YOUCAT Lesson 290
YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic
youth
290 How does God help us to be free men?
Christ wants us to be “set free for freedom” (see Galatians 5:1) and to become capable of brotherly love. That is why he sends us the Holy Spirit, who
makes us free and independent of worldly powers and strengthens us for a life
of love and responsibility. [1739-1742, 1748]
The more we sin, the more we think only about ourselves and
the less well we can develop freely. In
sinning we also become more inept at doing good and practicing charity. The Holy Spirit, who has come down into our
hearts, gives us a heart that is filled with love for God and mankind. We avail ourselves of the Holy Spirit as the
power that leads us to inner freedom, opens our hearts for love, and makes us
better instruments for what is good and loving.
120, 310-311
“For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back
into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, ‘Abba Father!’ it is the Spirit
himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” Romans 8:15
1739-1742, 1748
II. HUMAN FREEDOM IN THE ECONOMY OF SALVATION…….1739 Freedom and sin. Man's freedom is limited and fallible. In fact, man failed. He freely sinned. By refusing God's plan of love, he deceived himself and became a slave to sin. This first alienation engendered a multitude of others. From its outset, human history attests the wretchedness and oppression born of the human heart in consequence of the abuse of freedom. –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition
…….1740 Threats to freedom. The exercise
of freedom does not imply a right to say or do everything. It is false to
maintain that man, "the subject of this freedom," is "an
individual who is fully self-sufficient and whose finality is the satisfaction
of his own interests in the enjoyment of earthly goods."( Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith,
instruction, Libertatis conscientia 13.)33 Moreover, the economic, social,
political, and cultural conditions that are needed for a just exercise of
freedom are too often disregarded or violated. Such situations of blindness and
injustice injure the moral life and involve the strong as well as the weak in
the temptation to sin against charity. By deviating from the moral law man
violates his own freedom, becomes imprisoned within himself, disrupts
neighborly fellowship, and rebels against divine truth. –CCC
…….1741 Liberation and salvation. By
his glorious Cross Christ has won salvation for all men. He redeemed them from
the sin that held them in bondage. "For freedom Christ has set us
free."( Galatians 5:1.)34 In him we have communion with the
"truth that makes us free."( Compare John 8:32.)35 The Holy Spirit has been given to us
and, as the Apostle teaches, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
freedom."( 2
Corinthians 3:17)36 Already we glory in the "liberty
of the children of God."( Romans 8:21.)37 –CCC
Almighty and merciful God,
in your goodness take away from us all that is harmful,
so that, made ready both in mind and body,
we may freely accomplish your will.( Roman Missal, 32nd Sunday, Opening Prayer: Omnipotens et misericors Deus, universa nobis adversantia propitiatus exclude, ut, mente et corpore pariter expediti, quæ tua sunt liberis mentibus exsequamur.)38
in your goodness take away from us all that is harmful,
so that, made ready both in mind and body,
we may freely accomplish your will.( Roman Missal, 32nd Sunday, Opening Prayer: Omnipotens et misericors Deus, universa nobis adversantia propitiatus exclude, ut, mente et corpore pariter expediti, quæ tua sunt liberis mentibus exsequamur.)38
IN BRIEF
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