TYH 4 Reviewer 1 PDF - Spirituality of Truth and Communion

UNIT 1 - HARMONY WITH GOD: CALLED TO provide the partial happiness for the sake of which COMMUNION people pursue them. SPIRITUALITY: LESSON 1: SPIRITUALITY OF TRUTH...

UNIT 1 - HARMONY WITH GOD: CALLED TO provide the partial happiness for the sake of which COMMUNION people pursue them. SPIRITUALITY: LESSON 1: SPIRITUALITY OF TRUTH In general: It is the awareness that we have a soul, and acting accordingly. Crisis of Relativism and A SPIRITUALITY OF TRUTH In Christianity: It is a life of growing friendship with Christ leading us to holiness. Our situation today: a POST-TRUTH SOCIETY authority is questioned or rejected In Catholicism: The various ways by we live out personal opinion/belief is exalted our baptismal promises “echo chambers” in social media dialogue becomes impossible 3 MOVEMENTS OF SPIRITUALITY veracity replaced by popularity universal values are forgotten there is no truth, or at least we have no access to it only belief …a CRISIS OF RELATIVISM 1. Relativism in FAITH authority is questioned or rejected personal opinion/belief is exalted “echo chambers” in social media dialogue becomes impossible universal values are forgotten Religion (ACCORDING TO THE SUMMA 2. Relativism in MORALS THEOLOGIAE) Logical consequence of relativism in faith Denying existence of moral absolutes RE LEGO/ RE-LEGERE Moral judgment is equated with moralism “to read again” Relativism>indifferentism>loss of morality “to consider carefully” Rule of power rather than of reason RE LIGARE SPIRITUALITY OF TRUTH “to bind again” Boethius (475-535 AD) Boethius first complains about the loss of good RE ELIGERE fortune (Book 1). “to choose again” Philosophy replies that it is the nature of fortune to be fickle. Not a theological virtue but a moral virtue. Moreover, the goods of fortune are not true goods. Religion is the virtue by which we pay due What then are goods? Philosophy begins to worship to God. answer this question by examining five false goods. Everyone seeks happiness: a good so complete it leaves nothing more to be desired. Misguided people seek to attain happiness through wealth, public office, kingship, celebrity, and pleasure. Yet, these false goods do not even Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 RELIGION VS. SPIRITUALITY All opinions are true and valid, even if they contradict each other. As such, in a relativist society, there are no standards, no permanent moral values. One who is not a relativist is labelled as FUNDAMENTALIST, or ARROGANT, or INTOLERANT. Today, having a clear faith based on the Creed of the Church is often labeled as fundamentalism. Authentic Catholic Spirituality Whereas relativism seems the only attitude that can Sees RELIGION and SPIRITUALITY as intimately cope with modern times. We are building a linked rather than opposed to each other. RULES dictatorship of relativism that does not recognize and RELATIONSHIP go together. A relationship anything as definitive and whose ultimate goal without rules or parameters leads to contempt and consists solely of one's own ego and desires. abuse (e.g. 10 Commandments) Acknowledges that there are REVEALED WAYS by which we connect with GOD (e.g. Sacraments) Believes that SPIRITUALITY is not formed by human experience alone but by conforming to a MANUAL – The Word of God. SPIRITUALITY OF THE TRUTH UNIVERSAL: the same at all places and at all RELATIVISM IN FAITH: There is no absolute times Truth. OBJECTIVE: discovered and not made, not what I think or believe RELATIVISM IN MORALS:There is no absolute TRANSCULTURAL: It is the same for all people Right and Wrong. “If we don’t look for truth, we are guided by other PRACTICAL ATHEISM interests, or fears, or the pressure of the crowd, of RELIGIOUS INDIFFERENTISM: One Religion is the media, of power, of self-comfort, and we are not just as good as another. Christ is just one among free, we are slaves” many. BECAUSE TRUTH SHOULD BE WAY OF LIFE. CAFETERIA CATHOLICISM: We are free to just choose which of the Church's teachings we will RELATIVISM accept as true and follow, abandoning beliefs and Relativism is the belief that there are no such things practices which do not suit our taste or preferences. as permanent or universal truths. UTILITARIANISM & HEDONISM : What is useful is All truths, whether in matters of doctrine or morality, good. What is pleasurable is good. The end justifies are dependent on the individual, on popular the opinion, on society, on culture, etc. but never on an objective basis such as the Word of God. Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 PRACTICAL RELATIVISM: a form of moral TRUTH ACCORDING TO ST. THOMAS AQUINAS relativism that is self-centered, self-indulgent and grounded on convenience and material security. (REASON BEHIND THE LACK OF A SENSE OF MISSION AMONG CHRISTIANS) Moral Relativism “While the Church insists on the existence of objective moral norms which are VALID FOR EVERYONE… there are those in our culture who Spirituality of Truth portray this teaching as UNJUST, that is, as Verifying the Truth (logical) opposed to basic human rights.” (Evangelii Living out the Truth (moral) Gaudium, 64) ” Actualizing the Truth of who I am, whose I am, for whom I am (ontological) Practical Relativism “…acting as if God did not exist, making decisions Truth = VERITAS as if the poor did not exist, setting goals as if others Became incarnate in the person of JESUS did not exist, working as if people who have not CHRIST (“He is before all things, and in him all received the Gospel did not exist.” (Evangelii things hold together.” (Colossians 1:-17)) Gaudium, 80; see also LS 122) To be a CHRISTIAN means to be firmly convinced TRUTHFULNESS (Speaking only what is honest that THERE IS NO OTHER WAY,THERE ARE NO and factual) OTHER TRUTHS but JESUS, Without God, if I say BEING TRUTHFUL IS GOOD, I only mean "I like being truthful" JESUS NEVER EXISTED (Legend) Without God, if I say STEALING IS EVIL, I only His life story and teachings were mere fabrications mean "I don't like stealing" and later made into an ethical doctrine. WHAT IS TRUTH? Aside from the testimony of the Gospels, there is sufficient proof even from outside of Christianity that Jesus of Nazareth was a historical person. JESUS’ CLAIMS WERE FALSE (Liar) He knew he was not what he claimed to be (Lunatic) He did not know his claims were false. JESUS’ CLAIMS WERE TRUE(Lord) He is indeed GOD. THE way. THE truth. THE life. If Jesus is LORD, then I have to WORSHIP his “Truth is the equation of mind and thing.” (Summa PERSON and OBEY his TEACHINGS. Theologiae, I:21:2) Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 LESSON 2: SPIRITUALITY OF MERCY "If an appreciation of the value of the human person and of human life is lacking, we will also Hedonism and the Throwaway Culture lose interest in others and in the earth itself“ (1990 World Day of Peace Message, Pope John HEDONISM = Greek hēdonē ‘pleasure’ Paul II) “There is… a spirit of hedonism abroad today which beguiles men into thinking that life is “The way humanity treats the environment nothing more than the quest for pleasure and influences the way it treats itself, and vice versa.” the satisfaction of human passions. “ (Caritas in Veritate 51) The doctrine that pleasure (sensual pleasure) is Reducing nature merely to a collection of the ultimate goal of life, man's highest good & contingent data ends up doing violence to the greatest happiness environment and even encouraging activity that fails to respect human nature itself. Devotion to pleasure and self-gratification as a way of life. Our nature, constituted not only by matter but also by spirit, and as such, endowed with transcendent This philosophy is more often promoted through meaning and aspirations, is also normative for advertisements culture. “I am here for one purpose: to get as much out of Human beings interpret and shape the natural life as I can. Pain and suffering are evils that must environment through culture, which in turn is given be avoided at all costs. The main thing in life is to direction by the responsible use of freedom, in always feel good.” accordance with the dictates of the moral law. (Caritas in Veritate 48) To avoid any forms of suffering in life. Even the legitimate & heroic suffering. A hedonist wants to We recognize that: “Even on the natural level have a pleasurable life. temperance and simplicity of life are the dictates of sound policy. (Mater et Magistra 235) HEDONISM & the Human Person “This attitude is disastrous. Its evil effects on soul EGOISM and body are undeniable.( Mater et Magistra 235) Denies that we can be motivated by a concern for others HEDONISM, the Human Person & the This theory claims that everyone always acts to Environment his or her own advantage and that the only reason “…it is also necessary to reject the....total why a person performs morally good action is technical dominion over nature, because the because it serves his or her own interests natural environment is more than raw material A moral theory that contends all choices either to be manipulated at our pleasure…” involve or should involve self-promotion as their “Today much harm is done to development sole objective. precisely as a result of these distorted notions.” Ethical egoists believe that people should not be (Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate 48) their brother's keeper, because people do not completely understand the true needs of others. This invites contemporary society to a serious It's every man for himself in this world! review of its life-style, which, in many parts of the world, is prone to hedonism and consumerism, CONSUMERISM regardless of their harmful consequences.” (Caritas is the equation of personal happiness with the in Veritate 51) purchase of material possession and consumption Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1  This is the father and mother of Payatas, Smokey Negative Effects of Consumerism: Mountain, Rodriguez and other dumpsites and On Society: GLOBAL INEQUALITY landfills. Spending on what is not necessary has made the Indicators of a Throw-Away Culture rich richer and the poor poorer. wasting of our resources fueled by consumerism and the market economy On Individuals: OBESITY the practice of contraception and abortion, Having a mentality of buying what I can over buying abandonment of the elderly and the handicapped, only what I need. exclusion of the poor, exploitation of the weak discarding genuine relationships, of married love On the Environment: POLLUTION AND and marriage vows. RESOURCE DEPLETION Being unmindful that natural resources are finite, People who are deemed “useless” are excluded and producing far more waste than what nature can or “thrown-away” handle. