THE JOY OF INTEGRITY

“Blessed the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in his commands” (Ps. 112:1)

Pastoral Exhortation on Integrity

Our beloved People of God:

The BEAUTY OF INTEGRITY of persons, of community, and of all creation manifests

the glory and wisdom of God! It is an integrity that requires honesty and consistency,

surely, as the word ordinarily means. But even honesty and consistency are not valuable

in themselves; they point beyond to a truthful reality as reference and center; they are as

attractive only as the beauty of the truth they refer to. When integrity attracts, it radiates

not merely consistency but also cohesion, fittingness, a wholeness that shines forth

identity and ultimately its source and creator, God.

We, your pastors humbly recognize our struggle to be integrable in our service to the

Church as teachers of the faith, shepherds of the flock and stewards of the temporal goods

entrusted to our care.

We are not blind and deaf to the corruption of Philippine society. We see corruption in

public life, in personal lives, corruption of the environment and corruption of souls. As

we continue to take a prophetic denunciation of this social cancer called corruption, we

wish to invite you to give a long reflective gaze at the beauty of integrity believing that

we can overcome evil by the power of good (Rom. 12:21).

As Vatican II concluded, Venerable Pope Paul VI asserted, “This world in which we live

needs beauty in order not to sink into despair. Beauty, like truth, brings joy to the human

heart, and is that precious fruit which resists the erosion of time, which unites

generations and enables them to be one in admiration.”i More than ever, our world needs

the beauty of integrity to “encourage the human spirit to rediscover its path, to raise its

eyes to the horizon, to dream of a life worthy of its vocation.”ii

Therefore, dear brothers and sisters, allow us, your bishops, to envision and to outline

briefly the theology and spirituality of integrity and its multidimensional pastoral

applications, in the hope of inspiring us all in this Year of the Laity to be radiant in the

integrity of our holiness, of being God‟s own.

THEOLOGY AND SPIRITUALITY OF INTEGRITY

Integrity is possible only when there is a centralizing or grounding reality, a principle that

serves as the foundation and measure of integrity. For us Christians, this grounding

principle is the fact that we are created by God in God‟s image, and that we are social

beings related to other humans in common humanity and dignity and we are stewards of

creation. We are also meant to “be perfect, just as our heavenly Father is perfect”

(cfr. Mt 5:48). It is to be naturally drawn to the One who is eternal Life and Love, who is

infinite Truth and Beauty. “The desire for God is written in the human heart, because we

are created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw us to himself. Only in

God will we find the truth and happiness we never stop searching for.”iii

However, the

entrance of sin caused “dis-integration” of our relationship with God, neighbor, creation,

and self. Alienation was the initial sign of wounded integrity.

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Hence, the truth of our creaturehood is most fully revealed by the Son of the Father, sent

by the Creator to be our Redeemer. Thus, the principle of our integration is a person,

Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is a person who is much more than a concept, doctrine, or

law, nurturing a friendship with Jesus becomes essential for Christian integrity. “Being

Christian,” Pope Benedict writes, “is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea,

but the encounter with an event, a person, which gives life a new horizon and a decisive

direction.”iv Pope Francis repeatedly echoes this point, “If there is no Encounter with

Jesus, life becomes inconsistent, loses its meaning.”v

This encounter, this friendship, this faith is a gift we receive from a benevolent and

merciful God. It is a gift that is also a task. With St. Augustine we affirm, “The deeper

our faith, the stronger our hope, the greater our desire, the larger will be our capacity to

receive the gift, which is very great indeed..... When the Apostle tells us: Pray without

ceasing (1 Thess 5:16), he means this: Desire unceasingly that life of happiness which is

nothing if not eternal, and ask it of him alone who is able to give it.”vi

Christ founded the Church to nurture and to share this faith for our integrity. The Church

offers God‟s grace through the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation

precisely to initiate the believer in the ways of integrity. Through Baptism, we acquire

our identity, “become members of Christ… are incorporated into the Church and made

sharers in her mission.”vii

Through Confirmation, we “are more perfectly bound to the

Church and are enriched with a special strength of the Holy Spirit.”viii

Through the

Eucharist, “the source and summit of the Christian life,”ix

we receive “the efficacious

sign and sublime cause of that communion in the divine life and that unity of the People

of God.”x

INTEGRITY AND CONSCIENCE

As we strive to live out our integrity, the radiant coherence of our faith and our life, we

are guided in our moral choices by our conscience, that sacred space within us where we

encounter God who urges us to do good and avoid evil.xi

Obeying the double-duty of

forming and following our conscience, we use our freedom wisely and responsibly,

listening to and learning from God in prayer, through scripture, guided by Church

teaching, and supported by community. In exercising authentic freedom, we consider not

only what is good for ourselves but also what is for the greater good of others. God

created us not as solitary beings but as social beings. We realize the fullness of our

vocations as Christians only in relation with others.xii

By our daily choices, by our lives

of integrity or lack of it, we can add to networks of mutual help and generosity or we can

sustain sinful structures in society.

