Day 250: Conversion in Society

Without the help of grace, men would not know how "to discern the often narrow path between the cowardice which gives in to evil, and the violence which under the illusion of fighting evil only makes it worse." This is the path of charity, that is, of the love of God and of neighbor. Charity is the greatest social commandment. It respects others and their rights. It requires the practice of justice, and it alone makes us capable of it. Charity inspires a life of self-giving: "Whoever seeks to gain his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it." CCC 1889

Today's reading from the Catechism is another short one, with just four paragraphs discussing conversion in society, and an In Brief review of what has been covered over the past few days. 

The Catechism Compendium summarizes what is required for an authentic human society:

Authentic human society requires respect for justice, a just hierarchy of values, and the subordination of material and instinctual dimensions to interior and spiritual ones. In particular, where sin has perverted the social climate, it is necessary to call for the conversion of hearts and for the grace of God to obtain social changes that may really serve each person and the whole person. Charity, which requires and makes possible the practice of justice, is the greatest social commandment. (#404)

The Catechism Companion, Vol III, also has some good commentary on this:

The "ultimate end" is - God - must be the ultimate end. We can never value the "means" more than the "end" (CCC 1887)... It is a lie to think some far-off utopia exists if we get our societal structures right. For we are beings with moral capacity who need interior change. There are broken structures, but they come from broken people, who need a change of heart. Part of inner conversion is acting against injustice when we see it. The way forward is "love of God and of neighbor" (CCC 1889). (p. 16)