Human Nature Who am I?

Nature Nature: A thing’s nature is its basic identity: what kind of thing it is and what purpose and goal it has. quiddity – the essential nature of a thing

Human Nature Imagio Dei – Humans are made in the likeness and image of God. (Genesis 1:26-27)

Truths about Humans Man is in the image of God Human Nature unites spiritual and material worlds Male and Female God and man were created in good standing

What does this mean? Individually - Humans have free will and an intellect/reason. Also we have immortal souls. Communally – We are made for relationships (Holy Trinity). Note – Humans are not God but like Him.

Harmed by Concupisence -original sin wounded human nature -still desire what is good but inclined to sin (it’s a battle!) Unity of body and soul -spiritual and immortal soul -has power to think (intellect) & to choose and love (will) Made by God in his image to love and be loved - made by God, for God - gives us our dignity Able to be healed and transformed by grace (sacraments) n -we can have new life because Christ delivered us iNtellect and will - intellect helps us to know what is right and wrong - will can choose HUMAN

Human Capabilities Self – Knowledge Free will Enter into communion with others Knowledge of God Love (willing the good of the other) No other creature can do this. Why are they unable to love?

Transcendentals Good True Beautiful

How to find happiness To seek only what is good and live according to nature, purpose and end. The key to happiness is fulfilling your nature, not only as a human person but as an unique individual who has a vocation. “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you…” - Jeremiah 1:5

Purpose of Life To know, love and serve God and to be happy with Him in the next life!

St. Augustine’s Wisdom “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.” St. Augustine of Hippo

Happiness vs. Pleasure (not the same) Lasting feeling of joy where we are fulfilled. “Cannot be sustained beyond the activity producing it”

God’s response to us Free Will – The gift from God which includes the power of directing one’s own actions without constraint. This makes possible the choice to love.

God’s response to us Love – Will the good of the other. God wants what is good for us. Love is more than just a feeling.

Evil is the risk of Love In order to will another’s good you also have to have the ability to not will another’s good. One cannot be forced to love. The moment love is coerced it fails to be a movement of the will (a choice) and therefore is not longer love. God does not want evil to enter the world but often times it does because people choose love.

God’s response to us Grace – Free and unmerited favor of God given first of through all the sacraments. Grace is a share in the divine life infused into the soul by the Holy Spirit to heal from sin and to sanctify.

Our Response to God Leading lives of love and virtue while being open to his grace. Become the best version of yourself.

4 Loves Storge – Liking someone through fondness of familiarity. Phileo – Best friend or brotherly love based on a deep connection of values, beliefs, or experiences. Eros – Romantic or marital love Agape – Highest love, self sacrificing “God” love.

Vocabulary Morality – The doctrine or system by which actions are judged to be good or evil. Morality looks to those human acts that impact the human person and affect his or her eternal destiny. Moral Theology – The subset of theology that makes use of reason to offer practical judgments, under the guidance of divine revelation, in order to direct human acts towards their supernatural end: God.

Christian Morality Study of all rationale and deliberate acts which lead us toward or away from God and neighbor. - Morality is the proper way to respond to God - Moral Theology helps us understand and discern what is good and just.

Character Formation Charcter: The totality of a person integrated around good or bad choices; the summation of virtues and vices. How do we do this? Practice Virtue & God’s Grace

Character Formation Operatio sequitur esse. - Actions follow being. How we act is who we are. Consider someone who says one thing but does another. What do we call them?

How to Develop Strong Moral Character Movement of the will - You must resolve to make a decision Practice good action - It can be difficult to always think about and do the good therefore it is necessary to repeat good actions. Grace - Recognize that we NEED God’s help in becoming better because of our brokenness.

Role of Habit Habit: a settled or regular tendency or practice, especially one that is hard to give up. Round Robin What are some habits (good or bad) that you have?

Habits Can support or undermine good character. Habits make actions easier. Specific actions come form previous habits and attitudes. Habits in small matters can lead to virtue or vice in big matters.

Virtue Habitual and firm disposition to do the good Or A good habit that leads us towards God.

Theological Virtues The theological virtues dispose Christians to live in a relationship with the Holy Trinity. They have God for their origin, their motive, and their object - God known by faith, God hoped in and loved for his own sake. CCC 1840 Faith Hope Love See also 1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith (1814-1816) Believing in God and all the he has revealed - Belief in Church teaching - Seek God’s will - Must be lived out - Profess and evangelize

Exemplar of Faith Blessed Virgin Mary Her “yes” to being Mother of God. Immense trust in God despite not knowing. Suffered and still had faith.

Exemplar of Faith Therese of Liseux Was having temptations of doubt. Wrote out the entire Apostles Creed. IN HER OWN BLOOD!

Hope (1817- 1821) Trust in God’s goodness, mercy and power to save us. - Gives perspective in this world as we long long for the next. - The glory of God is known to those who have hope.

Exemplar in Hope St. Monica Mother of St. Augustine Prayed unceasingly for the conversion of her family especially her son.

Charity (1822-1829) Virtue by which love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. - The New Commandment - Greatest of the 3 Theological virtues - All other virtues flow from it - The only Theological virtue in heaven

Exemplar of Charity

Exemplar of Charity Maximilian Kolbe Imprisoned by the Nazis and sent to Auchwitz. A young father and husband was chosen to be killed by the Nazis. Kolbe offered to switch places with the man.

Cardinal Virtues Cardinal comes form the Latin root cardo/cardin- which means “hinge” See Wisdom 8:7 All other virtues hinge or pivot off these four virtues. Prudence Justice Fortitude Temperance

Prudence (1806) Deciding the best thing to do and the proper way to do it. - The “Charioteer” or mother of all virtues. - It is the bridge between the intellect and will. - Discern reality  make a decision  act concretely.

Justice (1807) Giving the other his due. - Worshipping and respecting God - Recognizing and upholding human rights - Promoting fairness and righteousness

Fortitude (1808) Doing the right thing, especially when it is difficult. - Conquers fear, even death. - Resist temptations - Pursues the good no matter what

Temperance (1809) Enjoying God’s gifts in moderation. - Allows for control over instincts and desire. - Frees us from the enslavement of our appetites.