MODELS OF INTEGRITY

In desiring happiness, we are called to imitate our two Filipino saints, both laymen who

lived out the integrity of their Christian faith all the way to death: St. Lorenzo Ruiz who

died a martyr in Japan (29 September 1637) and St. Pedro Calungsod who died a martyr

in the Marianas Islands (2 April 1672). As martyrs, they are models for us of “the

supreme witness given to the truth of the faith…for the martyr bears witness to Christ

who died and rose, to whom he is united by charity.”xiii

Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro

Calungsod trace for us a path to an integral life of holiness. “By canonizing some of the

faithful, i.e., by solemnly proclaiming that they practiced heroic virtue and lived in

fidelity to God’s grace, the Church recognizes the power of the Spirit of holiness within

her and sustains the hope of believers by proposing the saints to them as models and

intercessors. The saints have always been the source and origin of renewal in the most

difficult moments in the Church’s history. Indeed, holiness is the hidden source and

infallible measure of her apostolic activity and missionary zeal.”xiv

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LIVING THE JOY OF INTEGRITY

As both gift and task, individual and collective integrity is a product of prayer and

discernment. In 2010, in the midst of the political turmoil being experienced by the

country, we your bishops called not for direct and immediate political action, but for

“circles of discernment.”xv

These circles of discernment were meant not only to assess the

larger realities in our country but also to encourage all Filipinos of goodwill to reflect on

how they too have been responsible for the situation. As we move from “circles of

discernment” to “circles of integrity,” we also realize that integrity has both personal and

communal components.

PERSONAL INTEGRITY. The key to social transformation and the building of a more

just society is the fostering of integrity in every individual. “Authentic social changes are

effective and lasting only to the extent that they are based on resolute changes in

personal conduct.”xvi

A life of personal integrity, a moral upright life attests to the beauty

of our vocation as children of God. We are fortunate to have ordinary Filipino citizens

manifesting this kind of personal integrity, even in the most difficult of circumstances.

Last year‟s Typhoon Yolanda saw countless Filipinos give their time and resources, no

matter how meager, for the relief efforts. This kind of generosity and heroism, often

unrecognized, clearly demonstrates inner integrity.

INTEGRITY IN THE FAMILY. A privileged arena in which Christian integrity is

manifested is in family life. Integrity is first learned within the family. One cannot

underestimate the influence of family attitudes, practices, and values on the formation of

one‟s character. When children see their parents keeping promises and being faithful to

one another, they learn to become trustworthy and responsible in their relationships. Let

Paul‟s words guide us: “Show yourself as a model of good deeds in every respect, with

integrity in your teaching” (cfr. Titus 2:7).

The Church in the Philippines has been buoyed by the efforts of family-oriented groups

that strive to promote integrity in marriage and family, while promoting a wider societal

commitment. Our numerous charismatic organizations, marriage encounter groups, parish

renewal experience chapters, and similar movements have been at the forefront of the

Church‟s various efforts to promote the Kingdom. We recall the many family life groups

that rallied to the defense of life in the recent Reproductive Health Bill debates. If the

family is truly the basic institution in the country, our Church, most especially through its

committed lay groups, should continue championing family integrity.

INTEGRITY IN WORK AND POLITICS. “Better to be poor and walk in integrity than

rich and crooked in one’s ways” (Proverbs 28:6). From the private circles of self and

family, our “circles of integrity” must widen to encompass the crucial areas of societal

life, especially in the economy, politics, social communications, arts & sciences and

technology. Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI has reminded us that the economy needs a

“people-centered” ethics in order to function correctly.xvii

Fostering integrity in the

workplace is important and necessary, not simply for reasons of efficiency or morale but

because it transforms work itself from being mere physical labor to becoming an activity

that contributes to full human development. The burgeoning movement for Corporate

Social Responsibility (CSR) is commendable for the promotion of a truly just business

and economic environment in the Philippines.

Integrity is especially needed in political leadership and participation. Corruption in

politics distorts the role of political leaders and their relationship with constituents. The

Second Plenary Council challenges the laity to participate in politics for “the pursuit of

the common good” and “the promotion of justice,” paying particular attention to the

service of the poor.xviii

It cannot be excluded that there are and there should be

outstanding Catholic politicians who prove that it is possible to be unassailable public

servants. In their own quiet ways, cooperatives, social entrepreneurs, individual and

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communal “whistleblowers,” election watchdog groups, and countless other individuals

and organizations all strive to enhance integrity in political and economic life.

