Baccalaureate Mass Liturgy

INTRODUCTORY RITE

LEADER: Good morning dear brothers and sisters! Today is, indeed, one of the most memorable days of our lives. It marks our success after four years of struggle as students of Caliguian National High School, our Alma Mater, and Bacnor National High School Extension. Yet, graduation is not the end of our endeavors. Rather, it is the beginning of a new life—a new life of facing more challenges more responsibilities, a new life with a MISSION. God calls us by our names and we are his children. Thus, we also share the mission of his Son, Jesus Christ: TO MAKE GOD’S KINGDOM A REALITY IN WHATEVER COMMUNITY WE MAY BE. May we live and work to realize this mission wherever we will be in the future. But now, let us join our hearts and minds together as a community of faith, hope, and love to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in thanksgiving for the blessings of the Lord in our life, especially the love, care, and sacrifices of our parents, guardians, teachers, and school administrators for us. May all their efforts in educating us throughout the years bear abundant fruit. Please rise and together we sing the entrance hymn.


Entrance Hymn (Pag-aalala)


GREETINGS

PRIEST: In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

ALL: Amen.

PRIEST: The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

ALL: And also with you.

PENITENTIAL RITE

PRIEST: My dear graduates, so that we are worthy as sons and daughters of God to celebrate this Holy Eucharist, let us call to mind our sins and be sorry for them.

ALL: I confess …

PRIEST: May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

ALL: Amen.




Kyrie (Panginoon Maawa Ka)

OPENING PRAYER

PRIEST: Let us pray that our lives may reflect the light of Christ.

God our Father, you sent your Son among us to unite all by serving all. We pray today that our Graduates may build up to the body of your Son by rendering humble service to the community. May they truly grow as responsible persons, always willing to do what is good and never afraid to stand for what is true. We make this prayer through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

LEADER: Please be seated for the Liturgy of the Word.


LITURGY OF THE WORD

(1) FIRST READING

READER: A Reading from the Book of Isaiah (58: 7-10)

Thus says the Lord: Share your food with the hungry and open your hearts to the homeless poor. Give clothes to those who have nothing to wear, and do not refuse to help your relatives. Then my favor will shine on you like the morning sun and your words will be quickly healed. I will always be with you to save you; my presence will protect you on every side. When you pray, I will answer you, when you call to me, I will respond. If you put an end to oppression, to every gesture of contempt, and every evil word; if you give food to the hungry and satisfy those who are in need, then the darkness around you will turn to the brightness of noon.

The Word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.


(2) RESPONSORIAL PSALM

READER: Let your response be – Give thanks to the Lord, proclaim his greatness; tell the nations what he has done.

Sing praise to the Lord; tell the wonderful things He has done. Be glad that we belong to Him; let all who worship him rejoice. (Response)




Go to the Lord for help; and worship Him continually, you descendants of Abraham, his servant; you descendants of Jacob, the man He chose; remember the miracles that God performed; and the judgments that He gave. (Response)

The Lord is our Lord; His commands are for all the world; He will keep his convenant forever, His promises for a thousand generations. (Response)


LEADER: Please stand for the Gospel Acclamation.


Gospel Acclamation (I Will Listen)


(3) GOSPEL READING

PRIEST: The Lord be with you.

ALL: And also with you.

PRIEST: A Reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke (17:11-19)

As Jesus made His way to Jerusalem, He went along the border between Samaria and Galilee. He was going into a village when 10 men suffering from a dreaded skin disease met him. They stood at a distance and shouted, “Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!” Jesus saw them and said to them, “Go and let the priests examine you.” On the way, they were made clean. When one of them saw that he was healed, he came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself to the ground at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. Jesus spoke up, “there were ten men who were healed, where are the other nine?” “Why is the foreigner the only one who came back to give thanks to God?” And Jesus said to him, “Get up and go, your faith has made you well.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

ALL: Praise to you, O Lord, Jesus Christ.


(4) HOMILY


Profession of Faith (We Believe)







GENERAL INTERCESSORY PRAYERS

PRIEST: Let us pray to the Father of Light that we may truly become the Salt and Light of the world. Let us say: LORD, LET YOUR LIGHT SHINE ON US.

READER: For the church, we the people of God: that our way of Christian life be faithful to the Gospel. Let us pray to the Lord.

READER: For our Pope, Bishops, and Priests: that they may faithfully serve the kingdom God. Let us pray to the Lord.

READER: For our government officials: that they may work for justice and peace and for the good of our community. Let us pray to the Lord.

READER: For our parents, teachers, classmates and friends, and all who have been good to us: that they may continue to touch the lives of young people like us. Let us pray to the Lord.

READER: For us graduates: that God will reveal His wonderful plans for all of us, and that with Christ, we may develop fully and help build Christian communities by loving and serving members of our families and our neighbors. Let us pray to the Lord.

PRIEST: Lord God, hear our petitions and let the light of Christ shine in us through our words and actions. We make this prayer through your Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord, forever and ever.

All: Amen.


OFFERTORY

LEADER: Please be seated for the symbolic offering of the gifts.

(The offertory procession of the symbolic offerings is accompanied by an instrumental music).

(1) Candles: We offer to you, Lord, these Candles as symbol of the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, and understanding you have created in us. Grant that the gifts we have received may serve as light to those who are in darkness and sin, especially to those who refuse to believe in you. Lord, may this offering we make be acceptable to you.

(2) Flowers: The beauty of creation is symbolized by these flowers which we offer to you, Lord. May they always remind us of the beauty of your kingdom and the sweetness of your everlasting love. Lord, may this offering we make be acceptable to you.



(3) Gifts: These gifts symbolize the abundance of the blessings we received from you, O Lord. We offer them back to you as an expression of our gratitude and love as well as our generosity to give ourselves in the service of others. Lord, may this offering we make be acceptable to you.

(4) Medals, Certificates, Awards, and Ribbons: These tokens of our success symbolize the material blessings you continually shower on us, O Lord. Help us as we strive to live the values of the Gospel by word and deed. Lord, may this offering we make be acceptable to you.

(5) Bread and Wine: Lord, your Son Jesus offered his body that was broken into pieces that the people on would be nourished by his unending love. His blood was poured for all that our sins will be forgiven. We offer this bread and this wine as signs of out remembrance of Pascal Mystery of Jesus. May they remind us to live a fellowship of love and constant service. Lord, may this offering we make be acceptable.


PREPARATION OF THE GIFTS


Offertory Song (Take and Receive)

PRIEST: Pray brothers and sisters that this sacrifice may be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.

ALL: May the Lord accept this sacrifice at your hands, for the praise and glory of his name, for our good, and the good of all His Church.

LEADER: Please stand.


PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS

PRIEST: Lord, our God, may the bread and wine you gave us for our nourishment on earth become the sacrament of our eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.


EUCHARISTIC PRAYER

PRIEST: The Lord be with you.

ALL: And also with you.


PRIEST: Lift up your hearts and minds to the Lord.

ALL: We lift them up to the Lord.

PRIEST: Let us give thanks up to the Lord our God.

ALL: It is right to give Him thanks and praise.

PRIEST: Father, it is our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks through your beloved Son, Jesus Christ. He is the Word through whom you made the universe, the Savior you sent to redeem us. By the power of the Holy Spirit he took flesh and was born of the Virgin Mary.

For our sake he opened his arms on the cross; he put an end to death and revealed the resurrection. In this he fulfilled your will and won for you a holy people. And so we join the angels and the saints in proclaiming your glory as we sing.


Sanctus (Santo, Santo, Santo . . .)


CONSECRATION

LEADER: Please kneel.

DOXOLOGY


PRIEST: Let us proclaim the mystery of our faith.

LEADER: Please stand.

Acclamation (We Remember . . .)


PRIEST: Through Him, with Him, and in Him, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, and the glory and honor is yours, almighty Father, forever and ever.

Great Amen (Amen, Amen . . .)


LITURGY OF COMMUNION

PRIEST: Through the powerful commandment and teaching of Jesus who is Lord and God, we have the courage to sing:



Our Father (Ama Namin . . .)

PRIEST: Deliver us, O Lord from every evil and grant us peace is our day. In your mercy, keep us free from sin and protect us from all anxiety as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.


Doxology (For the Kingdom . . .)


PRIEST: Lord Jesus Christ, you said to your apostles: “I leave you Peace, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins, but on the Faith of your church. Grant us peace and unity of your kingdom where you live forever and ever.

ALL: Amen.

PRIEST: The peace of the Lord be with you always.

ALL: And also with you.

PRIEST: Let us greet one another with sign of peace.


Lamb of God (Kordero ng Diyos . . .)


LEADER: Please kneel.

PRIEST: This is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. Happy are those who are called to this celebration.

ALL: Lord, I am not worthy to receive you but only say the word and I shall be healed.


Communion (Walang Hanggang Pasasalamat . . .)










THANKSGIVING PRAYER AFTER COMMUNION

GRADUATES: Lord, we thank you for the time you’ve forgiven us. We thank you for the gift of life. We thank you for listening to us, and for keeping us in your love. We thank you, Lord, for everything.

We thank you for our parents, who have enabled us to experience the joys and warmth of family life. We thank you for our beloved teachers who have guided us in the search for genuine truth and wisdom.

We thank you for our classmates and friends with whom we have learned and experienced the happiness and difficulties of life. We thank you for opening

our minds and hearts to recognize you as the true source of light. We thank you, Lord, for everything.

PRIEST: Let us pray.

LEADER: Please stand.

PRIEST: Lord, in this spiritual food, you have given back to us the sacrifice we offered you in thanksgiving, the savings Sacrament of Christ your Son. By these gifts of strength and joy, sustain in your service and bring us to your gift of eternal life. Grant this through Christ our Lord.

ALL: Amen.

PRIEST: The Lord be with you.

ALL: And also with you.

PRIEST: Dear graduates, be a living witness as a true sons and daughters of God. And may the Good Lord bless you, the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

ALL: Amen.

PRIEST: CONGRATULATIONS! Let us go in peace to love and serve the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.


Recessional (I Will Sing Forever . . .)

Theo IV - Handout for Finals (incomplete)

BODILY LIFE AND HEALTH
God : creator
- owner/ giver of life
Wo/Man – steward of creation
- take care of creation and himself

The Christian View of man is Whole

Other views of man: dualistic
Body – flesh (sarx)
Soul – spirit (pneuma)

Some consider the soul as imprisoned in the body and the body is the source of evil
Example: The desire of the flesh opposed to the desire of the pneuma and two are opposed to each other.

Christian View: Body and Soul = man - image of God
Everything God created is good

Incarnation shows that the body and soul are good/sacred
Example: Body/self = temple of the holy spirit

Bodily Life and Health – good, sacred, gift of God

Bodily Life and heath/ health: complete physical, mental, spiritual and social well being

I. Man’s duty to care it; through the following:
1. Nourishment – food
- All foods are good
- needed: temperance – right amount of food for your body and health
2. Housing, shelter, clothing
3. Recreation and Sports
4. Stimulants and drugs – here temperance is greatly emphasize
Do not abuse: ex: marijuana
: cocaine
: barbiturates
: hashis
: morphine
: heroin etc.
Some stimulants: intoxicating drinks
- tobacco
- tea
- coffee
- cola

Smoking: hazardous to health

Amputations or removal of organs like kidney, etc..?

= allowed if it disturbs the health or endanger the whole body and they don’t serve their purpose

Example: They are useless like damaged uterus, etc.

- Physicians have moral duties and responsibilities
- Patients have moral rights and duties. Ex: cooperate

- Transplantation of organs – like kidney etc is allowed- if no change in the identity of the person, not allowed organs of animals to man.

Sterilization, castration – allowed if great danger to health and life.

- Sexual reassignment is not permissible, the reason for the desire for such is psychological
Treatment: a. Psychotheraphy
b. Personal counseling

- Artificial insemination – never allowed(Remedy adoption)

. Suicide
. Murder
. Euthanasia
. Abortion


. Indirect killing
. Indirect Abortion


Rules to follow:- Follow the rule of proportionate reason

Self-defense = allowed on the following conditions:
1. the aggression must be unjust
2. the aggression must be actual
3. the defense must be limited to the means which is needed, follow proportionate reason.
4. use limited/minimum violence

SEXUALITY AND MARRIAGE

Sexuality = whole composition of the body whether male or female
= wholly good/sacred
Sexual Love = is willed by the creator
= human value
= wholly good

Purpose of sexuality:
In the sacred Scriptures
A. Old Testament
1.procreation (Genesis 1:28,29)
2.Companionship (Genesis 2:18, Tob 8:6)
The two flesh become one = suggest Monogamy
3. Education of Children/welfare of family

B. New Testament
1. equality between man and woman/no domination
2. chastity: against fornication
3. virginity – (Mt. 19:11 ff, Cor. 7:8; 25-26)
one reason is for the kingdom
MAN’S SEXUAL CONSTITUTION IN GENERAL
Man: Masculine: active, outgoing, assail
Feminine: receptive, protective
- has the greater fortitude to endure
- Each has its own strengths and weaknesses
- the two are complementary
- no domination of the other
- no unnatural and align imitation of the other sex

sexuality – sexual love, conjugal love (husband and wife), sacred, in the context of a family
- family – sacred
- marriage – sacred covenant

FAMILY PLANNING
Purpose:
1. Maintain the sacredness/welfare of the family
2. birth control

Method:
I. Natural family Planning (church)

1. Calendar rhythm/method
(Abstinence, discipline, respect)

II. Artificial (Contraceptive(abortive) – against morality)
1. Tubal ligation
2. IUD
3. Vasectomy
4. Condom
5. Pills

Against marital sex, against the dignity of the human body, sex and family
Lev. 19:27 lev 18:22
Jer: 5:7 lev 20:13
Sir: 9:6 Rom 1:22-23
Deut: 23:17 I Cor. 6:9-11
Amos: 2:7 I Tim: 1-9-ff
Mt. 15:19 Gen. 19
Mt. 7:21-23






Fornification

Premarital Sex masturbation
Concuvinage phornography
Adultery adultery sexual fantasy
Rape necking
Incest petting- to arouse
Prostitution
Homosexuality
Lesbianism
Bestiality
Anal
oral


Mastery of sexuality = control or master your sexual life, does not mean to suppress it.
- Find the proper channel of sexual energy

A. Modesty = practice the sense of shame in the realm of sex Ex: practice modesty in dressing, Conversation, Mass media etc.

B. Chastity = purity of sexual life (in single, Celibate, Married life)


Violations against Family
1. Incest = sexual intercourse between persons who are closely related by blood or affinity
2. Petty Jealousy= fosters groundless suspicion regarding the partner’s faithfulness and suppresses friendships beyond the family circle.
3. Polygyny = marriage of one man to two or more women at the same time
4. Polyandry = marriage of woman to two or more men at the same time
5. Genocide = killing one’s relative

Violations against Life
1. Suicide = direct taking of one’s life done on one’s own authority
2. artificial Insemination and IVI = impregnation not by means of natural intercourse, but by means of mechanical, artificial aids, e.g. a syringe, used for the transfer of sperm
3. Abortion = removal of the non-viable human being from the mother’s womb by human intervention, whether by killing him before removal from the womb or whether by exposing him to a certain death outside the womb.
4. Euthanasia = also called mercy – killing, commonly means the intentional killing of a tormented, incurable patient by lethal agents or means.
5. Murder = killing of an innocent even if by authorization or order of the state authority


Violations against Sex
1. Homosexuality = is a persistent, predominant erotic attraction to persons of the same sex which is often coupled with sexual activity
2. Prostitution = if sexual intercourse is offered for money
3. Adultery = sexual intercourse between two partners of different sex of whom at one is married
4. rape = sexual intercourse with a woman against her consent
5. bestiality = act of having sex with animals.
6. Paresthesia – using objects.




