morality factor: intention

"before the throne of the almighty, man will be judged not by his acts but by his INTENTOINS. for god alone reads our hearts."
-- mohandas gandhi

proposed philippine reproductive health bill of 2008

re: excerpts from house bill # 5043, the "reproductive health and popoulation development act of 2008"

re: principles
fr: sec 2. declaration of policy.

"the state uphold and promotes:
-- reponsible parenthood,
-- informed choice,
-- birh spacing, and
-- respect for life
in conformity with internationally recognized human rights standards....

"the state shall uphold the
-- right of the people, particularly women and their organizations, to effective and reaosnable participation in the formulation and implementation of the declared policy.

"this policy is anchored on the rationale that
-- sustained human development
is better assured with a
-- MANAGEABLE POPULATION
of healthy, educated and productive citizens.

"the statelikewise guaranteees
-- universal access to medically-safe, legal, affordable and quality reproductive health care services, methods, devices, supplies and relevant information theron even as it
-- prioritizes the needs of women and children, among other underprivileged sectors."

re: right to "satisfying and safe sex life"
fr: sec 4, c. : definition of "reproductive health"
"... this implies that people are able to have a SATISFYING and SAFE sex life, that they have the capability to reproduce and the freedom to decide if, when and how often to do so, provided thatthese are not against the law...."

re: definition of "sustainable human development"
fr: sec 4, c.
"... decent standard of living and assuring continuity and acceleratoin of development by achieving a blance between and among
-- a manageable population,
-- adequate resources and
-- a healthy environment."

re: free ligation of indigent mothers
fr: sec 5, i
"to direct all public hospitals to make availabe to INDIGENT MOTHERS who deliver their children in these government hospitals, upon the mother's request, the procedure of ligation without cost to her;"

re: sex education
fr: sec 12. "mandatory age-appropriate reproductive heatlh education"
"... stragin grade 5 up to fourth year high school .... the reproductive heatlh eucation curriculum ... common to both public and private schools ...."

re: ideal family size
fr: sec 16
"... encourage them to have TWO CHILDREN as the ideal family size...."

re: CONSCIENCE clause
fr: sec 21, no. 5
"... provided, that all CONSCIENTIOUS OBJECTIONS of health care service providers based on RELIGIOUS grounds shal be respected..."

abortion_catholic stand

fr: george weigel [distinguished sr fellow, ethics & public policy ctr, washington] (2008 oct 14). "prolife catholics for obama", http://www.newsweek.com/id/163896/

aborion rate: US & sweden = 25% / pregnancy
reason: financial -- only 23% of US aborions are done due to alleged financila need (c/o Guttmacher Institute, the research arm of Planned Parenthood)

*"the catholic church has opposed abortion from the beginnings of christianity; nor an open questoin for serious catholics."

"in a just society, innocent human life, especially when incapable of self-defense, deservdes the protection of the laws." -- according ot card. francis george of chicago (phd in political philosophy), current president of the US conference of bishops

abortion is an INRINSIC evil, which can be known by reason.

moral stance

fr: george weigel [distinguished sr fellow, ethics & public policy ctr, washington] (2008 oct 14). "prolife catholics for obama", http://www.newsweek.com/id/163896/

moral issues can be divided into those that catholics are:
(1) morally obliged to oppose, ex: legal segregation, abortion*
(2) left to their "prudential judgment", ex: war, social welfar, environment, economy

-----
*"the catholic church has opposed abortion from the beginnings of christianity; nor an open questoin for serious catholics."

