Eternal and Natural Law
Unit 1 Article 5-6: Eternal and Natural Law
Introduction to Eternal Law
Definition: Eternal Law is considered a perfect standard established by God, governing the universe and all creation.
Characteristics:
Source from God for all creation:
Emphasizes that all living things abide by this law.
Unchanging Nature: Always true and does not change over time.
Natural Law
Definition: Natural Law is a more realistic moral code that has developed after the Fall of Man.
Understanding:
Rational Expression of Eternal Law: It reflects what is best for humanity, written by the Church reflecting the wisdom and will of God.
Role in Human Life: Guides humans toward a blessed life through reason and moral understanding.
Link to Conscience:
Reveals a commonality in human experience and moral law, indicating a universal understanding or sense of right and wrong, engraved on every human heart.
Relationship Between Natural and Moral Law
Conceptual Similarity: Natural Law and Moral Law are fundamentally the same.
Definition of Terms:
Natural Law: The underlying principles of morality that can be discerned through human reason.
Moral Law: The expression of natural law in societal rules guiding behavior based on consensus or divine directive.
Discerning Right Relationships:
Natural Law reflects God's order and goodness, influencing our conscience and moral choices.
Moral Law and Freedom
Link to Freedom: Moral Law involves the freedom to choose good over evil, which is foundational for salvation.
Importance of Grace: Acknowledges the need for both law and grace to attain holistic human fulfillment.
God as the Source of Goodness
Nature of Goodness: God embodies goodness, life, and love, establishing a world grounded in reason.
Ways God Reveals Law to Humanity:
Through Scripture: Examples include the Ten Commandments that form the Old and New Laws.
Through Tradition: Teachings provided by the Church that guide moral understanding and behavior.
Old Law and Natural Moral Law
Concepts of the Old Law:
Pentateuch (Torah): Refers to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, outlining God's covenant with humanity.
Decalogue: The Ten Commandments, representing moral imperatives for human conduct.
Great Commandments: Jesus summarized the law into two key commandments:
Love of God: Fundamental to human existence.
Love of Neighbor: Expresses the relational aspect of moral living.
Sermon on the Mount
Core Teachings: The Beatitudes and counter-examples provided by Jesus illustrate the fulfilling nature of love over mere rule-following.
Jesus' Perspective: Reiterates and elevates moral expectations, stressing love as the ultimate moral engagement.
Five Precepts of the Church
Essential Guidelines:
Attend Mass regularly.
Go to Confession periodically.
Receive Eucharist at least during the Easter season.
Help others through acts of charity.
Engagement in spiritual growth through these practices.
Moral Minimalism: Finding the least burdensome way to fulfill moral obligations.
Canon Law
Definition: Church laws that govern the moral and legal aspects of community life within the Church.
Magisterium: The Church's teaching authority provides moral guidance through bishops.
Infallibility: Papal infallibility is exercised minimally, aimed at clarifying pressing moral issues such as genetic testing, abortion, and marriage equality.
Understanding Sin
Definition of Sin: An offense against God and a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience.
Types of Sin: includes sins of commission (active wrongdoing) and omission (failure to act).
Mortal Sin: Serious transgressions that sever one's relationship with God (must be grave matter, fully consented).
Venial Sin: Less severe, damaging relationship with God, not ending it.
Capital Vices and Structures of Sin
Capital Sins: Root vices that give rise to other sins, including pride, greed, wrath, gluttony, lust, and sloth.
Social Sins: The collective impact of individual sins corrupting society, establishing structures of sin.
Spiritual and Theological Concepts
Spirituality vs Religion: Spirituality denotes individual pursuit of truth, while religion outlines communal teachings and beliefs.
Theological Virtues: Faith, hope, and love are essential for deepening one's relationship with God.
Moral Theology and Grace
Types of Grace:
Sanctifying Grace: A permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call.
Actual Grace: Temporary interventions by God in our lives, equipping us to live morally.
Sacramental Grace: Comes from the sacraments, facilitating a deeper connection to God and the Church's mission.
Conclusion on Moral Teachings
Vocations: Emphasizes the call to holiness for all, alongside particular vocations unique to each person, rooted in love and divine purpose.
Human Actions: The morality of actions is evaluated by considering the object chosen, the intention behind it, and the circumstances surrounding it.
Unit 1 Article 5-6: Eternal and Natural Law
Introduction to Eternal Law
Definition: Eternal Law is considered the perfect, unchangeable standard established by God from all eternity, governing the entire universe, all creation, and residing in God's own being and intellect.
Characteristics:
Source from God for all creation: It is the divine wisdom as ordering all creation, forming the blueprint for its existence and purpose. Every creature, whether rational or irrational, participates in this law in its own way.
Emphasizes that all living things abide by this law: Non-rational creatures obey it by their natural inclinations and physical laws (e.g., gravity, biological processes). Rational beings, like humans, participate in it through reason and free will, striving to align their actions with its principles.
