THE PERPETUALITE: CALLED TO PERFECTION

WEEK 1. HUMAN PERFECTION AND CHRISTIAN SPIRITUALITY

Biblical Foundation
''This is what love is, it is not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the means by which our sins are forgiven.'' (1 JN 4:10)
HUMAN PERFECTION: AS A CONTINUOUS ACTIVITY
 Perfection is a continuous activity, a pursuit, a quest for excellence.
 Perfection is not a static thing;
 With practice, a swimmer perfects her stroke and a golfer perfects his swing. And to what end is this practice directed?
 Both the golfer and swimmer movements towards are for the attainment of some ideal.
Christian Perfection: as an activity in following Christ
Jesus says to his disciples: ''You, therefore, must be perfect , as your heavenly Father is perfect.'' (MATTHEW 5:48)
CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
 Union with God by the practice of virtue and love of God and neighbor
 Christian Perfection consists in union with God by the practice of virtue;
 It requires love of God and our neighbor, and detachment of the heart from the things of this world.
 By striving after true Christian perfection, we make clearer and clearer in ourselves the true image of God.
The Concept of Perfection in relation to Christian Spirituality
''Be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect'' MT. 5:48
MATTHEW 19:15-24 States the young rich man is demanded a close and generous following of Jesus that prepares for him to a total renunciation of his
possessions. The formulation of this passage requires that our Love of God and neighbor must be complete. Thus it must be perfect. Those two
commandments sum-up the whole law, it is its fulfillment.
Human
Love of God - Foundation of Christian Spirituality
Perfection
Personal Relationship with God in Christ
Spirituality
Spirituality and Perfection are interconnected
WEEK 2. UNIVERSAL CALL TO HOLINESS
Biblical Foundation
''I am the Lord your God, and you must keep yourselves holy, because I am holy.'' (LEV. 11:44F)
The Lord calls each of us to holiness, you too. (April 9, 2018)
''All Christians are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity. Christian perfection has but one limit, that of having none'' (CCC
2028).
In the Bible, ''NAME'' refers to the very reality of the person named, expressing the person's role or status, and often representing the person's personal
disclosure of self-revelation.
''Christ is calling each of you to work with him and to take up your responsibilities in order to build the civilization of Love.''
OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT CONCEPT
The sacred Scripture: Old and New Testament defined PERFECTION AND HOLINESS as the call for Wholeness, a degree of perfection is called forth
which means that not only religious but also moral integrity for all people of GOD. Old testament, human Hebrew words are "Tam, Tom and Tamim"
TAM - complete, morally innocent, having integrity
TOM - integrity
TAMIM - sound, wholesome, unimpaired, innocent, having integrity
NEW TESTAMENT
The new testament is the foundation with further revelation and law from god.
It also contains about the time from Jesus' birth to his (future) second coming.
VATICAN II:
Call to Perfection, it teaches that "all Christian in any states and walks of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity
To realize it, the believers in faith should use it potentials to deal with Christ's gifts. So that by doing the will of the father in everything, they may
wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and the service of the people.
" At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have
done. We will be judged by: I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in." MOTHER
TERESA
"Don`t expect your FRIEND to be a perfect person but, help your FRIEND to become a perfect person. That`s true Friendship" MOTHER TERESA
PERFECTION IN HOLINESS: A PILGRIMAGE IN GOD
GOD JOURNEY WITH US IN JESUS
The Word became flesh in the incarnation so that He might make the journey to perfection with us, not only at the time He walked the Earth, but even today.
Jesus gave us the example to live by.
BECOMING CLOSE TO GOD IN HOLY SPIRIT
It is only in letting go that one can let GOD be GOD " Kemmer says. "As we unite our will to God's. our souls became enflamed with the desire to grow
closer to him, to imitate Jesus and to more intentionally follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. As we grow in Christ our whole life becomes a pilgrimage.
A genuine call to holiness is not only measured in religious fulfillment of duties and observe strictly religious norms but being faithful to God
TOPIC 3: REALIZATION TO PERFECTION
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
"If thou wilt be perfect , go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me"
MASLOW'S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Our basic needs have different forms and can be satisfied in different ways. The sum total of an individual's needs according to hierarchy:
SELF ACTUALIZATION
- Morality, Creativity, Spontaneity, Problem solving, Lack of prejudice, acceptance of facts
ESTEEM
- Self esteem, Confidence, Achievement, Respect of others, Respect by others
LOVE/ BELONGING
- Friendship, family, sexual intimacy
SAFETY
- Security of body, of employment, of resources, of morality, of the family, of health, of prosperity.
PHYSIOLOGICAL
- Breathing, food, water, sex, sleep, homeostasis, excretion
ABRAHAM HAROLD MASLOW ( APRIL 1 1908- JUNE 08 1970)- was a psychologist who studied positive human qualities and the lives of
