Catholic EssentialsCatholic EssentialsChapter 6Chapter 6

Our Life in Our Life in ChristChrist

Christian discipleship = a radical choiceChristian discipleship = a radical choice

The Son of Man did not come The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.to be served but to serve.

Ora Beatam VitamOra Beatam Vitam““Ask for the happy life”Ask for the happy life”

The Beatitudes, preached by Jesus in the Sermon on The Beatitudes, preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, respond to our natural desire for the Mount, respond to our natural desire for happiness.happiness.

The Beatitudes make us like God and able to share The Beatitudes make us like God and able to share eternal life.eternal life.

The Beatitudes – Blessed are…The Beatitudes – Blessed are…

The poor in spiritThe poor in spirit Those who mournThose who mourn The meekThe meek Those who hunger Those who hunger

and thirst for and thirst for righteousnessrighteousness

The mercifulThe merciful The clean of heartThe clean of heart The peacemakersThe peacemakers Those who are Those who are

persecuted for the persecuted for the sake of sake of righteousnessrighteousness

MoralityMorality

Living a moral life means being responsible for…

What you say and do Your action and inaction Motives for your behavior

Living a moral life means being free.Living a moral life means being free. You can initiate and control your own actions.You can initiate and control your own actions. The more you choose good, the freer you become.The more you choose good, the freer you become.

SinSin

Sin is an offense against God and others.Sin is an offense against God and others. We sin when we freely choose against We sin when we freely choose against

reason, truth, and right conscience.reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin turns our hearts away from God’s love Sin turns our hearts away from God’s love

for us.for us. There are different kinds of personal sin.There are different kinds of personal sin.

Mortal SinMortal Sin

The most serious kind of personal sin.The most serious kind of personal sin. Destroys our relationship with God and Destroys our relationship with God and

kills our ability to love.kills our ability to love. Three conditions for mortal sinThree conditions for mortal sin

Grave or serious matterGrave or serious matter Full knowledgeFull knowledge Complete consentComplete consent

Mortal sins should be confessed in the Mortal sins should be confessed in the Sacrament of PenanceSacrament of Penance

Venial SinVenial Sin Social Sin Social Sin Less serious sin.Less serious sin. When repeated and When repeated and

unrepented, can lead us to unrepented, can lead us to commit mortal sins.commit mortal sins.

Capital SinsCapital Sins Vices or bad habits that Vices or bad habits that

are related to the seven are related to the seven capital sins.capital sins.

Pride, Greed, Envy, Anger, Pride, Greed, Envy, Anger, Lust, Gluttony, and SlothLust, Gluttony, and Sloth

We have a responsibility We have a responsibility for sins committed by for sins committed by others when we others when we cooperate with them or cooperate with them or praise them for them.praise them for them.

Sinful behavior Sinful behavior multiplies and can affect multiplies and can affect social situations and social situations and institutionsinstitutions

Law is an ordinance of reason for Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated the common good, promulgated

by the one who is in charge of the by the one who is in charge of the communitycommunity

Good laws guide human freedom.Good laws guide human freedom. Morality is not subjective.Morality is not subjective. The moral law is the work of God and The moral law is the work of God and

emanates from the Divine Law, the emanates from the Divine Law, the source of all law.source of all law.

Natural LawNatural Law

What human reason can discover about human What human reason can discover about human nature and its moral duties independent of nature and its moral duties independent of God’s Revelation.God’s Revelation.

Corresponds to basic human drivesCorresponds to basic human drives Preserving lifePreserving life Developing as individuals and communitiesDeveloping as individuals and communities Sharing life with othersSharing life with others

Natural Law is the foundation of civil laws Natural Law is the foundation of civil laws and moral rules. and moral rules.

Natural LawNatural Law

Present in the heart of each person and Present in the heart of each person and established by reason.established by reason.

Cannot always be correctly discerned. Cannot always be correctly discerned. Revealed by God himself through history, Revealed by God himself through history,

giving us the moral law of the Old and New giving us the moral law of the Old and New Testaments.Testaments.

Major precepts are found in the Ten Major precepts are found in the Ten Commandments. Commandments.

