ABSOLUTELY A TEEN S JOURNEY TO CHRISTMAS ADVENT! 2018 Pf la um Pu bl is hi ng G ro up For Teens HTP-3188 AA teens cover 2018.indd All Pages 30 Kettering Blvd Dayton, OH 4439 800-43-4383 pflaum.com 7/17/18 9:37 AM
Here s big question The season of Advent includes four Sundays. Beginning today, you are invited to spend next four weeks reflecting on your faith in God Church. But you will also be challenged to put that faith into action by engaging in activities that, in The season of Advent Love forit s ors, out first your place love small, simple ways, will help to create a better world. time toinlive faith includes four Sundays. for poor, in whom Church sees Christ with Absolutely Advent!Beginning today, you are himself, is made concrete in promotion invited to spend next WHAT DOES CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Love for ors, four weeks in first place love for poor, in whom Church reflecting HAVE TO DO WITH ADVENT? on your in God sees Christ himself, is faith made concrete in promotion of justice. Justice ng G ro up of justice. Justice will never be fully attained unless people see in poor person, who is asking for help in order to survive, not an annoyance or a burden, but Church. But you an opportunity for showing kindness a chance will never be fully attained unless people see in poor person, who is will also be challenged for greater enrichment. Only such an awareness can During Advent we prepare to celebrate coming of Jesus into this world at asking for help into order to survive, not an annoyance or a burden, but an put that faith into give courage needed to face risk change first Christmas, today, at end of time. His coming into world,opportunity for showing kindness ainvolved chance for auntic greaterattempt enrichment. action by engaging in in every to come to aid Incarnation, means Jesus coming as a human being. Jesus is both God human. Only such an awareness can give courage to aface risk from activities that, in small, of anor.needed It is not merely matter of giving Therefore, all of principles of Catholic social teaching once affected Jesus just simplein ways, will help one s surplus,to butcome of helping change involved every auntic attempt toentire peoples aid ofwhich as y affect us. He was created in image likeness of God; he was born into to create a better world. are presently excluded or marginalized to enter into anor. It is not merely a matter of giving from one s surplus, but of family of Joseph Mary; he lived among poor vulnerable; he worked It s time to live out your sphere of economic human development. For (probably as a carpenter!); he saw himself in solidarity with everyone on Earth; helping entire peoples which are presently excluded or marginalized to faith with Absolutely this to happen, it is not enough to draw on surplus he cared for creation better than anyone. enter into sphere development. For this to it Advent!of economic human goods which in fact our world abundantly produces; As we prepare over se next four weeks for birth of Jesus in our world, we happen, it is not enough to draw on requires surplus goods which in fact our of above all a change of life-styles, of models have a great opportunity to examine at how we are preparing ourselves, each or, production consumption, of established world our planet for Jesus. How are we caring for one anor, especially poor abundantly produces; it requires above all a change of life-styles, of structures of power which today govern societies. Pu bl is hi models of production consumption, of established structures vulnerable. And how are we caring for God s creation? [ Centesimus Annus, #8 As Advent begins, re is much work to do so we can welcome Jesus into ofapower which today govern societies. world marked by principles of Catholic social teaching. Absolutely Advent will Centesimus Annus, #8 help do just that! um Centesimus Annus. This Latin title means hundredth year. Pope John Paul II wrote this encyclical letter in 1991 to celebrate one hundredth anniversary of Rerum Novarum, first social encyclical. Pf la The Challenge of Peace. The U.S. Catholic bishops wrote this pastoral letter on war peace in 1983, in midst of nuclear arms race. Gaudium et Spes. This document s title means Joy Hope, with subtitle The Church in Modern World. The Vatican II Council Fars wrote this document in 196, at end of Vatican II. Economic Justice for All. The U.S. Catholic bishops wrote this pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching U.S. economy in 1986. On Social Concern. Pope John Paul II wrote this encyclical in 1987 to express his concerns about condition of human person in modern society. EACH DAY YOU WILL [ Read a Scripture passage taken from readings of day. [ Reflect on Scripture with journal questions that relate to your own experiences. [ Engage in activities that make Scripture come alive for you. [ Reflect on how to put Catholic social teaching into action in your family, school, parish, community. 4 AA18_teens.indd 4-7/9/18 10:08 AM
