear or favour.
prejudice and hostility,
Unite us to yourself in the bond of love
R: Unite us, Jesus.
and keep us faithful to all that is true.
Across all our differences of thought,
As we gather in your name
outlook and religious allegiance,
may we temper justice with love,
R: Unite us, Jesus.
so that all our decisions
may be pleasing to you,
O God, for your greater glory,
and earn the reward
R: Gather together the separated
promised to good and faithful servants.
Christians.
Amen.
O God, for the triumph of goodness
and truth,

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R: Gather together the separated 15. The Angelus


Christians.
O God, that there may be one flock The Angel of the Lord declared unto
and one Shepherd, Mary,
R: Gather together the separated R: And she conceived of the
Christians. Holy Spirit.
O God, to confound the pride of Satan Hail Mary …
and his assaults, Behold the handmaid of the Lord:
R: Gather together the separated R: Be it done unto to me according to
Christians. your word.
O God, that peace may reign in the Hail Mary …
world at last, And the Word was made flesh,
R: Gather together the separated R: And dwelt amongst us.
Christians. Hail Mary …
O God, for the greater joy of the heart Pray for us, O holy Mother of God,
of your Son, R: That we may be made worthy of
R: Gather together the separated the promises of Christ.
Christians.
Paul Couturier, Week of Prayer
Let us pray:

Pour forth we beseech you, O Lord,


14. Anima Christi your grace into our hearts, that we,
to whom the incarnation of
Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Christ your Son,
Body of Christ, save me. was made known by the message
Blood of Christ, fill me. of an Angel,
Water from the side of Christ, may, by his passion and Cross,
wash me. be brought to the glory of his
passion of Christ, strengthen me. Resurrection,
Good Jesus, hear me. through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen.
In your wounds, shelter me.
From turning away, keep me.
From the evil one, protect me. 16. Hail, Holy Queen
At the hour of my death, call me. (Salve Regina)
Into your presence, lead me
to praise you with all your saints Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy;
forever and ever. hail, our life, our sweetness and our
Amen. hope.
To you do we cry, poor banished
children of Eve.
To you do we send up our sighs,
mourning and weeping in this valley of
tears.
Turn then, most gracious advocate,
your eyes of mercy towards us,
and after this, our exile, show unto us
the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus.
O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin
Mary.

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17. Memorare 19. Prayer of St Ignatius


Remember, most loving Virgin Mary, Take hold of me, Lord.
never was it heard Accept this offering of freedom, of
that anyone who turned to you for memory, of mind, of will,
help was left unaided. these things I cling to and count as
my own.
Inspired by this confidence, All are your gifts, Lord: now I return
though burdened by my sins, them,
I run to your protection They are yours: do as your will.
for you are my mother. Give me only your free gift of love: in
this you give all.
Mother of the Word of God,
do not despise my words of pleading
but be merciful and hear my prayer. 20. Prayer for Generosity
Amen.
Lord Jesus, teach me to be generous:
To serve you as you deserve to be served,
To give without counting the cost,
18. Prayer of St Francis of Assisi
To fight without heeding the wounds,
Lord, make me an instrument of your To work without seeking rest,
peace. To spend my life without expecting any
Where there is hatred, let me sow love; other return,
Where there is injury, pardon; Than the knowledge that I do your
Where there is doubt, faith; holy will.
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy. 21. Prayer for Serenity
O divine Master, grant that I may not
O God, give me the serenity,
so much seek,
To accept the things I cannot change,
To be consoled as to console,
The courage to change the things I can,
To be understood as to understand,
And the wisdom to know the
To be loved as to love,
difference.
For it is in giving that we receive,
It is in pardoning that we are
pardoned,
22. Prayer for the Dead
It is in dying that we are born to
eternal life. Eternal rest grant them, (him/her),
O Lord.

R: And let perpetual light shine upon


them.

May they (he/she) rest in peace.

R: Amen.