The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments

I am the Lord your God, I am the Lord your God, you shall not have you shall not have strange gods before me.strange gods before me.

You shall not take the You shall not take the name of the Lord, your name of the Lord, your God, in vain.God, in vain.

Remember to keep holy Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.the Lord’s Day.

The Ten CommandmentsThe Ten Commandments Honor your father and your Honor your father and your

mother.mother.You shall not…You shall not… kill. kill. commit adultery.commit adultery. Steal.Steal. bear false witness against bear false witness against

your neighbor.your neighbor. covet your neighbor’s wife.covet your neighbor’s wife. covet your neighbor’s covet your neighbor’s

goods.goods.

The New Law of the GospelThe New Law of the Gospel

Represented in the Sermon on the Represented in the Sermon on the Mount especially in the Mount especially in the Beatitudes.Beatitudes.

A law of love.A law of love. The fulfillment of the Old Law.The fulfillment of the Old Law. ““Do unto others as you would Do unto others as you would

have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12).have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12). ““Love one another as I loveLove one another as I love you.” you.” (Jn 15:12)(Jn 15:12)

The Precepts of the ChurchThe Precepts of the Church

Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.Obligation.

Confess your sins at least once a year.Confess your sins at least once a year. Receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at Receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at

least during the Easter season.least during the Easter season. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence Observe the days of fasting and abstinence

established by the Church.established by the Church. Help to provide for the needs of the Help to provide for the needs of the

Church.Church.

You shall:

Grace Grace is God’s favor to us; a is God’s favor to us; a participation in the life of Godparticipation in the life of God

Sanctifying graceSanctifying grace is the habitual, permanent grace is the habitual, permanent grace received in Baptism that enables us to live with God.received in Baptism that enables us to live with God.

Actual grace Actual grace isis God’s help as we work to become God’s help as we work to become more holy.more holy.

Sacramental graces Sacramental graces areare received when we received when we participate in the sacramentsparticipate in the sacraments

Special graces (charisms) Special graces (charisms) areare graces given to graces given to individuals for the good of the entire Churchindividuals for the good of the entire Church

Graces of state Graces of state are givenare given to those who have to those who have responsibilities for life and ministries in the Churchresponsibilities for life and ministries in the Church

A ConscienceA Conscience

Is the “most secret core and sanctuary” that Is the “most secret core and sanctuary” that helps us distinguish between good and evil.helps us distinguish between good and evil.

Allows us to do good and avoid evil.Allows us to do good and avoid evil. Helps us to listen and hear God speaking to Helps us to listen and hear God speaking to

us.us. Must be continually formed and informed. Must be continually formed and informed. Must always be followed. Must always be followed.

Virtues – habitual and firm Virtues – habitual and firm dispositions to do the gooddispositions to do the good

Cardinal Moral VirtuesCardinal Moral Virtues PrudencePrudence – right reason in – right reason in

action.action. JusticeJustice – always giving God – always giving God

and neighbor their due.and neighbor their due. FortitudeFortitude – courage to – courage to

conquer fear for a just conquer fear for a just cause.cause.

Temperance Temperance – balances the – balances the way we use created goods.way we use created goods.

Theological VirtuesTheological Virtues FaithFaith – belief in God.– belief in God. HopeHope – trust in God.– trust in God. CharityCharity – love for God.– love for God.

The Gifts of the Holy The Gifts of the Holy SpiritSpirit complete and complete and perfect the virtues of perfect the virtues of those who receive them.those who receive them.

Making ChoicesMaking Choices

The morality of human acts depends upon:The morality of human acts depends upon: The moral objectThe moral object – the “what” of morality; what – the “what” of morality; what

we do for good or evilwe do for good or evil The intentionThe intention – The “why” of morality; the end – The “why” of morality; the end

does not justify the means.does not justify the means. The circumstancesThe circumstances – The “who, where, when, – The “who, where, when,

and how” of morality; may increase or decrease and how” of morality; may increase or decrease the moral goodness or evil of a particular actionthe moral goodness or evil of a particular action

Helps to Moral Living

Prayer

Participating in the sacraments