Unchanging Nature: It is always true and immutable, reflecting the perfect and unchanging nature of God. It cannot be altered or abolished, as it is the ultimate source of all truth and goodness.
Natural Law
Definition: Natural Law is humanity's participation in the Eternal Law, representing a more realistic moral code that is accessible through human reason, especially pertinent after the Fall of Man, as it guides even fallen humanity towards good.
Understanding:
Rational Expression of Eternal Law: It reflects what is inherently good and true for humanity. It is discovered by human reason and experience, allowing individuals to discern moral obligations without special divine revelation, though the Church articulates and interprets this wisdom and will of God, ensuring its correct understanding.
Role in Human Life: It guides humans toward a blessed and truly fulfilling life, helping them understand and pursue their ultimate end, which is union with God. It directs them towards actions that lead to genuine human flourishing and away from those that detract from it.
Link to Conscience:
Natural Law is intrinsically linked to conscience and is often described as being "engraved on every human heart." This indicates a universal understanding or innate sense of right and wrong, a commonality in human experience that allows all people to recognize fundamental moral truths.
Relationship Between Natural and Moral Law
Conceptual Similarity: Natural Law and Moral Law are fundamentally the same in principle, with Moral Law often being seen as the articulated or promulgated form of Natural Law.
Definition of Terms:
Natural Law: The underlying, inherent principles of morality that can be discerned through human reason, reflecting intrinsic human dignity, the common good, and universal applicability to all people.
Moral Law: The expression of Natural Law in specific societal rules, religious precepts, and divine commands, guiding behavior based on rational consensus and/or divine directive, often found in both divine revelation and human legislation.
Discerning Right Relationships:
Natural Law reflects God's order and goodness, influencing our conscience and moral choices, and forming the basis for understanding justice, rights, duties, and the pursuit of virtues necessary for building harmonious human relationships.
Moral Law and Freedom
Link to Freedom: Moral Law involves true freedom, which is the capacity to choose good over evil and thus grow in virtue. This freedom for good is foundational for salvation, enabling humans to develop themselves and deepen their relationship with God.
Importance of Grace: Acknowledges the need for both law (to guide our actions) and grace (God's divine assistance) to attain holistic human fulfillment. Grace heals, strengthens, and transforms our hearts, enabling us to live out the moral law more perfectly and overcome sin.
God as the Source of Goodness
Nature of Goodness: God embodies absolute goodness, life, and love. He is the Summum Bonum, the ultimate standard of moral truth, establishing a world grounded in reason, order, and inherent value.
Ways God Reveals Law to Humanity:
Through Scripture: Examples include the Old Law, particularly the Ten Commandments (Decalogue), which set the foundational moral principles for the Israelites, and the New Law, revealed fully in Jesus Christ, which elevates and perfects these commands.
Through Tradition: Teachings provided by the Church through the Magisterium that interpret, preserve, and apply Divine Revelation to guide moral understanding and behavior throughout history.
Old Law and Natural Moral Law
Concepts of the Old Law:
Pentateuch (Torah): Refers to the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. These books outline God's foundational covenant with humanity and Israel, containing legal, ceremonial, and moral precepts that prepared the chosen people for Christ.
Decalogue: The Ten Commandments, representing universal moral imperatives for human conduct, which are fundamentally aligned with Natural Law and thus binding on all people, not just the Israelites.
Great Commandments: Jesus summarized the entire law into two key commandments, emphasizing their comprehensive nature:
Love of God: "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37). This is fundamental to human existence and spiritual well-being.
Love of Neighbor: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Matthew 22:39). This expresses the relational and ethical aspect of moral living, encompassing all other commandments concerning human relationships.
Sermon on the Mount
Core Teachings: Through the Beatitudes, Jesus outlines a radical ethic of love, mercy, and humility, calling for an internal transformation rather than mere external conformity to rules. His counter-examples (e.g., anger as a precursor to murder, lust as adultery of the heart) illustrate the profound, fulfilling nature of love over strict legalism, focusing on the disposition of the heart.
Jesus' Perspective: He reiterates and elevates moral expectations, declaring that he came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He stresses love, not just obedience, as the ultimate moral engagement, demanding a deeper purification of intention and action.
Five Precepts of the Church
Essential Guidelines: These are the minimum requirements for Catholics to grow in love of God and neighbor, fostering participation in the Church's life, and promoting spiritual growth:
Attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, as it is the source and summit of Christian life.
Go to Confession at least once a year, especially if grave sin is committed, to receive reconciliation with God and the Church.
Receive Eucharist at least during the Easter season, though more frequent reception is encouraged.
Help others through acts of charity, contributing to the needs of the Church and those less fortunate, using one's time, talent, and treasure.
Observe the days of fasting and abstinence established by the Church, engaging in spiritual growth through these penitential practices.
