Posts Tagged ‘economy’

Charity and Truth – 3

October 3, 2009

[Note: This prayer, like those of the last two weeks, reflects and quotes from the Encyclical Letter Caritas In Veritate given by Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009.  Quotes from the letter are identified by paragraph number.]

Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Romans 12:13

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21

Lord forgive us for selfish ambition and the myth of the self made man.

The conviction that man is self-sufficient and can successfully eliminate the evil present in history by his own action alone has led him to confuse happiness and salvation with immanent forms of material prosperity and social action. . . .  In the long term, these convictions have led to economic, social and political systems that trample upon personal and social freedom, and are therefore unable to deliver the justice that they promise.  (Encycl. Ltr, par. 34)

Forgive us for times when pride replaces compassion, and fear of our own loss prevents the action that could help us all now and in the future.  Help us to practice the “ties that bind”: acceptance, caring, generosity, and mutual accountability.  Give us the political will to counter the most destructive aspects of markets and to correct their malfunctions, recognizing that

. . .  grave imbalances are produced when economic action, conceived merely as an engine for wealth creation, is detached from political action, conceived as a means for pursuing justice through redistribution. (Encycl. Ltr,  par. 36).

Give us the compassion, love, and wisdom needed to create new jobs and provide other assistance that will prevent families and children from living in poverty, unable to meet their basic needs.  Give us the faith and insight to invest in the educational institutions and scholarships needed to help all of our youth fulfill their potential.  Let us find the funds to provide basic care to all who are sick, injured or dying.

Help us to see that all we have comes from you, and that as stewards, it is our responsibility, both individually and collectively, “To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly” with you O God. Micah 6:8.

Give us courage, and lead us forward, O Lord.

Amen.

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Charity In Truth -1

September 20, 2009

[Note: this prayer reflects and quotes from the Encyclical Letter Caritas In Veritate given in Rome by Pope Benedict XVI on June 29, 2009.  This letter is addressed not only to the Catholic Church, but also to “all people of good will” and expands on the following statement, made in the opening paragraph: “Charity in truth, to which Jesus Christ bore witness by his earthly life and especially by his death and resurrection, is the principal driving force behind the authentic development of every person and of all humanity.”  Quotes from the letter are identified by paragraph number.]

Jesus replied:  “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it:  “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Mt. 22:37-39

Lord, our economy is said to be growing stronger, although many remain without work and jobs continue to be lost.  Regulatory reforms that would help stabilize and strengthen our monetary systems have stalled.  The economic and social inequalities which increased in past decades continue, and the political will to provide remedies or relief has not been found.  The Encyclical Letter warns us that:

The dignity of the individual and the demands of justice require, particularly today, that economic choices do not cause disparities in wealth to increase in an excessive and morally unacceptable manner, and that we continue to prioritize the goal of access to steady employment for everyone. . . . Through the systemic increase of social inequality, . . . not only does social cohesion suffer, thereby placing democracy at risk, but so too does the economy, through the progressive erosion of “social capital”: the network of relationships of trust, dependability, and respect for rules, all of which are indispensable for any form of civil coexistence.  (Encyl. Ltr, par. 32)

Let us heed this warning O Lord.  Do not let us ignore or accept the erosion of trust, the decline in civility, and the lack of accountability, that permeate our civic life.  Help us find the path forward and build better foundations for our future life together.  As we seek to reform our financial system, remind us, O Lord, as the Encyclical Letter does, “that the primary capital to be safeguarded and valued is man, the human person in his or her integrity. . .” (Encyl. Ltr, par. 25).

Help us to care for one another, to reach out, to share, and to trust that our lives will be better for it.  Help us to preserve and develop all of our people, that each their lives, and our life together,  may better reflect your love and your grace.  Help us, O Lord.

Amen

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