Jubilee Year Pledges

Jubilee Pledge

The jubilee of our Lord's birth calls us "to bring glad tidings to the poor. . . . to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free" (Lk 4:18).

As disciples of Jesus in the new millennium, I/we pledge to:

Pray regularly for greater justice and peace.

Learn more about Catholic social teaching and its call to protect human life, stand with the poor, and care for creation.

Reach across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and disabling conditions.

Live justly in family life, school, work, the marketplace, and the political arena.

Serve those who are poor and vulnerable, sharing more time and talent.

Give more generously to those in need at home and abroad.

Advocate for public policies that protect human life, promote human dignity, preserve God's creation, and build peace.

Encourage others to work for greater charity, justice, and peace.

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"Love for others, and in the first place love for the poor, in whom the Church sees Christ himself, is made concrete in the promotion of justice."

Pope John Paul II, Centesimus Annus (no. 58)

Suggestions for Action

HOW TO GET STARTED -- The Jubilee Pledge for Charity, Justice, and Peace is not just about signing a piece of paper. It's about action. To take the pledge, consider the following steps:

Prayerfully reflect on the pledge on the front of this brochure. Sign it, and keep it where it will remind you of your commitment to act.

Consider how you are already serving the poor and working for justice and peace in each of the areas noted on the pledge. Identify one or more areas that are "weak links" for you.

Find specific ways to strengthen these "weak links" and to ACT on the pledge.

REFLECTIONS

PRAY

When you pray, reflect on how you have succeeded and failed to serve the poor and work for justice and peace in your daily life. Include people who are poor and vulnerable in daily prayers. Make a commitment to choose each day a specific group, a region of the world, or those adversely affected by a recent event to include in personal prayer and during family prayer.

LEARN

Catholic social teaching is a rich resource for building a just society and living lives of holiness amidst the challenges of modern society. Periodically read about some aspect of Catholic social teaching.

REACH

Build bridges across boundaries of religion, race, ethnicity, gender, and disabling condition. In your parish, neighborhood, school, civic group, and workplace, make a special effort to respect and to include those who are different from you. If you are in a decision-making position affecting others, examine whether you treat those who are different fairly and equally.

LIVE

The most important opportunities to work for justice and peace do not come through special programs, but in the choices we make and the way we treat others every day. Seize opportunities to promote justice and peace at home, through your financial decisions, in your parish, at school, at work, and in community activities.

SERVE

Volunteer regularly in your parish, with Catholic Charities, or with other organizations that serve the poor and vulnerable, defend life, care for the earth, and work for peace. For example, help at a local shelter, join the St. Vincent de Paul Society or Ladies of Charity, help clean up a river, or collect food at work for those in need.

GIVE

The Church's collections for the poor are excellent opportunities to share what we have. Most dioceses have local appeals to fund Catholic Charities and other organizations. You can work for greater justice and peace at home and around the world by supporting the Catholic Campaign for Human Development, Catholic Relief Services, Propagation of the Faith, efforts to aid the Church in Latin America and in Eastern Europe, and the work of other organizations promoting justice and peace.

ADVOCATE

Advocacy can be done for people and with them. Join a diocesan legislative network, pro-life group, or another peace and advocacy group. Join a community organizing effort. Register and vote in light of a conscience formed by Catholic social teaching. Write or call your elected representatives on issues of life, justice, and peace. Contact your parish or diocesan social ministry leaders for information.

ENCOURAGE

The great jubilee and the new millennium are a time to strengthen our participation in building God's kingdom. We can do this not only by renewing our commitment to charity, justice, and peace but by encouraging others to do so. Make a copy of this pledge and sign it as a family or share it with a friend. As you act on this pledge, ask a friend or family member to join you, or share with them information on what you are learning or doing.

The Jubilee Pledge flows from the themes of Catholic social teaching:

Life and Dignity of the Human Person

Call to Family, Community, and Participation

Rights and Responsibilities

Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Dignity of Work and the Rights of Workers

Solidarity

Care for God's Creation

Catholics are encouraged to take the pledge as a sign of their commitment to answering Jesus' call to "love your neighbor as yourself" (Mk 12:31). But more than taking the pledge, Catholic believers are called to find ways to act on their pledge, to strengthen their involvement in serving those in need and working for justice and peace here and abroad. The Jubilee Pledge for Charity, Justice, and Peace is not just about signing a piece of paper. It's about action. To take the pledge, consider the following steps:

Prayerfully reflect on the pledge on the front of this brochure. Sign it, and keep it where it will remind you of your commitment to act.

Consider how you are already serving the poor and working for justice and peace in each of the areas noted on the pledge. Identify one or more areas that are "weak links" for you.

A Jubilee Resolution For Spiritual Renewal

"Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved; for thou art my praise."(Jer 17:14)

"Turn to Me and I will turn to thee."

REPENTANCE - Examine your conscience. Identify the sins in your life by comparing your life to the teachings of Christ and His Church. Repent. Turn away from sin and be faithful to the teachings of the Catholic Church. Let God forgive you through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession).
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent, and believe in the gospel." -- Jesus (Mk 1:15)

PRAYER - Pray the Rosary. Pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Pray for the conversion of sinners and for your own repentance and renewal. Pray, pray, pray.
"Dear children! Do not forget: this is a time of grace; that is why, pray, pray, pray!" -- Our Lady of Medjugorje

SACRIFICE - Practice fasting and self-denial. Give up the things which are unnecessary and self-indulgent. Give of your time and yourself to others.
"Prayer and sacrifice, these are my strengths." -- St. Therese of Liseaux
"This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer and fasting." -- Jesus (Mk 9:29)

MERCY - Forgive those who have hurt you. Choose some works of mercy to add to your life.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." -- Jesus (Mt 5:7)
"Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." -- Jesus (Mt 5:44).

SACRAMENTS - attend Holy Mass and receive Holy Communion more often: at the least, every Sunday (or Saturday evening) and every Holy Day of Obligation; attend daily Mass when possible. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a month.
"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me." -- (Psalms 23:4)

POVERTY - Make due with less. Spend less on luxury items and the things of self-indulgence. Spend less time working (if you are able) and more time with God and family. Give alms to the poor. Give of yourself and your time to others.
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." -- Jesus (Mt 5:3)

CHASTITIY - Avoid unchaste desires, thoughts, talk and actions. Meekness and humility support chastity.
Married persons: pray together; give up contraception, this is a sin against God and against chastity. Learn natural family planning.

Single persons: pray for chastity; be chaste in heart, mind, body and soul.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." -- Jesus (Mt 5:8)

OBEDIENCE - True faith is found in obedience to every teaching of the Catholic Church.
The teaching of the Catholic Church is the teaching of Jesus Christ, without exception. Whoever rebels against any teaching of the Catholic Church rebels against Christ. Whoever rejects any teaching of the Catholic Church, rejects a teaching of Christ. Many Catholics today commit this sin and refuse to repent.
Give up the sin of refusing to believe what the Church teaches. Give up the arrogance of putting your own ideas above the teaching of Christ in His Church. Repent of your unbelief and your hardness of heart. Believe that the teaching of the Catholic Church is God's true teaching, without exception.
"And Jesus said to him, 'If you can! All things are possible to him who believes.' "
"Immediately the father of the child cried out and said, 'I believe; help my unbelief!' " (Mk 9:23-24)