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION: we have to Throwaway Culture & Environmental protect God’s gifts so that future generations may Degradation (“throwaway culture” that ruthlessly continue to enjoy them consumes, exploits, and discards human life and our natural resources as one of the root causes.) CULTURE OF SOLIDARITY: everyone is brother/sister one is disposable 1) “We live in a world where everything is seen as disposable, replaceable or temporary, and CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER :active concern for overflowing landfills aren’t the only obvious signs.” the poor, the weak and the vulnerable 2) But also “broken relationships, forgotten people, JESUS is the FACE of the FATHER’s MERCY. abandoned beliefs and dilapidated dreams to find (Pope Francis, Misericordiae Vultus, April 11, 2015) the far-reaching effects of the throwaway mentality.” What is MERCY according to the BIBLE? Consumerism, Wasteful Consumption, Throwaway mentality OLD TESTAMENT Hebrew: “quickly reduces things to rubbish.” (- Pope Francis, "CHESED”- loving kindness, steadfast loyalty, Laudato Si’ 22) unfailing love despite unfaithfulness of beloved "RACHAMIM" - pity, compassion, to forgive when The earth, our home, is beginning to look more and one has all the right to be angry more like an immense pile of filth. In many parts of the planet,the elderly lament that once beautiful NEW TESTAMENT landscapes are now covered with rubbish (Pope Greek: Francis, Laudato Si’ 21) "ELEEOS" - combines the concept of "Chesed" and "Rachamim" Our present system of discards management is "SPLANKA" -denotes feelings from the inmost core disposal and not management. of a person: a warm feeling from the heart or a discomfort in the "guts" (Pagbaliktad ng sikmura) This HAKOT/TAMBAK system, also known as collect and dump system, is not ecological. Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 in Latin: According to St. Thomas, the Latin word Misericordia "misericordia" literally means "having a miserable "Misereri" - to pity heart“for another person's misery. "cor" - heart - having compassion on someone with all one's 2 ASPECTS heart; the very inmost depth (or core) of one's AFFECTIVE MERCY: an emotion: the pity we feel being." for the plight of another EFFECTIVE MERCY: something that we do, positive action for the good of another, taking steps to relieve the miseries or meet the needs of others. 2 CHARACTERISTICS ROOTED IN RIGHT REASON: the truth about the sufferings of others, and what is in fact the objective "good" for the other whom we seek to help PROVEN IN EFFECTIVE ACTION :helping and not merely sympathizing MERCY is the greatest "relative" characteristic of God. Towards Contemplation “For God so loved the world He gave us His only With relation to all that exists in creation, mercy is Son…” –Jn3:16 the greatest divine attribute.(St. Thomas Aquinas) “Creation groans to be saved” – cf. Romans 8:21-22 also Cf Romans 8:18-21 Does not need anything: Absolute, the intrinsic dignity of the world (LS §115), Perfect,Self-existent; with no one above him and the intrinsic value of (non-human creatures) (LS § everyone beneath him. 69, 140), kinship (LS § 92) that everything is connected ((LS §70, He does us so much good even when he has zero 79,117,120) need for us. This is God’s MERCY. "as part of the universe, called into being by one Father, all of us are linked by unseen bonds..." (LS MERCY according to AQUINAS (ST II-II.30.1) St. § 89) Thomas says, human mercy is grounded in a The divine Persons are subsistent relations, "defect" in our nature: the defect of human and the world, created according to the divine vulnerability to suffering. model, is a web of relationships. Creatures tend towards God, (LS 240) It also entails a loving awareness that we are not disconnected from the rest of creatures, but joined in a splendid universal communion. As believers, we do not look at the world from without but from within, conscious of the bonds with which the Father has linked us to all beings. (LS § 220) "The ultimate purpose of other creatures is not to be found in us. Rather, all creatures are moving forward with us & through us towards a common point of arrival, which is God.... Human Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 beings, endowed with intelligence & love, & drawn by the fullness of Christ, are called to lead all creatures back to their Creator." (LS § 83) "Since man, therefore, has God above him, charity which unites him to God is greater than mercy, which relieves the wants of others" (lI-11.30.4). On the