Morality: Forming a Moral Identity

  • As a Christian, you want your character to resemble Jesus because he is the model of moral living.

  • Character refers to how we respond to God’s invitation to love.

    • It is who we are now and who we will become through your choices.

    • Good character is formed through good choices.

  • Everything you process creates your character

    • experiences

    • images

    • words

    • thoughts

    • decisions

  • Sacramental character is the indelible spiritual mark that seals you to Christ

    • No sin can erase this

  • Good character can be described as:

    • loving

    • fully human

    • virtuous

  • Virtues are good, healthy habits that are the building blocks of good character

    • By practicing these, you can live morally and make good decisions almost instinctively

    • Differentiated as cardinal virtues and theological virtues.

  • The Cardinal Virtues are four human virtues that play an important role in moral life.

    • All other human or moral virtues are grouped around the cardinal virtues.

    • Prudence, temperance, fortitude, and justice.

    • Gained through human effort.

  • Prudence aids in decision-making and helps you apply moral principles.

  • Justice governs relationships and requires you to worship and adore God and respect the rights of other people.

  • Fortitude gives you the strength and courage to stand firm in your convictions.

    • Gives spiritual strength to resist peer pressure.

  • Temperance is the virtue of moderation that helps you to fight the vices of greed, gluttony, and lust.

    • It teaches limits.

  • The theological virtues are not gained through human effort, as they are infused into our souls to choose goodness over sin.

    • Enable you to live in relation to the Holy Trinity.

    • They include faith, hope, and charity.

  • Faith enables us to believe in God and entrust ourselves to God.

    • You can cultivate your faith through prayer, reading the bible, celebrating sacraments, studying the Catholic faith, associating with people of faith, avoiding temptations against faith, et al.

  • Hope enables us to desire eternal life and trust in Christ to protect us when we are discouraged.

    • Keeps us from selfishness

    • The two ways to violate hope are:

      • Despair — feeling like we are beyond help

      • Presumption — feeling as if we can be saved without God, or expect him to be merciful without believing.

  • Charity (sometimes called love) is the greatest of all virtues as it empowers you to love God and your neighbor.

    • Love involves sacrifice and long-term commitment.

    • We must root out sinful attitudes

      • Indifference — neglect of God’s love; failure to accept his love

      • Ingratitude — resisting God’s love; not giving it back to him

      • Lukewarmness — failure to respond to God’s love

      • Hatred — the opposite of love that arises from pride

    • Practicing charity raises your efforts to love.

  • The Gifts of the Holy Spirit help us to sustain a virtuous moral life and to complete/perfect the virtues.

    • The seven gifts are:

      • Wisdom

      • Understanding

      • Counsel (right judgment)

      • Fortitude (courage)

      • Knowledge

      • Piety (reverence)

      • Fear of the Lord (wonder and awe)

  • The Fruits of the Holy Spirit are earthly spiritual rewards for practicing and living a moral life.

    • The twelve fruits are:

      • Charity

      • Joy

      • Peace

      • Patience

      • Kindness

      • Goodness

      • Generosity

      • Gentleness

      • Faithfulness

      • Modesty

      • Self-control

      • Chastity