Our Catholic Faith Living What We Believe

OurOur Catholic Catholic FaithFaith Living What We BelieveLiving What We Believe

CHAPTER 8CHAPTER 8The Basics of Catholic MoralityThe Basics of Catholic Morality

Modeling ChristModeling Christ Humans Are Made in God’s ImageHumans Are Made in God’s Image

Conscience and Moral DecisionsConscience and Moral Decisions

Virtues and Other Helps to Live a Moral LifeVirtues and Other Helps to Live a Moral Life

Sin, Justification, and GraceSin, Justification, and Grace

The building blocks of Catholic morality:The building blocks of Catholic morality:

1. Be who you are.1. Be who you are.

2. Form and follow your conscience.2. Form and follow your conscience.

3. Respond to God’s call to holiness by using3. Respond to God’s call to holiness by using the helps he gives us to live the helps he gives us to live virtuous lives, to avoid sin, and virtuous lives, to avoid sin, and to do good. to do good.

The building blocks of Catholic morality:The building blocks of Catholic morality:

1. Be who you are.1. Be who you are.

2. Form and follow your conscience.2. Form and follow your conscience.

3. Respond to God’s call to holiness by using3. Respond to God’s call to holiness by using the helps he gives us to live the helps he gives us to live virtuous lives, to avoid sin, and virtuous lives, to avoid sin, and to do good. to do good.

Chapter 8 Chapter 8 The Basics of Catholic MoralityThe Basics of Catholic Morality

Modeling ChristModeling Christ


Humans Are Made in God’s ImageHumans Are Made in God’s Image

Because we are made in God’s image:Because we are made in God’s image: We have dignityWe have dignity – our worth does not have – our worth does not have

to be earnedto be earned We can thinkWe can think – we are able to – we are able to

distinguish good from evildistinguish good from evil We have freedomWe have freedom – free will – free will

helps us desire what is good helps us desire what is good and then choose itand then choose it

We are responsibleWe are responsible – we are – we are blameworthy for our actions blameworthy for our actions

Because we are made in God’s image:Because we are made in God’s image: We have dignityWe have dignity – our worth does not have – our worth does not have

to be earnedto be earned We can thinkWe can think – we are able to – we are able to

distinguish good from evildistinguish good from evil We have freedomWe have freedom – free will – free will

helps us desire what is good helps us desire what is good and then choose itand then choose it

We are responsibleWe are responsible – we are – we are blameworthy for our actions blameworthy for our actions

Because we are made in God’s image:Because we are made in God’s image: We are wounded by sinWe are wounded by sin – though we are – though we are

fundamentally good, we have inherited the fundamentally good, we have inherited the effects of Original Sineffects of Original Sin

We are children of GodWe are children of God – Christ’s Paschal – Christ’s Paschal Mystery of Salvation has forgiven our sins Mystery of Salvation has forgiven our sins and rescued us from Satanand rescued us from Satan

We are friends of the We are friends of the LordLord – we must love him – we must love him above all and our above all and our neighbors as ourselves neighbors as ourselves

Because we are made in God’s image:Because we are made in God’s image: We are wounded by sinWe are wounded by sin – though we are – though we are

fundamentally good, we have inherited the fundamentally good, we have inherited the effects of Original Sineffects of Original Sin

We are children of GodWe are children of God – Christ’s Paschal – Christ’s Paschal Mystery of Salvation has forgiven our sins Mystery of Salvation has forgiven our sins and rescued us from Satanand rescued us from Satan

We are friends of the We are friends of the LordLord – we must love him – we must love him above all and our above all and our neighbors as ourselves neighbors as ourselves



Humans and societyHumans and society

By nature, humans live with and for others, By nature, humans live with and for others, belonging to many societiesbelonging to many societies

Each society must treat people as ends and not Each society must treat people as ends and not as means – promoting virtue and loveas means – promoting virtue and love

We act morally when we:We act morally when we: Responsibly use our God-given Responsibly use our God-given

intellects and willsintellects and wills Choose good and avoid evilChoose good and avoid evil


By nature, humans live with and for others, By nature, humans live with and for others, belonging to many societiesbelonging to many societies

Each society must treat people as ends and not Each society must treat people as ends and not as means – promoting virtue and loveas means – promoting virtue and love