God’s Grace is always there assisting you to live
A morally upright Life but God still respects your
Freedom.His grace is free but it is take it or leave it.

May we always try our best to follow Jesus Christ the
Perfect model of Christian Morality.

Theo II - Handout for Finals

Ash Wednesday
- start of the Lenten Season
- Fasting -

- -Abstinence –

- ash -


TEMPLE INCIDENT
- cleansing of the temple by Christ
 Temple was transformed into “market” – gain money.
“This is the house of my father” Christ = son of God

ACCUSATIONS ON CHRIST/JESUS’ CONFRONTATIONS
- Deeply Theological / Religious matter / Religion
Israelites’ view: Christ is contradicting and destroying their faith
to YHWH, their O.T. religion (later called Judaism)

Problem of the Jews: More People were Believing in Christ; their O.T.religion will be destroyed /no belief in Yahweh.
 So they look for ways to put Christ unto death.

MISUNDERSTANDING:
- Jesus is different from Yahweh – because Jesus is a son of Joseph.
-They can’t accept Christ as the Messiah because of their different concept (expectations.)about the Messiah: from the royal family, a mighty military leader, Kingly who will fight the enemies of Israel and establish the Kingdom of Israel – it should be “God” (very powerful one). Like King ___________.

Enemy of Christ – power of evil/sin, slavery of sin,
Human sinfulness, sin.

 Man’s lack of compassion
- one great cause of sin and slavery

JESUS CONFRONTATIONS
- Jesus was tried and sentenced by the “Roman Procurator” from the following charges/accusations.
 (The charges were deeply Theological but they made it political in order to put Christ to death).

1. Incited the people to revolt.(against Romans)
2. Opposed to pay tribute to Caesar (Emperor)-worship-son of god/divine
3. Claimed to be the Christ (Messiah) – King
SANHEDRIN – accused him as “Blasphemous Man”
HERODIANS – accused him of “Dangerous and Subtly subversive revolutionary”
PHARISEES – accused him of “inciting people not to pay taxes”
SCRIBES – accused him of “his ignorance & liberal approach of the law”
Triumphal entry into Jerusalem: Jesus as the King entered Jerusalem.( What were their “pompom” in welcoming Him?)
What’s the difference of Christ with the other human Kings? Ex:the king in a chess game.
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________

WASHING OF THE FEET
- re-enacted on Holy Thursday Peter’s reaction:_______________
- work of a servant ___________________

Jesus – master – doing the work of a servant
Message: true leadership is shown in humble service.

LAST SUPPER
- where Jesus instituted (established) the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

Holy Eucharist (symbolic in the highest sense) / Agape / Breaking of
The bread
-commemorates Christ giving himself for the salvation of people/forgiveness of sins.

COMMEMORATION
- done in memory of the past event so that you let the effect of the past event takes place/ take effect in our present time.

Christ was only tempted 3 times in his life. Yes or no?

What does the cup symbolize? _______________________________________

How much did Judas receive in order to betray Christ? ___________________________



Scenes:1.Triumphal entry 2.washing of the Feet 3.Last supper
“Pompom” “Wewet” -_______ “bading”-______

4.Agony
Place: ___________________
Temptation:__________________________ Cutting of neck to ear surgery
Christ’s experience/ state: “bold star”
___________________________

5. Sanhedrin
High priest: __________________
Caiaphas Words?Principle:___________________________________
_____________________________________
3x denial:who _______ his reminder of his denial: __________

6.P.P_______ 7. King kong _________ 8. P.P
- the 2nd and 3rd
Sorrowful mystery
- Washing(hands)
- “ Amnesty”program
Recipient:______________

9.Carrying of cross 10.Calvary 11. tomb.
__________of cyrene soldier’s faith ________of Arimatea

12. Resurrection /empty tomb
Woman : ____________________________ “noli me tangere”
Apostle: ___________________________

Why was there a need to go to P. Pilate when they have the Sanhedrin? _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________

INRI – Iesus Nazarenus
Rex IUDAEORUM
(Jesus the Nazorean King of the Jews)

Another term for Calvary: __________________

What do they give/offer to the thirsty crucified one and why? __________ or ______________ for _________________________________

Purposes of The Roman punishment of Crucifixion: - to put a person to shame, suffering, and death.

What happen in the temple when Christ died? ______________________
_______________________

What will they do to be sure that the one being crucified really died before they leave him?_______________________________________
What did they do to Christ? And why? _____________________________
___________________________________

Who requested the body of Christ to be brought down from the Cross before evening or sunset comes and why? __________________________
__________________________________________________________

How was the tomb of Christ being prepared? _______________________
_________________________________________________________________

CRUCIFIXION
- death penalty for the Roman Empire for Criminals.

STATIONS OF THE CROSS (NEW)
1. Last Supper
2. The Agony in Gethsemani
3. Jesus is condemned to death
4. Jesus is scourged and crown with thorns.
5. Jesus carries the cross
6. Jesus falls
7. Simon of Cyrene helped Jesus carry the cross.
8. Jesus meets the women of Jerusalem.
9. Jesus is stripped off his garments.
10. The forgiven thief.
11. Mother Mary and the beloved disciple at the foot of the cross.
12. the death of Jesus.
13. Jesus is laid in the tomb.
14. The resurrection of Jesus.

14 Stations
- to be with (experience) Christ’s suffering and death.

SEVEN LAST WORDS

1. Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing._
2. This day you shall be with me in paradise.____________________
3. Woman behold thy Son, Son behold thy Mother.__________________
4. My God, My God why have you forsaken me.
5. I thirst! __________________
6. It is consummated/finished ____________________________
7. Father into your hands I commend my spirit____________________

 “Eloi, Eloi Lama Sabactani”

7 Last Words
- to contemplate/meditate on Christ’s suffering and death.


What feast of the Jews did Christ die on the Cross? ______________
What is the significance of that feast for the Jews? _____________
______________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________
For us Christians, what is the significance of Christ’s dying on that feast of the Jews? __________________________________________
________________________________________________

How can you/we be included in the passion, death and resurrection of Christ when that happened 2002 years ago? Or how can you be included in that salvific/saving act of Christ when you are born after that event/incident? By:___________________________________
Who told you to do such? ______________




0----------------------------Christ---------------------eschaton



FLAGELLATION (PENITENSYA)
- whipping of oneself in public as a form of PENANCE

3 Stages:
a. As a punishment
- 4th century
- scourging: a punishment for delinquent clerics
- feature of monastic discipline
b. Form of voluntary penance
- mid-11th century
- natural development from penal form

MOTIVES:
a. Expiation of personal sins and sins of others
b. Self-conquess (self-fulfillment)
c. Impetration of Divine Graces and favors
d. Conformity with Christ
- martyrs – regarded as closest to Christ

FLAGELLATES
- acting as Christ

COENACULLUM
- room where Christ had his last supper.

SENAKULO – “Drama” operatta Pasyon
- dramatization of the life of Christ especially his passion, death
and resurrection.
- familiarizing (being in) ourselves with the life and Passion and death of Christ.

Senakulo – encourages/moves us to a deeper conversion.