May their (his/her) soul, and the souls


of all the faithful departed,
through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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You have given joy to the world 24. Nicene Creed


by the resurrection of your Son our
Lord Jesus Christ. We believe in one God,
Through the prayers of his mother, the the Father, the Almighty,
Virgin Mary, maker of heaven and earth,
bring us to the happiness of eternal of all that is seen and unseen.
life.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,
R: Amen. the only Son of God,
eternally begotten of the Father,
God from God, Light from Light,
23. The Divine Praises true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
Blessed be God. of one in Being with the Father.
Blessed be his holy name. Through Him all things were made.
For us men and for our salvation
Blessed be Jesus Christ, true God and he came down from heaven:
true man. by the power of the Holy Spirit,
Blessed be the name of Jesus. he became incarnate of the Virgin
Blessed be his most Sacred Heart. Mary, and was made man.
Blessed be his most Precious Blood.
Blessed be Jesus in the Most Holy For our sake he was crucified under
Sacrament of the altar. Pontius Pilate;
he suffered, death, and was buried.
Blessed be the Holy Spirit, the On the third day He rose again in
paraclete. accordance with the Scriptures:
he ascended into heaven
Blessed be the great mother of God, and is now seated at the right hand of
Mary most holy. the Father.
Blessed be her most holy and He will come again in glory to judge
Immaculate Conception. the living and the dead,
Blessed be her glorious Assumption. and his kingdom will have no end.
Blessed be the name of Mary, virgin
and mother. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the
Blessed be Saint Joseph, her most Lord, the giver of life,
chaste spouse. who proceeds from the Father and the
Son.
Blessed be God in his angels and in his With the Father and the Son, he is
saints. worshipped and glorified.
He has spoken through the Prophets.
We believe in one, holy, catholic, and
apostolic Church.
We acknowledge one baptism for the
forgiveness of sins.
We look for the resurrection of the
dead,
and the life of the world to come.
Amen.

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25. Apostles’ Creed He has come to the aid of his servant


Israel,
I believe in God, the Father almighty, to remember the promise of mercy,
creator of heaven and earth. the promise made to our forebears
to Abraham and his children forever.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only son,
our Lord.
He was conceived by the Holy Spirit 27. The Song of Zechariah
and born of the Virgin Mary. (Benedictus)(Luke 1:68–79)
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried; Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel,
he descended into hell. Who has come to his people and set
On the third day he rose again. them free.
He ascended into heaven, The Lord has raised up for us a mighty
and is seated at the right hand of the Saviour,
Father. Born of the house of his servant David.
He will come again to judge the living through the holy prophets, God
and the dead. promised of old
To save us from our enemies,
I believe in the Holy Spirit, From the hands of all who hate us,
the holy catholic Church, To show mercy to our forebears,
the communion of saints, And to remember his holy covenant.
the forgiveness of sins, This is the oath God swore to our
the resurrection of the body, father Abraham.
and life everlasting. Amen. To set us free from the hands of our
enemies,
26. The Song of Mary Free to worship him without fear,
(Magnificat)( Luke 1:39–56) Holy and righteous before him,
All the days of our life.
My soul proclaims the greatness of
the Lord, 28. Stations of the Cross
my spirit rejoices in God my saviour,
who has looked with favour on his 1 The Last Supper
lowly servant. 2 The Garden of Gethsemane
From this day all generations will call 3 Jesus before the Sanhedrin
me blessed: 4 Jesus before Pilate
The Almighty has done great things for 5 Jesus is whipped and crowned with
me and holy is his Name. thorns
God has mercy on those who fear him, 6 Jesus carries his cross
from generation to generation. 7 Jesus is helped by the Cyrenean
The Lord has shown strength with his 8 Jesus speaks to the women of
arm Jerusalem
and scattered the proud in their 9 Jesus is stripped and nailed to the
conceit, cross
casting down the mighty from their 10 Jesus and the good thief
thrones 11 Jesus speaks to Mary and John
and lifting up the lowly. 12 Jesus dies on the cross
God has filled the hungry with good 13 Jesus is buried
things 14 Jesus is raised from the dead.
and sent the rich away empty.