We act morally when we:We act morally when we: Responsibly use our God-given Responsibly use our God-given

intellects and willsintellects and wills Choose good and avoid evilChoose good and avoid evil




We act morally when we:We act morally when we: Act as persons of incomparable worth who Act as persons of incomparable worth who

respect the essential dignity of othersrespect the essential dignity of others Allow the Holy Spirit to live in usAllow the Holy Spirit to live in us Are Christlike and act as true sons Are Christlike and act as true sons

and daughters of a loving Fatherand daughters of a loving Father Act like true friends of Jesus – Act like true friends of Jesus –

showing love for God and showing love for God and neighborneighbor


We act morally when we:We act morally when we: Act as persons of incomparable worth who Act as persons of incomparable worth who

respect the essential dignity of othersrespect the essential dignity of others Allow the Holy Spirit to live in usAllow the Holy Spirit to live in us Are Christlike and act as true sons Are Christlike and act as true sons

and daughters of a loving Fatherand daughters of a loving Father Act like true friends of Jesus – Act like true friends of Jesus –

showing love for God and showing love for God and neighborneighbor



ConscienceConscience God gave each of us a conscience to help us God gave each of us a conscience to help us

live like Christlive like Christ It helps us determine if what we are doing is It helps us determine if what we are doing is

in accord with God’s plan or goes against itin accord with God’s plan or goes against it It helps us judge whether we did right after It helps us judge whether we did right after

we actwe act It calls us to repent if we have It calls us to repent if we have

sinned by going against itsinned by going against it

ConscienceConscience God gave each of us a conscience to help us God gave each of us a conscience to help us

live like Christlive like Christ It helps us determine if what we are doing is It helps us determine if what we are doing is

in accord with God’s plan or goes against itin accord with God’s plan or goes against it It helps us judge whether we did right after It helps us judge whether we did right after

we actwe act It calls us to repent if we have It calls us to repent if we have

sinned by going against itsinned by going against it



Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the

moral quality of a concrete act that he is going to perform, is in the process of

performing, or has already completed.

CCC, 1778

How to form a good conscience:How to form a good conscience: Use our God-given ability to think to discover God’s Use our God-given ability to think to discover God’s

goodness and truthgoodness and truth Listen to Jesus Christ who teaches us how to be Listen to Jesus Christ who teaches us how to be

loving and virtuousloving and virtuous Look to his Death on the cross as the perfect Look to his Death on the cross as the perfect

example of how to love and obey God example of how to love and obey God the Father the Father

Obey the teaching of the Magisterium and Obey the teaching of the Magisterium and the example of other wise and holy people the example of other wise and holy people

Use the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit Use the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit that help us live virtuous lives that help us live virtuous lives

How to form a good conscience:How to form a good conscience: Use our God-given ability to think to discover God’s Use our God-given ability to think to discover God’s

goodness and truthgoodness and truth Listen to Jesus Christ who teaches us how to be Listen to Jesus Christ who teaches us how to be

loving and virtuousloving and virtuous Look to his Death on the cross as the perfect Look to his Death on the cross as the perfect

example of how to love and obey God example of how to love and obey God the Father the Father

Obey the teaching of the Magisterium and Obey the teaching of the Magisterium and the example of other wise and holy people the example of other wise and holy people

Use the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit Use the gifts and graces of the Holy Spirit that help us live virtuous lives that help us live virtuous lives



Sources of Morality Sources of Morality Sources of Morality Sources of Morality



The moral object►The matter of our actions – the what we do►Moral norms can be discovered by human reason and conscience ►This is the most important element for judging morality

The intention►One’s motive or purpose for acting - the why I do it►It looks to the “end,” that is, the reason or goal of an action►A good intention cannot make an intrinsically evil action a just one

Circumstances ►Secondary factors: who, where, when, how, consequences ►Can increase or reduce the evil or goodness of an action

The Right Course of ActionThe Right Course of Action For actions to be morally good, all three For actions to be morally good, all three

elements must all be good elements must all be good Jesus is our best guide for forming a sensitive Jesus is our best guide for forming a sensitive

and loving conscienceand loving conscience We must look to the Magisterium for guidance We must look to the Magisterium for guidance Follow your conscienceFollow your conscience If we violate our conscience, then If we violate our conscience, then

we have sinnedwe have sinned It is possible to have a conscience It is possible to have a conscience

that is in error due to ignorance or emotionsthat is in error due to ignorance or emotions

