Informed by the needs of the world, the World Council of Churches (WCC) coined the phrase justice, peace and integrity of creation (JPIC) in the early 1980’s. We, RSCJ, live in the world and are particularly sensitive to its vulnerabilities, sufferings and longings. JPIC appears as one thread that has been woven into the collective historical consciousness of the Society of the Sacred Heart. If traced historically through the Society’s documents, this thread tells the story of the emergence of how RSCJ live and understand JPIC today. The thread of JPIC is highlighted below with the hope that RSCJ and the whole family of the Sacred Heart will be inspired to re-read the Society’s life and mission in light of the intertwining of the threads of JPIC and Sacred Heart spirituality.
RSCJ Spirituality
Although St. Madeleine Sophie did not use the language of social justice, her understanding of educating youth came from a passion for “re-establishing the world of a high standard of morality and of true and solid piety.” (1815 Const. 170) This indicates her sense that education was intertwined with both ethical justice and spirituality. Following the inspiration of Madeleine Sophie, the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart continues to share in God’s mission of love shining forth in a wounded world through the service of education. Re-reading the 1982 Constitutions in light of JPIC reveals deep connections that continue to be discovered; connections that include the unfolding understanding of the relationship between mission, justice, and spirituality.
RSCJ Educational Mission as Justice
The Society’s 1967 Chapter documents point to the emergence of a renewed awareness of the call to educate for justice. Inspired by the needs of the world, and the spirit of Vatican II, the Chapter documents of 1970 expressed the Society’s educational mission as being in solidarity with the poor. Since the Chapter of 1976, RSCJ have articulated this as a call “to seek justice with the heart of an educator.” (Chapter 1976, p. 17) For RSCJ, education is inseparable from the call to work for justice.
The International Education Commission (IEC), in collaboration with Provincial Education Commissions, produced a working paper in 1988, elaborating on the call to solidarity with the poor. The document cited contemporary challenges faced by the world and developed themes that remain important to the Society such as inculturation, collaboration, and the transformative role of institutions. The IEC proposed a framework for understanding a theology of education using the tools of experience, social analysis, and discernment. This important work prepared RSCJ for the Chapter 1988 which identified the political (public or active) dimension of RSCJ mission. It is in the documents of Chapter 1988 that we see the emergence of an RSCJ understanding of justice extending toward the environment. In the Lines of Action, we read that RSCJ are called to live the political dimension of mission in collaboration with others “working for justice, human rights, peace and the stewardship of creation.” (Chapter 1988, p. 7)
RSCJ Mission as JPIC
The Chapter of 1994 continued to deepen the call cited above to integrate education for social and ecological justice. We find articulated in this chapter’s document an even more profound awareness that “it is not possible to separate action on behalf of poor people, women and children, young people, migrants and refugees, and indigenous peoples from commitment to counteract violence against persons and against the earth.” (Chapter 1994, p. 5) To further this understanding and to help integrate this emerging JPIC awareness with education and action, the International Justice and Peace Commission helped RSCJ to enhance networking, communication, and collaboration within the Society and with others.
Chapter 2000 brought the challenge of JPIC into dialogue with RSCJ spirituality and transformative education. This moment in the emerging story of JPIC allowed RSCJ to say, “We are convinced that our lives, given in love, are the strongest expression of our spirituality.” (Chapter 2000, p.40) The thread of JPIC emerged here as an awareness of the intertwining of RSCJ identity, spirituality, and action, and the call to collaborate in reciprocity with all the people with whom we share life and mission. The work of the Sophia Commission grew from the calls of this Chapter. The Commission helped RSCJ struggle with an understanding of the importance of JPIC for spirituality and transformative education within diverse contexts such as teaching, formation, human development, pastoral work etc. (Const. 13)
Life and Mission as a Spirituality of JPIC
RSCJ and the family of the Sacred Heart have now arrived at a place in the JPIC story of the Society that cannot be re-read, but must be recreated by living the convictions that have emerged. In the section of the Chapter 2008 document entitled, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation in Solidarity with Those Who Are Most Vulnerable, a fresh sense of the interconnectedness of social and ecological justice is recognized. But beyond this ethical interconnection, is something new again - an emerging recognition of the inherent interdependence between human beings and all life forms on Earth.
Does this new moment in the JPIC story challenge members of the Society and the whole family of the Sacred Heart to understand the cries of the world not only as social and ecological crises, but also as a spiritual crisis? The future of humanity depends on a spiritual rebirth. (Chapter 2008) The universe and all its life processes are both material and spiritual (meaningful, alive, dynamic.) The cosmos is the larger reference point for the earth and all earth’s processes, including human social systems. The universe story, indigenous wisdom traditions, rituals, sacraments, the world’s religions and spiritual traditions, including the mission and spirituality of the Society of the Sacred Heart are being challenged to take up the dialogue between science, spirituality and other aspects of cultures.
Transformative education and living our commitment today to life and mission from JPIC values is similar to the intuitions of St. Madeleine Sophie. The call remains an ethical and spiritual one. Living in solidarity with the poor has expanded. Can living our spirituality through the lens of justice, peace and integrity of creation open us to a new way our religious life today? Is JPIC the new language and enlarged context from which we understand option for the poor? Let us continue to respond to the challenges of our time and writing the Society’s story with our lives.