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OR The Five Sorrowful Mysteries


1. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
1 Jesus is condemned to death (Mark 14:32–42)
2 Jesus takes up his cross 2. Jesus is Scourged (Mark15:15)
3 Jesus falls the first time 3. Jesus is Crowned with Thorns
4 Jesus meets his mother (Mark 15:16–20)
5 Simon of Cyrene helps Jesus carry 4. Jesus Carries his Cross
the cross (Mark 15:21)
6 Veronica wipes the face of Jesus 5. Jesus Dies on the Cross
7 Jesus falls the second time (Mark 15:33–39)
8 The women of Jerusalem weep for
Jesus The Five Glorious Mysteries
9 Jesus falls the third time 1. The Resurrection of the Lord
10 Jesus is stripped of his garments (Mark 16:1–20)
11 Jesus is nailed to the cross 2. The Ascension of the Lord
12 Jesus dies on the cross (Acts 1:6–11)
13 Jesus is taken down from the cross 3. The Descent of the Holy Spirit
14 Jesus is laid in the tomb. (Acts 2:1–13)
4. The Assumption of the Virgin Mary
into Heaven (Revelation 12)
29. The Mysteries of the Rosary 5. The Queenship of the Virgin Mary
(Revelation 12:1–2,5)
The Five Joyful Mysteries
1. The Annunciation of the Lord
(Luke 1:26–38)
2. The Visit of the Virgin Mary to
Elizabeth (Luke 1:39–45)
3. The Birth of the Lord
(Luke 2:1–20)
4. The Presentation of the Lord
(Luke 2:22–38)
5. The Finding of Jesus in the Temple
(Luke 2:41–52)

The Mysteries of Light


1. Jesus is baptised in the Jordan
(Matthew 3:13–17)
2. Jesus’ self–revelation at the
wedding at Cana (John 2:1–11)
3. Jesus proclaims the Kingdom of
God (Mark 1:14–15)
4. The Transfiguration (Luke 9:28–35)
5. Jesus institutes the Eucharist
(Matthew 26:17–28)

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Important information
for Catholics
The Ten Commandments
A Traditional Formula
1. I am the LORD your God:
you shall not have strange Gods before me.
2. You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the
Lord’s Day.
4. Honour your father and your mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery.
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
9. You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.

The Summary of the Law


You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is
like it, You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two commandments
depend all the law of the prophets. [Matthew 22:37–39]

Christ’s New Law of Love


Love one another as I have loved you. [John 15:12]

The Beatitudes
1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
2. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
3. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
4. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
8. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake for theirs
is the kingdom of heaven.

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The Precepts of the Church


1. To worship at Mass on Sundays and to observe Sunday as a day of rest.
2. To confess one’s grave sins at least once a year in the Sacrament of Penance.
3. To receive Holy Communion at least once a year during the Easter Season
(between Ash Wednesday and Trinity Sunday).
4. To attend Mass on Holy Days of Obligation. (Holy Days of Obligation in
Australia are Christmas Day and the Assumption of Our Lady, August 15)
5. To do penance by prayer, works of piety and charity, and fast and abstinence
on the days commanded. The days of penance are each Friday of the whole
year, and the season of Lent.

The days of fasting and abstinence from meat are Ash Wednesday and Good
Friday. The Church also requires all her members to contribute, as best they can,
to the support of their priests, parishes, schools and the Church’s works of
charity, and to observe the laws of the Church about the sacrament of Marriage.

