Christian Ethics The Catholic Christian Moral Tradition: Wisdom for Life

EDER

2010

For 2,000 years Christians have been striving to live moral lives in response to the personal and communal experience of the saving love of God in Jesus Christ. Over the centuries the Catholic community of faith has developed moral wisdom for life. The tradition of Catholic moral wisdom is centered in sharing the human experience; following Jesus Christ; observing the Ten Commandments; practicing works of mercy; developing virtuous character. Sharing the human experience Love: the desire and drive for union, fulfillment, happiness Suffering: loss of well-being, hope, purpose Sin: weakness, self-deception, evil Conscience: sincerity and striving to become better Experiencing Gods saving love and following Jesus Christ Word of God in Scripture Kingdom of God Forgiveness and reconciliation Love of God and neighbor Solidarity and service to all Community of disciples Sacraments of the Church Observing the Ten Commandments I. I am the Lord your God II. Do not take the name of the Lord in vain III. Keep holy the Lords day IV. Honor your father and mother V. Do not kill VI. Do not commit adultery VII. Do not steal VIII. Do not bear false witness IX. Do not covet your neighbors spouse X. Do not covet your neighbors goods Practicing the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy feed the hungry give good counsel give drink to the thirsty teach the ignorant shelter the homeless admonish sinners clothe the naked console the afflicted care for the sick forgive those who sin against you visit the imprisoned bear offenses patiently bury the dead pray for the living and the dead Developing the Cardinal and Theological Virtues Faith, Hope, and Love- Theological virtues Temperance, Fortitude, Justice, and Prudence- Cardinal Virtues

Christian Ethics IN BRIEF 1833 Virtue is a habitual and firm disposition to do good. 1834

EDER

2010

The human virtues are stable dispositions of the intellect and the will that govern our acts, order our passions, and guide our conduct in accordance with reason and faith. They can be grouped around the four cardinal virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. 1835 Prudence disposes the practical reason to discern, in every circumstance, our true good and to choose the right means for achieving it. 1836 Justice consists in the firm and constant will to give God and neighbor their due. 1837 Fortitude ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. 1838 Temperance moderates the attraction of the pleasures of the senses and provides balance in the use of created goods. 1839 The moral virtues grow through education, deliberate acts, and perseverance in struggle. Divine grace purifies and elevates them. 1841 There are three theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. They inform all the moral virtues and give life to them. 1842 By faith, we believe in God and believe all that he has revealed to us and that Holy Church proposes for our belief. 1843 By hope we desire, and with steadfast trust await from God, eternal life and the graces to merit it. 1844 By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, "binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col 3:14).

Source consulted: Keenan, James F. Moral Wisdom: Lessons and Texts from the Catholic Tradition. Lanham, MD: Sheed & Ward / Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2004. Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2d ed. Washington, D.C.: United States Catholic Conference, 1997.