Chapter 1: Definition of Terms

1. Marian Witnessing

To witness means to profess Christ and to proclaim Him: “He commanded. 2

“The witness of the resurrection” is the witness of Jesus in his resurrection.

In the Old Testament the word "witness" is derived from the Hebrew root word, ed,
meaning "to repeat or re-assert." Similar to our usage today, the Old Testament word or
its compounds are used primarily in two ways:

1) "Witness" means evidence (e.g., Severe damage witnessed to the destructive

force of the storm).

2) "Witness" means the person who testifies (e.g., The witness to the robbery took
the stand).

Witnessing is telling others about the forgiveness, love, deliverance, empowering,

fruitful life and ministry, etc., that you have found in Jesus.

It is in this context that Marian witnessing has to take place in every MDCian.

2. Justice

Biblical references to the word “justice” mean “to make right.” Justice is, first and
foremost, a relational term — people living in right relationship with God, one another, and
the natural creation. ... As God is just and loving, so we are called to do justice and live
in love.

The (Heb. sedeq [q,d,x],mispat [f'[Link]];Gk. dikaiosyne [dikaiosuvnh]).God, the

Righteous Judge. Justice is rooted in the very nature of God ( Isa 40:14 ). He
evenhandedly rewards good, and he does not ignore the sins of any ( Psalm 33:5 ; Psalms
37:6 Psalms 37:28 ; 97:2 ; 99:4 ). Human judges do well to remember God in their courts.
God does not take bribes ( Deut 10:17 ) or pervert justice in any way ( Gen 18:25 ; 2 Chron
19:7 ).
At the same time, God rarely delivers instant justice. The world does not seem fair
while evil still abounds, and so the oppressed petition God to intervene on their behalf
( Psalm 7:9 ; Prov 29:26 ). Their prayers may even take the form of a complaint ( Hab 1:2-
4 ),although people must not challenge God's essential justice ( Job 40:8 ; Mal 2:17 ). That
God will decisively intervene in the future is the biblical hope.
Confucius with his famous golden rule “Treat others as you wish them to treat,”
springs from justice because to be just means “to give to each one his/her due.

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3. Peace
According to the Bible, the peace of God, “which transcends all understanding,” is the
harmony and calmness of body, mind, and spirit trusting in the power and grace of God.
The Meaning of Peace. In English, the word "peace" conjures up a passive picture,
one showing an absence of civil disturbance or hostilities, or a personality free from
internal and external strife. The biblical concept of peace is larger than that and rests
heavily on the Hebrew root slm, which means "to be complete" or "to be sound." The verb
conveys both a dynamic and a static meaning" to be complete or whole" or "to live well."
The noun had many nuances, but can be grouped into four categories: (1) salom [l'v] as
wholeness of life or body (i.e., health); (2) salom [l'v] as right relationship or harmony
between two parties or people, often established by a covenant (see "covenant of peace"
in Num 25:12-13 ; Isa 54:10 ; Ezek 34:25-26 ) and, when related to Yahweh, the covenant
was renewed or maintained with a "peace offering"; (3) salom [l'v] as prosperity, success,
or fulfillment (see Lev 26:3-9 ); and (4) salom [l'v] as victory over one's enemies or
absence of war. Salom [l'v] was used in both greetings and farewells. It was meant to act
as a blessing on the one to whom it was spoken: "May your life be filled with health,
prosperity, and victory." As an adjective, it expressed completeness and safety. In the
New Testament, the Greek word eirene [eijrhvnh] is the word most often translated by the
word "peace." Although there is some overlap in their meanings, the Hebrew
word salom [l'v] is broader in its usage, and, in fact, has greatly influenced the New
Testament's use of eirene [eijrhvnh]. (Accoring to Bible Dictionary)

4. Integrity of Creation

Explaining this concept would means we have to include the concepts of justice
and peace as well as development.

Integrity of Creation. Integrity refers to the rational use of creation, a use that is
respectful of its purpose and destiny and is mindful of the needs of future generations.
Creation calls for collaboration in an ongoing process and a contribution towards the
realization of an unfinished potential.