exemplary people. In 1954, Maslow created the hierarchy of Human Needs and expressed his theories in his books, MOTIVATION AND PERSONALITY.
SELF ACTUALIZATION
- A person's motivation to reach his or her potential. As shown in Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs must be met before self actualization can be achieved.
- It's the highest point for the individual needs according to maslows hierarchy of needs.
SELF ACTUALIZING PERSON
- Has reached the peak experience of his life.
ATTAINMENT OF FRUIT OF PERFECTION
This attempt for perfection can be possible through hard work in overcoming one's weaknesses.
MY CATHOLIC FAITH
HOLY EUCHARIST W/ COMMUNION
Habit of Prayer- Spiritual reading and meditation
Self Control and Self denial- Recourse of solitude
SACRAMENT OF HOLY EUCHARIST
1. The holy Eucharist is the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord
2. The Eucharist is the most special sacrament, in which Christ himself is contained, offered and received, and by which the church constantly lives and
grows. The Eucharist sacrifice, the memorial of the death and resurrection of the Lord, in which the sacrifice of the cross is perpetuated over the centuries, is
the summit and source of all Christian Life and worship; it signifies and affects the unity of the people of God and achieves the building up of the body of
Christ
TOPIC 4: AREAS OF PERFECTION
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
"You must be perfect, as your Father in heaven is Perfect" (MATTHEW 5:48)
Every Perpetualites as helper of God is called to perfection, according to their nature. And as a student, this perfection lies on the fulfillment of duties and
SQ3R is a comprehension strategy that helps students think about the text they are reading while they're reading. Often categorized as a study stategy, SQ3R
helps student ''get it" the first time they read a text by teaching students how to read and think like an effective reader
SURVEY- Student review the text gain initial meaning from the headings, bolded text
REVIEW- After reading, student should review the text to answer lingering questions and recite the questions they previously answered
QUESTION- Student begin to generate question about their reading from previewing it
RECITE- As student move through the text they should recite or rehearse the answer to their questions and make notes about their answer for later
studying
READ- As student read, they need to look for answer to the question they formulated during their preview of the text. These questions, based on the
structured of the text, help focus students' reading
TOPIC 5:VALUE OF FRIENDSHIP
BIBLICAL FOUNDATION
"Do not judge others, and god will not judge you; do not condemn, and god will not condemn you, forgive others, and god will forgive you. (LK 6:37)
"Friendship spill over onto the other important relationship of his life"
Alan Loy Mcginnis (The Frienship Factor)
FRIENDSHIP is something like a bridge that hold between and other people.
We have a fine friendship with others even we are students or professional, a Christian or non christians
1. Relationship has different states/ conditions: This can be in a form of Struggles and Difficulties
2. Honesty in Relationship- honesty is the important element of relationship and face people whom we are in conflict
3. Relationship in the Filipino Family
4. The means to success in human relationship - As we grow old, we experienced success. In every success one reaps, there are people behind it-people
important to us and have influenced our feeling, thinking and behaviors. These people are closed to us or people we hate, may be our friends, parents,
brothers and sisters, or some who has been the ideal or model
5. Effective Communication Enhance Relationship
WHY IS COMMUNICATION IN RELATIONSHIP IS IMPORTANT?
INCREASED TRUST - real communication in relationships means that you can go to your partner about anything: sharing happiness and sadness, good
days and bad. You're willing to be vulnerable with them because you know that they will support you and love you no matter what
BETTER CONFLICT RESOLUTION- We all know couples who seem to fight all the time and those who seem to never fight at all. While all
relationships have ups and down, both frequent fighting and no fighting at all are sign of a lack of communication in relationship. The key isn't to never
disagree with your partner. It's improve your conflict resolution skills.
INCREASED INTIMACY- discovering how to improve communication in relationships is excellent for your emotional intimacy, or ability to listen,
understand and be compassionate towards your partner. Developing your communication skill shows that you respects and value your partner and their
feelings and opinions. When people feel honored and accepted in this way, emotional intimacy skyrocket- and physical intimacy follows
COMMON ADVICES GIVEN BY EXPERTS;
" Simple things do really matter. The more we are filled with love, the more we fill love others, especially those below us" FATHER C. P. VARKEY (LIVE
TO THE FULL)
''forgiveness. We must be willing to bless and wish the good of the offender. Forgiveness involves affirming the worth and goodness of the offender and the
readiness to help him/her when he/she is in need'' DEVASIA PUTHIAPARAMBIL (POSITIVE ATTITUDE FOR LIFE)
''it is wise to create a climate acceptance. We have a saying that 'we hate the sin, but not the person'' MIKE MURDUCK (LEARDERSHIP SECRET OF
JESUS)
'' good relationship don't just happen. They take time, patience, and two people who truly want to be together''

