INTRODUCTION What is Life in Christ?

Hearing God’s Voice Path to happiness: put into practice Jesus’ example and his teaching.

What is Morality? Morality Knowledge based on human experience, reason, and God’s revelation that discovers what we ought to do.

What is Morality?

What is Morality? Three main sources of knowledge to reach conclusions about how we should act: Human reason – our God-given intellects Human experience – the collective wisdom of others, living and dead Divine revelation – the teachings of God as found in the scriptures and the teachings of the Church (Tradition)

What is Morality? Gifts of the Holy Spirit God-given abilities that help us live a Christian life with God’s help. Jesus promised and bestows these gifts through the Holy Spirit, especially in the Sacrament of Confirmation. Gifts of the Holy Spirit Wisdom Understanding Knowledge Counsel – right judgment Fortitude Piety - reverence Fear of the Lord – wonder and awe

What is Morality? Fruits of the Holy Spirit Described as the firstfruits of eternal glory Holy Spirit of the Fruits Charity Joy Peace Patience Kindness Goodness Generosity Gentleness Faithfulness Modesty Control Self- Chastity

What is Morality? Magisterium The official teaching authority of the Church. Jesus gave the right and power to teach in His name to Peter and the apostles and their successors, the pope and the college of bishops.

What is Morality? A Response to God Responsibility requires freedom and intelligence. Morality is a response to a loving God and a continuing venture to become fully the persons God wants us to be. We can because of: Intelligence and freedom Help of the Holy Spirit

Living a Moral Life Means deciding and then acting according to God’s plan for us. Means being responsible and cooperative with God’s grace to live a fully human life. Allows the Holy Spirit to work in us, making us like Jesus Strengthens our friendship with God Makes us persons of integrity who are responding to our God-given vocation Attracts other people to God and to the Christian faith, helping to build up Christ’s body, the Church Helps bring about God’s reign on earth, “a kingdom of justice, love and peace.”

Character and Virtue Character Who we really are and who we are becoming through our choices and actions

Character and Virtue Summary of character: Persons with good moral characters are loving – living out Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor.

Character and Virtue Virtues Healthy, good habits that help us do good and empower us to become what God wants us to be. Virtues

Character and Virtue Faith Virtues Hope Love/ Charity Fortitude Cardinal Theological Faith Hope Love/ Charity Prudence Fortitude Justice Temperance

empower us to be good so that we may do good. Character and Virtue Theological Virtues Infused by God into our souls, enable us to live in relationship to the Blessed Trinity. Gifts from God that empower us to be good so that we may do good.

Character and Virtue Theological Virtues Faith – enables us to believe in God Hope – enables us to desire heaven and eternal life enables us to love God and our neighbor Charity/Love – greatest virtue of all;

Four hinge virtues that support moral living Character and Virtue Four hinge virtues that support moral living Cardinal Virtues

Character and Virtue Cardinal Virtues responsible decision-making Prudence – practical wisdom; neighbor what is due by right Justice – giving God and their our own convictions and do the morally right thing Fortitude – strength and courage to stand firm in Temperance – moderation that brings balance in our life

Character and Virtue

Nine Steps for Living a Moral Life Appreciating the gift of being human. Using your intellect. Looking to the law to guide your freedom. Imitating Jesus. Forming, informing, and following your conscience. Repenting and seeking forgiveness when you sin. Loving God above all. Loving yourself. Loving your neighbor as yourself.

Vocabulary Morality Gifts of the Holy Spirit Fruits of the Holy Spirit Magisterium Character Virtues Theological virtues Cardinal virtues

Chapter One The Gift of Being Human

Helps to help us be true to ourselves: Made in God’s image – and acting accordingly Helps to help us be true to ourselves: Everyone doesn’t have to like us. It’s okay to make mistakes. Other people are okay; so are you. You don’t have to control everything. We are responsible for how we feel and what we do. It is important to try. We are capable and can change. The same is true of others. We can be flexible.

Christian beliefs about creation Humans are Made in the Divine Image God freely created humans out of love. God is the Creator; we are not. We are God’s creatures. We are magnificent creatures, the summit of God’s creative activity. God has put humans in charge of the rest of creation, commanding us to lovingly care for and use it for human betterment. Christian beliefs about creation

God makes us in the divine image Humans are unique because God made us in the divine image, enabling us to share in God’s own life. We are spiritual beings who possess incomparable dignity, value, and worth. We are made out of love, for love, and to love.

