The Basics of Catholic Morality

Cardinal Virtues -virtues from which all other virtues come from

1. Prudence

2. Justice

3. Temperance

-Genesis reveals humans are fundamentally good because God created us in his image

Other Truths:

-We have dignity and worth -We can think -We have freedom -We are responsible -Blameworthiness for our actions can be lessened by certain factors

-We are wounded by sin -We are children of God

-We are friends of the Lord

-Society - a group of persons united by a principle that goes beyond the individual

-must treat people as ends and not as means

-Societies should observe the principle of subsidiarity

-We should respect and obey persons and institutions that possess the rightful authority to

make laws

-We should work for the common law

-Our social nature is crucial for our life together

-social justice doctrine

-Respect each person

Treat others as equals

-Develop and share your gifts

-Show solidarity with others

-How we act morally:

-Responsibly use our God-given intellects and wills

-Choose good and avoid evil

-Act as persons of incomparable worth

-Allow the Holy Spirit to live in us

-Act Christ-like

-Act like a true friend of Jesus

1. Name several benefits of God’s gifts to us to think, choose, and love.

2. Share an example of how the principles of subsidiarity protects one of yours or your

family’s God-given rights.

3. Why does Catholic moral teaching demand that we respect proper authority?

4. How do the groups you belong to promote the common good?

-Our conscience helps us determine if what we are doing is good or evil, whether it is in

accord with God’s plan or goes against it

-The Second Vatican Council called conscience “the most secret core and

sanctuary”

To form a good conscience we must:

-use our God-given ability to think to discover God’s goodness and truth

-listen to Jesus

-look to his death as the perfect example of how to love and obey God

-obey the teachings of the Magisterium

-use the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit

Three sources of Morality:

-object chosen, end or intention, circumstances surrounding the action

-Moral action - matter of our actions, the “what” we do

-most important element for judging the morality of an act

-Intention - one’s motive or purpose for acting

- the why we did something

-a good intention can never make an intrinsically evil action into a just one

-Circumstances - secondary factors that include the consequences of an action and its

context

-For our actions to be morally good, all three elements must be good

1. What will your plan for conscience formation entail?

2. Explain the principle “the end does not justify the means.”

3. How is it possible to have a conscience that is in error?

Vices - bad habits that incline us to do evil

-Principal vices are capital sins and include pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony, and

lust

Theological virtues provide foundation for life in Christ:

-Faith

-Hope

-Charity

Moral Law - a reasonable regulation issued by the proper authority for the common

good

Three expressions of moral law are:

-natural law

-revealed law

-civil and Church laws

Natural Law - binding on all people at all times. It is the light of understanding that God puts in us so

we can discover what is good and what is evil

-Civil laws - can’t live in peace without them -flow from natural law

-Old Law of Old Testamant states the precepts of the natural law and truths that our own intellects

are capable of discovering.

-God gave his Law to Moses

-Ten Commandments

-Jesus makes God’s law perfect

-Revealed in the Sermon on the Mount, the New Law of Love is Christ’s work

-New Law has several special virtues - evangelical counsels of poverty, chastity, and

obedience

-Precepts of the Church -minimum rules for Catholics to live as participating members of

Christ’s body

-You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation

-You shall confess your sins at least once a year

-You shall receive the sacrament of Eucharist at least during the Easter season

-You shall observe the days of fasting and abstinence

-You shall help to provide for the needs of the Church

-God’s mercy is known as justification - the grace of the Holy Spirit that cleanses us from our

sins through faith in Jesus and Baptism

-We need to be justified to live morally

-Jesus’ death on the cross brings about our justification

-Most important type of grace is sanctifying grace - permanently disposes us to live like God

1. Which will be the only of the theological virtues necessary in heaven? Explain.

2. Explain how the precepts of natural law are unchanging.

3. Sum up Jesus’ New Law of Love.

4. How can the precepts of the Church aid your spiritual growth?

-Grace is a gift, we can only accept it freely

Four other types of graces besides sanctifying:

1. Actual grace

2. Sacramental grace

3. Charisms

4. Grace of state

1. God will never force his love on you. Tell what this statement means to you.

2. List some ways you can “pick up your cross” and die to selfishness.

3. Why doesn’t God owe us justification?