-pabasa : _______________________________________________


Holy Thursday
1. Washing of the feet
2. Holy Eucharist
Visita – Iglesia (visit at least 7 churches)


Cyborium or monstrance




Good Friday
1. Stations of the Cross
2. Flagellation – flagellates
- acting as Christ’s
3. Senakulo (Drama)
4. 7 Last Words

What will you practice on Good Friday( same with ash wed)?
______________ and _____________________
PASYON, STATIONS OF THE CROSS, SENAKULO, FLAGELLATION, VISITA IGLESIA, 7 LAST WORDS
- its purpose:
1. To meditate/reflect on the life, passion and death of Christ (for our sins) (To be with Christ Experience, Christ suffering and death for us.)
2. Will encourage/move us to deeper conversion (change)
3. so that these will lead to a meaningful celebration of Easter (Christ giving us new life)

Black Saturday / Easter vigil
Blessing of Oil and Water
-Water : symbolism – O.T. – cleansing, bring life(Gen 1-2),
Deliverance(exodus), saved Noah’s family
- N.T. Baptism of Jesus – New Israel, new Adam,
New era, messiah.
- Baptism of Christians – new life, new birth

Renewal of Baptismal vows

- Oil : symbolism –for healing, anointing- to anoint heads of guests
- Anointing : anointing of Kings, prophets and priests
: God’s sweet continuous presence

Priest
Prophet - Jesus Christ. These are all taken by Christ
King

So those who are anointed (during baptism)also carries the three responsibilities : Kingly – service, Prophetic – to preach and
Priestly – to offer spiritual sacrifice.

Paschal Candle – symbolizes (Light)-Jesus as the Light of the World.

Paschal Mystery – means the passion, death, and resurrection of
Christ.
- center of our faith

What is being narrated in the Liturgy during Easter vigil?
________________________________.

Easter Sunday
SALUBONG
- done at dawn of Easter Sunday.
- Meeting of the sorrowful mother with his resurrected son.
- Message : _______________________________________________

Who was the woman who first saw the empty tomb of Christ? __________
____________________
Question: Which should be more festive? Christmas or Easter?
What can Easter do to Christmas?
__________________________________________________________

CROSS (MEANING)
Negative: Reminds us of the ugliness/evilness of sin – can cause poverty, suffering and death. Sin is shameful.

Positive: Cross – symbol of God’s saving love, symbol of our salvation, victory, triumph over sin and death

Death of Christ: two Views:
1. Political view
- execution of a non conformist revolutionist by the Romans.
Christ = Criminal.
2. Apostolic Faith/View
- it was an accomplishment of Christ’s mission from the Father. (To save us by dying on the cross as prophesied in the Old Testament.)

O.T. Theology
- Christ saves the world as a sacrificial lamb. (offered sheep for sins, peace offering)

At present, this is no longer “effective” or appreciated view (as if God is a Blood Thirsty God) Theologizing (critique)Christ should have been offered immediately after his birth.

3rd View (Present Theology of Christ’s Death)
- Christ’s death is a consequence of his work as a liberator of men from all sort/kinds of oppression – from outside or inside the human person.

PAUL’S VIEW:
- Christ died as a priest and the victim (offered himself)

RESURRECTION
-confirmed all the words and deeds of Christ that Christ is really the Messiah/son of God, Divine. He renewed the Old covenant and
created a new one.

-Christ’s resurrection is the source and principle of our future
Resurrection. The Ground of our Christian Faith. the source
Of authority of the Christian community leaders.

What happened to the Apostles when Christ was arrested, tried, till his crucifixion?_________________________________________________

What event regrouped the apostles or made them come together again and stay as one? ______________

Christ’s appearances : - to the group without the doubter __________
- to the group with the doubter
- to the two walking
- to peter where he asked peter’s commitment
- he asked them to go and preach, baptize
People, forgive sins, etc.

NO RESURRECTION – no faith in Christ /no Catholics/no church/ no USL/ no Theo 2.

Strictly or theologically, what image should be at the center in front of every Catholic or generally every Christian Church? _______________________________.

Resurrection is a trans-historical event. Beyond the control of time
and space. No one claimed
to have seen how it happened, no one can describe
or explain it. Although they saw the empty tomb.

The Risen Christ is a Glorified Christ; cannot be controlled by time, space; cannot be overcome by death.

The Risen Christ continued to be with his apostles, he commissioned them to teach all people what he had taught them. After his ascension, he continued to be with them through the Holy Spirit.

Christ’s descent to the dead means : in Adam, all will die and
In Christ, all will come to life.
Christ’ Ascension
- meaning : Christ’s exaltation, sovereign authority and power
over all creation and history.
: Jesus’ exaltation into the heavenly realm of his
Father.
: He ascended so the Holy Spirit will descend and
Remained with us(Church) forever.
: gives us hope of one day entering God’s glory with
Him.

The Risen Christ saves us through the following:
- re-imaging God a our Loving Father.
- grounding our inalienable self-worth in God.
- grounding the dignity of every human person.
- Clarifying the authentic hierarchy of values in life.


How does Christ touch our lives today?
- through the Inspired Words (Bible)
- through the Sacraments
- through the Church ( Community of disciples)
- through the Holy Spirit dwelling in us(Our guide and inspires us


Father : Giver of life, creator
Son : gives meaning to life, redeemer
Holy Spirit : moves, inspires us to go to the Father through Christ.

The Cross: some interpretations :
- Vertical part :_________________________________________________

- Horizontal part :_______________________________________________

Historically, what they carry is the horizontal part of the cross.

Didache -

Kerygmatic -

Discipleship
-1. A Faith Response
2. Like the master, runs the risk of being opposed
3. Walks the way of Jesus
-cares for the mother earth, cares for neighbors,
Cares for culture,Live a life of Service and Contemplation.
* see discipleship in the midterm topic.

Mary : the Model of Discipleship

: the name Mary in Hebrew is Miryam, means “the exalted one”.

: She played a great role in God’s plan of saving humanity.
-She gave her total YES to God to be the mother of the savior
: She is the first disciple of Jesus.

: Mary, the first to be evangelized
- She submitted her whole self to God, believing his word,
Trusting his power, and obeying his will.

: Mary, the first evangelizer
- She put into reality her faith response in her proclamation of the MAGNIFICAT.

Magpakatao ( Becoming Human)
- a Call to Christian maturity
- a great responsibility
- a process
- it follows stages like infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood.

In theo. 3, you will learn how God assists us in becoming human through these different stages by giving us his graces through the seven sacraments which follows our stages of growth in our journey to God.

MAY WE LIVE CONSISTENTLY AS DISCIPLES OF JESUS OUR HUMBLE AND LOVING MASTER AND CONTINUESLY NOURISH THIS LIFE THROUGH THE LITURGY WHICH
SUSTAINS OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR TRIUNE GOD, OUR SOURCE OF LIFE.

The Nativity Story

In Nazareth, a town oppressed by the devastating taxation practices of King Herod, a teenage girl, Mary, is told by her parents that they have arranged for her to marry Joseph. Distraught by the idea of marrying a man she hardly knows, Mary takes refuge in a grove to collect her thoughts. There, she is visited by an angel, who tells her that she has been chosen by God to bear his son. Despite the public scorn from an unwed pregnancy, together, Mary and Joseph travel to Bethlehem for a census mandated by the King. It is here, with a great celestial event revealing his prophecy, in a history-defining event, that Jesus is born.

Good Will Hunting

In essence, Good Will Hunting is an ordinary story told well. Taken as a whole, there's little that's special about this tale -- it follows a traditional narrative path, leaves the audience with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and never really challenges or surprises us. But it's intelligently written (with dialogue that is occasionally brilliant), strongly directed, and nicely acted. So, while Good Will Hunting is far from a late-year masterpiece, it's a worthwhile sample of entertainment.

Like Scent of a Woman, which was released around this time of the season five years ago, Good Will Hunting is about the unlikely friendship that develops between a world-weary veteran and a cocky young man. The formula for the two films is similar -- both of the principals learn from each other as they slowly break down their barriers on the way to a better understanding of life and their place in it -- but the characters are different. Al Pacino's Slade was a larger-than-life individual; Robin Williams' Sean McGuire is much more subtle. And Matt Damon's Will Hunting uses pugnaciousness to supplant the blandness of Chris O'Donnell's Charlie.

