The contemplations of Jesus’ public ministry intend to help us come to know him, love him and follow him in the unfinished work of the kingdom of God. The Exercises of the second week include a contemplation on the Transfiguration.

In the social teaching document Gaudium et Spes, Vatican II described solidarity as the key to understanding several important contemporary realities: universal interdependency (in no. 4 of that document), international relations (in no. 90), and the communal character of the human person taught by Jesus Christ, the community of believers which he establishes, as well as the ultimate solidarity to be “brought to perfection” at the end of time (no. 32).

The Exercises of the second week include a contemplation on the Beatitudes. The core beatitudes, or blessings, of the Gospel of Luke likely originate from “Q”, a pre-gospel source, making it quite possible they were spoken by Jesus himself.

In his 1931 encyclical Quadragesimo Anno, Pope Pius XI introduced a critically important Catholic social teaching concept, one which has maintained currency in political debates today.

In the context of the nation’s recent awakening to economic inequality—prompted in large part by the Occupy movements nearly a decade ago but continuing to the present day—it is most helpful here to revisit the meaning and roots of the concept of distributive justice.

In the context of the nation’s recent awakening to economic inequality—prompted in large part by the Occupy movements nearly a decade ago but continuing to the present day—it is most helpful here to revisit the meaning and roots of the concept of distributive justice.