Infatuated with Subsidiarity and Solidarity

Che is blown away. Over at Celeste's Bloggity Blog he waxes poetic while preparing a paper:

"Material differences among people are part of God's plan for everyone to receive necessities from others through generosity, kindness, and sharing of goods[1937]."

I'm completely infatuated with this chapter on social life and salvation. it's begins with these two Catholic social teachings: the principle of subsidarity and the principle of solidarity and they excite me so much, i'm completely blown away with how rich the content is! i have to write an essay on the principles of the Holy Trinity. i can't find anything particularly innovative... what else to pertains to these topics for me? aside from GK. i need to get in on in the betweens and make more connections. "i think it's amazing!!" i really do! hmm. i get like that about a lot of things. thinking i'm in love but more infatuated with the opportunity.

Can anyone blame him? These principles have blown away great minds! The Catholic "right" and "left" sometimes appear to want full possession of one without the other.

Can't be done. The two principles form a seamless whole with the other foundations of Catholic Social Teaching. In particular, these two complement each other in order to provide for the fulfillment of another, namely the proper exercise of the Preferential Option for the Poor. Solidarity reminds us that we're all in it together. We're as strong as our weakest link, and we're all family. Leaving someone behind is no option. We must help. Our hearts burn within us with Christ's love and we have to pour out that love in compassionate service. Otherwise, we grieve. Then our hearts burn no longer. Subsidiarity reminds us of how best to practice solidarity. Those closest provide what they can. When they can help no longer, and help is still needed, then those further away need to help. Looked at from a hierarchal perspective, the higher authority should not interfere with the operation of a lower authority, but should assist that lower authority if help is needed. In other words, family before friends, friends before aquaintences, aquaintences before strangers, strangers before the State. Or family, then neighborhood, then community organization, then civic association, then yadayadayada. You get the idea.

What's amazing about that? Watch it in action. See how people come together to help one another. Watch when they provide that help in the right order of authority. You can almost see the Savior moving through the throngs of the needy.