Sources of morality

Happiness God's Revelation Known through Scripture and Tradition Focused on one core truth GOD CREATED HUMANS TO LIVE IN LOVING RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM

GOD'S GIFTS We are made in God's image Soul -- divine gift unique to human beings Intellect -- ability to see and understand the order of things that God has established Free will -- makes it possible for us to choose the good

Freedom and Moral Choice Humans do not rely just on instinct; we are free to choose to act in a way consistent with God's will. Freedom = responsibility Factors that may lessen - but not remove - responsibility Ignorance Psychological factors Social pressures

Original Sin Original sin, committed by Adam and Eve, destroyed Original holiness Original justice

Original Sin Damages our relationship with God Causes us to experience sickness and death Inclines us to sin -- concupiscence

Beatitudes Christ calls us to a new vision of life. This vision is expressed in Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12) The Beatitudes teach us our vocation as Christians.

Saved? We are saved through God's work, not our own efforts. Our goal is to collaborate with God's grace, not to "earn" our way into heaven.

Justification Justification -- the process by which God's grace frees us from sin (makes us holy) Our original justice is restored through the passion of Christ and the sanctifying grace received at Baptism Justification begins with conversion.

Sanctification As the process of justification reaches its end, we become sanctified -- a holy person. Through sanctification, we give glory to God here on earth and will give God glory in heaven after our death.

Merit Merit is sometimes used to describe our standing in the eyes of God. Merit is first God's free gift to us, and then, secondly, our acceptance of God's gift and our participation in God's saving plan.

Part 2 -- Law Law -- a general rule of behavior made by a competent authority for the sake of the common good. Eternal law -- Divine law which is always true and never changes. We understand eternal law through reason and listening to God's revealed truths.

Moral law Moral law comes from God and is a rational expression of Eternal Law. It reflects God's wisdom and love. The gift of our conscience enables us to follow the moral law. Every person is obligated to f

Natural law Natural law -- the moral law that can be understood through our intellect and the use of reason. It is part of our human nature. Natural law does not depend on religion, and does not . The Golden Rule is an example of natural moral law.

Law and the Original Covenant The Old Law (the Law of Moses) was the first stage of God's revelation to us about how are to live. The Old Law is summarized in the ten commandments (or Decalogue) given to Moses.

Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments are found in the Book of Exodus and the Book of Deuteronomy. They are part of the Old, or Original, Covenant that God made with His people. They summarized many particular laws found in the first five books of the Bible -- the Pentateuch.

Law and the New Covenant Jesus established the New Covenant and taught a new law which fulfilled and completed the old law. The New Law, also called the Law of the Gospel, is the perfection of God's moral law, both natural and revealed.

Sermon on the Mount The core of the New Law is found in the Sermon on the Mount. The Sermon on the Mount begins with the Beatitudes.

The Great Commandments The two Great Commandments emphasize that the heart of them New Law is love. The first Great Commandment summarizes the first three commandments; the second, summarizes the last seven Commandments.

Church Law Precepts of the Church -- general guidance in living a Christian life Canon law -- concerned with the relationship among different members of the Church and with matters that affect the mission of the Church.

Magisterium The Magisterium is made up of the bishops of the world united with the pope. The Magisterium has the responsibility of passing on amend teaching the revealed truths. The Magisterium applies Christ's moral teaching to modern situations. In speaking "ex cathedra" in matters of faith and moral, the magisterium is infallible -- without error.