Will is a troubled individual. As a child, he was the frequent victim of abuse. An orphan, he was in and out of foster homes on a regular basis. Now, not yet 21 years old, he has accumulated an impressive rap sheet. He has a short temper and any little incident can set him off like a spark in a tinder box. But he's a mathematical genius with a photographic memory and the ability to conceive simple solutions to complex problems. While working as a janitor at MIT, he delights in anonymously proving theorems on the math building's hall blackboards. Then, one evening, his anonymity is shattered when Professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) catches him at work. Will flees, but Lambeau tracks him down. Unfortunately, by the time the professor finds him, Will is in jail for assaulting a police offer.

The judge agrees to release Will under two conditions: that he spend one day a week meeting with Lambeau and that he spend one day a week meeting with a therapist. Eventually, once several psychologists have rejected the belligerent young man, Sean McGuire, a teacher at Bunker Hill Community College, agrees to take the case. After a rocky start, the two form a rapport and Will begins to explore issues and emotions he had walled up behind impregnable armor. And, as Will advances his self-awareness in sessions with Sean, he also learns about friendship from his buddy, Chuckie (Ben Affleck), and love from a Harvard co-ed named Skylar (Minnie Driver).

The script, by co-stars Matt Damon and Ben Affleck, is not a groundbreaking piece of literature, and occasionally resorts to shameless manipulation. The characters are well-developed, however, and there are times when the dialogue positively sparkles. At one point, Will comments that a session with Sean is turning into a "Taster's Choice Moment." Later, Will gives a brilliant, breathless diatribe against the NSA that has the rhythm of something written by Kevin Smith. (Note: Since Smith co-executive produced Good Will Hunting, it's not out of the question that he had some input into this scene.)

Director Gus Van Sant (Drugstore Cowboy, To Die For) culls genuine emotion from his actors, and this results in several affecting and powerful scenes. There's an edginess to some of the Sean/Will therapy sessions, and the offscreen chemistry between Matt Damon and Minnie Driver (who became romantically linked while making this film) translates effectively to the movie -- the Will/Skylar relationship is electric. Likewise, the companionability of Damon and Affleck is apparent in the easygoing nature of Will and Chuckie's friendship. Many of the individual scenes are strong enough to earn Good Will Hunting a recommendation, even if the overall story is somewhat generic.

Matt Damon, who recently starred as the idealistic young lawyer in The Rainmaker, is solid (although not spectacular) as Will. Minnie Driver (last seen in Grosse Pointe Blank) adds another strong performance to a growing resume (and it's refreshing that she was allowed to keep her British accent rather than having to attempt an American one). The outstanding performance of the film belongs to Robin Williams, whose Sean is sad and wise, funny and somber. Arguably the best dramatic work in the actor's career (alongside what he did in The Fisher King), Williams' portrayal could earn him a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. Adequate support is provided by Ben Affleck (Chasing Amy) and Stellan Skarsgard (Breaking the Waves).

Like most of what comes before it, the ending of Good Will Hunting is completely predictable. But meeting expectations and following a familiar path aren't always bad things in a movie, provided the film accomplishes those goals with a modicum of style and an attention to detail. Good Will Hunting does both, and, as a result, earns a rating commensurate with the "good" in the title.

© 1997 James Berardinelli


United States, 1997
U.S. Release Date: 12/25/97 (wide)
Running Length: 2:06
MPAA Classification: R (Profanity, mature themes, violence)
Theatrical Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1

Cast: Matt Damon, Robin Williams, Ben Affleck, Stellan Skarsgard, Minnie Driver, Casey Affleck, Cole Hauser
Director: Gus Van Sant
Producer: Lawrence Bender
Screenplay: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck
Cinematography: Jean-Yves Escoffier
Music: Danny Elfman
U.S. Distributor: Miramax Films

Social Development: Self (The Prime Mover)

Who is the center of awareness? Where is the source of intent? Who is observing, perceiving, reflecting, recalling, contemplating, anticipating, thinking, contented, hoping, judging, worrying, feeling, deciding, hurting, and concentrating? Who am I? I am the self.
Definitions

1. The Observer; the seat of perception,
2. The Thinker; the seat of consciousness,
3. The Judge; the seat of evaluation,
4. The Prime Mover; the seat of intent,
5. Your physical and mental being with all its human and unique characteristics.

Related Terms

The words: being, individual, soul, and ego have meanings similar to “self”.
Self Spiral



Self SpiralEverything we do and every perception we have of the world around us accumulates over time and contributes to the ever-changing entity we refer to as our “self”. The first time we smile as an infant we have changed the world by stimulating others to smile back at us. Seeing their smile—and eventually perceiving the acceptance it represents—begins to change us; it is the beginning of our self-concept, self-image, self-confidence, self-doubt, and the autonomy, competence, and relatedness that form the basis of our motivations. How we engage the world changes how the world responds to us. This cycle of: do, see, perceive, assess, learn, and do again continues at a rapid pace countless times throughout our lifetimes and forms an ongoing spiral that begins to converge on the stable and consistent pattern of goals, beliefs, wishes, intent, habits, talents, and behavior we call our “self”.

Events that happen to you, the choices you make, and the influential people you meet throughout your life all contribute to what you learn and believe about the world. These factors, and the meaning you assign to them, merge and blend with your human nature and personality to create your ever evolving self. The moment you first tried to roll over, or crawl, or walk, or talk was either successful and satisfying or it was frustrating for you. Your parents, or anyone who may have been watching might have encouraged your exploration or they may have been critical and discouraging. The childhood games you played, the first time you were left alone, the first day of school, the first time you were betrayed, or lied to, punched in the nose, or abandoned are all important events that you have perceived, interpreted, learned from, and have contributed to revising your self-concept. Perhaps you begin to think of the world as a friendly and accepting place where hard work is rewarded, or you may think of it as angry and hostile. You begin to understand the consequences of actions; the connection between an incident and a result. Your attitude toward the world begins to take shape as that attitude influences how you behave in the world. As you grow older you may have participated in sports, or music, or dancing. Perhaps you were talented, perhaps you were not. Rind

Your competence in each of these activities was assessed by yourself and no-doubt by others. As a result your self-concept expands to include such beliefs as: “I am good at sports, not very good at music and dancing, OK in spelling, and not so good in math.” These ideas are refined as you score your first goal, win your first game, flunk another test, win your first trophy, get badly injured, and get cut from your first team. Believing you are good at sports may cause you to play for more teams, which of course increases your skill in the sport. As a teen you suffer the wrath of your peers; perhaps you are popular and attractive, or alone and plain. You go on your first date, have your first kiss, and agonize over sex. This may go smoothly, but more likely it does not. Learning continues throughout your life as your beliefs are challenged, refined, and revised. Your experiences and beliefs are constantly reinforced, interpreted, evaluated, and inevitably distorted by your self-talk—your ever-present inner dialogue. You may believe the world is a warm and wonderful place, or it may be full of harsh and cruel obstacles. You may be quietly confident, or you may be anxious, afraid, and ashamed.

Although events happen to you, the choices you make are your own responsibility. What education you complete, choices you make about drinking, driving, smoking, and drugs, the friends you keep, what you talk about, where you hang out, choosing to be the conformist or the rebel, deciding whether or not to go to college, career choice, and marriage choices are all shaped by your self-concept as they contribute to your self-concept. You may make these choices confidently and autonomously, based on your own well-considered beliefs, or you may be greatly influenced by peer pressure, parents, or the desire to please others. Critical choice points will reveal your own self and continue to shape your life and your self. Some choices will strengthen your authentic self, and others will contribute to your fictional self.

