21..."A member of the lay faithful "can never remain in isolation from the community, but must live in a continual interaction with others, with a lively sense of fellowship, rejoicing in an equal dignity and common commitment to bring to fruition the immense treasure that each has inherited. The Spirit of the Lord gives a vast variety of charisms, inviting people to assume different ministries and forms of service and reminding them, as he reminds all people in their relationship in the Church, that what distinguishes persons is not an increase in dignity, but a special and complementary capacity for service . . . . Thus, the charisms, the ministries, the different forms of service exercised by the lay faithful exist in communion and on behalf of communion. They are treasures that complement one another for the good of all and are under the wise guidance of their Pastors." (63)...

1. Here is what was early on taught us in formation,:

"what distinguishes persons is not an increase in dignity, but a special and complementary capacity for service"

2. This when unfolded and unraveled has enormous implications for all and especially for Carmel , we were taught.

3. This is Vatican 2 and canon Law codifies this concept. See Canon 208.

4. Because of this very concept the heart of which is presented here we have the necessity for the "Rights" in the Church. see Canons 212 - 216; keep in mind the emerging Holy Spirit that is being protected here.

5. I am wondering why we need those rights when for years we understood that to suffer is Divine.

6. The reason is Dignity and animation. We are all equal in dignity and all equally being animated by the Holy Spirit. If this is so how does your formation handle this as regards the friars and the leadership respecting this Divine Human Dignity.

7. Will failure to teach this concept and understand it have a negative effect on community, state and nations? if so how so.

8. I as taught this concept was one reason many vocations to the priesthood were laicized due to the misunderstanding priesthood conveyed a higher dignity on a person.

9. Mary and Josephs elevation in Dignity in no way shape or form impairs the Dignity of Christ or the Priesthood.

10. Ask your friars how they were taught in seminary and formation about this very topic. Ask Fr Deeney how he has handled this concept in his priesthood. How will you handle this in your vocation - if indeed you are co-responsible for the perfection of the world.

.



1. Distinctions - where do we see this in creation? How about the Angels. One dignity but all have a different capacity to serve GOD due to their ability, their capacity to absorb the perfections of GOD. Are not Angels like sponges with each choir having a different capacity to absorb GOD's Goodness,Truth and reflect it in governing the creation. What distinguishes Seraphs from Archangels if not simply their capacity to serve.

2. How does JP2 teach Carmel this important topic in his letter to Carmel the one he wrote on the 400th centenary of the death of OHF?

3. Do you feel that if Community or you or Carmel fails to image this dignity it will have an effect on the capacity to serve?

4. What happens when we deprive a person, community or nation its dignity?

5. Ask your friars - ask Fr Deeney OCD to explain the importance of dignity in the context of deprivation, meaning how does a marriage, community or individual or Carmel look and operate when deprived of :

a. Human Dignity?

b. Capacity to Serve?

6. How does a family, marriage and even the marital act look when deprived of its dignity? Does it lose its capacity to serve?

7. What does it mean to say one has lost a or some capacity to serve?

8. Does contraception according to the church cause any loss in dignity to the marital act and if so does that act then lose its capacity for service to life and the very perfection of life?

9. How do we contracept in ocds community life? What is lost? What would the Holy family look like if we image that family in our ocds community?

10 What would our ocds community look like if we imaged it on the dignity of the Holy Family? Would Joseph exist and if so what role would he have to play?