Dignity of the Human Person

“A just society can become a reality only when it is based on the respect of the transcendent dignity of the human person.” –Compendium of the Social Doctrine of the Church, #132

person holding baby's index finger illustrating the dignity of the human person

Photo by Aditya Romansa

Explore a wealth of resources that illuminate the cornerstone of Catholic Social Teaching: the dignity of the human person. Rooted in the belief that every individual is created in the image of God, this teaching emphasizes the inherent worth of every human being and calls for the promotion of justice, peace, and the defense of human rights.

On this page, you’ll find:

  • Prayers and Reflections: Spiritual resources that deepen understanding of human dignity and its connection to peace, nonviolence, and disarmament.
  • Educational Materials: Lesson plans, classroom activities, and discussion guides that explore the moral imperative to respect life and promote justice.
  • Multimedia Content: Videos, infographics, and articles that bring Catholic Social Teaching on human dignity to life, highlighting its relevance in today’s world.
  • Advocacy Tools: Practical guides for advancing nonviolence, supporting disarmament, and fostering peace through the lens of human dignity.

These resources empower educators, faith leaders, and advocates to connect the principle of human dignity with actionable steps toward a more peaceful and just society. By integrating Catholic Social Teaching into learning and advocacy, these materials inspire solidarity and compassion in the face of injustice.

Working to Overcome Food Insecurity

Reflection
This resource shares insights into working at a local food bank and things to consider about one's community and where help is needed.

Web Quest: Solidarity and Option for the Poor and Vulnerable

Activity
This is a web quest resource based on Matthew 25. Participants are encouraged to look up faith based and national organizations to show how they are in solidarity with the poor, the vulnerable and...

An Antidote to Despair Discussion Guide

Fact Sheet & Handout
A discussion guide that walks through an article from Commonweal Magazine highlighting Paul Farmer and his theology of accompaniment. The article, "An Antidote to Despair" ran in February 2022.

Catholic Social Teaching: Rooted and Renewing

Reflection
The Catholic Social Teaching: Rooted and Renewing reflection invites us to consider how consciously making daily decisions from the perspective of CST, in solidarity with all those who suffer and all...

Human Dignity Reflection & Web Quest

Activity
This activity invites students to reflect on Genesis 1:26-27 and the concept of human dignity as a result of being made in the image of God.

After Buffalo, After Uvalde, After Tulsa

Film Discussion Guide
"After Buffalo, After Uvalde, After Tulsa" is the name of a dialogue hosted by the Georgetown Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life on gun violence in the United States. Use these...

Education for Justice 2022 Summer Reading List

Fact Sheet & Handout
These recommendations for summer reading are organized by spiritual reading, non-fiction, and fiction. These works are connected to one or more themes of Catholic Social Teaching and highlight...

Let the Shooting End

Prayer
Let the Shooting End is a prayer for an end to gun violence. This prayer was originally published by the Sisters of Mercy and is reprinted here with permission. Visit sistersofmercy.org/resources/...

Resource List on the Relations of Indigenous Peoples and Catholics

Fact Sheet & Handout
This resource list provides suggested books, articles, and videos that teach about the legacy of colonization and the genocide of Indigenous Peoples in the United States and Canada. In particular,...

Prayer for Juneteenth

Prayer
This prayer commemorates June 19, 1865, when enslaved African-Americans in Galveston, Texas, were told they were free, almost two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. Juneteenth is symbolic...

Prayer for the Summer

Video
As we move into the new summer season, we look to absorb God’s light just as we absorb the summer sun. We pray to grow, rest, and reflect in these summer months. Find the PDF version of this prayer...

Buffalo: A Prayer in a Time of Racism and Gun Violence

Prayer
This is a prayer to remember the lives of the people who died in the Buffalo mass shooting and for all people affected by the sins of racism and gun violence. Commemorate Black History Month in...