CLF 3 Pre-lesson to Lesson 2

PRELLESSON | Prayer = continuous dialogue with the Father.

Addressed God as Abba → intimacy & trust.
PRAYER b. The Lord’s Prayer (Luke 11:1–4)
Structure of prayer:
Prayer  Adoration
- language of the soul reaching toward God.  Kingdom longing
- Inner longing for meaning, connection, and  Dependence
peace → points to God.  Mercy/reconciliation
St. Augustine: “You have made us for Yourself, O  Protection/perseverance
Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in CCC 2761–2764: “Summary of the whole
You.” Gospel.”
In prayer: c. Prayer in Discernment & Obedience
 Move from activity → encounter d. Before choosing the Twelve → night in prayer
 From noise → presence (Luke 6:12).
 From restlessness → relationship In Gethsemane → surrender to God’s will (Luke
God dwells within, waiting to be found. 22:42).
 Prayer = personal + transformative → bring e. Intercession & Communion
questions, hopes, fears, gratitude into God's John 17: Jesus prays for disciples & future
presence. believers → unity & protection.
Prayer as a Relationship with God (CCC Forms & Expressions of Prayer (CCC 2697–
2558–2565) 2724)
o Prayer = vital & personal relationship with the a. Vocal Prayer
living God. Words (spoken /silent) give flesh to
o CCC 2559: “Raising of one’s mind and heart to prayer (CCC 2700).
God” (St. John Damascene) → humility is the Used by Jesus (Our Father).
foundation. Especially for communal worship.
o CCC 2560–2561: God thirsts for us; mutual Must be sincere, not mechanical.
longing. b. Meditative Prayer
o CCC 2564–2565: Prayer = covenant relationship, Reflection to understand God’s Word (CCC
communion with God, rooted in the Spirit, in 2705).
Christ. Engages thought, imagination, emotion.
Augustinian Spirituality: Interiority & Methods: lectio divina, Rosary, Ignatian
Longing contemplation.
a) St. Augustine’s Longing for God Goal: deepen conviction, prompt conversion,
“Our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” strengthen will.
Prayer = expression of the soul’s desire for
communion with God. c. Contemplative Prayer
Faith + prayer → know God more deeply. Silent communion of love; resting in God (CCC
b) Interiority 2709–2724).
“Do not go outward; return within yourself. In Gaze of faith fixed on Jesus.
the inward person dwells truth.” Gift of grace; requires humility & faith.
Truth found within, not in appearances. Types of Prayer – ACTS Model
God = Light within the soul; “Enter your heart… 1. Adoration – praising God for who He is (Psalm
find Christ there.” 145:3).
c) Longing (Holy Restlessness) 2. Confession – acknowledging sins, seeking mercy
Restlessness = divine invitation, not a flaw. (1 John 1:9).
All human desire is ultimately for God. 3. Thanksgiving – gratitude for blessings (1
Communion with God is the true fulfillment. Thessalonians 5:18).
d) Theological Implications 4. Supplication – presenting needs of self/others
God is closer to us than we are to ourselves. (Philippians 4:6).
Prayer = longing for God. ACTS = spiritual rhythm, not rigid formula.
Journey inward is communal (Body of Christ). Leads to intimacy & transformation.
Jesus as the Model of Prayer
a. Foundation of Life & Ministry
Jesus prayed often in solitude (Luke 5:16).
CLF LESSON 1 – 2. Rights & Responsibilities – rights come with
duties for common good.
CHURCH AND SOCIAL 3. Common Good – conditions allowing all to
reach full potential.
REALITIES 4. Solidarity – see others as brothers/sisters; work
for their good.
Introduction
5. Subsidiarity – higher bodies support, not
o Church = in the world but not of it; continues
replace, lower bodies’ roles.
Christ’s mission until end of time (John 3:17;
6. Call to Family, Community, Participation –
Lumen Gentium #8).
strengthen marriage, family, civic engagement.
o Missionary disciples bring the Gospel alive
7. Preferential Option for the Poor – prioritize
through deeds and words. needs of poor/vulnerable.
o Gospel teaching: helping “the least ones” is 8. Universal Destination of Goods – share
serving Christ (Mt. 25:40). resources for all’s benefit.
Exposition 9. Dignity of Work & Rights of Workers – work
Matthew 25:31–46 – Key Message as participation in God’s creation; protect
 Final judgment based on acts of mercy: feeding workers’ rights.
the hungry, welcoming strangers, clothing the 10. Care for God’s Creation – stewardship of
naked, visiting the sick/imprisoned. environment.
 What is done or not done to “the least” is done to Augustinian Teachings
Jesus. o Justice – “love serving God only, ruling well all
Social Realities else.”
 Humans find identity in community (family, o Church & State – state fails without Christ’s
peers, organizations, church).
teachings.
 Gospel call = help the least, last, and lost.
o Peace – living together in the bond of peace
 Church addresses social issues to uplift the
according to God’s will.
marginalized.
Nature of Catholic Social Teachings (CST) Recoleto Saint: Andrew of Montereale
 Augustinian friar, theologian, miracle worker,
 Rooted in revelation (Scripture) and social
advocate for poor, patient under persecution.
conditions.
 Scripture applied to real conditions, especially of Integration
the poor. o CST connects Gospel with real-world social,
 Faith + reason: economic, political issues.
o Reason = analyze social issues. o Faith gives fullness to social engagement.
o Faith = guides practical application. o Church calls for preferential love for the poor.
 Church integrates insights from human sciences. Conclusion
 Goal: build God’s kingdom through charity and o CST offers answers to life’s big questions,
justice. grounded in love of God and neighbor.
History of CST o Love transforms relationships and social
o Hebrew Scriptures – prophets proclaim God’s structures.
love for poor, call for justice.
o Early Christianity – justice as part of Jesus’

