John 11, 5-16 +
CSDC and CV
CV 4b In the present social and cultural context, where
there is a widespread tendency to relativize truth, practising charity in truth
helps people to understand that adhering to the values of Christianity is not merely
useful but essential for building a good society and for true integral human
development. A Christianity of charity without truth would be more or less
interchangeable with a pool of good sentiments, helpful for social cohesion,
but of little relevance. In other words, there would no longer be any real
place for God in the world. Without truth, charity is confined to a narrow
field devoid of relations. It is excluded from the plans and processes of
promoting human development of universal range, in dialogue between knowledge
and praxis.
The right to a safe and healthy
natural environment
CSDC 468. Responsibility for the environment should also find adequate expression on
a juridical level. It is important that the international community draw up uniform
rules that will allow States to exercise more effective control over the
various activities that have negative effects on the environment and to protect
ecosystems by preventing the risk of accidents. “The State should also actively
endeavour within its own territory to prevent destruction of the atmosphere and
biosphere, by carefully monitoring, among other things, the impact of new
technological or scientific advances ... [and] ensuring that its citizens are
not exposed to dangerous pollutants or toxic wastes”.[986] The juridical
content of “the right to a safe and healthy natural environment” [987] is
gradually taking form, stimulated by the concern shown by public opinion to
disciplining the use of created goods according to the demands of the common
good and a common desire to punish those who pollute. But juridical measures by
themselves are not sufficient.[988] They must be accompanied by a growing sense
of responsibility as well as an effective change of mentality and lifestyle.
Notes: [986] John Paul II, Message for the 1990 World Day of Peace, 9: AAS
82 (1990), 152. [987] John Paul II, Address to the European Commission and
Court of Human Rights, Strasbourg (8 October 1988), 5: AAS 81 (1989),
685; cf. John Paul II, Message for the 1999 World Day of Peace, 10: AAS 91
(1999), 384-385. [988] Cf. John Paul II, Message for the 1999 World Day of
Peace, 10: AAS 91 (1999), 384-385.
(John 11, 5-16) If one walks during
the day, he does not stumble
[5] Now Jesus
loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. [6] So when he heard that he was ill,
he remained for two days in the place where he was. [7] Then after this he said
to his disciples, "Let us go back to Judea." [8] The disciples said
to him, "Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go
back there?" [9] Jesus answered, "Are there not twelve hours in a
day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the
light of this world. [10] But if one walks at night, he stumbles, because the
light is not in him." [11] He said this, and then told them, "Our
friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him." [12] So the
disciples said to him, "Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved."
[13] But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant
ordinary sleep. [14] So then Jesus said to them clearly, "Lazarus has
died. [15] And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe.
Let us go to him." [16] So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow
disciples, "Let us also go to die with him."
CSDC 262. Human activity aimed at enhancing and
transforming the universe can and must unleash the perfections which find their
origin and model in the uncreated Word. In fact, the Pauline and Johannine
writings bring to light the Trinitarian dimension of creation, in particular
the link that exists between the Son—Word — the Logos — and creation
(cf. Jn 1:3; 1 Cor 8:6; Col 1:15-17). Created in him and
through him, redeemed by him, the universe is not a happenstance conglomeration
but a “cosmos”.[574] It falls to man to discover the order within it and to
heed this order, bringing it to fulfilment: “In Jesus Christ the visible world
which God created for man — the world that, when sin entered, ‘was subjected to
futility' (Rom 8:20; cf. ibid. 8:19-22) — recovers again its
original link with the divine source of Wisdom and Love”.[575] In this way —
that is, bringing to light in ever greater measure “the unsearchable riches of
Christ” (Eph 3:8), in creation, human work becomes a service raised to
the grandeur of God.
Notes: [574] John Paul II, Encyclical
Letter Redemptor Hominis, 1: AAS 71 (1979), 257. [575] John Paul
II, Encyclical Letter Redemptor Hominis, 8: AAS 71 (1979), 270.
[Initials and
Abbreviations.- CSDC: Pontifical Council for Justice And Peace, Compendium of the Social
Doctrine of the Church; - SDC:
Social Doctrine of the Church; - CV: Benedict
XVI, Caritas in Veritate (Charity in truth)]
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