Moral Minimalism: While these precepts are essential, they represent the minimum required for a faithful Catholic life. They are not intended as the ideal, but rather as a foundational framework to prevent spiritual stagnation, encouraging believers to strive for greater holiness beyond these obligations.
Canon Law
Definition: Canon Law is the body of ecclesiastical laws and regulations that govern the moral, spiritual, and legal aspects of the Catholic Church's hierarchical structure, sacraments, liturgical practices, and community life.
Magisterium: The Church's living teaching authority, composed of the Pope and bishops in communion with him, provides moral guidance. The Magisterium's role is to authentically interpret both Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition, applying them to contemporary moral dilemmas.
Infallibility: Papal infallibility is a charism exercised minimally, ensuring that when the Pope defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals ex cathedra (from the chair, as shepherd and teacher of all Christians), such a doctrine is preserved from error. This is aimed at clarifying pressing moral issues or dogmatic truths, such as certain aspects of genetic testing, abortion, marriage equality, and other fundamental tenets of faith and morals.
Understanding Sin
Definition of Sin: An offense against God, a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. It is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law and natural moral law, wounding human nature and damaging or severing one's relationship with God.
Types of Sin: Includes sins of commission (active wrongdoing, e.g., stealing, lying) and omission (failure to act when one should, e.g., neglecting to help someone in need, failing to attend Mass).
Mortal Sin: A serious transgression that, when committed with grave matter, full knowledge, and deliberate consent, severs one's relationship with God. It results in the loss of sanctifying grace and, if unrepented, eternal damnation. Full knowledge means being aware of the sinful nature of the act, and deliberate consent means fully choosing to do it.
Venial Sin: A less severe offense that damages one's relationship with God without completely ending it. It weakens charity, manifests a disordered affection for created goods, and can predispose one to commit mortal sin if not addressed.
Capital Vices and Structures of Sin
Capital Sins: Also known as deadly sins, these are root vices that give rise to many other sins. They include pride (excessive self-esteem), greed (excessive desire for material possessions), envy (resentment of another's good fortune), wrath (uncontrolled anger), lust (disordered sexual desire), gluttony (excessive consumption), and sloth (spiritual laziness or apathy).
Social Sins: The collective impact of individual sins on society, creating environments and systems that corrupt, oppress, and lead others into sin. These establish "structures of sin," manifesting in unjust laws, discriminatory practices, systemic poverty, and collective indifference, thereby highlighting the communal dimension of moral responsibility.
Spiritual and Theological Concepts
Spirituality vs Religion: Spirituality generally denotes an individual's personal pursuit of truth, meaning, and connection to the divine, often involving practices like prayer and meditation. Religion, on the other hand, outlines communal teachings, beliefs, rituals, and moral codes within an organized framework, providing a structured path for communal worship and shared understanding of the faith.
Theological Virtues: These are gifts from God, infused into the soul at Baptism, that orient individuals directly towards God. They are essential for deepening one's relationship with God and attaining eternal life:
Faith: The theological virtue by which we believe in God and believe all that He has revealed and that Holy Church proposes for our belief.
Hope: The theological virtue by which we desire the kingdom of heaven and eternal life as our happiness, placing our trust in Christ's promises and relying not on our own strength, but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit.
Love (Charity): The theological virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. It is the core of Christian life and the greatest of all virtues.
Moral Theology and Grace
Types of Grace: God's divine assistance that enables us to respond to His call to holiness and live a moral life:
Sanctifying Grace: A permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call, making us holy and pleasing to God. It is received primarily in Baptism and is lost through mortal sin but can be restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Actual Grace: Temporary, transient interventions by God in our lives, equipping us to live morally. These are specific divine helps for particular good acts, to resist temptation, to grow in virtue, or to move toward conversion.
Sacramental Grace: The grace proper to each of the seven sacraments, facilitating a deeper connection to God and the Church's mission by conferring specific spiritual benefits and strengthening for its particular purpose.
Conclusion on Moral Teachings
Vocations: Emphasizes the universal call to holiness for all Christians, alongside particular vocations unique to each person (e.g., marriage, priesthood, consecrated life, single life for Christ). All vocations are rooted in love, divine purpose, and a call to service within the Church and the world.
Human Actions: The morality of human actions is evaluated by considering three interconnected "fonts" or sources:
The Object Chosen: The act itself (what is done). For an action to be morally good, its object must be good or at least neutral; an intrinsically evil act can never be justified.
The Intention Behind It: The purpose or motive of the acting person (why it is done). A good intention can never make an intrinsically evil act good, but a bad intention can corrupt an otherwise good act.
The Circumstances Surrounding It: Secondary factors (who, where, when, how) that can increase or decrease the moral goodness or evil of an act, as well as the agent's culpability, but cannot change an intrinsically evil act into a good one.