Foundational Principles

The Law of God

The Law of God▫Eternal Law

▫The order that reflects God’s will and purpose

▫Moral Law▫The rational expression of

the eternal law established by God.

The Eternal Law

▫The order that reflects God’s will and purpose

▫ It is always true and immutable▫ It is the basis of all other laws▫Other laws are true and just

only if they reflect the eternal law

▫ It is the way it should be

Moral LawO A rational expression of the Eternal Law,

established by God that will lead us to the life He wants for us.O Natural Moral LawO Old Law (Old Covenant)O New Law (New Covenant)O Church Law

O Precepts of the ChurchO Canon Law

Natural Moral LawO God’s moral law that we understand by

using our reason. O The God given ability to understand what it

means to be in right relationship with God, others, the world, and ourselves

O Since we are created in God’s image and likeness the basis for natural moral law is participation in God’s wisdom

O It is part of our human natureO It does not change with timeO “Golden Rule”, Declaration of

Independence

The Original CovenantO Natural moral law is obscured or blurred

from our vision as an effect of original sin.O God reveals his laws through scripture and

traditionO The Ten Commandments,

O Decalogue, The Law of MosesO A summary expression of the natural moral

lawO Written down so that there is no questionO The original covenant made with the people

through MosesO Additional Jewish law found in the book of

LeviticusO Purity lawsO Priestly lawsO Justice laws

The New CovenantO The Two Great Commandments

O The Law of the Gospel, The Law of LoveO Summarizes the 10 CommandmentsO Completes the old Law and brings it to

perfectionO The Beatitudes

O Sermon on the Mount- connects with MosesO Jesus proclaims the values needed to live

a moral life that will bring us to holinessO “Be holy as the Father is holy”

BeatitudesO Values needed to live a moral life,

satisfy our hunger for happinessO Poverty of spiritO MeeknessO MercifulnessO RighteousnessO Purity of heartO PeacemakingO Willingness to suffer for what is right

Old Law – New LawO “You have heard it said…”

O AngerO LustO Revenge and violenceO Love of enemyO HypocrisyO CharityO Trust in God

O New Law does not abolish the Old Law, instead it releases its full potential

Discipleship

O “You are the salt of the earth

O You are the light of the world”

Why?

Moral Law & the Church

O Precepts of the ChurchO Basic obligations for all Catholics that

are dictated by the laws f the ChurchO Canon Law

O The official body of laws that provide good order in the visible body of the Church

Precepts of the ChurchO Keep holy the day of the Lord’s resurrection

and the days designated as holy.O Lead a sacramental lifeO Prepare for and receive Confirmation in order

to advance the cause of ChristO Obey the marriage laws of the ChurchO Strengthen and support the ChurchO Do penance, specially abstaining from meat

and fasting from food on the designated daysO Join in the missionary spirit and apostolic work

of the Church

Days of Mass Obligation

O All SundaysO Immaculate Conception, December

8th O ChristmasO Solemnity of Mary, January 1st

O Ascension Thursday, forty days post Easter

O Assumption of Mary, August 15th

O All Saints’ Day, November 1st

Days of Fast and/or Abstinence

O Fast (persons 18-65 who are in good health)O Ash WednesdayO Lent

O Abstinence (over 12, in good health)O Ash WednesdayO Fridays in Lent

Sacramental LifeO Receive the Eucharist and celebrate

the Sacrament of Reconciliation at least once a year, preferably during Easter time.

O Complete the sacraments of Initiation by Celebrating ConfirmationO Join in the missionary and apostolic

work of the Church

Laws of MarriageO Unity

O One bodyO Indissolubility

O “Until death do you part”O Openness to children

O Willingness to accept children as a gift from God

O Obey the Church’s rules regarding Natural Family Planning

Support the ChurchO Give financial support as your means

allowO Give of yourself whenever you can

by participating in the many services the Church offersO Religious instructionO Eucharistic ministriesO Other

Canon LawO Concerned with the relationships among

different members of the ChurchO Concerned with matters that affect the

Church’s missionO Governs the celebration of the Sacraments

and public worshipO Oversees Catholic educationO Administers Church propertyO Supervises the rights and responsibilities of

bishops, priests, deacons, consecrated religious and the laity

O Sets down the penalties that apply when certain canons are broken

InfallibilityO A gift of the Holy Spirit given to the

whole Church by which the leaders of the Church- the Pope and the bishops in union with him- are protected from fundamental error when formulating a specific teaching on a matter of faith or morals

Magisterium: The teaching office of the Church that includes the Pope and the bishops.