THE TRIPLE SIGNIFICANCE OF THIS DAY IN CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHING.............

Seldom in human or Catholic-Christian history do occurrences of triple significance happen as they do today, May 14th.  On May 14, 1891, Pope Leo XIII opened a new and searing focus on Catholic Doctrine and Social Teaching by promulgating the Encyclical, "Rerum Novarum", ("On Capital And Labor and the Condition of Workers",) which relayed the commitment of Catholicism to economic and social justice for all people and the equality of opportunity to work and provide for familial needs.  Four decades later Pope Pius XI, commemorated "Rerum Novarum", with his own social justice teaching Encyclical, "Quadrasegimo Annos" (" In the Fortieth Year") in 1931. Building on Leo XIII's addressing of the economic and social state of the condition of workers in 1891; Pius XI, concentrated on the the social and economic implications in society upon all persons, in terms of the ethics and the potential threats to human dignity and freedom both totaliarian Communism and unbridled Capitalism needing to be faced and resolved.  Pope John XXIII, added his insights and vision of Catholic Christian Faith and the Teachings of Social Justice Doctrine, in his 1963 Encyclical, "Mater et Magistra", ("Mother and Teacher") on Christianity and Social Progress; speaks of the Church's role for the good of peoples to being that of our mother and teacher, nurturing the common good.  He expands Leo XIII'S concern for the condition of workers and and the advancement of human labor and Pius XI's focus on the economic and social order in solidarity and subsidarity to the necessity to intervene in the provision of housing, education, and health care, for all persons.  These three papal encyclicals lay the solid and certain foundation of Catholioc Social Teaching, that makes the Catholic Church a consistent and prophetic voice in advocating for the human rights, dignity, freedom, and equal opportunity, for the betterment of the poor, workers, affluent, and captains of society alike, to live, dwell, and share in the fruits of the economic order, everyone throughout the Church and the World.  How faithfully are we as Catholic-Christians advocating and practicing the Social Justice Teachings expounded these 3 Popes, and 3 Encyclicals, in advancing the betterment of all persons ?.............Fr.  Troy