RELIGION IV

Morality, Social Justice and PeaceSeptember 18, 2014

Catholic Morality

Catholic Morality is the way we live our lives as children of God in response to Jesus under the guidance of the Holy Spirit at work in the Catholic Church.

Catholic Morality

Three concepts of the Catholic Morality is human dignity, grace, and vocation.

Human Dignity

Each of us is made in God’s image, and is the recipient of God’ s love. As such, we are owed respect .

We must see ourselves and others through the eyes of Jesus to fully understand the beauty and glory of our human “being”.

God’s Love for humans

God’s love for humanity is expressed in the covenants (holy and solemn agreement between God and humanity) with Abraham, Noah, David, and Moses.

This love is expressed most fully in the person of Jesus Christ who ‘ …became man so that He could make men gods’.

Grace

Grace is a gift from God, freely given, that allows us to fully participate in God’s life.

Grace gives us the capacity to engage in a moral life, to grow and develop our morality and fulfill our moral life in the glory of heaven.

Types of Grace

Sanctifying grace: God’s gift of love and presence in our souls. It identifies God’s friendship which heals us and enables us to respond to God’s love.

Actual grace: is the help God gives us for a particular need.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Bonhoeffer was a Lutheran pastor who actively protested Nazi practices before and during the war.

He lived in the US for a period of time in the 1930’s, but returned to Germany because he thought he could better influence his country’s policies from there.

His anti Nazi activities led to his arrest, imprisonment and eventual death by hanging.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“We have been silent witnesses of evil deeds: we have been drenched by many storms; we have learnt the arts of equivocation and pretence; experience has made us suspicious of others and kept us from being truthful and open; intolerable conflicts have worn us down and even made us cynical. Are we still of any use?”

Fr. Alfred Delp, S.J.

Father Delp saw his Christianity as a reason to oppose the Nazis.

He was part of group that sought to assassinate Hitler.

He was imprisoned and hung for his actions.

Although his remains were never found, his prison diaries were recovered and are an inspiring testament to Christian faith.

Challenges and Comforts of Grace For Delp and Bonhoeffer, grace

challenged them to oppose evil, even if it cost them their lives.

God’s challenge was not easy for them, or for us, but God’s love and the support and encouragement of the Holy Spirit empowers us.

Challenges and Comforts of Grace “God did not send His son into the

world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”

John 3:17

Pentecost

The day celebrated where the Holy Spirit empowers the apostles to bring the Good News to the world.

The Apostles learned that Christ is present in them.

Grace gave them powers of strength and courage to perpetuate the faith in the community.

Catholic morality means acting as if you are filled with the Holy Spirit

Vocations

Vocation- a calling to love and serve God.

In the parable of the talents, the master chastises the servant who did nothing with his talents, because God wants us to use our gifts in God’s service.

God’s plan is for humanity to create a world worthy of merger with heaven. Therefore, we are charged with using our talents to build God’s “new creation”.

Vocations

Because we are created in God’s image, we are co-workers with God in continuing creation.

Our aim should be to fully become God’s co-worker for his kingdom

Homework

Study for Test on Chapter 1