On the Daily Office and Catholic Social Conscience

Derek Olsen has posted his wonderful presentation given at this year's The Society of Catholic Priests conference in southern California.  Usually when Anglo-Catholics talk about social conscience they link it with the Eucharist, but Dr. Olsen does a wonderful job of showing how the Daily Office can also strengthen and inform our social conscience. Here's a quote to whet your appetite:

There are three fundamental concepts within the psalter that are crucial and inescapable elements of the catholic social conscience. First, they show us the center—that is, they define a reality where all creation is oriented towards God and participates together in the mutual worship of God. Second, they emphasize the rule of law—that is, they emphasize that justice is a key attribute of God and that justice, righteousness, and equity must be central values for us because they flow directly from the identity of God himself. Third, they form us in the habit of empathy because they place in our mouths the words of the poor, the marginalized, the oppressed, and they invite us to see the world through those eyes, and to recognize the injustices seen through those eyes.

Check out the rest at Haligweorc