MIDTERM
LESSON 2: THE VALUE OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- Continuing education and career training after a person has entered the workforce.
- This means an increase in skill and abilities in ones profession or status in life
- It is all about building skill set and knowledge base for your field
- The purpose of this is to give professionals the opportunity to learn and apply new knowledge and skill that can help them in their job and further their
career.

MIKE MARDOCK – “You will never change your life until you change something you do daily.”

LESSON 3: THE VALUE OF NATIONALISM & PATRIOTISM

PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATION: “Ang hindi marunong magmahal sa sariling wika, ay higit pa sa isang malansang isda” ?(DR. JOSE RIZAL)

NATIONALISM
– Stresses for the independence and the interest and domain of a nation and of a nation expresses his love or concern in an active way
- Identification with ones nation and support for its interests

PATRIOTISM
- Feeling of love, devotion, vigorous support and a sense of attachment to ones country of homeland as well as unity with others who share the same
sentiment.
- Pertains to love for a country or nation with more emphasis on values and beliefs.
- Can unite people for the overfall being and prosperity of the nation

SPIRIT OF BAYANIHAN expresses our solidarity working together as one nation and one people.

WEAKNESSES IN FILIPINO CHARACTER

 EXTREME PERSONALISM
- Filipino view of the world in terms of personal relationships, and the extent to which one able to personally relate to things and the people determines the
recognition of their existence and the value given to them. There is no separation between the objectives task and the emotional involvement

 EXTREME FAMILY-CENTEREDNESS
- Manifested in the excessive concern for family members.
- NEPOSTISM = Practice among those with power or influence of favoring relatives or friends,
- Political dynasties are very common in Philippine political life.
 LACK OF DISCIPLINE
– Encompasses several related characteristics. A casual and relaxed attitude toward time and space with manifest in self in lack of precision and
compulsiveness in poor time management and in procrastination

 PASSIVITY AND LACK OF INITIATIVE

- Strong reliance on others.
- There is a high tolerance for inefficiency poor service and even violations of human rights in many ways.

 COLONIAL MENTALITY
– A mentality of many Filipino which made them weak, it is made up of two dimensions the first one is lack of patriotism or an active awareness,
appreciation and love of the Philippine the second is an actual preference for foreign things.

 KANYA-KANYA SYNDROME
- Selfish, self-serving attitude that generates a feeling of envy and competitiveness towards others, particularly one`s peers who seen to have gained some
status or prestige.
- CRAB MENTALITY = Tendency of crabs in a basket to pull each other down.

 LACK OF SELF-ANALYSIS AND SELF-REFLECTION

- Filipinos gives more emphasis on for (porma) rather than on substance.

LESSON 4: THE VALUE OF ECOLOGY

ECOLOGY
– Study of living things and how they interact with each other and with their environments.
- An Ecologists studies the relationship between living things and their habitats.

EDUCATION
– The best, the most important and easiest way for people to learn and become aware about their environment and the problems with them.

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
- Organized efforts to teach about how natural environments function and particularly, how human beings can manage their behavior and in order to live
sustainably.
– Learning process that increase peoples knowledge and awareness about the environment and associated challenges develops the necessary skill and
expertise to address the challenges, problems and foster attitudes, motivations, and commitment to make informed decision and take responsible action.

