as catechism of the catholic church “In order to truly receive the body and blood of Christ given for us, we must recognize Him in our poorest brethren” (no. 1397). Masu.
“Catholic social teaching is a central and essential element of our faith.”
Catholic social teaching emerges from the truths God has revealed to us about himself. We believe in a triune God, which is very communal and social in nature. God the Father sends His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to share the Holy Spirit as a gift of love. God reveals himself to us not as a solitary person, but as a relational person, a triune person. Therefore, as created in the image of God, we share this communal and social nature. We are called to reach out and build relationships of love and justice.
Catholic social teaching is based on and inseparable from our understanding of human life and human dignity. Because all humans are created in the image of God and redeemed by Jesus Christ, they are uniquely valuable and worthy of respect as members of the human family. Every person has inherent dignity and the right to live a life commensurate with that dignity, from the moment of conception until natural death. Human dignity comes from God, not from human qualities or achievements.
Our commitment to Catholic social mission must be rooted in and strengthened by our spiritual life. In our relationship with God, we experience the conversion of heart necessary to truly love one another as God has loved us.
—Sharing Catholic Social Teaching: Challenges and Directions