Certain people will strongly influence you and contribute to your self-concept. These include parents, siblings, peers, teachers, coaches, bullies, heroes, role models, teammates, tormentors, competitors, and your nemesis. You admire some, loath some, and you simply tolerate or ignore others. You learn from them all and they all contribute to who you are today. This self-spiral continues to change you as you change the world.

As your self-spiral grows you will accumulate intrinsic regulations—rules that you have carefully evaluated and decided are congruent with your values and beliefs. These contribute to your authentic self. But you are also likely to accumulate introjected regulations. These are behaviors performed to avoid guilt, humiliation, fear, or anxiety, or to attain a false pride by enhancing your image but not your stature. These move you away from your authentic self and toward your fictional self.



Knowing Yourself

To understand yourself, begin by understanding: human nature, what you can change and what you cannot, your own personality traits, learned behaviors, and your values, beliefs, sense of justice, needs, goals, and motives. Integrate these to form your personal model for human interaction. Understand what guides you throughout your life. Discover your signature strengths, and the basis of your true stature. Examine your self-spiral, purge the introjected regulations, integrate your values, beliefs, and actions, and work to become your authentic self.
Self-Symbol

Your mind is organized with many thousands of symbols for many objects and concepts including: cars, chairs, the future, your hopes, goodness, your dog, your friends, and even yourself. Your mental symbol that represents yourself is your “self-symbol”. Words we use as symbols for ourselves (and others) are often chosen from our list of trait nouns, and trait adjectives. Some of these labels are accurate and some are not accurate representations of our self.
Self-Aware

Humans have the remarkable, and perhaps unique ability to think about our own thoughts. This strange loop allows us to become aware of our self, to plan for the future, reflect and ruminate about the past, think about our selves as separate from others, imagine the thoughts of others, project our experiences into the minds of others, and judge our own actions. Self-awareness provides us the unique ability to control ourselves intentionally by imagining ourselves in the future and talk to ourselves about options for our future.

Self-awareness allows us to imagine the world from a variety of perspectives. Not only can we contemplate what we are perceiving now, but we can reflect on the past and imagine a variety of futures. We can also imagine what others are thinking now, or were thinking in the past, or will be thinking in the future. Self-awareness allows us to travel through time and read minds. But our awareness is less accurate than it may seem.

EarthHumans were earthbound for millions of years. Their only experience of earth was the limited view each of us could gain from our village on the earth's surface. Mountain top vantage points gave a somewhat broader perspective, but even the most expansive view was of only a small portion of the earth. World-wide travel eventually allowed us to experience other regions on earth. Then in December 1968 the Apollo 8 spacecraft broke free from the earth and gave us stunning images of the whole earth, small and alone in the vast blackness of space. For many these images transformed the way they think about our planet. We can achieve a similar perspective when we can detach our consciousness from originating among our thoughts and move our awareness above, or outside of our own thoughts. Just as Apollo 8 peered down on the entire earth, we can adopt an awareness that examines our own thinking and contemplates it as a whole. People sometimes describe this viewpoint transformation as an awakening. This viewpoint can help us detach our egos.



Self-awareness, introspection, and self-consciousness open us up to the emotions of pride, envy, jealousy, guilt, shame, and hope. Our ability to imagine the world from another's perspective allows us to feel empathy, compassion, pity, envy, and jealousy. Self-awareness allows self-appraisal, which is discussed in more detail below.


Introspection

Our conciseness and attention is often split between what we are doing, sensing, and perceiving in the world around us, and the thoughts we may be having about the past or the future. We constantly live in two worlds, one outside our heads and visible to others and one inside our heads known only to us. Because we have only a limited capacity for attention, our self-talk distracts us from the outside world and the outside world distracts us from our self-talk. Our attention does not always strike a useful balance here. It can be dangerous to be distracted by rumination or planning while driving. Self-consciousness can cause us to choke under pressure when we are called on to perform, as we meet others, in conversations, presentations, sports contests, or on stage. Self-talk can prolong insomnia as we worry about not falling asleep.

Self-awareness is often excessive. Ruminating, reliving, and repeatedly blaming yourself for a simple mistake in the past does more harm than good when it becomes prolonged, frustrating, distracting, and induces and prolongs shame. Worrying about events you cannot change produces unhelpful anxiety. When you have heard enough, it may be helpful to quiet this self talk. MeditationExternal Link, either undertaken as either a spiritual or secular activity, can be effective in quieting the self and breaking the cycle of rumination, allowing you to relax, and return your attention to the world present outside your head.

Our self-awareness disappears when we are sufficiently absorbed in an engaging activity and we experience the state of flow.
Bias

Since it is our self that has our attention during self-talk, we are constantly listening to an inherently biased and one-sided point of view. This first-person viewpoint, described in more detail below, is responsible for many distortions in perception, assessment, attribution, and reasoning. We are inherently biased. We invariably overestimate our positive qualities; nearly everyone considers themselves above average in characteristics important to their self-image. We claim more than our share of credit when things go well and we avoid blame when thing go bad. We judge people we identify with more leniently and favorably than we judge people we don't like. We offer advice to others more easily than we accept advice from others. We judge others based on behavior and we judge ourselves based on intent. We each tend to believe that our point of view is the correct one.

Perhaps this unrealistic view of the world helps us compensate for the bias toward safety that triggers fear, the bias toward just action that triggers anger, and the bias toward quickly identifying foe that triggers hate. Thinking well of ourselves provides a respite from anxiety and other negative emotions.

We can begin to counteract our inherent bias by developing a healthy skepticism toward our own ego-directed point of view. We can more accurately assess the world when we learn to compensate for the bias we use to perceive it. Consider a variety of viewpoints and dialogue with people who hold differing views before making important decisions.
Worry

We worry about the future we imagine, we ruminate about the past we recall, and we worry about what others did, thought, or might do. Anxiety results directly from our self-awareness and self-talk; it really is all in our head. We monitor the world with a bias toward identifying actual and potential threats. Although worry is beneficial when it alerts us to problems and urges us to avoid them, it is not helpful when there is nothing further we can do to avoid danger or ensure success.

We also worry about threats to our own thoughts and ideas. We protect the ideas we have of our self-concept, ideas we have about others, and our goals—our ideas about the future. Fear, anger, jealousy, and humiliation can be evoked as easily by threats to our ego, significant others, or goals as they can by physical threats. Many emotions are generated or sustained by how we talk to ourselves.
Conflicting Images

We imagine ourselves as similar to people in some groups and different from others. We invariably demonstrate favoritism toward people in the in-group. This affiliation with the in-group and dissociation from the out-group can be triggered even when only trivial characteristics or differences define the groups. Abstract concepts select the symbols we attach to the “good guys” and the “bad guys”. There is almost always some way for the people in the in-group to construe themselves better than the people in the out-group. This has been dramatically demonstrated by sports fans, social clubs, cliques, the Robbers Cave experimentExternal Links, and in other research. The often misunderstood fact is that you are probably less similar to the members of your group than you assume and you are more similar to members of rival groups that you assume. We all share human nature.

The bias of egotism allows us to interpret events in self-serving ways. We take more credit than we deserve, and accept less blame than is our due. We attribute kind motives to ourselves and evil motives to others. We feel we are unfairly recognized and rewarded for our efforts. We feel we suffer more pain than others understand or appreciate. Although we are egotists ourselves, we dislike others who we see as conceited, vain, arrogant, stuck-up, pompous, snobbish, and boastful.

When our ego is threatened, we feel insulted and suffer humiliation. For some, the greatest fear is to be seen as a wimp.
Self-Control

Our self-awareness provides us the powerful ability control our self intentionally. This requires us to be aware and monitor what we are doing, establish and pursue goals for the future, control our impulses and delay gratification to pursue our long-term goals, and act on the strength of our own decisions.
Detaching our Ego

If we are a two-year old caught up in our own tantrum, it is all consuming. If we are a parent and our two-year old child is having a tantrum, it is disconcerting. If we are walking through the park and see another child having a tantrum, we can simply notice that here is a child who has yet to grow up and gain control of his immature impulses.

