The Liturgical Year – Class IX – Good Teacher
Communion Antiphon for the 28th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Psalm 119:22,24
1. The Gospel says, “as he was setting out on his journey…” What journey is Jesus going on? What is His destination in the Gospel?
2. What does the camel and the eye of the needle mean? (Detachment, Littleness, Pray/Support)
3. Which commandments has the man obeyed?
4. Which commandments are NOT listed? The omission is important!
Commandments 4-10 – Love of Neighbor
Cardinal Virtues of Justice, Prudence, Fortitude, Temperance
Natural
Given at Physical Birth
Commandments 1-3 – Love of God
Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope, Charity
Supernatural
Given at Spiritual Birth (Baptism)
CHARITY.The theological virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. CCC 1822
3. Why do we obey any law, any person?
Fear of Punishment, Hope of Reward, Love [NOTE: Act of Contrition - #14 in Oratory Prayer Book]
1 John 4:18 – There is not fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with punishment, and so one who fears is not yet perfect in love.
4. What is the purpose of law? What are the different types of law?What are the basis of our laws?
The analogy of children playing soccer on the median of a busy street.
Eternal Law
Natural Law / Divine (Revealed) Law
Civil (Human) Law
Letter From Birmingham Jail – Martin Luther King, Jr. (Aug. 1963)
You express a great deal of anxiety over our willingness to break laws. This is certainly a legitimate concern. Since we so diligently urge people to obey the Supreme Court's decision of 1954 outlawing segregation in the public schools, it is rather strange and paradoxical to find us consciously breaking laws. One may well ask, "How can you advocate breaking some laws and obeying others?" The answer is found in the fact that there are two types of laws: there are just laws, and there are unjust laws. I would agree with St. Augustine that "An unjust law is no law at all." Now, what is the difference between the two? How does one determine when a law is just or unjust? A just law is a man-made code that squares with the moral law, or the law of God. An unjust law is a code that is out of harmony with the moral law. To put it in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas, an unjust law is a human law that is not rooted in eternal and natural law
5. What method does Christ and His Church use to bring about conversion?Look, Love, Communicate
Proclamation >Solid, Deep, Sure
Based on a Person = Jesus Christ
TEACHER
Lex Orandi
(The Law of Prayer)
BEAUTIFUL
GRACE
LOVE
WAY
Catechism II and IV / Catechesis >
Then you have to do catechesis which is solid, deep, sure
TEACHINGS
< Lex Credendi
(The Law of Belief)
< Believe what we pray
TRUE
FAITH
KNOW
TRUTH
Catechism I / Moral Consequence
Then you can draw a moral consequence.
< Lex Vivendi
(The Law of Life)
< Live what we believe
GOOD
WORKS
SERVE
LIFE
Catechism III
Pope Francis A Big Open Heart to God
A beautiful homily, a genuine sermon must begin with the first proclamation, with the proclamation of salvation. There is nothing more solid, deep and sure than this proclamation. Then you have to do catechesis. Then you can draw even a moral consequence. But the proclamation of the saving love of God comes before moral and religious imperatives. Today sometimes it seems that the opposite order is prevailing. The homily is the touchstone to measure the pastor’s proximity and ability to meet his people, because those who preach must recognize the heart of their community and must be able to see where the desire for God is lively and ardent. The message of the Gospel, therefore, is not to be reduced to some aspects that, although relevant, on their own do not show the heart of the message of Jesus Christ.
6. How does the pursuit of Goodness, Truth and Beauty become difficult, misguided without God?
GOOD. In general, whatever is suitable or befitting someone or something. Practically, however, it is that which all things tend toward or desire. The good is the desirable, and therefore the object of the natural (or supernatural) needs or tendencies of a being.
TRUE (TRUTH).Conformity of mind and reality.
Three kinds of conformity give rise to three kinds of truth.
In logical truth, the mind is conformed or in agreement with things outside the mind, either in assenting to what is or in denying what is not. Its opposite is error. [laws of physics]
In metaphysical or ontological truth, things conform with the mind. This is primary conformity, when something corresponds to the idea of its maker, and it is secondary conformity when something is intelligible and therefore true to anyone who knows it. [chair-ness]
In moral truth, what is said conforms with what is on one's mind. This is truthfulness and its opposite is falsehood. [no duplicity; noble lie]
BEAUTY.That which instinctively appeals. According to St. Thomas Aquinas, "Beauty relates to the cognitive faculty; for beautiful things are those which please on being seen. Hence beauty consists in due proportion" (Summa Theologica, I, 5,4). There is, consequently, beauty not only in things material but also, and especially, in things spiritual. "Union in distinction makes order; order produces agreement; and proportion and agreement, in complete and finished things, make beauty" (St. Francis de Sales, Treatise on the Love of God, I).
7. What is Relativism? What does it lead to?
RELATIVISM.In philosophy, the view that there is no absolute truth or certitude. It is claimed that truth depends entirely on variable factors such as person, place, time, and circumstances. Moral relativism holds that there are no unchangeable principles of human behavior, either because all truth is relative or because there are no inherently evil actions, since everything depends on other factors, such as customs, conventions, or social approval.
Robs us of a sense of meaning
leaves no criteria for moral decision making
deprives children of formation
separates us from one another
undermines the right to life
makes it easy for those in authority to manipulate
puts freedom of speech under attack
attempts to destroy faith
Affirmation of Personal Faith
“I believe and profess all that the holy Catholic Church teaches,
believes and proclaims to be revealed by God.”
Go over 4 moral issues:
Chastity / Extra-marital Sexual Relationships
Contraception/IVF
Dignity of Human Life (Abortion, Euthanasia)
Homosexual Acts
8. What is the purpose of the sexual intercourse?
__ Unity of a Married Couple
__ Procreation
9. What is the purpose of marriage?
How does society define marriage? / How doesChrist and His Church define marriage?? / FREE
Indissolubility
Permanent - FULL / TOTAL Gift of Self
Exclusive - FAITHFUL
Open to Life - FRUITFUL
For a Catholic it must have correct
MATTER – Man and Woman
FORM – clergy, witnesses, consent