bro I must confess sometimes brands pay me to feature their products in my videos on YouTube. But it's my dream to finish this homestead we are working on in the forest and teach history at the Jesuit school down the river. Gotta have that late stage capitalism plan ya know?
Omg I just checked out your YouTube channel! So cool!
And now I'm eating my words because, as with most things, there are influencers who build the dystopia and there are influencers who help people be human again. I'm inspired to start back up with morning pages. Keep it up!
In my experience as a lifelong Catholic the Church has failed to preach effectively on economics, and now the scales are even more drastic in terms of the divides between capital and labor, but people seem more resigned than ever to maintain the status quo. We have almost all become proletarians when it comes to our mindset around work and consumption, rarely seeking to own our own tools or productive property (if we’re fortunate enough we just buy homes which we promptly treat as investment products which is its own issue), content as wage slaves so long as we have Netflix and cheap food from Walmart. I went to Catholic school for 9 years and never once heard the term “Distributism.” How can we expect to produce an economic culture that so few have imagined or even heard of? And yet deep in Americas roots theres a Main Street ethos we all take pride in. I just hope we have a chance of revitalizing that spirit
Yes, the irony is that actual ownership seems to be in steep decline as we move towards a "subscription" economy - really speaks to how our desire to have access to everything has been exploited (without even realizing it's exploitative) by companies who own everything and just let us "borrow" it: all the streaming services of course fall into this category, but also leasing of vehicles, things like Rent the Runway, and of course, the obsession with becoming a landlord as a source of "passive income" - meanwhile making it more difficult for potential homeowners to buy.
Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, used to say that the Church has a big box of dynamite in our social teaching, but we mostly just keep the box closed while we sit on the lid.
We're equipped to deal with the challenges of the Modern world but often lack the will.
And one more question: Is it possible to ween ourselves off of usury (paragraph 3)? I’m assuming usury is not excessive interest but any interest. I have an inkling that this is a key question.
To touch back on my question of why Pope Leo included moral degeneracy (28:10)…
I’m probably not the only person who instinctively compartmentalizes political/economic theories from individual morality, but maybe XIII is reframing capitalism and communism as ideologies that have inherent moralities… but moralities that are inferior to God’s truth. In other words, maybe morality isn’t downstream; but maybe these modern economic ideologies are founded on faulty morality that, when it plays out, gets expressed as moral degeneracy because the foundations are rotten.
I had said that we were better off to tackle the “new things”/issues of our day because of the encyclicals like Rerum Novarum to build upon. On the other hand, I think the division and scandals that plague the Church make her less effective in her mission. On the other hand, the Church has always had these problems, I suppose. And on the other hand (Fiddler on the Roof, anyone? ;) Pope Leo XIV seems like he could be the right man to minister healing in those aforementioned areas.
I hope you're right that we are standing on a solid foundation with our social doctrine. We will need the Holy Spirit to guide us but I have a feeling He will be happy to help :)
Sorry to have missed this Live, but tuning in now and Sarah, what a gift this whole read-along is going to be, thank you for doing this! I also like the royal "we" ha. That vision of Pope Leo's re the Devil is so profound... and rings true in some metaphorical way. The St. Michael prayer is my absolute go-to. I am hopeful that the Church will have an absolutely vital role to play in the 21st century as AI and late stage capitalism run amuck. The Church is increasingly the sole outlier truly defending morality based on principle, natural law, and the dignity of the human person.
I think the stark confrontation of AI - what are humans for? - does provoke an existential confrontation that could draw many people to faith (I think it has already started to) because MOST of us intuit that human beings are not mere 'productivity' utilitarian machines - but are something more complicated and more special - and that capacity to love and be loved, that imageo deio, is not replicated (cannot be replicated) by any technology. How to accept that and confront that may take a real confrontation with the nature of the soul.
I think this century will force some stark stands from all of us. My husband and I have increasingly become aware that you simply cannot be passive anymore with the use of technology. There is a moral element to it. And if you just go with the flow, you will quickly find yourself in a dangerous and inhuman sphere. Looking forward to next section's readings! (and I ordered that edition - better than reading online!)
Yes! What are humans for? What is there left for us to do? On the one hand, it sounds ridiculous ... but when you start to consider just how much potential there *might be* for AI to replace human work (and there are differing opinions here, ranging from "meh" to full-blown apocalypse) it becomes understandable why without a transcendent framework and an anthropology based in the image of God ... well ... we look pretty lame and useless!
