Catholic Moral Theology and Christian Anthropology Study Guide

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering Catholic moral theology, theological and cardinal virtues, original justice, original sin and its rifts, types of sin, law, and moral acts.

Human Dignity

The quality of being worthy of esteem or respect; each person has worth and value because each person is made in God’s image.

Beatitudes

Attitudes and actions that prepare us for Heaven.

Free Will / Freedom

The power, rooted in reason and will, that enables a person to perform deliberate actions on one’s own responsibility.

License

The absence of rules.

"Freedom for excellence"

The ability to act rightly.

Original Holiness

Closeness with God.

Original Solitude

The state showing that humans are different from the rest of creation.

Original Unity

The state in which Adam and Eve were a gift to one another.

Original Nakedness

The state in which Adam and Eve could see one another’s full dignity and were free in one another’s presence.

Original Sin

The sin of Adam and Eve, as well as the state into which we all are born.

Concupiscence

The tendency to sin (the inclination toward sin).

Recapitulation

By His obedience, Jesus undoes the harm that Adam’s disobedience caused.

Salvation History

The story of how God is reconciling humankind through covenants.

Covenant

An agreement by which two parties become family.

Law of the Gift

The principle that we are created to make a gift of ourselves.

Four Traits of the Gift of Self

Our self-gift should be free, total, faithful, and fruitful.

Holiness

Closeness to God; the state of being like God and in relationship with Him (Pennock, 2008, p. 114).

Universal Call to Holiness

The Catholic teaching that everyone is called to be holy (CCC 2013).

Consecrated Life

People who live a life set apart for God.

Consecrated Virginity

Women living in the world who are consecrated to God.

Religious Life

Consecrated people who live in community and take vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.

Hermits

Consecrated individuals who live separately in a life of prayer and penance.

Secular Institutes and Third Orders

Laypeople who live a particular charism.

Theological Virtues

Virtues infused by God into our souls: Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Faith

Belief in God and His revelation.

Hope

Trusting in God and desiring Heaven.

Charity

Loving God for his own sake and willing the good of the other for the other’s and God’s sake (CCC 1822).

Cardinal Virtues

Virtues gained by practice and education: Prudence, Justice, Temperance, and Fortitude.

Prudence

Doing the right thing in the right way.

Justice

Giving the other what is their due.

Temperance

Moderates the desire for good things.

Fortitude

Strength to resist temptation and overcome obstacles.

Conscience

A judgment of reason by which the person recognizes the moral quality of a specific act.

Theotokos

Mother of God.

Immaculate Conception

The dogma that Mary was conceived without original sin.

Perpetual Virginity

The teaching that Mary remained a virgin for her whole life.

Assumption

At the end of her life, Mary was taken up, body and soul, into heaven.

The Principle of Double Effect

A way of navigating situations in which there will be good and bad consequences.

Law

Ordinance of reason for the common good of a society (Aquinas, ST).

Eternal Law

God’s will and wisdom directing His creatures to their end goal (Aquinas, ST).

Natural Law

Light of understanding God placed in us; discoverable by human reason even outside of religion (Pennock).

Revealed Law

Old Testament Law and Law of the Gospel that fulfills it (Pennock).

Object

The action itself in a moral evaluation.

Intention / End

The reason for acting.

Circumstances

Conditions that have some bearing on an action (Pennock).

Personal Sin

Sins that we choose to commit.

Venial Sin

Sin that weakens our relationship with God.

Mortal Sin

Sin that destroys grace in the soul.

Social Sin

Cooperating in one another’s sins.

Protoevangelion

The event where God immediately set into motion the course of events through which He would reconcile us with Him.

Mitigating Factors

Things which reduce our freedom and, thus, our responsibility for an action.

Greed

Inordinate desire for material things.

Avarice

Desire for riches and the power that comes from them.

Envy

Sadness at another’s good fortune and willingness to take it from them.

Perjury

Telling an untruth after taking an oath to tell the truth.

Detraction

Revealing someone’s faults to another who had no need of knowing.

Calumny

Lying about someone so others will make false judgments.

Lying

To speak or act against the truth in order to lead someone into error (CCC 2483).

Just War Theory

Historical (outdated) teaching on conditions that must be met for a war to be permissible (threatened damage lasting, grave, certain; last resort; serious prospects of success; use of arms must not produce greater evils; must consider human rights).

Theological Rift

The disruption of Adam and Eve's relationship with God caused by original sin, changing from intimate friendship to fear, guilt, and separation.

Psychological Rift

The disruption of Adam and Eve's relationship with self caused by original sin, changing from internal peace and integrity to shame, conflict, and confusion (concupiscence).

Social Rift

The disruption of Adam and Eve's relationship with others caused by original sin, changing from perfect love and unity to blame, manipulation, and division.

Ecological Rift

The disruption of Adam and Eve's relationship with nature caused by original sin, changing from harmonious stewardship to struggle, frustration, decay, and physical death.