CHAPTER 1 – Our Moral Life in Christ

The Magisterium, Source of Moral Theology The Church’s teaching office, called the Magisterium, refers to the authority of the pope and bishops united with him in matters of faith and morals The word comes from the Latin magister, “teacher” The Church, through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, defines and interprets the contents of Divine Revelation

The Teaching Authority of the Church The teachings of the hierarchy—the popes, councils, and bishops—began with the Apostles Christ promised that the pope would be guided by the Holy Spirit to authentically interpret the Christian message as head of the college of bishops The Magisterium defines both the truths of the Faith and the Church’s moral teachings, and transmits them to every generation

Papal Infallibility Under certain conditions, the pope, or the whole hierarchy in union with him, can make infallible pronouncements regarding faith and morals Teachings on faith and morals are preserved from error and must be accepted as coming ultimately from Christ himself

Natural Law, Source of Moral Theology Natural law and the moral principles intimately linked to the requirements of human dignity are another source This notion of right and wrong is derived from the very wisdom of God As man chooses actions to achieve personal perfection and happiness, he continues to discover God’s objective moral guide

Natural Sciences and Moral Theology The natural sciences, which are based on reason alone, are useful in elaborating on and corroborating the Church’s moral doctrine Since Revelation goes beyond human reason alone, natural sciences are only supplementary and can neither substitute for nor diminish the authority of Scripture and Tradition, including the Magisterium, which are the true sources of moral theology

Conclusion Terms such as “morality,” “the moral law,” and even “sin” can make people uncomfortable Even Catholics can be shy about expressing their faith because aspects of the moral law may not fit with popular opinion The Church continues to carry out Christ’s mission of love and redemption, part of which is teaching people how to follow the moral law

The Church Teaches Truth Because the Holy Spirit guides the Church, we can be confident that the Church is teaching objective moral truth without possibility of error Moral theology is a reflection on revealed truth as expressed in Sacred Scripture, Tradition, and the natural law Interpreting, explaining, and applying Divine Revelation is the task of the Magisterium

Grace Helps Us Live Morally Divine Revelation teaches us that the human person has inherent dignity, but also has moral weaknesses and is inclined to sin Through Baptism, a person has a new life in Christ through his redemption In seeking to live morally, we must remain aware of our continuous need for God’s grace, which helps us live a faithful life of prayer and sacrifice, making good moral decisions

The Moral Law Points Us to Heaven The Ten Commandments, Gospels, and the Church’s teachings call us to a life that leads to eternal salvation If we believe that God loves us and wants our happiness both on earth and in Heaven, it follows that our discipleship in Christ, the moral law, and the life of holiness to which he calls us are the paths of greatest love and the road to Heaven