The Seven Sacraments The Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit


Baptism Wisdom
Confirmation Understanding
Eucharist Right Judgement
Penance Courage
Anointing of the Sick Knowledge
Marriage Reverence
Holy Orders Wonder and awe in God’s presence

The Nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit


Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Trustfulness
Gentleness
Self Control

The Seven Spiritual The Seven Corporal


Works of Mercy Works of Mercy
1. To convert the sinner 1. To feed the hungry
2. To instruct the ignorant 2. To give drink to the thirsty
3. To counsel the doubtful 3. To clothe the naked
4. To comfort the sorrowful 4. To give welcome to strangers
5. To bear wrongs patiently 5. To visit the sick
6. To forgive injuries 6. To visit the imprisoned
7. To pray for the living and the dead 7. To bury the dead

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The Virtues
Cardinal Virtues Theological Virtues
Prudence, justice, temperance Faith, hope and love (charity)
and fortitude

The Vices
Capital Sins
Pride, avarice (greed), envy, anger, lust, gluttony and sloth (laziness)

The Apostles
Name Feast Day
Peter February 22
June 29
Andrew November 20
James (“the Great”) July 25
John December 27
Philip May 3
Bartholomew August 24
Matthew September 21
Thomas July 3
James (son of Alphaeus) May 3
Simon (“the Zealot”) October 28
Jude (or Thaddeus) October 28
Matthias May 14
(chosen to take the place of Judas)
Paul January 25
June 29

The Four Evangelists Holy Days of Obligation in Australia


Matthew Christmas Day
Mark Assumption of our Lady 15th August
Luke
John

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Major Feasts of the Church Year

Presentation of the Lord 2 February


St Patrick 17 March
St Joseph, husband of Mary 19 March
The Annunciation 25 March
Holy Week
Palm (Passion) Sunday The sixth and last Sunday of Lent
Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday Celebration of the Lord’s Passion
Easter Vigil
Easter Sunday Celebration of Christ’s Resurrection
The actual conditions to determine the date
for Easter are: Easter must be on a Sunday;
this Sunday must follow the 14th day of the
paschal moon; the paschal moon is that of
which the 14th day (full moon) falls on or
next follows the day of the vernal equinox;
and the equinox is fixed in the calendar as
March 21.
The Ascension of the Lord Jesus ascended into heaven forty days after
his Resurrection
Pentecost Referred to as the ‘Birth of the Church’
Pente (‘5’) – hence Pentecost – fifty days
after the resurrection of Jesus at Easter
Saints Peter and Paul 29 June
Blessed Mary MacKillop 8 August
The Assumption of the
Blessed Virgin Mary 15 August
All Saints’ Day 1 November
All Souls’ Day 2 November
Christ the King Last Sunday before Advent – marks the end
of the Church’s liturgical year
Immaculate Conception of
the Virgin Mary 8 December
Christmas Day 25 December

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The Seasons of the Liturgical Year


The liturgical year consists of two major seasons separated by "Ordinary Time".

Advent–Christmas runs from the first Sunday of Advent until the feast of the
Baptism of the Lord (the Sunday after Epiphany).

Lent–Easter runs from Ash Wednesday until Pentecost.

Ordinary Time includes a few weeks between the end of the Christmas season and
Ash Wednesday, and a much longer period from Pentecost to Advent.

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Index
Abraham (Abram), 68, 114–115, 117, 126 Easter, 24, 27, 29
Adoration, 44, 48,141 Ecumenism, 253
Almsgiving, 303–304 Eucharist, 159, 165, 178–179, 208, 211,
Anointing, (Sacrament of), 64, 178 278, 283, 284, 297, 316, also see Mass
Apostles, 65–68, 84, 143, 155, 201–202, 209,
211–212, 214, 218, 219, 221–222, 227, Freedom, 41, 93, 95–104, 109, 111, 113–121,
229, 244, 248, 311 126, 129–149, 151–160, 176–177, 194
Apostles Creed, 91, 209, 211 Free will, 86, 95

