Catholic Morality Chapter 1 Test

Human beings

A creature composed of Body and Soul and made to the image and likeness of God

Angels

Spiritual creatures, created by God with intelligence and will, who surpass humans in perfection. They are personal and immortal creatures

God

Creator of heaven and earth, and of all things

What is our place in creation?

Creatures created by a Creator greater than us - God has the right and power to ask certain behaviors of us because he is God

How does God help us to live a moral life?

We are given grace to live a moral life

Rational faculties

• Intellect

• Free will

• Ability to love

• Capacity to respond morally

Intellect

You can discover truth and learn to recognize the voice of God

Free will

• Gives you the capacity to make choices and determine the direction of your life

• Can rise above anything negative in your life and exercise control by using your God-given talents and cooperating with his grace

Ability to love

Can love both God and neighbor - highest choice we can make

Capacity to respond morally

• Can be accountable for our actions

• A free choice to ignore God’s law is sin

• Good choices build up and bad choices tear down your moral character

Virtue

A habitual and firm disposition to do the good

When are theological virtues bestowed

Baptism

Faith

belief in and personal knowledge of God

Hope

Trust in God’s salvation and the gift of the graces he gives us to attain it

Charity

The love of God and neighbor

Morality

Evaluation of Right vs. Wrong

Traits of morality

• All decisions carry moral meaning

• Based on values (beliefs one holds as important)

• Morals and values influence attitudes, motives, and behavior

Catholic Morality

Good (of God) vs. Evil (Not of God)

Catholic morality traits

• Relationships

• Discipleship

• Certain objective truths

• Based on natural law

• Revealed in scripture and sacred tradition

Certain objective truths

God is the source of all goodness and we are made in the image and likeness of God

Human dignity

All human beings have dignity, which comes from God

Traits of dignity

• Inherent

• Inviolable

• Inalienable

Inherent

Dignity is inherent because it is an essential characteristic of being human

Inviolable

Dignity is inviolable because no one has the right to violate or profane it

Inalienable

Dignity is inalienable because it cannot be taken away by anyone or anything - even one’s own sinfulness

How does the love of the Trinity relate to our human needs and desires?

Trinity is the eternal exchange of love - we mimic the Trinity, so we mimic love and desire

Sin

• An offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience.

• Basic cause of sin is love for self over love for God

Original sin

Humans chose to listen to the enemy, not to trust God, and to blatantly disobey his command

Consequences of original sin

• Loss of original holiness and original justice

• Concupiscence

Original holiness

State of Adam and Eve in which they shared in Divine Life and relationship with God

Original Justice

state of inner harmony, harmony between man and women, and harmony between the first couple and all of creation

Effects of sin

• Wounds human nature

• Wounds solidarity of the human race