other hand, when we consider which of the virtues should govern our relationships with other human beings, then it is clear that mercy directed to our neighbors in need is the supreme virtue in man (1-11.30.4). Living “The Primacy of Mercy” (MV 17, MetM 1) “Culture of care” as antidote to the double degradation brought about by the throwaway culture (EG 193, LS 231, AL 191) Laudato Si’ mentioned the word “care” 35 times, while “stewardship” only twice. The subtitle of Laudato Si is in fact on “care for our common home”. From “stewardship” we notice a shift to “care”. Hence, there is a shift from duty-based ethics to a virtue-based ethics of “care.” PAKIALAM - MALASAKIT Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 LESSON 3: SPIRITUALITY OF COMMUNION GOD'S PLAN OF SALVATION:TO GATHER HIS CHILDREN SCATTERED BY SIN COMMUNION GK: FELLOWSHIP, JOINT PARTICIPATION, The CHURCH is a GOD instrument for gathering SHARING, CONTRIBUTION his scattered children, ergo for restoring KOINONIA: CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP COMMUNION. Lt. "Communio" - sharing in common 1.​ By saving ("calling out") the ISRAELITES IDEAL state of fellowship that should exist in the from Egypt and making them his chosen Christian Church people. 2.​ by calling all men and women to ASPECTS OF THIS COMMUNION: COMMUNION in the CHURCH of Jesus COMMUNION with GOD Christ. COMMUNION among BELIEVERS COMMUNION in the BODY and BLOOD of CHURCH CHRIST COMMUNION in the life of CHRIST. Consequently, COMMUNION of SAINTS COMMUNION with one another. COMMUNION of CHURCHES THE CHURCH IS THE BRIDE OF CHRIST GOD is a COMMUNION OF PERSONS...one soldier thrust his lance into his side, and For GOD to be GOOD, GOD can be One For GOD immediately blood and water flowed out." (John to be LOVE, GOD has to be Two. For GOD to be 19:32) JOY, GOD has to be Three. "Husbands, love your wives as Christ loved the HUMAN BEINGS are the IMAGE AND LIKENESS Church." (Ephesians 5:25) OF GOD From the onset, God willed human beings to live in... the two shall become ONE (Genesis 2-24) COMMUNION with Him and with one another. VERTICAL COMMUNION: Communion with the Man became the "image and likeness" of God not MOST HOLY TRINITY only through his own humanity, but also through the communion of persons which man and woman form HORIZONTAL COMMUNION: Communion with right from the beginning. Man becomes the image ALL THE BAPTIZED of God not so much in the moment of solitude as in the moment of communion. (Pope St. John Paul I|) THE MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH EQUALLY SHARE IN: SIN destroyed COMMUNION and led to ALIENATION. ONE LORD ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER OF ALL, WHO IS OVER ALL AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL. 1.​ The Divine Nature 2.​ The Same Faith 3.​ The Passion of Christ 4.​ The Same Spirit Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 HOLY SPIRIT COMMUNION AMONG CHURCHES 1.​ VIVIFIES the CHURCH - The Indwelling The Church today is in a sad state of DIVISION Presence of GOD BUT, we believe that this division is bound to be 2.​ UNIFIES the CHURCH - Unity in Diversity, HEALED because CHRIST SAVED US! Many Parts Working as One COMMUNION will eventually be RESTORED! 3.​ MOVES the MINISTRIES of the CHURCH - Variety of Gifts THE CHURCH OF CHRIST 1.​ THE CATHOLIC CHURCH CHARISMS :special gifts of the Holy Spirit given to Founded by Our Lord Jesus Christ, c.33AD and individuals for the good of others, especially for the began its operations in Jerusalem after Pentecost purpose of building the Church; gifts that draw us to COMMUNION. During the Apostolic era, it was simply referred to as "the Church" HOLY COMMUNION The act of RECEPTION of the Sacrament of the Later on described as "Catholic" (universal) to Holy Eucharist mean "the Church that is everywhere" in contrast to splinter groups and sects. (St Ignatius c 107, St SACRAMENT - Visible Sign Polycarp-d 155) 1.​ Sacrament of our Union with Christ 2.​ Sacrament of our Unity with the whole 2.​ THE SEPARATED PARTICULAR Church CHURCHES Churches presided over by a validly ordained Holy Communion in the Catholic Church cannot be bishop, but are not in communion with the Bishop administered to those who are: of Rome. - Not baptized - Not Catholics Are TRUE CHURCHES "Because these Churches, - Not in state of grace (those in state of mortal sin) although separated, have true sacraments and above all — because of the apostolic succession — The communion of the saints: The Unity of Divine the priesthood and the Eucharist, by means of Love in the Mystical Body of Christ which they remain linked to us by very close bonds" 3.