Mater et Magistra (1961)

– May 15, 1961

– Pope XXIII
– “Mother and Teacher”
– Christianity and Social Progress
– Post World Wars
– 1960’s: Cold War – USSR vs. USA
– Armed race, Space race, Military Technology

– Cover the relations between the rich and the poor examining the onligation of
rich countries to assist poor countrues while respecting their particular cultures

— New Development in Society (Dimensions)

– Economc life
– Social Structure
– Political Sphere

— Development of Social Teaching

– Private Initiative and State Intervention (M)
– Socialization in Social Justice (M)
– Just wages for work (R)
– Just distribution of goods (Q)
– The common good (M)
– Just institutions and structures (Q)
– private property and social responsibility (M)

— Affirming the role of the church as a teacher and as a nurturing guidance

– MM calls for a greter awareness of the need for all people to live as one
community with the common good
– special attention os focused on the plight of the farmers and farm workers in
depressed rural, agricultural economies
– best remembered for insistence on socialization
– interdependence of citizens and state intervention because only the state
cannoy deal with the all embracing issues

— Socialism and Socialization (Cooperatives) is not the same

— Innovation: “Internationalizes” social teaching by addressing, for the first time, the
plight on nonindustrialized nations.
— Trivia: Streeses the popular Catholica Social Action motto “See (5 senses), judge,
act” as a model of effective lay involvement.