Justice is an active concept: it refers to a relational dimension in human society,

built upon agreed criteria, the social contract. This is not always so easy to recognize in
society. Is neo-liberal capitalism such a social contract? It is a basic tenet of capitalism
that there is n invisible hand that regulates the market. Is this a wild, irrational activity or
is there a rational principle behind it? Yet, the most powerful nation in the world today
considers this policy the ideal for our world.

Peace is also an active pursuit; it is not the absence of something, it is the result of
a certain social behavior, regulation and agreement. There must be international
agreement on the factors that disturb peace. For instance, the so-called preventive armed
intervention in Iraq by the US and Great Britain was very much a one-sided decision and
set a most dangerous precedent.

Development embraces all dimensions of human existence. Development that is

unbalanced, stressing one aspect, for example the material at the expense of other
aspects, such as the social and the spiritual is not humanly fulfilling; it leads to unbalanced

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 relationships. Development must be based upon moral values, like trust, solidarity,
altruism, companionship, honesty, respect for others, tolerance, forgiveness, mercy. It
implies an engagement with the world. It aims at improving the quality of life, realizing the
unfinished capacity of nature. Fatalistic attitudes and underdevelopment diminish the
humanity of people and therefore their potential for development. Development is an open-
ended process its provisional character is an essential part of creation. For us this implies
that we accept the responsibility for its unfinished process and that we continue to move
it [Link] means there must be a vision to guide us and a continuous re-vision in the
way we are moving towards that vision.

What becomes clear, therefore, is that integrity of creation, justice, peace and
development must move in a rational order, guided by the human agent and with a vision
that is inspired by the Author of that creation. This is a faith perspective, a God-given
purpose. [Link]

5. Pontifical councils

Pontifical councils operate on the fourth tier of the Holy See’s governing structure.
They have within their competence special functions in connection to ecclesial life that the
pope deems to be of primary importance. As such, they carry out their duties in an official
capacity in the pope's name and by his authority (CIC, c. 360). At the end of the 20th
century there were 11 pontifical councils, all of which fell under the regulations of Pastor
bonus, the 1988 apostolic constitution of Pope John Paul II that reorganized the Roman
curia. These include the Pontifical Council for the Laity, the Pontifical Council for the
Promotion of Christian Unity, the Pontifical Council for the Family, the Pontifical Council
for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council "Cor Unum," the Pontifical Council for the
Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant People, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral
Assistance of Health-Care Workers, the Pontifical Council for the Interpretation of
Legislative Texts, the Pontifical Council for Inter-religious Dialogue, the pontifical council
for culture (which subsumed the Pontifical Council for Dialogue with Non-Believers in
1993), and the Pontifical Council for Social Communications.”

Thus as one structure in the Roman Catholic Church, the Pontifical Council for
Justice and Peace (Justitia et Pax) was a dicastery of the Roman Curia dedicated to
"action-oriented studies" for the international promotion of justice, peace, and human
rights from the perspective of the Roman Catholic Church. To this end, it cooperates with
various religious institutes and advocacy groups, as well as scholarly, ecumenical, and
international organizations.

6. Encyclical

An encyclical is a “circular letter” containing authoritative papal teaching.

What is a social encyclical? Laudato si’ is a “social” encyclical, meaning that it teaches
about the state of society, building on a tradition that began with Pope Leo XIII’s Rerum
Novarum in 1891.

What is Catholic Social Teaching? Catholic Social Teaching is body of doctrine

developed by the Catholic Church on matters of social justice, involving issues of poverty
and wealth, economics, work, family life, social organization, the role of the state, and
ecological and environmental concerns.

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Name: ____________________________________ Course & Yr: _______________

Subject: __________________ Class Schedule: _______________

Date: _____________ Score: ___________

Activity 1

Question:

In your own words, how do you describe/define the following:

.
a. Justice
b. Peace
c. Integrity of Creation

In 3-5 sentences each

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