Creation is Good Nihilism Made in God’s image – and acting accordingly A philosophy that denies there’s any meaning in existence or in religious beliefs. The only thing that matters after life is nothingness, annihilation

Human Dignity Dignity is the quality of being worthy of esteem or respect. Every human person has worth and value because each person is made in God’s image. Inherent means inborn or inherited, something that does not need to be earned or acquired

Our Spiritual Nature What separates humans from other earthly creatures? Ability to think Free will Ability to love Responsible beings Capacity to grow

Our Spiritual Nature Free Will “The power rooted in reason and will [that enables a person], to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility.

The Christian virtue of social charity and friendship Our Spiritual Nature Principle of Subsidiarity solidarity “Sum total of social conditions that allows people, either as groups or as individuals, to reach their fulfillment more fully and more easily.” (Pastoral Constitution of the Church in the Modern World, 26) subsidiarity The Christian virtue of social charity and friendship The principle of Catholic social teaching that holds that a higher unit of society should not do what a lower unit can do as well (or better) common good

The Social Nature of Humans God made us social beings. It is part of our human nature to live in various societies. Societies are groups that are bound by a principle of unity that goes beyond each individual in these communities (e.g. families, neighborhoods, schools)

Humans are Wounded by Sin Original Sin The flaw in human nature, the tendency toward sin, traditionally ascribed to Adam and Eve, depriving us of original holiness and original justice.

Humans are Wounded by Sin God’s love and salvation revealed through the life, passion, death, resurrection, and glorification (ascension) of Jesus Christ. The sacraments, especially the Eucharist, celebrate this great mystery of God’s love Paschal Mystery

Humans are Wounded by Sin

Vocabulary Nihilism Dignity Inherent Free will Subsidiarity Common good Solidarity Original sin Paschal mystery

Making Moral Decisions Chapter Two Making Moral Decisions

Right Reason in Action Prudence The moral virtue that inclines us to lead good, ethical, and moral lives of action; “right reason in action,” as St. Thomas Aquinas said.

Right Reason in Action Prudence is necessary for correct judgment. Prudence forms our character and helps us to more easily make good choices and then act on them.

Right Reason in Action A decision-making process that attends to the implications and consequences of an action or choice. Discernment

(Effect on OTHERS; Get the advice of OTHERS) Right Reason in Action Search out the facts Think about the various alternatives and consequences STOP Pray Others (Effect on OTHERS; Get the advice of OTHERS)

Search Out the Facts WHAT Moral Object What is the content or “matter” of our moral decisions WHAT Helps reveal to us whether the matter of our action is good or bad

Search out the Facts Moral Object Actions consist of some of the following elements: Actions express who we are Actions make or form us into the persons we are growing to be Actions impact the world around us, doing good or bringing about harm

Search out the Facts Moral Object The moral content of an action that suggests whether the action is directed toward the true good.

Search out the Facts Two Rules of Morality Your acts must promote the true good of humans or they are wrong. Make sure your actions always conform to objective norms of morality like the Ten Commandments.

The aim or objective of a course of action; Search out the Facts Intention The aim or objective of a course of action; WHY?

Search out the Facts Intention Is targeted at the goal of an action, what good (or evil) I want to happen. Why am I doing this?

Search out the Facts Intention Rules for governing intentions: Keep the intention good – for something to be morally good both the action and intention must be good. The end does not justify the means – for an action to be moral, the means must be moral

Search out the Facts means A method, course of action , or instrument by which something can be accomplished

The answers to questions that begin with who, where, when, and how Search out the Facts The answers to questions that begin with who, where, when, and how The conditions or facts attending an event and having some bearing on it. Can increase or decrease the moral goodness or evil of an action. circumstances

Search out the Facts Circumstances Circumstances of themselves cannot change the moral quality of acts themselves; they can make neither good nor right an action that is in itself evil (Catechism of the Catholic Church #1754)

Think About the Alternatives and Consequences Until alternatives are considered, moral decisions should not be made. Thinking out alternatives involves creativity and dreaming.

Think About the Alternatives and Consequences We should never act without considering the consequences of our actions. Consequences are not the only or decisive factor in the morality of actions; the moral object is the decisive factor. Ask the following question: Would I be willing to allow everyone in a similar situation to act this way?

Others Be Considerate of Others We must always ask how our proposed actions will affect others. We must heed the advice of those who are wiser than us.