Here s big question The season of Advent includes four Sundays. Beginning today, you are invited to spend next four weeks reflecting on your faith in God Church. But you will also be challenged to put that faith into action by engaging in activities that, in The season of Advent Love forit s ors, out first your place love small, simple ways, will help to create a better world. time toinlive faith includes four Sundays. for poor, in whom Church sees Christ with Absolutely Advent!Beginning today, you are himself, is made concrete in promotion invited to spend next WHAT DOES CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING Love for ors, four weeks in first place love for poor, in whom Church reflecting HAVE TO DO WITH ADVENT? on your in God sees Christ himself, is faith made concrete in promotion of justice. Justice ng G ro up of justice. Justice will never be fully attained unless people see in poor person, who is asking for help in order to survive, not an annoyance or a burden, but Church. But you an opportunity for showing kindness a chance will never be fully attained unless people see in poor person, who is will also be challenged for greater enrichment. Only such an awareness can During Advent we prepare to celebrate coming of Jesus into this world at asking for help into order to survive, not an annoyance or a burden, but an put that faith into give courage needed to face risk change first Christmas, today, at end of time. His coming into world,opportunity for showing kindness ainvolved chance for auntic greaterattempt enrichment. action by engaging in in every to come to aid Incarnation, means Jesus coming as a human being. Jesus is both God human. Only such an awareness can give courage to aface risk from activities that, in small, of anor.needed It is not merely matter of giving Therefore, all of principles of Catholic social teaching once affected Jesus just simplein ways, will help one s surplus,to butcome of helping change involved every auntic attempt toentire peoples aid ofwhich as y affect us. He was created in image likeness of God; he was born into to create a better world. are presently excluded or marginalized to enter into anor. It is not merely a matter of giving from one s surplus, but of family of Joseph Mary; he lived among poor vulnerable; he worked It s time to live out your sphere of economic human development. For (probably as a carpenter!); he saw himself in solidarity with everyone on Earth; helping entire peoples which are presently excluded or marginalized to faith with Absolutely this to happen, it is not enough to draw on surplus he cared for creation better than anyone. enter into sphere development. For this to it Advent!of economic human goods which in fact our world abundantly produces; As we prepare over se next four weeks for birth of Jesus in our world, we happen, it is not enough to draw on requires surplus goods which in fact our of above all a change of life-styles, of models have a great opportunity to examine at how we are preparing ourselves, each or, production consumption, of established world our planet for Jesus. How are we caring for one anor, especially poor abundantly produces; it requires above all a change of life-styles, of structures of power which today govern societies. Gaudium et Spes. This document s title means Joy Hope, with subtitle The Church in Modern World. The Vatican II Council Fars wrote this document in 196, at end of Vatican II. Economic Justice for All. The U.S. Catholic bishops wrote this pastoral letter on Catholic social teaching U.S. economy in 1986. On Social Concern. Pope John Paul II wrote this encyclical in 1987 to express his concerns about condition of human person in modern society. [ Reflect on Scripture with journal questions that relate to your own experiences. um [ Read a Scripture passage taken from readings of day. la The Challenge of Peace. The U.S. Catholic bishops wrote this pastoral letter on war peace in 1983, in midst of nuclear arms race. EACH DAY YOU WILL Pf Centesimus Annus. This Latin title means hundredth year. Pope John Paul II wrote this encyclical letter in 1991 to celebrate one hundredth anniversary of Rerum Novarum, first social encyclical. Pu bl is hi models of production consumption, of established structures vulnerable. And how are we caring for God s creation? [ Centesimus Annus, #8 As Advent begins, re is much work to do so we can welcome Jesus into ofapower which today govern societies. world marked by principles of Catholic social teaching. Absolutely Advent will Centesimus Annus, #8 help do just that! [ Engage in activities that make Scripture come alive for you. [ Reflect on how to put Catholic social teaching into action in your family, school, parish, community. 4 AA18_teens.indd 4-7/9/18 10:08 AM