7 capital sins: pride

"Pride is an admission of wekaness; it secretly fears all competition and dreads all rivals." -- FultonJ. Sheen (c/o CSB chapel strips)

theological virtues: love

"I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver." - Maya Angelou (c/o DLS-CSB chapel fishbowl of sayings)

sins against neighbor: SS

Re: Love of Neighbor, Don’ts
Fr: Proverbs 3:27-32 (“The True Security”)

[27] “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. [28] Do not say to your neighbor, ‘Go, and come again, tomorrow I will give it’ – when you have it with you.
[29] Do not plan harm against your neighbor who lives trustingly beside you.
[30] Do not quarrel with anyone without cause, when no harm has been done to you.
[31] Do not envy the violent and do not choose any of their ways;”

theological virtue: faith: ss

Re: "Admonition to trust and honor God" (Prov 3:1-12)
vv5-8 "TRUST in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. [6] In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. [7] Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil. [8] It will be a healing for your flesh and a refreshment for your body."

virtue: humility: desert father

Re: Gospel commentary, Tues, 2nd Sun of Lent (Mt 23:1-12)
Fr: the Sayings of the Desert Fathers (4th-5th centuries) Macarius the Great 11, http://dailygospel.org/www/popup-comments.php?language=AM&id=1161

"Whoever humbles himself will be exalted" [Mt 23:12]

One day Abba Macarius was returning to his cell from the marshes carrying his palm leaves. Along the way, the devil came to meet him with a reaper’s scythe. He wanted to beat him with it but could not. Then the devil said to him: “Macarius, I endure a great many torments because of you because I am unable to overcome you. Nevertheless, I do all I can. You fast and I never eat; you watch and I never sleep a wink. There is only one point at which you beat me.” “Which?” asked Macarius. “It is your humility that prevents me from overcoming you.”

virtue: humitily: st. bernadette

Re: Virtues, Humility; St. Bernadette Soubirous (1844-1879); Canonized 1933 by Pope Pius XI
Fr: http://www.saintpatrickdc.org/ss/0416.htm, accessed 2008 Feb 11 (highlight mine)

-- oldest of 6 children to the impoverished miller Francois
-- lived in the basement of a damp building
-- contracted cholera in 1854 and had asthma
-- at age 14: ailing, undersized, of pleasant disposition, sensitive, and a SLOW STUDENT – even stupid – but was a kind, helpful and obedient child
-- for some years, suffered greatly from suspicious disbelief of some and the tactless enthusiasm and insensitive attention of others; these TRIALS she bore with impressive patience and dignity
-- prevented by bad health to enter convent for 2 years
-- health remained fragile in convent
-- worked as infirmarian, then sacristan

“Here [convent] she was more sheltered from trying publicity, but not from the 'stuffiness' of the convent superiors nor from the tightening grip of asthma. "I am getting on with my joy," she would say. "What is that?" someone asked. "Being ill," was the reply.

“The nuns, disappointed by the simplicity of this child of nature, in whom they had expected to find a second Teresa of Ávila or another Catherine of Siena, made the peasant girl feel bitterly the scant esteem in which they held her; and even her superiors, with the aim of protecting the visionary of Lourdes from the sin of pride, were not sparing in humiliations.

“With the excuse that she was a "stupid, good-for-nothing little thing," her profession was continually delayed. God gave to the despised creature, who was punished for 13 years because of her visions, the strength to say: "You see, my story is quite simple. The Virgin made use of me, then I was put into a corner. That is now my place. There I am happy and there I remain."

“Thus, she lived out her self-effacing life, dying at the age of 35 …. The events of 1858 resulted in Lourdes becoming one of the most important pilgrim shrines in the history of Christendom, ending with the consecration of the basilica in 1876. But Saint Bernadette took no part in these developments; nor was it for her visions that she was canonized, but for the humble simplicity and religious trust that characterized her whole life (Attwater, Benedictines, Bentley, Delaney, Encyclopedia, Farmer, Sandhurst, Schamoni, Trochu, Walsh, White).