We can attain this same detachment, judgment, and self-control over our own destructive egos. We can observe our ego wanting more, clamoring for attention, proving themselves right or better or blameless, distorting facts in frantic attempts at self-justification, seduced by our first-person viewpoint, overcome with arrogance and we can choose to stop it. We can stare back our own thoughts and jump into the space, created by our awareness, between our ego and our values. We can choose to act consistently with our values rather than submit once again to an impulse. We can choose humility over arrogance, stillness over aggression and destruction, cooperation over competition, inclusion over exclusion, needs over wants, generosity over greed, peer over power, candor over deceit, stature over status, dignity over disrespect, and authentic over bogus.

We do not tolerate tantrums from two-year olds. Don't tolerate tantrums from your ego, or anyone else's. Quell ego rants.


Self as our Prototype for Others

Self CenterTo create the mental symbol we use to represent each person we consider to be very similar to ourselves, we begin with our self-symbol and then modify it to create a unique symbol for each of our close friends. For each acquaintance that is more distant from our own self image, we modify the symbol we have for them more from our self-symbol. This is illustrated on the left where our self is in the center, our closest friends each have individual symbols very much like our own, and our more distant acquaintances have similar, but increasingly different symbols.


This is represented here by the differences in the color of the more distant symbols. For strangers, or people we do not want to be associated with, we may not begin with our self-symbol, but instead use the symbol for someone else we also distance ourselves from. The result is that the symbols for close friends are very similar to our own, and the symbols for people we do not identify with are quite different.


Intimacy

The word “intimacy” has several meanings. Here we consider the meaning of “a close association leading to detailed knowledge and understanding of another person”. An intimate friend is someone we trust enough to expose our own vulnerabilities and secrets during many reciprocal and authentic dialogues.

As we get to know more about an acquaintance we develop an increasingly complete and complex mental symbol for that person. However, there is a limit to how well we ever know the other person. There are limits to how much time we will spend together and there are various boundaries limiting what we will ask, what we will tell, and what we are willing to learn about each other. IntimacyBecause these boundaries limit the information exchange, the information we gather is incomplete and the symbol we are able to create for the acquaintance is necessarily incomplete. Because the symbol is incomplete it remains significantly different from your self-symbol. This is illustrated here by the noticeable distance between the self and the symbol for the acquaintance.

We know more about our close friends than we do about acquaintances. The amount of time we spend together, the number and nature of interactions and common experiences we share, the interest we have in learning more about each other, and our willingness to share more information all help us create a more complete symbol for our close friends. The similarity in our self-symbol and the symbol we create for our close friends is illustrated above by the proximity of the two symbols.

Intimacy takes this information sharing to the next level. During an intimate relationship we feel safe enough to expose and discuss our vulnerabilities and secrets. This additional information allows us to create a more complete symbol for an intimate partner. Also, because of the completeness of the symbol and also because the people we choose to become intimate with typically share many of our characteristics, the symbol we create becomes very similar to our self-symbol. This illustrated in the figure by the significant overlap of the two symbols. We feel empathy for people we become intimate with.


The Extent of Compassion

DistanceYou naturally feel closer to people who seem most like yourself. The symbols you create for the people who are most like yourself will be most similar to your own self-symbol. It is easiest to empathize with these people who are most like yourself. You can still feel compassion, if not full empathy, for people who are different, but still something like yourself. But even if you are a caring person, you may feel indifferent toward people who you hardly know, or who are not like yourself. The symbols you have for these people may be very incomplete, or they may include features unlike yourself. In any case their symbols are unlike your self-symbol.

Finally there are people who are not like you. In fact, they are unlike you. If you consider them so distant and foreign that you allow yourself to consider them as not quite human, hate can creep in. They are dislike you and you may choose to dislike them. This general scheme is illustrated here in a schematic diagram derived from the figure above. The people most like yourself are shown close to the self-symbol. Those least like you are farther away. The most compassionate people will have large regions of empathy and compassion with small or non-existent regions of indifference and hate. Less tolerant people will have smaller areas of empathy and compassion and allow the region of hate to close in around themselves as they become a prisoner of hate.

Empathy is other-awareness, symmetrical with self-awareness.
First-Person Viewpoint

Seeing things from your own point of view is always easier, and first-hand experiences seem more real than understanding another's point of view can ever be. Your eyes, nose, taste buds, tactile sensors, and ears connect directly only to your brain. Only you experience first-hand the direct sensory input of the world; you, your self, is the observer. This raw sensory input is interpreted and gains meaning through your unique perceptions and past experiences. Furthermore, contemplation, desire, intent, pain, introspection, consciousness, and reflection are all private and solitary. This unique first-person experience creates a fundamental asymmetry that contributes to many of the other asymmetries that govern social interactions. It also contributes to the asymmetric character of egotism, narcissism, selfishness, greed, and the magnitude gap. We judge others based on behavior and we judge ourselves based on intent. Your own point of view, the way you see things, is unique. The golden rule and our empathy struggle to overcome this fundamental imbalance.

We influence others by changing their point of view.

For the reasons just described, each of us tends to consider our own point of view as more complete, valid, andHumble important than anyone else's point of view. However, each of us differ in the weight we give to our viewpoint when compared to other viewpoints.

A particularly humble, considerate person may understand, appreciate, and evaluate other points of view and grant them an importance similar to their own. They weigh other points of view as heavily as they weigh their own, as in the diagram on the right.

Typical

It is more typical, however, to weigh your own viewpoint more heavily than others. We all have a great need for self-justification.

If one person disagrees with you, perhaps you will discount that contrary viewpoint, but if two or three people express differing views, you will consider and adopt their viewpoints. This is illustrated in the diagram on the left where several other viewpoints balance the first-person viewpoint.

Egotist

Egotists, and others with high self-appraisals dismiss all but overwhelming evidence contrary to their point of view.

It may take tens, hundreds, or in extreme cases thousands of dissenting voices before any other point of view is considered. This extreme imbalance is shown on the right, where the “eye” and the “I” are just too big. Where do you strike the balance?

This phenomenon can create a problem when it comes to choosing leaders. Great leaders make decisions, create a compelling vision, hold tenaciously to that vision, and inspire people to overcome obstacles and move forward toward the leader's expressed vision. This vision is often an expression of the leader's first-person viewpoint. A problem can occur, however, if that viewpoint becomes destructive, the leader rejects alternative viewpoints, and the direction cannot be changed. This can be the making of a tyrant.
Self-Appraisals

Many types of self-appraisal, both accurate and distorted, are important to understand. Self-esteem is an overall evaluation of your self by your self. This assessment can be favorable, neutral, or unfavorable. High self-esteem is a favorable self assessment. An unfavorable self assessment is low-self-esteem. Appropriate high self-esteem is (authentic) “pride”, but excessive or unjustified high self-esteem is called: “egotism”, “arrogance”, “hubris”, “conceitedness”, “narcissism”, or a “sense of superiority”. Low self-esteem is “shame”. “Ego” is a synonym for self or self-image.

Self-esteem includes two largely independent appraisals. One is a sense of confidence and competence, called self-efficacy. This includes confidence in your ability to think, understand, learn, choose, and make decisions. The other is a sense of intrinsic worth, called self-respect. This is your right to appropriately assert your own thoughts, values, needs, and wants.