On a related note: I can't wait to read about your experience with the light phone!
Amazing, Sarah! Thanks for initiating this discussion & recording your reflections! There is so much I want to say & will say as you lead us through Rerum Novarum. What a service you are providing to all the People of God!
In terms of your last question, I believe we have been gifted with an almost miraculous spirit/method/tool to deal with AI & all that life throws at us, individually & collectively, in the call to become a more synodal church, as something both new & as part of the church’s essence.
Ask yourself, how can I make my reflections more synodal?
Thanks for your answer! Beautiful. I’ll have to check out that Final Document sometime… looks hefty :) and I’ll be lucky to keep up with Sarah’s reading schedule!
As someone IN the Catholic Church, I admit that I still don't have a clear concept of what synodality means! Lol. I am hopeful that Francis' vision (which I believe was probably very inspired and clear to him, at least) will start to take shape under Leo, but that will require him to communicate it in a way that creates buy-in and quiets suspicion. Early returns are good on this front, in my opinion!
In the context that I’m using it in reference to the work of the Synod on Synodality called by Pope Francis from 2023 to 2024, synodal for me means a way of proceeding in the church when dealing with almost any topic/issue focused on Communion, Participation & Mission.
Anyway, here’s my angle on how I try to live a more synodal way of life consistent with (but not limited to) the teachings of the Final Document referenced above:
Always start with genuine Communion, recognizing and celebrating the full extent of our togetherness, what we have in common. This is not just a simple nod to a creed or some other shared experience that might unite us, although those dimensions of our togetherness should be included for sure, but also a deeper awareness & appreciation of our common baptism, humanity & shared earth. Many forms of genuine liturgical rubrics already exist or could be created when convoking a synodal gathering. Take it (the gathering for discussion on difficult topic) seriously recognizing that we are never alone & that it isn’t always just about us.
Communion then should lead to engaged and accompanied Participation, each member encouraged and supported to speak their truth from their heart to each other, in the company of the Holy Spirit, on the specific focus of the gathering. Here we can practices what is referred to as Conversations in the Spirit, although I liken it more to a form of trinitarian listening, beginning with boldly listening to the deepest truth in your heart, then empathically listening to the deepest truth in the heart of our neighbor or follow group members, and then also listening to the truth in the heart of the Spirit of Jesus. Yes, this is the call & fruit synodal participation!
Finally, a synodal approach should end by turning our intentional attention to how we move forward together, what next small or big steps are we prepared to take to open doors for each other into the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. In a way you might say that living mission synodally builds on synodal Communion & synodal Participation towards living our faith incarnationally in the here & now, interrelationally.
Anyway, thanks for asking. It’s hard for me to boil synodal down to a simple definition, but I hope this might spark some synodal curiosity and challenges, since I’m learning about all this mostly from reading & reflection. Unfortunately, my local parish hasn’t embraced the synodal moment yet. I pray Pope Leo XIV continues to steer the People of God on the synodal path nurtured by Pope Francis & others. 🙏🏼
Maybe I just prefer the language of discernment, which I think is effectively the same thing as synodality.
I admit, I haven't read the document (though I'm open to it!) but it always bothers me a bit how listening TO God never seems to be a part of it. We listen to each other--yes, good, a wonderful start--but then oughtn't we then listen to the Lord together? Pray together? It's probably implicit in there, maybe even explicit - but I tend to wish it were emphasized more.
It’s all in there very explicitly, discernment, listening to God, especially through how we interact we each other, etc. But I totally agree that Pope Francis was very ambitious about the Synod on Synodality, I mean a synod on something, almost anything, is easier than a Synod about itself! Yet HOW we proceed is as important as WHAT we’re attempting to deal with. Synodality is about how we engage with respect and empathy toward each other as the People of God accompanying each other to our common future, the kingdom of heaven on earth!
I’m so bummed I missed this! Great work Sarah
Well, gee -- thanks for the idea in the first place! We'll be back at 8:30 p.m. CT this Thursday!
I'll be there so you can dunk on an "influencer" face-to-chat live this time. 😅
You influence, bro?
bro I must confess sometimes brands pay me to feature their products in my videos on YouTube. But it's my dream to finish this homestead we are working on in the forest and teach history at the Jesuit school down the river. Gotta have that late stage capitalism plan ya know?
Omg I just checked out your YouTube channel! So cool!
