In a speech to the gathering of alumni of Jesuit schools in Valencia, 1973, Father Pedro Arrupe, Superior General of the Society of Jesus, addressed the issue of “Education (or re-education) for Justice”. It was a radical speech. Father Arrupe took up the challenges posed by the Synod document Justice in the World. Many in his audience walked out.
In paragraph 49 and 50 the Synod document refers to education for justice.
“Christians’ specific contribution to justice is the day-to-day life of individual believers acting like the leaven of the Gospel in their family, their school, their work and their social and civic life. Included with this are the perspectives and meaning which the faithful can give to human effort. Accordingly, educational method must be such as to teach people to live their lives in its entire reality and in accord with the evangelical principles of personal and social morality which are expressed in the vital Christian witness of one’s life.” (49)
“The obstacles to the progress which we wish for ourselves and for humankind are obvious. The method of education very frequently still in use today encourages narrow individualism. Part of the human family lives immersed in a mentality which exalts possessions. The school and the communications media, which are often obstructed by the established order, allow the formation only of people desired by that order, that is to say, people in its image, not new people but a copy of people as they are.” (50)
Impelled by this concept of education for justice presented in the Synod document Justice in the World, father Arrupe posed the question: “Have we educated you for justice?” His answer was: “No. If the terms “justice” and “education” carry all depth of meaning which the Church gives them today, we have not educated you for justice.”
He made a strong plea to change Jesuit education, to focus on education for justice, which should be guided by “works of justice”. The prime educational objective must be to form men-and-women-for-others; men and women who will live not for themselves but for God and his Christ; men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbours.
Defining what he meant by doing the “works of justice” he said:
“First, a basic attitude of respect for all people which forbids us ever to use them as instruments for our own profit.
Second, a firm resolve never to profit from, or allow ourselves to be suborned by, positions of power deriving from privilege, for to do so, even passively, is equivalent to active oppression.
To be drugged by the comforts of privilege is to become contributors to injustice as silent beneficiaries of the fruits of injustice.
Third, an attitude not simply of refusal but of counterattack against injustice; a decision to work with others toward the dismantling of unjust social structures so that the weak, the oppressed, the marginalized of this world may be set free.”
Education and animation for justice are also part of the mandate given to the Commissions for Justice and Peace. In 1965 the Second Vatican Council promulgated the Pastoral Constitution Gaudium et Spes, about the Church in the modern world. Paragraph 90 expresses the following wish: “Considering the immense hardships which still afflict the majority of men and women today, the Council regards it as most opportune that some Department of the Universal Church be set up for the worldwide promotion of justice for the poor and of Christ’s love for them. The role of such an organism would be to stimulate the catholic community to foster progress in needy regions and social justice on the international scene.” The Justice and Peace commissions all over the world are truly the fruit of the Second Vatican Council. It is up to them, to us, to show that we are capable of motivating our own faith communities to work for justice, which begins with the transformation of oneself, which begins at home.
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What has been your own experience of the Church’ social teachings?
What are your feelings about them in general?
How important is it for you to have the guidance of the Church’ teachings on social matters?
What are the major reasons that stimulate you to work for justice?
How does your faith helps you to work for justice and peace?
“If you want peace, work for justice.” This theme can already been found in a dream scene of a renewed community in Psalm 85, personifying characters of love, truth, justice and peace coming together as if long lost friends.
“I will listen for what God, the Lord, has to say;
Surely he will speak of peace
to his people and his faithful.
May they not turn to foolishness!
Near indeed is his salvation for those who fear him;
Glory will dwell in our land.
Love and truth will meet;
Justice and peace will kiss.
Truth will spring from the earth;
Justice will look down from heaven.
Yes, the Lord will grant his bounty;
Our land will yield its produce.
Justice will march before him,
and make a way for his footsteps.”
“ Let us pray to the God of peace, that he may grant to the whole human family, the victim of so much injustice and violence, the gift of concord in justice ”. (Pope John Paul II)
Thank you for your kind attention.