The Right Course of ActionThe Right Course of Action For actions to be morally good, all three For actions to be morally good, all three

elements must all be good elements must all be good Jesus is our best guide for forming a sensitive Jesus is our best guide for forming a sensitive

and loving conscienceand loving conscience We must look to the Magisterium for guidance We must look to the Magisterium for guidance Follow your conscienceFollow your conscience If we violate our conscience, then If we violate our conscience, then

we have sinnedwe have sinned It is possible to have a conscience It is possible to have a conscience

that is in error due to ignorance or emotionsthat is in error due to ignorance or emotions



VirtuesVirtues – help us control our – help us control our passions and guide our actions passions and guide our actions according to faith and reasonaccording to faith and reason

VirtuesVirtues – help us control our – help us control our passions and guide our actions passions and guide our actions according to faith and reasonaccording to faith and reason



Vices Vices – bad habits that incline us – bad habits that incline us to do evilto do evil

Vices Vices – bad habits that incline us – bad habits that incline us to do evilto do evil

gluttony

faith

temperance

prudence

fortitude

justice

hope

charity

pride

envy angersloth

greed

lust

Moral Law – “a reasonable regulation issued by the proper authority for the common good”Moral Law – “a reasonable regulation issued by the proper authority for the common good”

Expressions of the moral law:Expressions of the moral law:1. the natural law – the light of understanding1. the natural law – the light of understanding placed in us by God placed in us by God 2. revealed law – the Old Testament Law and2. revealed law – the Old Testament Law and the Law of the Gospel the Law of the Gospel 3. civil and Church laws – these 3. civil and Church laws – these flow from natural law flow from natural law

Moral Law – “a reasonable regulation issued by the proper authority for the common good”Moral Law – “a reasonable regulation issued by the proper authority for the common good”

Expressions of the moral law:Expressions of the moral law:1. the natural law – the light of understanding1. the natural law – the light of understanding placed in us by God placed in us by God 2. revealed law – the Old Testament Law and2. revealed law – the Old Testament Law and the Law of the Gospel the Law of the Gospel 3. civil and Church laws – these 3. civil and Church laws – these flow from natural law flow from natural law



Jesus Christ makes God’s law perfectJesus Christ makes God’s law perfect Most perfectly revealed in the Sermon on the Mount Most perfectly revealed in the Sermon on the Mount Christ’s new law is a law of love, a law of grace, a law of Christ’s new law is a law of love, a law of grace, a law of

freedomfreedom Speaks to the attitudes and Speaks to the attitudes and

motives behind our actionsmotives behind our actions

The New Law has several The New Law has several special virtues called the special virtues called the evangelical counsels: evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity, and poverty, chastity, and obedienceobedience

Jesus Christ makes God’s law perfectJesus Christ makes God’s law perfect Most perfectly revealed in the Sermon on the Mount Most perfectly revealed in the Sermon on the Mount Christ’s new law is a law of love, a law of grace, a law of Christ’s new law is a law of love, a law of grace, a law of

freedomfreedom Speaks to the attitudes and Speaks to the attitudes and

motives behind our actionsmotives behind our actions

The New Law has several The New Law has several special virtues called the special virtues called the evangelical counsels: evangelical counsels: poverty, chastity, and poverty, chastity, and obedienceobedience



Precepts of the ChurchPrecepts of the Church1. Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of 1. Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of

obligation and rest from servile laborobligation and rest from servile labor2. Confess your sins at least once a year2. Confess your sins at least once a year3. Receive the Sacrament of Eucharist at least 3. Receive the Sacrament of Eucharist at least

during the Easter seasonduring the Easter season4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence 4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence

established by the Churchestablished by the Church5. Help to provide for the needs of 5. Help to provide for the needs of

the Churchthe Church

Precepts of the ChurchPrecepts of the Church1. Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of 1. Attend Mass on Sundays and holy days of

obligation and rest from servile laborobligation and rest from servile labor2. Confess your sins at least once a year2. Confess your sins at least once a year3. Receive the Sacrament of Eucharist at least 3. Receive the Sacrament of Eucharist at least

during the Easter seasonduring the Easter season4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence 4. Observe the days of fasting and abstinence

established by the Churchestablished by the Church5. Help to provide for the needs of 5. Help to provide for the needs of

the Churchthe Church



Justification Justification God’s mercyGod’s mercy The grace of the Holy Spirit that cleanses us The grace of the Holy Spirit that cleanses us

from our sins through faith in Jesus Christ from our sins through faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism and Baptism

