Life in Christ Part 1

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Life in ChristPart 1

• USCCA Chapter 23
• Monday, December 7, 2020

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December 7, 2020

1. The third pillar of the United States Catholic
   Catechism for Adults concerns the living of
   Christian morality.

1. The Creed presents to us the truths of Gods plan
   of salvation and the invitation to respond to God
   in faith.
2. The Sacraments give us the grace to live the life
   to which God calls us.

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December 7, 2020

1. The third pillar of the United States Catholic
   Catechism for Adults concerns the living of
   Christian morality.

• The moral life, aided by the grace of the
  sacraments, makes it possible to live a life of
  faith.

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December 7, 2020

1. The fundamental principle of the moral life is
   that every person is created in the image and
   likeness of God.

1. Being made in the image and likeness of God
   protects the dignity of each person.
2. God has given every person an immortal soul.

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December 7, 2020

1. The fundamental principle of the moral life is
   that every person is created in the image and
   likeness of God.

• Living a moral life is difficult because of
  Original Sin.
• i. Our intellects have been darkened.
• ii. Our will has been weakened.
• iii. We have concupiscence.

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December 7, 2020

1. The fundamental principle of the moral life is
   that every person is created in the image and
   likeness of God.

1. Human imperfections never extinguish the image of
   God in each person.
2. Only human life bears the image and likeness of
   God.

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December 7, 2020

1. Human beings are free, able to say yes to God.

1. Human beings are free to choose for God or
   against Him.
2. The best way to grow in freedom is to develop the
   habit of doing good.

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December 7, 2020

1. The morality of an action is determined by the
   following sources.

1. The action itself.
2. The intention of the person acting.
3. The circumstances surrounding the action.

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December 7, 2020

1. Sin is an offense against God and neighbor.

• Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and
  right conscience.
• Sins are elevated according to the gravity or
  seriousness, either as either
• Mortal sins, that destroy divine life in us.
• Venial sins, that weaken divine life in us.

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December 7, 2020

1. Sin is an offense against God and neighbor.

• The three conditions for a mortal sin are
• The action itself must be serious, gravely evil.
• We must have full knowledge about the gravity of
  the action.
• We must have deliberate consent, the full desire
  to do the action.

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December 7, 2020

1. Sin is an offense against God and neighbor.

1. If we are cognizant of having committed a mortal
   sin, it must be confessed in the Sacrament of
   Confession prior to receiving the Eucharist.
2. God stands willing to forgive all sins and share
   His mercy with us on our part, we must be
   willing to confess our sins.

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December 7, 2020

1. Conscience helps us to recognize the morality of
   an action.

• Our conscience resides in our deepest core and is
  given to us by God.
• A healthy, good conscience is formed over ones
  entire life.

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December 7, 2020

1. Conscience helps us to recognize the morality of
   an action.

1. We are obliged to form our conscience according
   to objective moral standards.
2. A conscience not formed can err in its
   understanding of truth.

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December 7, 2020

1. Conscience helps us to recognize the morality of
   an action.

1. We are to always follow a certain conscience.
2. A conscience that makes erroneous judgments must
   be changed, if at all possible.

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December 7, 2020

1. Conscience helps us to recognize the morality of
   an action.

1. We are not to act with a doubtful conscience.

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December 7, 2020

1. A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do
   the good.

• Virtue supports good moral behavior, controls our
  passions, and helps us avoid sin.
• Cardinal virtues, available to all people, are
  habits of doing good. They are prudence,
  justice, fortitude and temperance.

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December 7, 2020

1. A virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do
   the good.

• The theological, or God-given, virtues are faith,
  hope and charity. They are made available to us
  in the Sacrament of Baptism and help us to live
  Christ-like lives in union with the Trinity.
• The seven deadly (or capital) sins are pride,
  avarice or greed, envy, anger, lust gluttony and
  sloth or laziness.

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For Discussion

• Read Matthew 1916-22, the story of the rich
  young man. Describe the encounter between the
  rich young man and Jesus.
• Why does Jesus push the rich young man to go
  beyond morality as simply fulfilling
  commandments? What is the connection between
  fulfilling the commandments and moral perfection?
• How does the rich young man react to Jesus
  words? How is the rich young mans reaction
  similar to reaction of people today when
  confronted with Church teaching on moral issues?