FUNDAMENTAL MERTON/CARDIJN OPTION #2 Yesterday, we observed the final Sunday of Lent, a significant milestone in the season as we now shift our focus to the impending Holy Week. This is a time to immerse ourselves in the profound narratives Jesus shared, including the parables and the Sermon on the Mount, and to grasp the... Continue Reading →
Where do I find some “Kingdom Ethics?”
The Sermon on the Mount, which echoes throughout the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Paul's letters, and the rest of the New Testament, was universally understood as the charter document for "followers of Jesus and the movement." In the church's first three centuries, the Sermon on the Mount was the guiding light for how communities... Continue Reading →
Do we have a Catechetical Problem?
"Economic Justice for All" is a landmark pastoral letter issued by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops in 1986. It addresses the moral dimensions and human consequences of American economic life, focusing on issues such as poverty, unemployment, housing, and the financial relationship between the United States and developing nations. The pastoral letter "Economic... Continue Reading →
Technology needs Energy~Where is the Hermeneutics?
Hermeneutics is the theory and methodology of interpretation, especially where we often find it in understanding biblical texts, wisdom literature such as the "Great Books," and theological and philosophical texts. It's essentially the art and science of understanding and communicating meaning. Remember, "meaning" expresses reality, and "meaning" comes to us through metaphors, myths, literature, and... Continue Reading →
Discipleship, Freedom, and Grace
This also was posted on the Cardijn Reflection site. Through our work in this world, we often find ourselves at the intersection of civic life and faith; we often encounter a Church and world grappling with deep divisions and profound questions about what it means to be disciples of Jesus Christ. This is similar to... Continue Reading →
Mediums, use them wisely
From 1948 until he died in 1969, Fr. Louis J. Twomey published a newsletter out of Loyola University New Orleans, "Christ's Blueprint for the South," to educate his fellow Jesuits on Catholic social teaching and challenge them to put it into practice. Think See-Judge-Act as the theme of the newsletters. As Marshall McLuhan famously stated, 'The medium is the message.' The... Continue Reading →
There were disciples and there was a crowd.
Matthew 5:1 We read that Jesus went up on a mountainside and sat down. At the beginning of Jesus' ministry, think about your beginnings in Catholic Social Teaching and ministry. Reflect on the beginnings of those you follow and admire, both historically and present today. What were and are those beginning days about? How did... Continue Reading →
Good Vibes, Good News, Good Future
In Joseph Cardinal Cardijn's life and work, those inspired by his mission and message understood that the followers of Jesus had "Good Vibes" about doing what was suitable for people. His good vibes attracted good lives for many working people. Our work, guided by the message of Jesus as the "Good News," always employs the See-Judge-Act method. This... Continue Reading →
We are not “Catholic Integralist”
(This was also posted at https://reflections.josephcardijn.com/) The intricate and often misunderstood relationship between "Catholic Integralism," Joseph Cardijn, Albert Nolan, and many others of the JOC movements, including Pope Leo XIII, who inspired the movement for all practical purposes, is a fascinating subject of study. While some of his teachings are cited in support of integralist... Continue Reading →
Christian messages and medium practices are starkly divided.
Christian messages and medium practices are starkly divided. Christian practices are starkly divided between those that are focused on imperialism and those that strive for liberation. As Marshall McLuhan famously stated, 'The medium is the message.' The medium significantly influences human perception and behavior, often overshadowing the specific information it carries. Surprisingly, the Church and politicians share more similarities than one... Continue Reading →
Innovate ~ Educate ~ Collaborate 
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