Meaning and Nature of Moral Theology Flashcards
Why study Christian Morality? In this morally complex world, the whole community of the human persons is now facing many forms of social, cultural, political, and economic problems that affect the spiritual and moral life of individuals. Although; these dehumanizing complications in the human community were addressed to by the different sectors of the society, most of the approaches that they used are based on (4)
utilitarianism, relativism, consequentialism, proportionalism, or any other similar secular theory.’
It is evident that what actually the society is really facing is (4)? Hence, each individual must not only know the right thing to do but also to be submissive to the objective moral truth according to the teachings of Jesus Christ.
As________ said, “people today need to turn to Christ once again in order to receive from him the answer to their questions about what is good and what is evil.”
“the crisis of truth
“the crisis of faith,”
“the crisis of culture of civilization of life and love,”
“the crisis of morality”
Pope John Paul II
Etymologically, there is no difference between ethics and morality.
The word “ethics” is derived from the Greek word “____” which means ____.
On the other hand, the word “morality” comes from the Latin word “_____ or ______” which also means______.
ethos = custom
mos” or “moris = customs
refers to theories while morality refers to praxis or practice.
Ethics
is the actualization of ethics.
Morality
According to the classic definition of____________ ,_______ is “faith seeking understanding” (fides quaerens intellectum).
It is a critical reflection on the faith.” Theology’s object is the divine revelation that is received and grasped in faith.
Its task is to articulate the Christian faith experience of the community in language and concepts. Hence, theology, which requires faith, attempts to give expression to one’s faith from a particular religious tradition.
St. Anselm of Canterbury
theology
______, in his encyclical letter_______, says that the great medieval theologians and teachers rightly held that theology, as a science of faith, is a participation in God’s own knowledge of Himself.
It is not just our discourse about God, but first and foremost the acceptance and the pursuit of a deeper understanding of the word which God speaks to us, the word which God speaks about Himself, for He is an eternal dialogue of communion, and He allows us to enter into this dialogue (no. 36).
Pope Francis
Lumen Fidei
______ acc. to ______ thus demands the humility to be “touched” by God, admitting its own limitations before the mystery, while striving to investigate, with the discipline proper to reason, the inexhaustible riches of this mystery.
Theology
Pope Francis
also shares in the ecclesial form of faith, which must therefore be at the service of the Christians.
It considers the______ of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him to ensure our contact with the certainty of attaining to the word of Christ in primordial source and thus provides the certainty of attaining to the word of Christ in all its integrity (Ibid.).
Theology
magisterium
______is an_______ because it grows in the Church and works on the Church.
It is a service to the Church and therefore ought to feel itself actively involved in the mission of the church, particularly in its prophetic mission.
By its very nature and procedures, authentic theology can flourish and develop on through a committed and responsible participation in and “belonging” to the Church as a community of faith.”
theology
ecclesial science
is a science which accepts Divine Revelation while at the same time responding to the demands of human reason.
It is a reflection concerned with “_____”, with the good and the evil of human acts and of the person who performs them.
Moral Theology
morality
It acknowledges that the origin and end of moral action are found in the One who “alone Is good” and who, by giving himself to man in “Christ,” offers him the happiness of divine life (no. 29).
VERITATIS SPLENDOR
VERITATIS SPLENDOR
Elements:
○ ______ Is a science.
○ It is guided by_____
○ It is concerned with____.
○ It is rooted in_____.
○ It is a_____.
○ There Is a process of_____ as well as an acknowledgment of Christ.
○________ is the ultimate goal.
Moral Theology
Divine Revelation
morality
Jesus Christ
response
reflection
Happiness of divine life
FOUR-SECTOR METHODOLOGY OF MT (SOURCES OF MORAL THEOLOGY)
● Holy Scriptures
● Sacred Tradition
● Magisterium
● Signs of the times
● “All ______ is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
HOLY SCRIPTURES
Vatican II teaches that the _________ should be the soul, as it were, of all theology.”
Further, the_____ is the source of all saving truth and moral teaching.”
Holy Scripture
Gospel
“The_____ has faithfully preserved what the word of God teaches, not only about truths which must be believed but also about moral action, action pleasing to God.”
Hence, these sacred texts in the biblical writings are consulted when addressing moral issues. They have always been granted a prominent place in theological argumentation.
Church
______ writes, “So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by word of mouth or by our letter” (2 Thessalonians 2:15).
St. Paul
Sacred traditions
(2), then are bound closely together, and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out from the same divine well-spring, come together in some fashion to form one thing, and move towards the same goal.
Sacred Tradition and the Sacred Scripture
is the speech of God as it is put down in writing under the breath of the Holy Spirit.
Sacred Scripture
____ transmits its entirety the Word of which has been entrusted to the apostles by Christ the Lord and the Holy Spirit.
It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that, enlightened by the Spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound and spread it abroad by their preaching
Thus it comes about that the Church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the Holy Scriptures alone.
Tradition
both(2) must be accepted and honored with equal feelings of devotion and reverence.
Scripture and Tradition
It should be recalled that the first generation did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New Testament itself demonstrates the process of living_____
Tradition
_______is to be distinguished from the various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in the local churches over time.
These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great______ is expressed.
In the light of_____, these ______ can be retained, modified or even abandoned under the guidance of the Church’s Magisterium.
Tradition
The historical development of a_____ or ______ is examined in which the history within Christianity is specifically given importance.
In a word, historical events or socio cultural practices outside Christian community are not part of the_____
doctrine or moral norm
Sacred Tradition
This is the teaching authority of the Church
Magisterium
The Church_______ intervenes not only in the sphere of faith, but also, and inseparably so, in the sphere of morals.
magisterium
It has the task of discerning, by means of normative for the consciences of believers, those acts which in themselves conform to the demands of faith and foster their expression in life and those which, on the contrary, because intrinsically evil, are incompatible with such demands…
Magisterium
It teaches the faithful specific particular precepts and requires that they consider them in conscience as morally binding.
magisterium