And now I'm eating my words because, as with most things, there are influencers who build the dystopia and there are influencers who help people be human again. I'm inspired to start back up with morning pages. Keep it up!
Me, SMASHING that subscribe button 💥
In my experience as a lifelong Catholic the Church has failed to preach effectively on economics, and now the scales are even more drastic in terms of the divides between capital and labor, but people seem more resigned than ever to maintain the status quo. We have almost all become proletarians when it comes to our mindset around work and consumption, rarely seeking to own our own tools or productive property (if we’re fortunate enough we just buy homes which we promptly treat as investment products which is its own issue), content as wage slaves so long as we have Netflix and cheap food from Walmart. I went to Catholic school for 9 years and never once heard the term “Distributism.” How can we expect to produce an economic culture that so few have imagined or even heard of? And yet deep in Americas roots theres a Main Street ethos we all take pride in. I just hope we have a chance of revitalizing that spirit
Yes, the irony is that actual ownership seems to be in steep decline as we move towards a "subscription" economy - really speaks to how our desire to have access to everything has been exploited (without even realizing it's exploitative) by companies who own everything and just let us "borrow" it: all the streaming services of course fall into this category, but also leasing of vehicles, things like Rent the Runway, and of course, the obsession with becoming a landlord as a source of "passive income" - meanwhile making it more difficult for potential homeowners to buy.
Peter Maurin, co-founder of the Catholic Worker movement, used to say that the Church has a big box of dynamite in our social teaching, but we mostly just keep the box closed while we sit on the lid.
We're equipped to deal with the challenges of the Modern world but often lack the will.
Really looking forward to digging in to this!
So good! I'm hoping that the election of Pope Leo has "lit the fuse!" "
Kristen in SC
loving Leo XIV
And one more question: Is it possible to ween ourselves off of usury (paragraph 3)? I’m assuming usury is not excessive interest but any interest. I have an inkling that this is a key question.
To touch back on my question of why Pope Leo included moral degeneracy (28:10)…
I’m probably not the only person who instinctively compartmentalizes political/economic theories from individual morality, but maybe XIII is reframing capitalism and communism as ideologies that have inherent moralities… but moralities that are inferior to God’s truth. In other words, maybe morality isn’t downstream; but maybe these modern economic ideologies are founded on faulty morality that, when it plays out, gets expressed as moral degeneracy because the foundations are rotten.
I had said that we were better off to tackle the “new things”/issues of our day because of the encyclicals like Rerum Novarum to build upon. On the other hand, I think the division and scandals that plague the Church make her less effective in her mission. On the other hand, the Church has always had these problems, I suppose. And on the other hand (Fiddler on the Roof, anyone? ;) Pope Leo XIV seems like he could be the right man to minister healing in those aforementioned areas.
Lol "on the other hand!" That really captures it!
I hope you're right that we are standing on a solid foundation with our social doctrine. We will need the Holy Spirit to guide us but I have a feeling He will be happy to help :)
Sorry to have missed this Live, but tuning in now and Sarah, what a gift this whole read-along is going to be, thank you for doing this! I also like the royal "we" ha. That vision of Pope Leo's re the Devil is so profound... and rings true in some metaphorical way. The St. Michael prayer is my absolute go-to. I am hopeful that the Church will have an absolutely vital role to play in the 21st century as AI and late stage capitalism run amuck. The Church is increasingly the sole outlier truly defending morality based on principle, natural law, and the dignity of the human person.
I think the stark confrontation of AI - what are humans for? - does provoke an existential confrontation that could draw many people to faith (I think it has already started to) because MOST of us intuit that human beings are not mere 'productivity' utilitarian machines - but are something more complicated and more special - and that capacity to love and be loved, that imageo deio, is not replicated (cannot be replicated) by any technology. How to accept that and confront that may take a real confrontation with the nature of the soul.
I think this century will force some stark stands from all of us. My husband and I have increasingly become aware that you simply cannot be passive anymore with the use of technology. There is a moral element to it. And if you just go with the flow, you will quickly find yourself in a dangerous and inhuman sphere. Looking forward to next section's readings! (and I ordered that edition - better than reading online!)
Yes! What are humans for? What is there left for us to do? On the one hand, it sounds ridiculous ... but when you start to consider just how much potential there *might be* for AI to replace human work (and there are differing opinions here, ranging from "meh" to full-blown apocalypse) it becomes understandable why without a transcendent framework and an anthropology based in the image of God ... well ... we look pretty lame and useless!