Narcissism is self-love combined with an artificially inflated ego (self-image). It includes “grandiosity” and dominance, and is correlated with an often hostile disregard for others

A major cause of violence is high self-esteem combined with an ego threat. Violence is most likely to occur when someone who thinks well of themselves receives feedback that contradicts their own favorable view of themselves, and they then decide to “fight the feedback” (quite literally “kill the messenger”) rather than assimilate the new information and revise their self-appraisal. This is more likely to occur with someone who holds an unwarranted, exaggerated, or unfounded positive self-image. This can be called “fragile high-self-esteem” or “wounded pride”. People who are highly sensitive to a loss of self-esteem, e.g. “touchy”, may react to seemingly minor ego threats with considerable hostility. They are easily insulted and quick to anger. They may be boastful and arrogant and always trying to prove they are good enough. The terms: wounded pride, disrespect, verbal abuse, insults, anger manipulations, and status inconsistency all describe ego threats. People with high but stable self-esteem tend not to be angry or hostile.

A reliable indicator of low self-esteem is the need to see other groups as inferior. This is the essence of disrespect and a dangerous first step toward hate and violence.

People with (secure) high self-esteem generously appreciate the achievements of others.

Egotism can directly cause violence because the egotist allows their first-person viewpoint to prevail over other relevant, important, but differing points of view. This lack of consideration reduces the typical inhibitions to violence.
Transcending Your Self

Our self is an essential but often pesky companion. Learn to tame it. When you hear your self talking, recognize it is only one voice among the crowd. Shape your self-symbol. Deliberately quiet your self when it is not being helpful. Enjoy the resulting calm and contentment. Be skeptical of what your self is telling you. Focus on what is real. Seek out alternative viewpoints. Let go of your ego defense mechanisms, and control your self.
Self-Words

We use many words to refer to self-related concepts, including:

* Ego—a synonym for self or self-image.
* Self-absorbed—Focused on your own affairs and concerns.
* Self-admiration—Admiring yourself; pride.
* Self-aggrandizement—Exaggerating your own importance or significance.
* Self-appraisal—Assessing the value of your self.
* Self-awareness—Thinking about our own thoughts
* Self-centered—Yielding to the first-person viewpoint.
* Self-concept—What you believe about who you are.
* Self-concern
* Self-confidence
* Self-conscious
* Self-control—Exercising willful intent and awareness to choose our actions.
* Self-criticism
* Self-despair
* Self-efficacy—Confidence in your own abilities. Recognizing your own power.
* Self-esteem—An overall evaluation of your self by your self.
* Self-image
* Self-justification—Describing events in a way that preserves your pride and reduces cognitive dissonance.
* Selfish—Disregarding other's viewpoints and needs
* Self-loathing—A severe lack of self-respect. Shame.
* Self-occupation
* Self-reflection
* Self-reliant
* Self-respect—Recognizing your own intrinsic worth. Your right to appropriately assert your own thoughts, values, needs, and wants.
* Self-sufficient
* Self-worship

Quotations:

* “Know thyself.” ~ Socrates (470–399 BC)
* “Somehow we learn who we really are and then live with that decision.” ~ Eleanor Roosevelt
* “Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance.” ~ Confucius (551 – 479 BC)
* “One can have no smaller or greater mastery than mastery of oneself.” ~ Leonardo Da Vinci (1452 – 1519)
* “First-person viewpoint is the fundamental asymmetry of humanity.” ~ Leland R. Beaumont
* “The strength of a man's virtue should not be measured by his special exertions, but by his habitual acts.” ~ Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)
* “Be reasonable, do it my way.” ~ An old joke satirizing the first person viewpoint.
* “We don't see the world as it is. We see it as we are.” ~ Anaïs NinExternal Link

References

I Am a Strange Loop, by Douglas Hofstadter

Self Matters, by Phillip C. McGraw

Prisoners of Hate: The Cognitive Basis of Anger, Hostility, and Violence, by Aaron T. Beck

Six Pillars of Self-Esteem, by Nathaniel Branden

The Curse of the Self: Self-Awareness, Egotism, and the Quality of Human Life, by Mark R. Leary.

Relation of Threatened Egotism to Violence and Aggression: The Dark Side of High Self-Esteem, Psychology Review, 1996, Vol. 103, No. 1, 5-33, by Roy F. Baumeister, Laura Smart, Joseph M. Boden

http://www.emotionalcompetency.com/self.htm

Social Development: Definitions of Various Self Constructs

Self-esteem, self-efficacy, self-confidence & self-concept

What is "self"?

What constitutes the "self" has been pondered by philosophers, poets, artists, and others for millennia. More recently, psychologists have sought to define and research a range of self constructs.


Definitions of self constructs

Self-esteem: Self-esteem refers to general feelings of self-worth or self-value.

Self-efficacy: Self-efficacy is belief in one's capacity to succeed at tasks. General self-efficacy is belief in one's general capacity to handle tasks. Specific self-efficacy refers to beliefs about one's ability to perform specific tasks (e.g., driving, public speaking, studying, etc.)

Self-confidence: Self-confidence refers to belief in one's personal worth and likelihood of succeeding. Self-confidence is a combination of self-esteem and general self-efficacy.

Self-concept: Self-concept is the nature and organization of beliefs about one's self. Self-concept is theorized to be multi-dimensional. For example, people have separate beliefs about physical, emotional, social, etc. aspects of themselves.

Developmental patterns in the development of self-constructs

Early on in development, children tend to have a vague, general concept of themselves, which gradually diversifies into concepts about themselves as students at school, in relation to peers, in relation to family, emotionally, physically, and so on.

It is unclear whether self-concepts are formed top-down (specific beliefs flow from general beliefs) or bottom-up (general beliefs flow from specific beliefs).
Gender differences in self-constructs

Males tend to report higher levels of self-esteem and self-confidence than do females. More specifically, females rate their Verbal self-concept higher, whereas males tend to rate their Mathematical self-concept higher.

Females tend to report greater increases in self-constructs as a result of interventions. This could be because:

* females tend to start lower (therefore they have more "room for growth") and
* females tend to be more open to verbal processing of experience and expression of feelings.


Historical conceptions of "self"

Character development, personal growth, and development of self-constructs are commonly valued goals in Western society, and are largely taken for granted as desirable. However, this is a relatively recent phenomenon:

Between 700 and 1500, the concept of the "self" referred to only the weak, sinful, crude, "selfish" nature of humans. The evil "self" was contrasted with the divinely perfect nature of a Christian soul. Joseph Campbell believed the concept of an independent, self-directed "self" didn't start to develop until about 800 years ago. So, it is a relatively new idea (somewhat older than the idea that we are not at the center of the universe) which has grown in importance. In medieval times, values and meaning were dictated by the community ("do what you are told to do"). Today, modern "self" theory says each person is expected to decide what is right (almost by magic and without much reliance on the accumulated wisdom of the culture) and to know him/herself well enough to determine what courses of action "feel right." In short, we must know ourselves, so we can set our life goals and self-actualize. The cultures of 1200 and 2000 are two very different worlds.
- Clayton E. Tucker-Ladd, 1996, Changing Your Self-concept and Building Your Self-esteem

"Self" in the 20th Century

Previous to the 20th century, social institutions, including schooling and psychology (which barely existed) did not emphasize the development of positive beliefs about self. There was greater emphasis, for example, on developing relationship to divinities and organized systems of government. With the ousting of religion as the dominant organizational culture in Western society, and the rise of capitalism with its emphasis, particularly in North America, on expression and valuing of personal freedom, a 'cult of the self' has blossomed.

Indeed, self-constructs seem to be positively associated with other desirable qualities, such as better quality of life, higher academic performance, and so on, but there is debate about whether improving self-esteem, self-concept, etc. causes improved performance, or vice-versa. What's more, there is evidence that high self-esteem when combined with prejudice can lead to increased increased aggression.

Education and parenting in North America has been criticized for overemphasizing praise and affirmation of children. Simply boosting self-esteem without boosting personal skill, it has been argued, creates vacuous self-belief which leads to more serious problems arising from the self-deception (see "Can self-esteem be bad for your child?").

This area deserves further research. Among other tasks, attention needs to be paid to distinguishing shallow self-esteem boosting methods from well developed, effective approaches to personal and social development.