INTEGRITY IN THE CHURCH. Priestly formation has been geared towards producing

ordained servant-leaders configured to Jesus Christ, the Eternal High Priest. Though the

Church, then and now, has been tainted by the scandals of a few clergy, we are inspired

by bishops, priests, and religious who have authentically witnessed a life of integrity in

preaching the gospel as lived truth in their lives breaking bread in the Eucharist as they

share in the sacrifice of those who suffer, and stewarding the resources of the Church as

they reach out to the poor in their communities. We realize that formation to integrity is

an ongoing process. And it is our hope that we learn from lay people who have been

shining examples of integrity.

INTEGRITY OF CREATION. Finally, in the widest circle of our natural environment, we

are called to be stewards of integrity caring for God‟s creation. God created the natural

world in an integral way. Every being is connected and dependent on other beings in an

ordered system established by God. When this integrity of creation is violated, all life is

threatened. Pollution affects our supply of clean air and drinking water. Over-fishing and

improper land use diminish our capacity to catch and grow our food. Indiscriminate

logging and mining lead to deadly flash floods and landslides. We need to recover our

place in the integral system of creation as responsible users and stewards. Only in this

way can all enjoy the beauty and bounty of God‟s creation today and tomorrow.

The work of preserving creation‟s integrity should be shared by all, and is perhaps the

most all-encompassing “CIRCLES OF INTEGRITY” we are called to participate in.

BUILDING A CULTURE OF INTEGRITY

To build a Culture of Integrity and to radiate its beauty, we need to foster values, build

structures, and present role models that can teach, support, and exemplify integrity lived

out in the real world.

1) We need to honor persons who have shown honesty, selflessness, courage, and

fairness for the sake of others, even when seriously tempted to act selfishly: the taxi

driver who returns money left behind, strangers who risk their lives to help others during

natural disasters, government workers who refuse to be bribed, the election volunteer

who vigilantly guards the ballot box. Their stories can inspire and teach others that a life

of integrity is neither impossible nor foolish but is our true calling as citizens and as

members of one human family.

2) We need to foster a spirit of solidarity among our people to replace the

clannish, exclusive mentality, and “kanya-kanya” attitudes that prevent the formation of

true communities of mutual help. We need to be responsible for one another, particularly

for the welfare of the least of our brothers and sisters, not only during natural disasters

but also each day of our journey as a pilgrim people.

3) We need to ground all our efforts at building a culture of integrity on Love.

“No legislation, no system of rules or negotiation will ever succeed in persuading

peoples to live in unity and peace; no line of reasoning will ever be able to surpass the

appeal of love.” Love is “a force capable of inspiring new ways of approaching the

problems of today’s world, of profoundly renewing structures, social organizations, legal

systems from within.”xix

As we previously emphasized for this Year of the Laity, “The renewal of our country thus

demands of us all, and especially of you, our lay faithful, a return to truthfulness and the

fostering of the sense of the common good…. We must seek the truth, speak the truth, do

the truth… and to do so „in love,‟ that is, in solidarity with and service of others.”xx

When

we cultivate the integrity of our holiness, relying on the abundant grace of God, we give a

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powerful testimony to the Author of Integrity, whose joy is to lead all humanity and

creation to the fullness and wholeness of God. We join Pope Francis in observing that,

“the Church…does not grow through proselytism; it grows through attraction, through

witness.”xxi

May the humble and radiant witness of our Mother Mary, along with the prayerful

support of Saints Lorenzo Ruiz and Pedro Calungsod, keep us united to each other and

committed to our life of integrity in love!

For the Catholic Bishops‟ Conference of the Philippines, July 8, 2014

+SOCRATES B. VILLEGAS, D.D.

Archbishop of Lingayen Dagupan

CBCP President

i Paul VI, 8 Dec 1965, quoted by Benedict XVI, Meeting with Artists at Sistine Chapel, 21 Nov

2009. ii Benedict XVI, Meeting with Artists at Sistine Chapel, 21 Nov 2009.

iii Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) 27.

iv Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est (2005) 1.

v Francis, Homily on the Solemnity of Corpus Christi, 17 June 2006; see also Francis, Evangelii

Gaudium (2013) 264-267, 121, 88, 153. vi St. Augustine, Letter 130.

vii CCC 1213.

viii Vatican II, Lumen Gentium (1964) 11.

ix Lumen Gentium 11.

x CCC 1325.

xi Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes (1965) 43.

xii CDF, Libertatis Conscientia (1986) 32.

xiii CCC 2473.

xiv CCC 828.

xv CBCP, “A Call for Vigilance and Involvement,” 24 January 2010.

xvi Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church (2004) 134.

xvii Benedict XVI, Caritas in Veritate (2009) 45.

xviii PCP II (1991) 351; see also Compendium 565.

xix Compendium 207.

xx CBCP, “Filipino Catholic Laity: Called to be Saints…Sent Forth as Heroes!” 1 Dec 2013.

xxi Francis, Homily at St. Martha‟s House, 1 Oct 2013; Evangelii Gaudium 15.