The First Week of Advent DIGNITY OF THE HUMAN PERSON Human persons are willed by God; y are imprinted with God s image. Beyond rights y acquire by ir work, certain rights flow from ir essential dignity as persons. [ Based on Centesimus Annus, #11 The human person is clearest reflection of God s presence in world; all of Church s work in pursuit of both justice peace is designed to protect promote dignity of every person. For each person not only reflects God, but is expression of God s creative work meaning of Christ s redemptive ministry. [ The Challenge of Peace, #1 Quick! Name five characteristics that make someone a human being. START NOW! Did you mention being a bipedal primate mammal? How about ability to reason? The ability to love? To desire world peace? SOME DAYS YOU MIGHT NOT FEEL VERY HUMAN. If you have little brors or sisters, you might not think y are human at all! Yet, fact is that each person is created in image likeness of God. What does this mean? If we believe that God is pure goodness, pure love, pure being, n, as saying goes, We are chips off of old block! We are good, we are loving, we are called to be best people we can be. And so is everyone else! When we see each person as created in image likeness of God, n we will treat ors with respect for ir dignity. This idea is captured in Matw 2:44. Pflaum Publishing Group LORD, WHEN WAS IT THAT WE SAW YOU HUNGRY OR THIRSTY OR A STRANGER OR NAKED OR SICK OR IN PRISON, AND DID NOT TAKE CARE OF YOU? THEN HE WILL ANSWER THEM, TRULY I TELL YOU, JUST AS YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ONE OF THE LEAST OF THESE, YOU DID NOT DO IT TO ME. When we recognize that each person truly is Jesus on Earth, n we are following way that Jesus has laid out for us. We are following first principle of Catholic social teaching. As you celebrate Advent prepare for Christmas, how are you celebrating life dignity of each person you encounter? 6
Five ways to Celebrate Life Dignity of Each Person 1 Sit next to someone who is sitting alone in lunchroom or school commons. 2 Serve a meal at a local soup kitchen or work at a food pantry. Invite your family or friends to come along. 3 Look for a person in your neighborhood who does not seem to have a connection to friends or family. Go out of your way to start a conversation with this person. 4Visit a local nursing home listen to stories of a resident or two. Offer to tutor a person at school who struggles with his or her homework. Our Role Model in Faith SAINT TERESA OF CALCUTTA Gonxha Agnes Bojaxhiu was born in Skopje, Macedonia, on August 26, 1910. At age of eighteen, Gonxha entered a convent with a desire to become a missionary. Her dream was realized in January of 1929, when, as Sister Mary Teresa, she was sent to Calcutta, India. She spent most of her early years in religious life teaching in a girls school. However, in 1946, she felt call of God to spend her life in service to poor, founded a new order, Missionary of Charity Sisters. She her sisters set out to serve poorest of poor in slums of Calcutta. Mor Teresa, as she was now known, said that by caring for unwanted, unloved, uncared for, she was serving Jesus. She celebrated life dignity of each person she met. Mor Teresa died on September, 1997. On October 19, 2003, Pope John Paul II beatified Teresa, now known as Saint Mor Teresa of Calcutta. Pflaum Publishing Group Let us pray Compassionate God, you have created us in your image likeness. Because of this we are called challenged to see each person we meet as a bror sister in Christ. Give us courage to truly treat each person with love. Help us especially to see face of Christ in poor vulnerable in our midst. We ask this through Jesus, Christ, who modeled true love compassion. Amen. 7
First Sunday of Advent December 2 The days are surely coming, says Lord, when I will fulfill promise I made to house of Israel house of Judah. In those days at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; he shall execute justice righteousness in l. «JEREMIAH 33:14-1» Are you familiar with phrase gold stard? The term is used to mean a model of excellence against which something is measured or judged. Jesus came to carry out justice in l. The Church offers gold stard of justice in our Catholic social teachings. The principles of Catholic social teaching are gold stard for measuring justice of any action. Review descriptions of se principles given on page 2. In your opinion, which one of seven principles most needs to be practiced today? Why? Pflaum Publishing Group 8