Others Be Consultive of Others The Church and its Magisterium Consult with people who have made tough decisions before and take their advice. The Church and its Magisterium Forming our consciences only after considering the good of all, and paying attention to the moral law as taught by the Church’s Magisterium, is a proven way to discern and do God’s will.

Pray Christian moral living is sustained by prayer. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines prayer as “the living relationship of the children of God with their Father who is good beyond measure, with his Son Jesus Christ and with the Holy Spirit (2565) Prayer is a conversation with God consisting of two parts: talking and listening.

Prudence Discernment Moral object Intention Means Circumstances Vocabulary Prudence Discernment Moral object Intention Means Circumstances

Law as a Guide to Freedom CHAPTER THREE Law as a Guide to Freedom

Freedom, responsibility and law go hand-in-hand in the moral life Look to the Law Freedom, responsibility and law go hand-in-hand in the moral life

Freedom and Responsibility Characteristics of Freedom Freedom “The power, rooted in reason and will, … to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility” (CCC, 1731)

Freedom and Responsibility Characteristics of Freedom The philosophy that holds that every event, action, and decision results from something independent of the human will. Determinism

Freedom and Responsibility Kinds of Freedom External freedom freedom from factors outside of ourselves that threaten to destroy our power to exercise choice. Internal freedom freedom from interior factors that limit choice.

Freedom and Responsibility Limits of Freedom Human freedom is not absolute but limited. True freedom is not license.

Freedom and Responsibility Abuses Against Freedom Abuses of freedom results in sin. Major impediments to the exercise of true freedom: Ignorance – not knowing what we should do or not do Inadvertence – not paying attention or being distracted while acting Duress – freedom is impeded when someone tries to force us to do something Inordinate attachments – money or other possessions enslave us and we do not act with full freedom Fear – panic in the face of danger Habit – repeated behaviors that are good (virtues) or bad (vices)

Responsibility imputable Ascribed, attributed, or definitely linked to a specific accountable person or entity imputable

Responsibility Emotions and Morality Emotions are morally neutral. However, to the degree that they engage our reason and will, we can find moral good or evil in them.

Responsibility Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality. In Union With Christ Jesus is the fundamental norm of Christian morality. Jesus is the standard or model on whom we should pattern our lives.

Guidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedom Responsibility In Union With Christ norms Guidelines or laws that can help regulate human freedom

Responsibility In Union With Christ Source of norms are Scriptures, Tradition, and human reason. Belief Values Principles

Law and Morality Law “An ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community” (Saint Thomas Aquinas, in CCC, 1976).

Law and Morality Elements of Law: Law is reasonable. Law is for the common good. Competent authority makes law. Law must be promulgated.

Law and Morality natural law The reasoned participation of humans in God’s eternal law that reveals what God intends us to do and to avoid according to his wise and loving plan.

Law and Morality Natural Law Natural law is our participation in the divine law. Natural law teaches us what to do and what to avoid. Natural law corresponds to three basic human drives and needs: Preserving life Developing as individuals and communities Sharing life with others Natural law is universal, permanent, and unchanging throughout history.

Law and Morality Also known as the Law of Moses The Old Law Also known as the Law of Moses Ten Commandments summarize the moral prescriptions of the Old Law

Law and Morality Divine Law has four purposes: The New Law It helps us stay on the right path on our journey to God. It helps us discern what is right when there are conflicting ideas of right and wrong. It speaks of motivation. It indicates what is sinful.

Law and Morality The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the new law. It helps us understand the core attitudes that precede our actions. Can be summarized in two Gospel teachings: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12) “Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

Law and Morality evangelical counsels The New Law Vows taken to poverty, chastity, and obedience in order to live the Gospel more fully. The evangelical counsels were typically embraced by those in religious life. evangelical counsels

Law and Morality precepts of the Church canon law The New Law The minimal obligations for members in good standing of the Catholic faith community precepts of the Church The full body of officially established rules governing the Catholic Church, which was last revised in 1983. canon law

Law and Morality Church Law Six Precepts of the Church: You shall attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of obligation. You shall confess your sins at least once a year. You shall humbly receive your Creator in Holy Communion at least during the Easter season. You shall keep holy the holy days of obligation. You shall observe the prescribed days of fasting and abstinence. The faithful also have the duty of providing for the material needs of the Church, each according to his abilities.

Vocabulary Freedom Determinism Imputable Law Natural law Evangelical counsels Precepts of the Church Canon law