Church and the Kingdom

• Pope Francis demonstrates kingdom values of justice by


  • Setting an example for all Christians to be frugal in how they spend money
  • Choosing to live in a small flat in Rome rather than the official papal Villa
  • Speaking out against government policies that create inequality and injustice
  • Increasing the number of priests working among the poor in Buenos Aires
• Kingdom values

  • Gentleness
  • Humility
  • Mercy
  • Obedience
• Ordained priesthood


  • Men who have chosen to devote their entire life to serving God and His Church
  • Take a vow of celibacy to show full trust in God and commitment to serving others
  • Take a vow of obedience to show humility
  • Promote efforts in their parish to fight for justice and promote reconciliation
• Kingdom values

  • Justice
  • Peace
  • Reconciliation
• Kingdom values in the Gospels

  • Gentleness
  • Humility
  • Mercy
  • Obedience
• Pope Francis demonstrates kingdom values of reconciliation by

  • Washing the feet of local prisoners from all religions on Monday Thursday
  • Arranging for Muslim and Jewish leaders to pray with him in the Cathedral
  • Visiting areas affected by conflicts such as Israel and Palestine
• Jesus was the supreme example of someone living Kingdom values

  Christians look to his example to know how to live
• Religious life

  • Men and women who have taken sacred vows and joined the consecrated or religious life
  • Take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience
  • Vow of poverty helps work for justice and challenge materialism
  • Vow of obedience sacrifices their own desires for the needs of others
  • Many monasteries and convents welcome laypeople attracted by the atmosphere of gentleness and peace
• Pope Francis demonstrates kingdom values of peace by

  • Helping in the restoration of political relations between the USA and Cuba
  • Helping bring together the leaders of Israel and Palestine
  • Speaking out and calling for action to resolve conflicts around the world such as in Syria
• Some monks and nuns actively seek to create justice by working in the local community to meet the needs of those who are poorest in society


  Shows their commitment to show love and mercy for their neighbor
• Catholics are called to be humble rather than arrogant as Jesus said blessed are the meek
• Parents in family life

  • Help to promote reconciliation by managing arguments among siblings
  • Demonstrate love and devotion to meet the needs of their children
  • Show obedience to their spouse by resisting temptation and remaining faithful to marriage vows
• Some believe the Magnificat encourages Christians to stand up to the rich and powerful, even to rebel against governments when they fail to defend the needs of the poor
• Mary praises God in the Magnificat saying 'My soul glorifies the Lord for the mighty has done great things for me'
• Christians should love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength
• Majority of Catholics are called to a vocation to family life

  • Husbands
  • Wives
  • Parents
• Catholics honor or venerate Mary as the mother of Jesus and as the model disciple
• Mary shows obedience to God when she says to the angel who announced her pregnancy 'Let it be to me according to your word'
• The vow of obedience like a priest creates humility sacrificing their own desires for the needs of others

  Creates humility
• Others believe the Magnificat is a message of encouragement to the poor, assuring them that eventually justice will reign
• Mary demonstrates Kingdom values by

  • Showing humility
  • Describing herself as lowly and a servant
  • Obedience and trust in God
  • Worshipping and praising God in the Magnificat
• Husbands and wives in family life


  • Learn humility and the importance of reconciliation as they navigate the give-and-take of married life
• Many monasteries and convents welcome laypeople who are often attracted by the atmosphere of gentleness and peace created by the routines and prayer of religious life
• The Magnificat is controversial as it suggests that justice and peace can be established by calling for the powerful to be overthrown and the poor raised up
• Catholics are called to trust God as Jesus said 'Do not let your hearts be troubled'
• Contrasts can be drawn between the work of different Catholic charities that help people locally and those that help people nationally globally
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) works locally on an individual basis
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) offers support by visiting sick and elderly
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) gives practical help around the house
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)

  Works locally on an individual basis, visiting people in need in their homes, in hospitals, in care homes and in prisons, offers support by visiting sick and elderly, helps with shopping, gives practical help around the house, provides food, some larger projects involve soup runs, summer camps for children, free furniture advice to asylum seekers
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP)

  • Visiting people in need in their homes, in hospitals, in care homes and in prisons, offers support by visiting sick and elderly, helps with shopping, gives practical help around the house, provides food, some larger projects involve soup runs, summer camps for children, free furniture advice to asylum seekers
• Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) gives long-term aid such as irrigation schemes, education, healthcare
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) provides free furniture advice to asylum seekers
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) provides some larger projects involve soup runs
• Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) provides legal assistance when poor farmers are in danger of losing their land
• Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

  Works globally with other charities, provides emergency aid for people when natural disasters and war ruin lives, gives long-term aid such as irrigation schemes, education, healthcare, challenges national policies and laws that damage the poor, eg in relation to inequality or climate change, provides legal assistance when poor farmers are in danger of losing their land
• Contrasts

  Differences between the work of different Catholic charities that help people locally and those that help people nationally globally, and between ways in which the same organisation works
• Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD)

  • Provides emergency aid for people when natural disasters and war ruin lives, gives long-term aid such as irrigation schemes, education, healthcare, challenges national policies and laws that damage the poor, eg in relation to inequality or climate change, provides legal assistance when poor farmers are in danger of losing their land
• Catholic Agency for Overseas Development (CAFOD) works globally with other charities
• St Vincent de Paul Society (SVP) helps with shopping