344 SAVING TRUTHS OF THE FAITH

YOUCAT Lesson 344

YOUCAT the catechism for Catholic youth

344  Why does the Church also make declarations about ethical questions and about matters of personal conduct?

Believing is a path.  One learns how to stay on this path, in other words, how to act rightly and to lead a good life, only by following the instructions in the Gospel.  The teaching authority of the Church must remind people also about the demands of the natural moral law.  [2032-2040, 2049-2051]

St. Peters Basilica, Vatican, in the early morning hours. …..344

There are not two truths.  What is humanly right cannot be wrong from the Christian perspective.  And what is right according to Christianity cannot be humanly wrong.  That is why the Church must teach comprehensively about moral issues.

“Do you want to come to believe but do not know the way?  Learn from those who were tormented by doubts before you.  Imitate their way of acting, do everything that the faith requires, as though you were already a believer.  Attend Mass, use holy water, and so on.  That will no doubt make you simple and lead you to faith.”  Blaise Pascal (1588-1651)

[2032-2040, 2049-2051]

I. MORAL LIFE AND THE MAGISTERIUM OF THE CHURCH

2032 The Church, the "pillar and bulwark of the truth," "has received this solemn command of Christ from the apostles to announce the saving truth."( 1 Timothy 3:15; Lumen Gentium 17.)⁷⁴ "To the Church belongs the right always and everywhere to announce moral principles, including those pertaining to the social order, and to make judgments on any human affairs to the extent that they are required by the fundamental rights of the human person or the salvation of souls."( Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 747 § 2.)⁷⁵ –Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition

2033 The Magisterium of the Pastors of the Church in moral matters is ordinarily exercised in catechesis and preaching, with the help of the works of theologians and spiritual authors. Thus from generation to generation, under the aegis and vigilance of the pastors, the "deposit" of Christian moral teaching has been handed on, a deposit composed of a characteristic body of rules, commandments, and virtues proceeding from faith in Christ and animated by charity. Alongside the Creed and the Our Father, the basis for this catechesis has traditionally been the Decalogue which sets out the principles of moral life valid for all men. –CCC

2034 The Roman Pontiff and the bishops are "authentic teachers, that is, teachers endowed with the authority of Christ, who preach the faith to the people entrusted to them, the faith to be believed and put into practice."( Lumen Gentium 25. )⁷⁶ The ordinary and universal Magisterium of the Pope and the bishops in communion with him teach the faithful the truth to believe, the charity to practice, the beatitude to hope for. –CCC

2035 The supreme degree of participation in the authority of Christ is ensured by the charism of infallibility. This infallibility extends as far as does the deposit of divine Revelation; it also extends to all those elements of doctrine, including morals, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, explained, or observed.( Compare Lumen Gentium 25; Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, declaration, Mysterium Ecclesiae 3.)⁷⁷ –CCC

2036 The authority of the Magisterium extends also to the specific precepts of the natural law, because their observance, demanded by the Creator, is necessary for salvation. In recalling the prescriptions of the natural law, the Magisterium of the Church exercises an essential part of its prophetic office of proclaiming to men what they truly are and reminding them of what they should be before God.( Compare Dignitatis Humanae 14.)⁷⁸ –CCC

2037 The law of God entrusted to the Church is taught to the faithful as the way of life and truth. The faithful therefore have the right to be instructed in the divine saving precepts that purify judgment and, with grace, heal wounded human reason.( Compare Codex Iuris Canonici, can. 213.)⁷⁹ They have the duty of observing the constitutions and decrees conveyed by the legitimate authority of the Church. Even if they concern disciplinary matters, these determinations call for docility in charity. –CCC

2038 In the work of teaching and applying Christian morality, the Church needs the dedication of pastors, the knowledge of theologians, and the contribution of all Christians and men of good will. Faith and the practice of the Gospel provide each person with an experience of life "in Christ," who enlightens him and makes him able to evaluate the divine and human realities according to the Spirit of God.( Compare 1 Corinthians 2:10-15.)⁸⁰ Thus the Holy Spirit can use the humblest to enlighten the learned and those in the highest positions. –CCC

2039 Ministries should be exercised in a spirit of fraternal service and dedication to the Church, in the name of the Lord.( Compare Romans 12:8,11.)⁸¹ At the same time the conscience of each person should avoid confining itself to individualistic considerations in its moral judgments of the person's own acts. As far as possible conscience should take account of the good of all, as expressed in the moral law, natural and revealed, and consequently in the law of the Church and in the authoritative teaching of the Magisterium on moral questions. Personal conscience and reason should not be set in opposition to the moral law or the Magisterium of the Church. –CCC

2040 Thus a true filial spirit toward the Church can develop among Christians. It is the normal flowering of the baptismal grace which has begotten us in the womb of the Church and made us members of the Body of Christ. In her motherly care, the Church grants us the mercy of God which prevails over all our sins and is especially at work in the sacrament of reconciliation. With a mother's foresight, she also lavishes on us day after day in her liturgy the nourishment of the Word and Eucharist of the Lord. –CCC

IN BRIEF

2049 The Magisterium of the Pastors of the Church in moral matters is ordinarily exercised in catechesis and preaching, on the basis of the Decalogue which states the principles of moral life valid for every man. –CCC

2050 The Roman Pontiff and the bishops, as authentic teachers, preach to the People of God the faith which is to be believed and applied in moral life. It is also incumbent on them to pronounce on moral questions that fall within the natural law and reason. –CCC

2051 The infallibility of the Magisterium of the Pastors extends to all the elements of doctrine, including moral doctrine, without which the saving truths of the faith cannot be preserved, expounded, or observed. --CCC