Introduction: What is Life in Christ?

1. Introduction: What is Life in Christ?

2. Hearing God’s Voice • Open book to page 8 • Two essential steps of Catholic Christian morality: • Draw near to Jesus and learn from Him. • We must do what Jesus says. • What is Christian morality? • Special kind of knowing of what ought to be done. • The science of what humans ought to do by reason of who they are • Science  we are able to know right and wrong • How? – human reason, human experience, and divine revelation • “by reason of who they are” – morality hinges on a correct view of the human person as a child of God and has dignity.

3. What’s Right and What’s Wrong • Do activity on page 9. • What moral problems do we have today? • Which one’s are personal? Societal? • What will you do – Case Scenarios (page 8)

4. Morality As A Response to God • To be a moral person is to know how to be responsible. • Catholic point of view  Morality is our response to God. And we are able to do so because God gave us…: • Intelligence and freedom with the help of His grace • Help of the Holy Spirit • Support of the Church • Help of the Magisterium • Help of Jesus Christ

5. Living A Moral Life • To decide and act according to God’s plan; being responsible and cooperating with God’s grace. • When we choose good and God’s plan, it leads us to happiness and our final destiny of union with God. • Choosing “bad” things might lead to temporary satisfaction, but it often leads to a lifetime of misery and wasted talents. • Living a moral life is living in the presence of God. It strengthens our friendship with God, makes us people of integrity, attracts other people to God, and helps bring about God’s reign.

6. Character and Virtue • Reality shows that our society is lacking in morality. To improve involves in building one’s character and cultivating. • Character is our “yes” or “no” to Christ’s invitation to friendship. • Everything we process – experiences, images, words – help us create character. • Summary -- persons with good moral character are: • Loving to God and others. • Fully human persons – free, intelligent, responsible, and open to growth. • People of virtue

7. Virtues • Virtues are healthy, good habits that help us do good and empower us to become what God wants us to be. • Catechism – the habit to do good. • Two types: Theological and Cardinal Virtues

8. Theological Virtues • Faith, Hope, and Love/Charity (1 Corinthians 13) – enables us to live in relationship to the Blessed Trinity. • Faith – enables us to believe in God and what the Church teaches • Hope – enables us to desire heaven and eternal life; keeps us from getting discouraged; to strive for true happiness • Charity – Empowers us to “love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor”; helps us to practice all virtues and uplifts our ability.

9. Cardinal Virtues • From the Latin word, cardo, which means hinge. • They are “natural virtues”; we gain these virtues through education and repeated practice. • Prudence – responsible decision making; being able to select the right means of achieving good. • Justice – giving God and neighbor what is due • Fortitude – gives us the strength and courage to stand firm with our own convictions and do the right and moral thing; “spiritual guts” • Temperance – virtue of moderation; regulates our appetite.