Catholic Essentials Chapter 6 Our Life in Christ

Christian discipleship = a radical choice

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

Ora Beatam Vitam “Ask for the happy life” The Beatitudes, preached by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, respond to our natural desire for happiness. The Beatitudes make us like God and able to share eternal life.

The Beatitudes – Blessed are… The poor in spirit Those who mourn The meek Those who hunger and thirst for righteousness The merciful The clean of heart The peacemakers Those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness

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

Sin Sin is an offense against God and others. We sin when we freely choose against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin turns our hearts away from God’s love for us. There are different kinds of personal sin.

Mortal Sin The most serious kind of personal sin. Destroys our relationship with God and kills our ability to love. Three conditions for mortal sin Grave or serious matter Full knowledge Complete consent Mortal sins should be confessed in the Sacrament of Penance

Venial Sin Social Sin Capital Sins Less serious sin. When repeated and unrepented, can lead us to commit mortal sins. Capital Sins Vices or bad habits that are related to the seven capital sins. Pride, Greed, Envy, Anger, Lust, Gluttony, and Sloth We have a responsibility for sins committed by others when we cooperate with them or praise them for them. Sinful behavior multiplies and can affect social situations and institutions

Law is an ordinance of reason for the common good, promulgated by the one who is in charge of the community Good laws guide human freedom. Morality is not subjective. The moral law is the work of God and emanates from the Divine Law, the source of all law.

Natural Law What human reason can discover about human nature and its moral duties independent of God’s Revelation. Corresponds to basic human drives Preserving life Developing as individuals and communities Sharing life with others Natural Law is the foundation of civil laws and moral rules.

Natural Law Present in the heart of each person and established by reason. Cannot always be correctly discerned. Revealed by God himself through history, giving us the moral law of the Old and New Testaments. Major precepts are found in the Ten Commandments.

The Ten Commandments I am the Lord your God, you shall not have strange gods before me. You shall not take the name of the Lord, your God, in vain. Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.

The Ten Commandments Honor your father and your mother. You shall not… kill. commit adultery. Steal. bear false witness against your neighbor. covet your neighbor’s wife. covet your neighbor’s goods.

The New Law of the Gospel Represented in the Sermon on the Mount especially in the Beatitudes. A law of love. The fulfillment of the Old Law. “Do unto others as you would have them do to you.” (Mt 7:12). “Love one another as I love you.” (Jn 15:12)

The Precepts of the Church You shall: Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation. Confess your sins at least once a year. Receive the Sacrament of the Eucharist at least during the Easter season. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church. Help to provide for the needs of the Church.

Grace is God’s favor to us; a participation in the life of God Sanctifying grace is the habitual, permanent grace received in Baptism that enables us to live with God. Actual grace is God’s help as we work to become more holy. Sacramental graces are received when we participate in the sacraments Special graces (charisms) are graces given to individuals for the good of the entire Church Graces of state are given to those who have responsibilities for life and ministries in the Church

A Conscience Is the “most secret core and sanctuary” that helps us distinguish between good and evil. Allows us to do good and avoid evil. Helps us to listen and hear God speaking to us. Must be continually formed and informed. Must always be followed.

Virtues – habitual and firm dispositions to do the good Cardinal Moral Virtues Prudence – right reason in action. Justice – always giving God and neighbor their due. Fortitude – courage to conquer fear for a just cause. Temperance – balances the way we use created goods. Theological Virtues Faith – belief in God. Hope – trust in God. Charity – love for God. The Gifts of the Holy Spirit complete and perfect the virtues of those who receive them.

Making Choices The morality of human acts depends upon: The moral object – the “what” of morality; what we do for good or evil The intention – The “why” of morality; the end does not justify the means. The circumstances – The “who, where, when, and how” of morality; may increase or decrease the moral goodness or evil of a particular action

Helps to Moral Living Prayer Participating in the sacraments