THE CALL TO ETERNAL BEATITUDE Chapter 1: Universal Call to Holiness

Preliminaries From its Latin root – vox, vocare – it means call or summons. In regards to vocations, these calls only come from God. It is our responsibility to answer the call we are given.

I. Introduction 1. Vocation: The calling or destiny we have in this life and hereafter = God has created the human person to: love him serve him and be happy with him The fulfillment of this vocation is eternal happiness.

Reason for the call God is creator. In being the one who creates it is also him who gives the purpose to what he creates. Having a relationship with God now and in the life to come; to be in communion with him.  This purpose is also known as our nature  Our purpose or nature determines how we should act, or the law we should live by. This is the definition of natural law.

Misconception I Everybody has a vocation because everyone is called to eternal life in heaven. We are called together to belong to that family in heaven. With the Trinity, the Blessed Mother, and all the Saints.

Universal Call to Holiness Universal Call: † Every person is called to holiness † Being called to holiness= being called to LOVE  Some people think that holiness is something that only a few people are ‘really’ called to because God gives them the capacity for it.  That is wrong too. By our baptisms we become children of God and are given S. Grace which is the beginnings of the life in heaven. † Baptism: The first of the seven sacraments, and the “door” which gives access to all other sacraments. Baptism is the first and chief sacrament of the forgiveness of sins because it unites us with Christ who died for our sins and rose for our justification. The baptized are incorporated into the Church.

The way, the truth, and the life Since a vocation is a call it is important that we listen. But we can really only listen when we are living the ‘life’ Christ gives us by living in the ‘truth’ that he is and that he has given us. “No one comes to the Father but by me.” He is the way to Him.

What way do we go? We follow him right to the place where he made the ultimate and perfect sacrifice. This is the way. Once we get there to follow him to heaven. “We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.” Romans 6:4 Whatever vocation we have, it is a call to die with Christ so that we can walk in that newness of life now and in the life to come.

God’s Aid in Fulfilling Our Vocation Theological Virtues  Are Gifts From God  Infused into our souls at Baptism  They help us to believe in God, serve God, and love God

What is Faith? 1. Faith is both a gift from God (and therefore certain) and a human act by which the believer gives personal adherence to God who invites his response, and freely assents to the whole truth that God has revealed…

What is faith? Cont’d. Faith is both a theological virtue given by God as grace, and an obligation which flows from the first commandment of God. (CCC 26, 142, 150, 1814, 2087)

What is faith? 2 nd Meaning Abraham’s Faith 2. It is this revelation of God which the Church proposes for our belief, and which we profess in the Creed, celebrate in the sacraments, live by right conduct that fulfills the twofold commandment of charity (as specified in the ten commandments) and respond in our prayer of faith.

What is hope? 1. The theological virtue by which we desire and expect from God eternal life and the grace we need to get there. 2. Opposing vices: Presumption and despair 1. Presumption: An act or attitude that can take the form of trust in oneself without recognizing that salvation comes from God or of an over-confidence in divine mercy. 2. Despair: The abandonment in salvation and the forgiveness of sins

Cardinal Virtues Prudence  Helps control our passions and desires by keeping our entire good in mind. (Example: When a choice needs to be made our future good as well as our present good is considered.)

Cardinal Virtue of Temperance Moderates our instincts and drives for pleasure.  The virtues annexed to temperance are: continence, which according to the Scholastics, restrains the will from consenting to violent movements or concupiscence;Scholasticsconcupiscence  humility, which restrains inordinate desires of one's own excellence; humility  meekness, which checks inordinate movements of anger;anger  modesty or decorum, which consists in duly ordering the external movements of anger; to the direction of reason.anger  abstinence, which disposes to moderation in the use of food;  sobriety, which inclines to moderation in the use of spirituous liquors;  chastity, which controls our sexual desires rather than being controlled by them…..rooted in a deep respect for the other person and allows a person to make a gift of oneself to another.

Cardinal Virtue of Justice Giving to another what is due.  religion, which regulates man in his relations to God, disposing him to pay due worship to his Creator;God  piety, which disposes to the fulfillment of duties which one owes to parents and country (patriotism);dutiesparents  gratitude, which inclines one to recognition of benefits received;  liberality, which restrains the immoderate affection for wealth and from withholding appropriate gifts or expenses;  affability, by which one is suitably adapted to his fellow-men in social intercourse so as to behave toward each appropriately.

Cardinal Virtue of Fortitude The disposition to achieve good even when this demands suffering, pain or great effort……to overcome whatever obstacles are encountered.  Patience, which disposes us to bear present evils with composure; so also the patient man is one who endures present evils in such a way as not to be inordinately cast down by them.  Munificence, which disposes one to incur great expenses for the suitable doing of a great work.  Magnanimity, which implies a reaching out of the soul to great things; noble generositysoul  Perseverance, the virtue which disposes to continuance in the accomplishment of good works in spite of the difficulties attendant upon them.goodworks

Sermon on the Mount Beatitudes

What is faith? Cont’d. Faith is both an theological virtue given by God as grace, and an obligation which flows from the first commandment of God. (CCC 26, 142, 150, 1814, 2087)

2. Apostolate: The activity of a the Christian disciple to fulfill the apostolic work to extend the reign of Christ to the entire world.