1. Chapter 15 Lesson 2 Prudence and Justice

2. What is prudence? Prudence disposes the practical reason to discern, in every circumstance, one’s true good and to choose the right means of achieving it. In other words, prudence is the virtue of deciding one’s true good and determining the right way to achieve it.

3. What is justice? Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give God and neighbor their due.

4. Turn to page 82. Prudence: One’s true good might be to get an “A” on a religion test. It would not be prudent to achieve that “A” by cheating. True prudence requires both the discernment of the true good and of the right way to achieve it.

5. How do we choose the true good? The true good will never be sinful or something that leads us away from God. A good act must have a proper object, intention, and circumstance. An object may be good (feeding the poor), bad (murder), or indifferent (going for a walk). The intention may be good (to be charitable), or bad (to be selfish). The circumstances may be many and must be weighed: For example, feeding the poor is good, but not with stolen food. Lying to someone is bad, even in the circumstance of trying to help another. If the object is bad, it is always bad. If it is good or neutral, then it can be qualified by the intention and circumstance. All three must be good for an action to be good. In considering the circumstances, we discern the best way to do the right thing.

6. Justice Justice requires that we give God and man their due. This means that since we owe God worship, we render God worship. We owe our parents obedience and respect; we then give them obedience and respect. What do we owe to: God? Our family? Our friends? Our enemies? Ourselves?

7. How do we act with prudence? There is a religion test on Friday. Your friend wants to steal some candy A girl is being bullied You want a third piece of cake You want to go to heaven

8. How do we act with Justice? You see a homeless man on the street. You are tired and do not want to go to Sunday Mass. Your friend lent you money. You see some children who do not know about God. You think your teacher graded you unfairly.

9. Act of Hope O my God, relying on your infinite goodness and mercy, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace and life everlasting through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen.