St. John Paul II's Sollicitudo Rei Socialis

12 Questions

What does St. John Paul II state in Sollicitudo Rei Socialis is an essential part of our Christian lives?

The ownership of goods and the use of goods

What does the Catechism tell us about ownership of goods?

Ownership of goods obligates us to help those in need and share with others

What does the text say about the purpose of goods created by God?

Goods are meant to benefit everyone and not just one particular part of the world

How should those who have more goods view their ownership?

They should view their goods as a trust from God that they are responsible for

What does the text say about the dignity of work?

Work has dignity because it is done by people and we have to respect human dignity in work

What does the text say about the impact of the Fall on work?

The Fall made work become arduous and difficult

What is the purpose of the 7th commandment?

To restore humanity's just relationship to the material world

What does the text say about communicating verbally?

Verbal communication can be used well or be abused

What example does the text provide of a saint who shared their resources with those in need?

Mother Teresa

According to the encyclical letter, what does "solidarity" mean?

Thinking and acting in terms of community

What did St. John Chrysostom say about sharing our wealth with the poor?

Not to share our wealth with the poor is to rob them and take away their livelihood

What does the text say about the goods we possess?

The goods we possess are good because they were made by God and can only make us truly happy if we thank God for them

Study Notes

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis

Sollicitudo Rei Socialis is an essential part of Christian living, encompassing one's entire way of life, ownership, and use of goods.

Poverty and Inequality

Many people worldwide still live in poverty despite advances in society.
Every person has the right to life, nourishment, shelter, and the use of the earth's goods.

Ownership and Stewardship

The ownership of goods obligates us to help those in need and share with others (CCC 2402).
Goods are created by God for the benefit of all people, not just a select few.
Those with more goods should care for them as they were given in trust by God and are stewards of these goods (Mt 25:29).

Work and Dignity

Work is an integral part of being human, but became arduous after the Fall (1 Thes 2:9; 2 Thes 3:7-12).
Work has dignity because it is done by people and respects human dignity (Col 1:24; 1 Pt 2:5, 9).

Justice and Love for the Poor

We should love the poor and give them justice; justice will never be obtained for the poor unless we love them.

Private Property and Detachment

Our faith allows for private property ownership, but with a certain detachment from material possessions.
We must share what we have with others, and the materially rich must use their bounty to benefit many.

Communication and Honesty

Communicating verbally is essential to human life and can be used well or abused.
Lies can be harmful, so honesty and charity should be the pillars of all our conversations and forms of communication.

Examples of Living for Others

Saint Francis of Assisi is an example of living to help those in need, giving up his wealth to benefit the poor.
Mother Teresa is another example, sharing her resources with those in need, treating everyone with dignity, and imitating Christ.

Solidarity and Community

Solidarity means thinking and acting in terms of community, recognizing that the lives of all are prior to the appropriation of goods by a few (Fratelli Tutti).
Saint John Chrysostom: "Not to share our wealth with the poor is to rob them and take away their livelihood."
Saint Gregory the Great: "When we provide the needy with their basic needs, we are giving them what belongs to them, not to us."