o
mission; early Christians lived it.
Middle Ages – saints like Francis of Assisi
CLF LESSON 2 – LIFE
modeled radical simplicity & justice. AND DIGNITY OF THE
o Industrialization – poverty in cities → new
Church responses.
HUMAN PERSON
o Rerum Novarum (1891, Pope Leo XIII) – rights Introduction
of workers, just wage, fair treatment. o Genesis 1:26 – Humans made in God’s image &
o Modern encyclicals (e.g., Laudato Si’) address likeness.
environmental crises. o Human dignity = foundation of CST; life is
Ten Principles of CST sacred, worth is intrinsic.
1. Dignity of the Human Person – inherent worth Context
from God’s image.  Church = community of believers, not just a
building.
 Mission: build relationships of love & justice;  Advocated mercy over harsh judgment.
fight for justice (Pope Benedict XVI). Integration
 Start with foundational CST principle: life &  Recognizing dignity → foundation of freedom,
dignity. justice, peace (UDHR Preamble).
Key Concepts  Church’s mission = promote life & dignity
Human Dignity through teaching, advocacy, and action.
o Imago Dei → inalienable rights, moral  Calls to address issues: discrimination, poverty,
obligations. killing of innocents.
o Cannot be lost; not earned but inherent. Exposition – Activity 3.1: Gospel Beyond
o Lived out through virtue and moral excellence. Words
Freedom Bible Reading – John 4:4–42 (Jesus and the
o Rational, free beings can choose good (CCC Samaritan Woman):
1730).  Jesus travels through Samaria, stops at Jacob’s
o Authentic freedom = doing the good, rooted in well.
truth (Jn 8:32).  Encounters a Samaritan woman at noon.
o Shared in community, not individualistic.  Breaks social barriers: Jews & Samaritans
Equality normally avoid interaction; men rarely spoke to
o All have equal dignity, same nature, same origin. women publicly.
 Offers her “living water” – symbol of eternal life
o Discrimination based on sex, race, class, etc.,
through the Spirit.
must be eliminated.
 Reveals knowledge of her life (five husbands,
o Differences exist (age, talents, wealth), but do
current partner not husband).
not lessen dignity.  Shows that true worship is “in spirit and truth,”
Relationship Between Dignity & Freedom not tied to location.
o Freedom enables humans to seek God and fulfill  Woman becomes witness: tells her town about
purpose. Jesus.
o Misuse of freedom = sin.  Many Samaritans believe because of her
Sin’s Impact testimony and their encounter with Him.
o Original & personal sin distort dignity, create Core Message:
oppression and social sin.  Upholding dignity means breaking prejudices
o Social sin = unjust structures that harm human and offering God’s love to all.
dignity.  True discipleship reaches across cultural, social,
and moral divides.

Upholding Dignity
 Just society = respect for every person’s dignity.
 Human person is purpose of society;
laws/institutions must protect dignity.
 Primacy of human being over society.
Model of Faith: St. Thomas of Villanova
 Augustinian archbishop known for extreme
charity.
 Lived simply, gave resources to poor, founded
institutions for the needy.