Baptism, (Sacrament of), 29, 57, 67, 74, Grace, 24–25, 28, 56, 60, 113, 118, 142, 151,
129–133, 152–156, 159, 178, 207–208, 154, 156–159, 277–279
210–211, 213, 220, 235, 256, 277
Beatitudes, 133–136, 139–140, 149 Heaven, 33, 40, 63, 80, 85–87, 89, 91,
Bible, 51, 53, 111, 120, 120, 124, 126–127, 134–135, 153, 178, 201, 205, 209–210,
200, 248 217–218, 224, 227–228
Bishops, 65–67, 74, 76, 78, 81, 84, 121, 199, Hell, 40, 90–91, 201, 209
202, 212, 232, 234–235, 239–241, 245, Holy Orders, 35, 63, 65, 74, 201
248, 250, 253–256, 311
Israel, 41, 64, 69, 89, 113–117, 119,
Celibacy (Celibate love), 63, 76–81 121–122, 126–127, 137, 217–220,
Charity, 67, 83, 129, 131–133, 137–138, 224, 276
141–147, 152–153, 197–198, 211, 243,
277–278, 283 John the Baptist, 39
Chastity, 18–19, 79–81, 84, 123, 147, 288 Judgement, 86, 90, 103, 137, 139, 155, 157,
Christian Promise, 31, 43 171–177, 181, 184–185, 188–189, 195,
Commandments of Jesus, 11–12, 87, 221, 294
105–106, 110, 129, 137, 140, 282 Justice, 9, 11, 15, 40, 42, 107, 111, 125,
Commandments, 32, 36, 39, 53, 58, 87, 153, 156, 166, 211, 252, 259, 261–268,
105–106, 110–111, 119, 121–124, 272–285, 290, 296–298, 301, 305,
126–127, 129–130, 137–142, 144, 149, 307–316
151, 158, 169, 171–172, 175–176, 182, Justification, 276–279
190, 203, 213, 270, 281–282, 286, 296
Communion, Holy, 45, 58, 67, 70, 131 156, Kingdom of God, 26, 29, 40, 43, 200, 204,
179, 305, also see Eucharist 221, 254, 273, 299, 302
Confirmation, 70, 130, 133, 155–156, Kingdom of Heaven, 134–135, 201, 205
159, 221
Conscience, 39, 153, 161, 163–208, 277, Last Judgement, 91, 137, 250
288–289, 291
Conscience, Examination of, 189–190, 192 Magisterium, 202–204, 211
Creed, 86, 91, 209–211, 234 Marriage, 7–8, 12, 17–18, 23, 51–62, 74, 77,
Creation, 114, 117, 127, 142, 146–147, 157, 123, 139, 145, 156, 158–159, 169, 194,
191, 214, 263, 273–276, 279–283, 234, 248, 276, 280, 289, 291–293
295–296, 298–299 Martyrdom, Martyrs, 155, 220, 224, 229,
232–234, 239–241, 244, 248, 253
Deacons, 67, 78, 232, 310 Mary, 25, 284
Decalogue, 110–111, 121, see Commandments Mass, 27, 35, 38, 44–45, 47–48, 62, 66, 68,
Decision making, 23, 95–97, 102, 256 72, 74, 88, 178, 190, 197, 199, 213–214,
Demons (or devils), 170, 200, 228–229, 302 234, 250, 256, 277, 283, 296
Diocese, 81, 208, 266 Miracles, 19, 26, 33, 219–220, 228
Disciples, 3, 29, 35, 41, 64, 80, 89, 139, Mortal sin, 90, 156, 278
143, 149, 212, 214, 224–225, 227, 245,
281, 316 Original Justice, 273, 276, 279, 281, 297
Original sin, 7, 26, 28, 52, 56, 106, 111, 145,
152–153, 213, 273, 276, 297, 299, 308