Jesus’ Death on the cross brings about our Jesus’ Death on the cross brings about our justificationjustification

We do not earn, nor do we deserve, the gift of We do not earn, nor do we deserve, the gift of grace grace

Justification Justification God’s mercyGod’s mercy The grace of the Holy Spirit that cleanses us The grace of the Holy Spirit that cleanses us

from our sins through faith in Jesus Christ from our sins through faith in Jesus Christ and Baptism and Baptism

Jesus’ Death on the cross brings about our Jesus’ Death on the cross brings about our justificationjustification

We do not earn, nor do we deserve, the gift of We do not earn, nor do we deserve, the gift of grace grace



Types of Grace Types of Grace Types of Grace Types of Grace



SanctifyingGrace

permanently disposes us to

live like God

ActualGrace

God’s special help to turn from sin or

help us act like Christ once

we have

SacramentalGraces

gifts that flow from particular

sacraments

CharismsSpecial gifts the

Holy Spirit bestows on individual

Christians to help the Church grow

Gracesof State

God’s special help forspecial ministers in

the Church

Merit and HolinessMerit and Holiness Merit is something we are owed because of good deedsMerit is something we are owed because of good deeds God will reward us with Heaven, but we must cooperate God will reward us with Heaven, but we must cooperate

with the Holy Spirit’s graces to live holy liveswith the Holy Spirit’s graces to live holy lives It is impossible to “earn Salvation”It is impossible to “earn Salvation” We must let Christ live in us by the power We must let Christ live in us by the power

of the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace All of us are called to be holy by loving andAll of us are called to be holy by loving and

imitating Jesus Christimitating Jesus Christ The saints have taught us that works of The saints have taught us that works of

self-denial and penance lead to holinessself-denial and penance lead to holiness

Merit and HolinessMerit and Holiness Merit is something we are owed because of good deedsMerit is something we are owed because of good deeds God will reward us with Heaven, but we must cooperate God will reward us with Heaven, but we must cooperate

with the Holy Spirit’s graces to live holy liveswith the Holy Spirit’s graces to live holy lives It is impossible to “earn Salvation”It is impossible to “earn Salvation” We must let Christ live in us by the power We must let Christ live in us by the power

of the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace of the Holy Spirit and sanctifying grace All of us are called to be holy by loving andAll of us are called to be holy by loving and

imitating Jesus Christimitating Jesus Christ The saints have taught us that works of The saints have taught us that works of

self-denial and penance lead to holinessself-denial and penance lead to holiness



Cardinal virtuesCardinal virtues (213) (213) PassionsPassions (213) (213) SocietySociety (214) (214) SubsidiaritySubsidiarity (214) (214) Common goodCommon good (215) (215) Social justice doctrineSocial justice doctrine

(216)(216) SolidaritySolidarity (217) (217) Sources of moralitySources of morality

(218)(218) Christian moralityChristian morality (222) (222) Natural lawNatural law (224) (224)

Precepts of the ChurchPrecepts of the Church (225)(225)

JustificationJustification (227) (227) Sanctifying graceSanctifying grace (227) (227) Habitual graceHabitual grace (227) (227) Actual graceActual grace (227) (227) Sacramental gracesSacramental graces

(227)(227) CharismsCharisms (227) (227) Graces of stateGraces of state (227) (227)


VOCABULARY VOCABULARY

Lord, lead us from death to life, Lord, lead us from death to life, from falsehood to truth.from falsehood to truth.

Lead us from despair to hope, Lead us from despair to hope, from fear to trust.from fear to trust.

Let peace fill our hearts, Let peace fill our hearts, our world and our universe.our world and our universe.

Let us dream together, pray Let us dream together, pray together together and work together to build a and work together to build a world world of peace and justice for all.of peace and justice for all.

Merciful God, listen to us as we Merciful God, listen to us as we pray pray for a world that will respect for a world that will respect the God-given rights of all. the God-given rights of all. A

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