Part Two on Pope's Encyclical "Charity in Truth"
(Pages 47-80; Chapters 3 & 4)
A.M.D.G.
(Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam; For the Greater Glory of God)
I. Chapter 3: Gratuitousness in the Market
A. A simpler word: "Graciousness" in the sense of gratia or grace (unmerited favor or goodness): think of a "tip" or gratuity;
B. "The human being is made for gift" (47, emphasis added; 49, "principle of gratuitousness") (Paragraph 34);
C. "Gift by its nature goes beyond merit, its rule is that of superabundance" (48).
1. Catholic philosophical maxim: "The good is diffusive of itself";
2. Notice direct connection to Theology of the Body: the male and female bodies are designed to be a nuptial gift;
3. Notice how the Catholic vision is comprehensive, not fragmented.
D. The Market Can't Do It Alone (50, 52, 53, 55, 56, 57) (Paragraphs 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
E. Envisions a Third Way: a form of business that is not just for profit, yet is not public or state-owned (56, 59, 70, 71) (Paragraphs, 39, 41, 46). ❋
See Workers' Cooperative example in Spain: Mondragon started by a priest.
(7th largest corporation in Spain; workers run it through elected assemblies and appoint the management; has a university; largest worker's cooperative in the world);
"MCC [Mondragon Cooperative Corporation] now constitutes over 150 companies, with important manufacturing and engineering interests, as well as retail, financial and educational arms. Its supermarket arm, Eroski, is the largest Spanish-owned retail food chain and the third largest retail group in Spain."
II. Chapter 4: True Development, Rights and Duties, Human Ecology
A. Rights "run wild" apart from duties (66; paragraph 43);
B. Populaton growth issue requires sane sexuality (67, 68; paragraph 44);
C. True Ethics based on creation in image of God (70; paragraph 45);
D. The Environment: Nature "to be 'recapitulated' in Christ at the end of time" (Eph. 1:9-10; Col. 1:19-20) (74; paragraph 48);
E. Human Ecology Required for Environmental Ecology (79; paragraph 51): No respect for ourselves makes respect for the environment impossible.❋