​ THE ECCLESIAL COMMUNITIES Christian Communities that function "like Churches" but lack valid orders. Most of these were born out of the sixteenth century Reformation movement. According to Catholic doctrine, these Communities do not enjoy apostolic succession in the sacrament of Orders, and are, therefore, deprived of a constitutive element of the Church. These ecclesial Communities which, specifically because of the absence of the sacramental priesthood, have not preserved the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic Mystery, cannot, according to Catholic doctrine, be called "Churches" Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 COMMUNION WITH THE ROMAN PONTIFF: The fullness of grace and truth entrusted to the Catholic CATHOLIC CHURCH is a COMMUNION of Church." PARTICULAR CHURCHES The Church and Non-Catholic Christians The BISHOP of ROME presides in charity over the Non-Catholic Christians are those who, though not universal Church. He is the CHIEF BRIDGE formally members of the Catholic Church, have BUILDER! received valid baptism. The Pope is the perpetual and visible source and The Church solemnly acknowledges that the Holy foundation of the unity both of the bishops and of Spirit is truly active in the churches and the whole company of the faithful. He has full, communities separated from itself. To these other supreme, and universal power over the whole Christian Churches the Catholic Church is bound in Church. Cf. CCC 882 many ways: through reverence for God's word in the Scriptures; through the fact of baptism; through During the time of the early Church, the Bishop of other sacraments which they recognize. Rome acted as arbiter settling contentious issues in All those separated from the Catholic Church the Church. remain part of her, in a mysterious way. All those who receive Christian baptism belong to the Every bishop in the Catholic Church must be Catholic Church! approved by the pope and receive a papal mandate before being ordained to the episcopacy, and it is Our Trinitarian God made us in his image as the pope who confers on that bishop the authority community, for community. The Church is called to govern the diocese to which he has been to build community in the world. appointed. INDIVIDUALISM Papal infallibility means that the Pope cannot make Individualism is the belief that the individual is the errors when making an ex cathedra statement on primary unit of reality and the ultimate standard of faith and morals or when he proposes a teaching value. united with all the bishops of the world. Not necessarily a bad thing for it affirms the Christian doctrine that every human being is The college or body of bishops has no authority unique, irreplaceable, and must never be used as a unless united with the Roman Pontiff, Peter's means to an end. successor, as its head. As such, this college has However, when taken to the extreme, it becomes supreme and full authority over the universal selfish and leads to isolation. Church; but this power cannot be exercised without the agreement of the Roman Pontiff. CCC 883 DOMINUS IESUS "These Churches which, while not existing in, remain united to her by means of the closest bonds, that is, by apostolic succession and a valid eucharist, and are true particular Churches. "Therefore, these separated Churches and communities as such have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation. For the spirit of means of salvation which derive their efficacy from the very Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1 CRISIS OF INDIVIDUALISM TODAY: Not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow Being dependent upon others is often considered distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both shameful or embarrassing People tend to be near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and self-reliant persevering determination to commit oneself to the The rights of individuals tend to take a higher common good; that is to say, to the good of all and precedence of each individual, because we are People often place a greater emphasis on standing out and being unique than on being part of a whole Leads to disregard of Common Good Prevents human beings from developing a sense of mission and heroism All others are rivals THE DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON Individuals have an inherent and immeasurable worth and dignity All are fundamentally equal before God- same origin, same destiny, redeemed by Christ, called to respond to a vocation All are radically equal before God - leads us to think no less of somebody because they are from a different place or culture, because they believe something different to you, or because of their work or employment situation. COMMON GOOD The common good is the complete development of all the people of the world. 'the sum total of conditions of social living, whereby persons are enabled more fully and readily to achieve their own perfection.' (Pope John XXIII) Not the "greatest good for the greatest number"(Utilitarianism) but the care for the greatest good of ALL persons - no one excluded. The principle of common good balances individual rights with one's responsibilities for the welfare of society - which in effect promotes and protects the rights and dignity of others SOLIDARITY A sense of responsibility on the part of everyone with regard to everyone. A particular way of looking at the interconnectedness of people living in different parts of the world that is a feature of our contemporary human existence. Bea Marzan | 2TOM2 | THY 4 Reviewer 1