<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u2018Tis the Season -- for commercialization -- for ads, deals, and a frenzy of buying! All this might lead us to think the season exists only for shopping. Holiday commercialization is not in short supply. Indeed, many of us are guilty of an over exuberant shopping spree or two.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n So, what's the problem?<\/strong> It's \"consumerism<\/strong>\".<\/span><\/p>\n This materialism has made us fat - and is nursed by a deep culture of consumerism<\/strong>. And consumerism is a problem.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Commercialization comes from consumerism, which threatens to overrun our holidays, our habits, our priorities, and our very souls.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n It leads to an obsession with having material things which, in turn, \"weakens the development and stability of personal relationships\", (Pope Francis, 67)<\/a> and \"stands in opposition to [our] true grandeur.\" (Pope St. Paul VI, 19)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n It leads us to \"shut out others\", (Pope St. Paul VI, 19)<\/a> and to \"attitudes and life styles.... which are objectively improper\", (Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/a> as well as to a \"soul stifling materialism\". (Pope St. Paul VI, 19)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Consumerism \u201cmakes you believe that life depends solely on what you have<\/strong>\u2026The Lord comes, but you prefer to follow the longing you feel; your brother knocks at your door, but he is a nuisance to you because he upsets your plans \u2014 and this is the attitude of consumerism.\" (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n We need to ask ourselves, \u201cDo I really need all these material objects<\/strong> and complicated recipes for living?\u201d \u201cCan I manage [to] live a life of greater simplicity?\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cHappiness means knowing how to limit some needs which only diminish us\u201d. (Pope Francis, 223)<\/a> When we become obsessed with possessing and enjoying \u2013 we cannot be free.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThe true danger\u2026is what anaesthetizes the heart: it is dependence on consumption\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n And the ills caused by consumerism do not stop at the personal, societal, and spiritual. Pope Francis identifies consumerism\u2019s \u201cdynamic of dominion\u201d (Pope Francis, 222)<\/a> as a key cause of the degradation of our environment<\/strong>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Is it wrong to holiday shop? No. Is it bad to buy gifts? Of course not.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cWhat is wrong is a style of life\u2026which wants to have more,<\/strong> not in order to be more but in order to spend life in enjoyment as an end in itself.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/a> Shopaholics, take note.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Catholics don\u2019t have to skip Christmas lists or never eye a good deal.\u00a0But we must recognize the dangers of consumerism, the \"inclinations towards immediate gratification\", (Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/a>, and \"the mere accumulation of pleasures\u201d. (Pope Francis, 222)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The goal of Catholic social teaching is for lifestyles in which \u201cthe quest for truth, beauty, goodness and communion with others\u2026determine [our] consumer choices, savings and investments.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Society is called to \u201ca serious review of its lifestyle<\/strong>, which in many parts of the world is prone to hedonism and consumerism, regardless of their harmful consequences\u201d. (Pope Benedict XVI, 51)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n The solution to consumerism is Jesus<\/strong>. \u201cOnce Jesus dwells in our heart, the center of life is no longer my ravenous and selfish ego, but the One who is born and lives for love.\u201d (Pope Francis)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Consumerism: Rampant and Dangerous<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n Consumerism and the Environment<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n The Dangers of a Consumer Culture<\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div> Catholic social teaching is built on three foundational principles -\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity<\/strong>,\u00a0Solidarity\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Subsidiarity.\u00a0<\/strong>Human Dignity, embodied in a correct understanding of the human person, is the greatest. The others flow from it. Good governments and good economic systems find ways of fostering the three principles.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t This means a correct understanding of the human person and of each person\u2019s unique value. All Catholic social teaching flows from this: the inherent dignity of every person that comes from being made in God\u2019s image.\u00a0<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t Solidarity is not \u201ca feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of others. It is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good\u201d. (Pope St. John Paul II, 38)<\/a> Love of God and love of neighbor are, in fact, linked and form one, single commandment.<\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\tHoliday Commercialization<\/span><\/h1>\n
Christmas Shopping and Catholic Teaching<\/span><\/h2>\n
by CAPP-USA<\/span><\/span><\/h5>\n
What is Consumerism?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Consumerism is \"a style of life directed at 'having' rather than 'being<\/strong>'\"... A person who is concerned solely or primarily with possessing and enjoying \u2013 who can no longer subordinate his instincts - cannot be free.\" (Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Commercialization](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sale-business-commerce-economy-shopping-consumers-store-buy-sell.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe Commercialization of Christmas<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
There is a tendency to associate Christmas with shopping rather than Christ. Even before Thanksgiving (the holiday and the virtue) we are overrun with Black Friday and Cyber Monday advertisements and calls to spend. Such commercialization keeps consumerism alive in new generations and perpetuates a \u201cthrowaway culture\u201d where, tragically, \"Human beings<\/strong> are themselves<\/strong> considered consumer goods<\/strong> to be used and then discarded.\u201d (Pope Francis, 53)<\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\nIs Consumerism Really that Bad?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Yes! \u201cConsumerism is a virus that tarnishes faith at its root\u201d. (Pope Francis)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nHow Much Shopping is too Much?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
What does a Catholic approach to holiday spending look like? We are called to \u201cmoderation and the capacity to be happy with little\u201d (Pope Francis, 222)<\/a> and we are called \u201cnot to succumb to sadness for what we lack.\u201d (Pope Francis, 222)<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat Can We Do?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
Lead by example. A person must \u201csubordinate his material and instinctive dimensions to his interior and spiritual ones.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 36)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\nWhat's the Solution?<\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n
<\/strong>\"No authentic progress is possible without\u00a0respect for the natural and fundamental right to know the\u00a0truth and live according to that truth.\u201d (Pope St. John Paul II, 29)<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n![\"Three](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Three-Principles.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tThree Key Principles<\/a><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Human-Dignity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tHuman Dignity<\/a><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Solidarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\tSolidarity<\/a><\/h2>
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/capp-usa.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/02\/Subsidiarity.png\")
<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t