Study Session: Week #2

To be distributed at the end of session #1

The bread which you hold back belongs to the hungry; the coat, which you guard in your locked storage-chests, belongs to the naked; the footwear mouldering in your closet belongs to those without shoes. The silver that you keep hidden in a safe place belongs to the one in need. Thus, however many are those whom you could have provided for, so many are those whom you wrong. St. Basil the Great

Reflection

Think and Act Anew: Handout

The true nature of charity has become muddied in contemporary American society; it is often reduced to giving money or goods to some worthy cause. In so doing, one may unintentionally undermine the dignity of the human being on the other end. True charity enhances a persons dignity by helping them gain control over their destiny. The Catholic Church teaches that the life and dignity of the human person should be the foundation of a moral vision for society, and that everything we do including charitable actions will be judged by how it enhances life and dignity. As such, charity should cultivate the dignity of both the giver and receiver nurturing a relationship of solidarity and overcoming obstacles which inhibit attaining ones Godgiven potential. Next weeks discussion will look at charity through the lens of Gods love for us and our love of God, as detailed in Catholic social teaching. Well also discuss Pope Benedict XVIs illumination of the idea of charity in his recent encyclicals, God is Love (Deus Caritas Est), and Love in Truth (Caritas in Veritate), which Fr. Larry Snyder applies to the United States in Think and Act Anew.

Reading Assignment for Week #2

Chapters 3 and 4, pages 51-56, from Think and Act Anew: How Poverty Affects Us All and What We Can Do about It by Fr. Larry Snyder

Consider the following concepts while reading the assignment.

P. 45: Every person is worthy of dignity and respect, because every human being is made in the image and likeness of God. P. 57: Every person should have the right to take ownership of their life. P. 26: Charity, love, prompts us to give what is mine to the other; justice prompts us first to give the other what is his or hers. PP. 49-50: There are differences in the way one can do charity as illustrated in the eight levels of charitable action as defined by Maimonides.

Additional Resources
Text of Deus Caritas Est (on the Vatican website): http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/encyclicals/documents/hf_ben-xvi_ enc_20051225_deus-caritas-est_en.html

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