2. The moral law is guided by the Cardinal Virtues and
the Theological Virtues
These virtues assist in living the commandments
because they are the foundation for all moral virtues.
With them we attain the appropriate disposition to
draw closer to God.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10. Moral Law and Free Will
Creation Account: God blessed Adam and Eve
with complete self-mastery; meaning full control
over their minds (intellect), wills, and passions.
Then they fell into Original Sin. This violation of
God’s command lost them control over their own
faculties and passed on this weakness or tendency
to sin to all mankind.
As a result all men are born with a clouded mind, a
weakened will, and disordered passions.
11. Adam and Eve transmitted to
their descendants human nature
wounded by their own first sin
and hence deprived of original
holiness and justice; this
deprivation is called “original
sin.”
CCC 417
12. Original Sin
Is not moral guilt - as if the person has committed a
personal sin - rather, it is a wound that leads to sin.
Because of it the intellect is darkened making it
harder to recognize the truth; the Will is weakened,
so its harder to do good; The passions often
overwhelm the intellect and will, rather than being
ruled by them.
This is called concupiscence.
The effects of Original Sin are?
Pain, sickness, and eventually death.
13. Original Sin < Baptism
Because of Original Sin we need God’s help (grace)
to distinguish good choices from evil choices.
The Sacrament of Baptism restores us back into the
“Image of God,” eliminating the stain of Original Sin.
14. Mini Review
What kind of freedom did Adam and Eve possess
before the fall?
Complete self-mastery of mind, will, and passions.
Adam and Eve’s sin is called ___________.
Original Sin.
What are the three consequences of Original Sin for
us?
A clouded mind, weak will, and disordered passions.
Why do we need God’s help to make good decisions
on our own?
The effects of Original Sin makes it hard to recognize
good and evil.
15. Moral Law and Grace
Grace is a free gift that God gives us so we can
share in his life and conform ourselves to his will.
There are 2 kinds of Grace
Sanctifying Grace is the abiding grace that we
receive at Baptism through which God Himself
dwells in our souls, and we share in His life.
Actual Grace is a temporary grace that gives us
the knowledge and strength to do what is good
and right.
16. Actual Grace
Through this God helps us to obtain,
preserve, and grow in sanctifying grace
by giving us the knowledge and strength
to do what is good and right.
Necessary for all who have attained the
use of reason in order to remain faithful.
Must respond to this gift with our own free
will. It won’t help us if we don’t commit to
it.
17. Moral Law and Grace
Why is actual grace necessary for every person who
has reached the age of reason?
Without it we would not have the strength to resist
temptation and could not be faithful to the
Commandments. We can always count on God’s
grace to aid us to do what is right.
If one is not Catholic, Christian, or even a deist, is
the moral law necessary?
The moral law applies to every human being
because every person is called to holiness.
18. Moral Law and Grace
Why do so many baptized persons live
morally poor lives?
Grace cannot operate if we lack the
commitment or effort to do good, or if we
rationalize that our bad behavior is
exempt from the moral law.
19. “God who is rich in mercy and love, takes
the initiative in helping us to live the
commandments and pursue a life of
holiness. In other words, God makes the
first move in assisting us to embrace His
will. At the same time, our freedom is
indispensable in responding to God’s
promptings and inspirations. (CCC 2022)
God doesn’t just give us rules, bail, and
then judge us. God works with us to help
us follow His will which will ultimately lead
us to true freedom and happiness.
20. Based on what you have learned in this
chapter, how would you respond to
someone who says he or she would never
become Catholic because of the clergy
sexual abuse scandal?
21. Holiness = vocation
The moral life applies to everyone;
and therefore…
Everyone is called to strive for holiness.
This is everyone’s vocation -- or calling from God –
to live a life centered on Christ.
Free will allows us to ignore our vocation, but our
denial does not mean it does not apply to us.
22. Christ-Centered Life
Accepting one’s vocation to follow Jesus means
recognizing how Jesus lived and using that as
the example of how we should live.
Those who do so become disciples, or followers.
A disciple is one who accepts and adopts the
teachings of another.
23. “Following Christ is not an outward
imitation, since it touches man at the
very depths of his being. Being a
follower of Christ means becoming
conformed to him who became a
servant even to giving himself on the
Cross.”
Veritatis Splendor, 21
24. Discipleship
Centering one’s life on Christ, a disciple begins to see
and respond as Jesus does.
One becomes transformed by Christ—they
recognize the infinite dignity of every individual,
the need to love and serve everyone, and even
the importance of sacrifice and suffering for the
good of others.
A disciple striving for holiness embraces the moral life
and in doing so they begin to think with the mind of
Christ and to love with the heart of Christ.
25. Morality in Action
The morality we live expresses who we really are.
Some bad people put on a good front which does
not truly express who they are.
One’s behavior (public and private) is what really
demonstrates one’s true self.
Our words and actions reveal our interior moral
dispositions, whether good or evil.
26. Think for a minute, what are the things that make you
truly happy in life?
Make a short list in order of most important to
less important.