FINALS

LESSON 1: CONCEPT OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

GAL. 5:13 “As for you, my friends, you were called to be free/. But do not let this freedom become an excuse for letting your physical desires control you.
Instead let love make you serve one another”

BODY IMAGE
- The perception that a person has of their physical self and the thought and feelings that result from the perception. (National Eating Disorders
Collaboration)
- Body image isn’t just one uni-dimensional construct. It is made up of Four aspect:
1. PERCEPTUAL BODY IMAGE: how you see your body
2. AFFECTIVE BODY IMAGE: how you feel about your body
3. COGNITIVE BODY IMAGE: how you think about your body
4. BEHAVIORAL BODY IMAGE: the way you behave as a result of your perceptual, affective, and cognitive body image (NEDC, 2017)

- When a person has a positive body image, they understand that their sense of self worth does not depend on their appearance.
Having a positive body image includes:
 Accepting and appreciating the whole of one’s body, including how it looks and what it can do
 Having a broad concept of beauty
 Having a body image that is stable
 Having inner positivity

DIMENSIONS OF HUMAN SEXUALITY

 BIOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF SEXUALITY

- “MALE and FEMALE differentiate two individuals of equal dignity, which does not however reflect a static equality, because the specificity of the female
is different from the specificity of the male, and this difference in equality is enriching and indispensable for the harmony of life in society (CCC 146)

 PSYCHOLOGICAL DIMENSION OF SEXUALITY

- Identifies the relationship of the biological structure to one’s feelings, value system and acceptance of oneself and his/her gender.
- It also considers the factors that affect the person’s mind, feelings and behavior towards his/her sexuality; and the perception and attitude in utilizing the
gift of sexuality in everyday life situations.

 MORAL DIMENSION OF SEXUALITY

- It is manifested in the understanding that both faith and reason tells us the right motive of sex.
- In order to be free from the wrong value system in ones sexuality a person should be able to understand the sex is only physical but spiritual because of its
purpose.

Christian View of Sexuality

- It is seen as fundamental component of personality, good thing created by God, restored by the power of Jesus Christ and enriched by the saving activity of
the Church, and by which the whole person enters into communication with others. Therefore, sexuality is not the same as the sex act. Everybody must
develop God’s given gift with choice and freedom for the kingdom of God. This will imply that man and woman are: of equal personal dignity and human
rights, different by complementary, called to mutual gift of self and reciprocity.

The Redemption of Sexual Feelings and Desires in Christ

- Sexual feelings and desires are extremely powerful. Repressing them is not the answer. In order to know true freedom and put our sexuality at the service
of authentic love, we must experience there redemption of our sexuality. Our sexual desires need to be transformed in Christ so that we can experience them
as God intended in the beginning.
- Because of the rupture between body and soul caused by original sin, we’ve all inherited disordered sexual desires. As powerfully as the fallen sex drive
leads us towards selfish gratification at the expense of others, even more powerfully does God want the redeemed sex drive to lead us toward the freedom of
loving others as Christ loves us. Sexual desire is meant to lead us to the fulfillment of the Gospel.
- St. John Paul II calls us to learn with perseverance and consistency the true meaning of sex. He calls us to understand the inner movements of our hearts
so that we an distinguish between what, on the other hand, constitutes sexual attraction as God intended it and what, on the other hand, bears only the sign of
lust.

LESSON 2: LOVE AND COURTSHIP

DOCTRINAL FOUNDATION “…preparation for marriage is of prime importance.” (CCC,1632)

THEOLOGICALFOUND ATION “The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of
faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it's indifference.” Elie Wiesel

INTRODUCTION “It is imperative to give suitable and timely instruction to young people, above all in the heart of their own family, about the dignity of
married love, its role and its exercise, so that, having learned the value of chastity, they will be able at a suitable age to engage in honorable courtship and
enter upon a marriage of their own.” (Gaudium et Spes 49)

There is nothing wrong in loving someone for we are product of love by our parents and the Creator of all things. Love in terms of courtship relationship
should be in the proper age and intentions. If you are ready for marriage, then, you are entitled for courtship relationship because this is the time when you
can discern the man or woman whom you can be with in life time.