Further resources on JPIC:
International Union of Superiors General (UISG): http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/
World Council of Churches: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/dictionary-article11.html
RSCJ Spirituality
Although St. Madeleine Sophie did not use the language of social justice, her understanding of educating youth came from a passion for “re-establishing the world of a high standard of morality and of true and solid piety.” (1815 Const. 170) This indicates her sense that education was intertwined with both ethical justice and spirituality. Following the inspiration of Madeleine Sophie, the mission of the Society of the Sacred Heart continues to share in God’s mission of love shining forth in a wounded world through the service of education. Re-reading the 1982 Constitutions in light of JPIC reveals deep connections that continue to be discovered; connections that include the unfolding understanding of the relationship between mission, justice, and spirituality.
RSCJ Educational Mission as Justice
The Society’s 1967 Chapter documents point to the emergence of a renewed awareness of the call to educate for justice. Inspired by the needs of the world, and the spirit of Vatican II, the Chapter documents of 1970 expressed the Society’s educational mission as being in solidarity with the poor. Since the Chapter of 1976, RSCJ have articulated this as a call “to seek justice with the heart of an educator.” (Chapter 1976, p. 17) For RSCJ, education is inseparable from the call to work for justice.
The International Education Commission (IEC), in collaboration with Provincial Education Commissions, produced a working paper in 1988, elaborating on the call to solidarity with the poor. The document cited contemporary challenges faced by the world and developed themes that remain important to the Society such as inculturation, collaboration, and the transformative role of institutions. The IEC proposed a framework for understanding a theology of education using the tools of experience, social analysis, and discernment. This important work prepared RSCJ for the Chapter 1988 which identified the political (public or active) dimension of RSCJ mission. It is in the documents of Chapter 1988 that we see the emergence of an RSCJ understanding of justice extending toward the environment. In the Lines of Action, we read that RSCJ are called to live the political dimension of mission in collaboration with others “working for justice, human rights, peace and the stewardship of creation.” (Chapter 1988, p. 7)
RSCJ Mission as JPIC
The Chapter of 1994 continued to deepen the call cited above to integrate education for social and ecological justice. We find articulated in this chapter’s document an even more profound awareness that “it is not possible to separate action on behalf of poor people, women and children, young people, migrants and refugees, and indigenous peoples from commitment to counteract violence against persons and against the earth.” (Chapter 1994, p. 5) To further this understanding and to help integrate this emerging JPIC awareness with education and action, the International Justice and Peace Commission helped RSCJ to enhance networking, communication, and collaboration within the Society and with others.
Chapter 2000 brought the challenge of JPIC into dialogue with RSCJ spirituality and transformative education. This moment in the emerging story of JPIC allowed RSCJ to say, “We are convinced that our lives, given in love, are the strongest expression of our spirituality.” (Chapter 2000, p.40) The thread of JPIC emerged here as an awareness of the intertwining of RSCJ identity, spirituality, and action, and the call to collaborate in reciprocity with all the people with whom we share life and mission. The work of the Sophia Commission grew from the calls of this Chapter. The Commission helped RSCJ struggle with an understanding of the importance of JPIC for spirituality and transformative education within diverse contexts such as teaching, formation, human development, pastoral work etc. (Const. 13)
Life and Mission as a Spirituality of JPIC
RSCJ and the family of the Sacred Heart have now arrived at a place in the JPIC story of the Society that cannot be re-read, but must be recreated by living the convictions that have emerged. In the section of the Chapter 2008 document entitled, Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation in Solidarity with Those Who Are Most Vulnerable, a fresh sense of the interconnectedness of social and ecological justice is recognized. But beyond this ethical interconnection, is something new again - an emerging recognition of the inherent interdependence between human beings and all life forms on Earth.
Does this new moment in the JPIC story challenge members of the Society and the whole family of the Sacred Heart to understand the cries of the world not only as social and ecological crises, but also as a spiritual crisis? The future of humanity depends on a spiritual rebirth. (Chapter 2008) The universe and all its life processes are both material and spiritual (meaningful, alive, dynamic.) The cosmos is the larger reference point for the earth and all earth’s processes, including human social systems. The universe story, indigenous wisdom traditions, rituals, sacraments, the world’s religions and spiritual traditions, including the mission and spirituality of the Society of the Sacred Heart are being challenged to take up the dialogue between science, spirituality and other aspects of cultures.
Transformative education and living our commitment today to life and mission from JPIC values is similar to the intuitions of St. Madeleine Sophie. The call remains an ethical and spiritual one. Living in solidarity with the poor has expanded. Can living our spirituality through the lens of justice, peace and integrity of creation open us to a new way our religious life today? Is JPIC the new language and enlarged context from which we understand option for the poor? Let us continue to respond to the challenges of our time and writing the Society’s story with our lives.
Further resources on JPIC:
International Union of Superiors General (UISG): http://jpicformation.wikispaces.com/
World Council of Churches: http://www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/who/dictionary-article11.html