On a related note: I can't wait to read about your experience with the light phone!
Amazing, Sarah! Thanks for initiating this discussion & recording your reflections! There is so much I want to say & will say as you lead us through Rerum Novarum. What a service you are providing to all the People of God!
In terms of your last question, I believe we have been gifted with an almost miraculous spirit/method/tool to deal with AI & all that life throws at us, individually & collectively, in the call to become a more synodal church, as something both new & as part of the church’s essence.
Ask yourself, how can I make my reflections more synodal?
🙏🏼❤️😇
Thanks for your answer! Beautiful. I’ll have to check out that Final Document sometime… looks hefty :) and I’ll be lucky to keep up with Sarah’s reading schedule!
Hi Agustin, as someone not in the Catholic Church, what is meant by synodal?
As someone IN the Catholic Church, I admit that I still don't have a clear concept of what synodality means! Lol. I am hopeful that Francis' vision (which I believe was probably very inspired and clear to him, at least) will start to take shape under Leo, but that will require him to communicate it in a way that creates buy-in and quiets suspicion. Early returns are good on this front, in my opinion!
In the context that I’m using it in reference to the work of the Synod on Synodality called by Pope Francis from 2023 to 2024, synodal for me means a way of proceeding in the church when dealing with almost any topic/issue focused on Communion, Participation & Mission.
(Below is how I try to apply my understanding of synodal as a process, however, the official Synod on Synodality that concluded in 2024 produced a Final Document that deserves a close reading similar to what Sarah’s doing with Rerum Novarum. https://www.synod.va/content/dam/synod/news/2024-10-26_final-document/ENG---Documento-finale.pdf)
Anyway, here’s my angle on how I try to live a more synodal way of life consistent with (but not limited to) the teachings of the Final Document referenced above:
Always start with genuine Communion, recognizing and celebrating the full extent of our togetherness, what we have in common. This is not just a simple nod to a creed or some other shared experience that might unite us, although those dimensions of our togetherness should be included for sure, but also a deeper awareness & appreciation of our common baptism, humanity & shared earth. Many forms of genuine liturgical rubrics already exist or could be created when convoking a synodal gathering. Take it (the gathering for discussion on difficult topic) seriously recognizing that we are never alone & that it isn’t always just about us.
Communion then should lead to engaged and accompanied Participation, each member encouraged and supported to speak their truth from their heart to each other, in the company of the Holy Spirit, on the specific focus of the gathering. Here we can practices what is referred to as Conversations in the Spirit, although I liken it more to a form of trinitarian listening, beginning with boldly listening to the deepest truth in your heart, then empathically listening to the deepest truth in the heart of our neighbor or follow group members, and then also listening to the truth in the heart of the Spirit of Jesus. Yes, this is the call & fruit synodal participation!
Finally, a synodal approach should end by turning our intentional attention to how we move forward together, what next small or big steps are we prepared to take to open doors for each other into the Kingdom of Heaven here on earth. In a way you might say that living mission synodally builds on synodal Communion & synodal Participation towards living our faith incarnationally in the here & now, interrelationally.
Anyway, thanks for asking. It’s hard for me to boil synodal down to a simple definition, but I hope this might spark some synodal curiosity and challenges, since I’m learning about all this mostly from reading & reflection. Unfortunately, my local parish hasn’t embraced the synodal moment yet. I pray Pope Leo XIV continues to steer the People of God on the synodal path nurtured by Pope Francis & others. 🙏🏼
Maybe I just prefer the language of discernment, which I think is effectively the same thing as synodality.
I admit, I haven't read the document (though I'm open to it!) but it always bothers me a bit how listening TO God never seems to be a part of it. We listen to each other--yes, good, a wonderful start--but then oughtn't we then listen to the Lord together? Pray together? It's probably implicit in there, maybe even explicit - but I tend to wish it were emphasized more.
It’s all in there very explicitly, discernment, listening to God, especially through how we interact we each other, etc. But I totally agree that Pope Francis was very ambitious about the Synod on Synodality, I mean a synod on something, almost anything, is easier than a Synod about itself! Yet HOW we proceed is as important as WHAT we’re attempting to deal with. Synodality is about how we engage with respect and empathy toward each other as the People of God accompanying each other to our common future, the kingdom of heaven on earth!