A s you interact with girls, keep all these facts in mind. Enjoy their beauty and their charm; treat them as good friends. Be kind to them in school, at work, in
family life and in social occasions. Girls are fully capable, intelligent, worthy and unlimited. Girls are human beings, created byGod; they are to be
respected, loved, and admired. They are not servants or sex objects”- Ann and Murphy (Sex Education & Successful Parenting p.41)

THE QUALITIES OF LOVE IN A RELATIONSHIP

 A special fondness felt by a person to someone of the opposite sex, which his not forced but freely given.
 A desire to be with a person all the time
 Acceptance, understanding and patience.
 The feeling of joy of being in love and be loved.

REMINDERS DURING COURTSHIP SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATIONS

1. Make a commitment to each other before the emotions start rolling.

2. Keep to it. Treat this lady/gentleman the same way you expect someone to treat your spouse!
3. If you are in a room alone together, keep the door open
4. Always be in a place where you can be easily interrupted and seen.
5. Be willing and teachable; seek parental guidance and advice from your church leaders (i.e. pastors, elders and deacons). Freely interact with godly married
couples and observe their Christian marriage lifestyle and family life.
6. Avoid romantic encounters until you are ready to commit to marriage. Only engage the romance after your commitment. You will have the pleasure of
learning romance with the one person you love in the Lord whom you will be blessed by it for the rest of your life with him or her!
7. Ask good questions about each other’s convictions, values, aspirations and other pertinent matters to prepare yourselves for marriage.

CHRISTIAN PERSPECTIVE OF SEX

Christianity teaches that sex is naturally and supernaturally created towards an end which is beyond purely sensible and animalistic act of men, “Human love
–pure, sincere and joyful – cannot subsist in marriage without the virtue of chastity, which leads couples to respect the mystery of sex and ordain to
fruitfulness and personal dedication”

Sex is necessary to have a new life, if not – God would not have created man male and female. He wants us to enjoy life at the same time take part in the
mission. He gave us: to continue life.

LESSON 3: LOVE OF PARENTS AND CHILDREN

BIBLICAL FOUNDATION: “Honor your mother, and never abandon her all the days of your life. Do all that she wants, and give her no reason for
sorrow. Remember, my child, all the risks she ran for your sake when you were in her womb.” (Tobit 4:3-4)

THE THIRD WORD OF CHRIST IN THE CROSS (John 19:2527)

“Nakatayo sa tabi ng krus ni Jesus angkanyang ina at ang kapatid nitong babae, siMaria na asawa ni Cleopas, at si MariaMagdalena. Nang makita ni Jesus
angkanyang ina at ang minamahal niyang alagadna nasa tabi nito, sinabi niya, “Ina, ituring mosiyang sariling anak!” At sinabi niya sa alagad,“Ituring mo
siyang iyong ina!” Mula noon, sa bahay na ng alagad na ito tumira ang ina ni Jesus”.

Quality Time

 Family time is an essential factor that helps to create strong bonds, love,connections, and relationship among the family members
 Family time offers many benefits, including building confidence, creating a stronger emotional bond between family members,improving
communication skills,
 Better performance in school and reduced behavioral issues, as well as providing an opportunity to make memories built on fun, laughter and
togetherness* It is not all about quantity when it comes to the time we spend with our family, whereas it is the quality time that we need to give to them.
 “If you want to change the world, go home and love your family”.
 “Love begins at home, and it is not how much we do…but how much love we put in that action”.Mother Teresa

Why is a Positive Parent-Child Relationship Important?

 The physical, emotional and social development of the child.

 it is a unique bond that every child and parent will can enjoy and nurture.

This relationship lays the foundation for the child’s personality, life choices and overall behavior.

It can also affect the strength of their social, physical, mental and emotional health.

Young children who grow with a secure and healthy attachment to their parents stand a better chance of developing happy and content relationships with
others in their life.

RECOMMENDATIONS THAT CAN HELP PARENTS ANDCHILDREN MAINTAIN GOOD RELATIONSHIPS

1. Parents are protectors and providers of the children basic and social needs.
2. Parents should be the examples and models of Christian values.

3. Parents should always be ready to sacrifice and renounce for the welfare and good future of their children.

4. The value of friendship and trust must develop and grow in the family.

5. The children should honor and respect their parents.

6. The children should also show affection and care to their parents especially when they are old and weak.

7. The Parents and children should spend time to pray together in the family.