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APPENDICES

Parents, 8, 17–18, 51–55, 59, 61, 71–72, 74, Sabbath, 13, 19, 124, 143, 276, 284
95–96, 113–114, 132, 144, 164, 169, 190, Sacrament, 56, 57–58, 65, 74, 131, 152, 158,
213, 262, 264–265, 274–276, 279, 201, 207, 213–215, 221, 279
291–292, 297 Saints, 44, 79, 87, 143, 155, 195, 209, 220,
Parish, 47, 55, 70–71, 74–75, 82–83, 222, 224, 232, 244–246, 248–249, 253,
208, 309 284, 313
Peace, 25, 28, 40, 42, 44–45, 54–55, 72, 89, Salvation, 21, 24, 26, 28–29, 207, 210,
145, 147, 165, 178, 190, 213, 230, 253, 212–214, 217, 231, 304, also see
261, 266–268, 274–275, 281, 285, 288, Promise of Salvation
290–291, 293, 312 Satan, 200, also see demons or devils
Penance, Sacrament of (Reconciliation), Sin, 24, 26, 28, 33, 88, 90, 116, 121, 124,
27, 64, 74, 157, 178–179, 281, 296 134, 138, 152–153, 157, 174–179, 192,
Pentecost, 130, 155, 218 200–201, 213, 273, 277–280, 296, 299,
Peter, 65, 80, 84, 171, 201–202, 204–205, 308, 311, also see Mortal sin, Venial sin,
211, 219, 221, 247, 249, 253, 255 Original sin
Pope, 13, 17, 65, 84, 143, 199, 202, Slavery, 108, 115–116, 121, 176, 294
212, 214, 232–239, 245–255, 257–258, Social Justice, 10, 19, 42, 187, 297–316
296, 311 Social Teaching, 311, 315–316
Poverty, 79, 80–81, 231, 245, 252, 268, 270, Soul, 32, 53, 93, 110, 122, 137, 142, 148,
300, 310, 316 251, 282
Prayer, 11, 21, 25, 28, 32, 37–38, 45, 54, 62, Suffering, 33–34, 38, 40, 45, 48, 136, 139,
65, 67–68, 72, 74, 82, 88, 96, 132, 134, 190, 224, 237, 277
139, 141, 147–148, 154–156, 165, 178, Sunday, 13, 25, 27, 71, 143, 190, 197, 199,
195, 197, 199, 207, 214, 219, 241, 246, 234, 241, 277, 284, 287, 296
257, 263, 271, 280, 296, 313
Priests, priesthood, 7–8, 23, 31–36, 38, Ten Commandments, 87, 105–106, 110, 111,
42–43, 49, 53, 55, 57, 63–81, 83–84, 116, 119, 121, 122, 124, 126–127, 137–138,
132, 154, 159, 224–225, 227, 229, 232, 141–142, 144, 149, 171–172, 175, 281,
234, 239–241, 243–244, 248–250, 256, 282, 286, also see Commandments
310, also see Holy Orders Torah, 120, 124, 126–127, 138
Promise of salvation (Christian Promise), Tradition, 121, 178, 242, 270
31, 43, 127, 130, 149, 201, 293 Trinity, 106
Promised Land, 276
Prophets, 31–33, 39–40, 42–43, 49, 62, 69, Venial sin, 156
89, 120, 127, 135, 154, 159, 210, 221–222 Viaticum, 67
Purgatory, 88 Vices, 196, 198
Virgin Mary, 284, also see Mary
Reconciliation, see Penance Virtues, 131, 153, 159, 196, 198
Religious life, 8, 17, 23, 79–84, 132, 169, Vocation, 5–19, 21–29, 31–49, 51–74, 76–86,
241, 243–244, 310 144, 292, 310
Religious Orders, 83–84, 245, 254, 258 Vows, 57, 79–81, 84, 141, 158, 249, 283, 293
Repent, repentance, 24, 26, 29, 40–41, 87,
90, 135, 138, 219, 273, 299 Worship, 11–13, 19, 21, 28, 41, 58, 87, 115,
Responsibility, 25, 31, 33, 46, 53, 55, 61, 67, 117, 122, 131, 134, 142–143, 154, 158,
95–96, 103, 173, 181, 251, 256, 291, 299, 190, 199, 207, 210–211, 214, 228, 232,
305, 308, 316 263, 274, 277, 280, 283–284, 291
Resurrection, 14, 27, 38, 40, 86, 209–210,
217, 231, 277
Revelation, 89, 91, 114, 251, 273
Ritual, 32–33
Rosary, 44, 246

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