Saint Bernadette is the patron saint of shepherds (White).

sin: cause: solzhenitsyn

"We do not err because truth is difficult to see. It is visible at a glance. We err because this is more comfortable."
- Alexandr Solzhenitsyn (b. 1918), Russian nobel laureate for literature (1970), as quoted by lukeabaya.multiply.com

criteria: act: example

Re: Responsible Parenthood
Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) # 2368

[> Subjective intent]

"When it is a question of harmonizing married love with the responsible transmission of life, the morality of the behavior does not depend on sincere intention and evaluation of motives alone;

[> Objective act]

but it must be determined by OBJECTIVE criteria, criteria drawn from the nature of the person and his acts, criteria that respect the total meaning of mutual self-giving and human procreation in the context of true love; this is possible only if the vritue of married chastity is practiced with sincerity of heart."

- Gaudium et spes 51 par 3.

virtues: modesty

Re: "Concerning almsgiving" (Mt 6:1-4)
v3-4 "'But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, [4] so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.'"

Re: "Concerning fasting" (Mt 6:16-18)
v17 "'But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, [18] so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.'"

sex: purpose

Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994)

Re: "Offenses against chastity"
"Sexual pleasure is morally disordered when sought for itself, isolated from its
- PROCREATIVE and
- UNIVITIVE purposes." (CCC # 2351)

Re: "The fecundity of marriage"
"... the Church, which is 'on the side of life' (Pope John Paul II [1981] Familiaris consortio # 30], teaches that 'it is necessary that each and every marraige act remain ordered per se to the PROCREATION of human life' (Pope Paul VI, Humanae Vitae # 11). 'This particular doctrine, expounded on numerous occasions by the Magisterium, is based on the inseparable connection, established by God, which man on his own initiative may not break, between the
- UNITIVE significance and the
- PROCREATIVE significance which are
both inherent to the marriage act' (Humanae Vitae # 12; cf. Pius XI, Enc. Casti connubii.) (CCC # 2366)

masturbation: catholic view

Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) # 2352

. Definition

= "the deliberate stimulation of the genital organs in order to derive sexual pleasure."

. Teaching

"'Both the Magisterium of the Church, in the course of constant tradition, and the moral sense of the faithful have been in no doubt and have firmly maintained that masturbation is an INTRINSICALLY and GRAVELY DISORDERED action.'"
- Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Persona humana 9.

. Rationale

It is contrary to the purpose of marriage because here "sexual pleasure is sought outside of 'the sexual relationship which is demanded by the moral order and in which the total meaning of MUTUAL SELF-GIVING and HUMAN PROCREATION in the context of TRUE LOVE is achieved.'"
- Ibid.

. Possible mitigating circumstances to moral culpability

- "... affective immaturity,
- force of acquired habit,
- conditions of anxiety or
- other psychological or
- social factors...."

sins against marriage

Grave offenses against the dignity of marriage:
- adultery,
- divorce,
- polygamy, and
- free union.
-- Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) # 2400

sins against chastity

"Among the sings gravely contrary to chastity are
- masturbation,
- fornication,
- pornography, and
- homosexual practices."
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) # 2396

the beatitudes

Fr: Excerpted from newsletter@catholicexchange.com (2008 Feb 2).
"Worrying Won't Get You Where You Want to Go." [Homily of the Day]

Sunday's Gospel, the eight beatitudes, is Jesus's response to us weary, wounded folks who are such easy prey to fear and worry. "Congratulations," He says -- eight times. That's what all those "blesseds" mean.

"I congratulate you NOT because you're poor, sad, lowly, or persecuted, but because, in spite of that, God our Father cherishes you, walks with you, and will not let you be destroyed by any of that -- no matter what.Congratulations!

"I congratulate you further," says Jesus, "Not just because you're striving to be good, striving to be compassionate and faithful.I congratulate you because God our Father sees your striving, and will bless your efforts in His own way and in His own time -- if only you'll be patient.Congratulations!" Jesus says -- eight times.

sex: catholic view

Re: "Other offenses against the dignity of marriage"
"The sexual act must take place exclusively within marriage. (# 2390) Carmal union is morally legitimate only when a DEFINITIVE COMMUNITY OF LIFE between a man and woman has been established. (# 2391)
- Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994)

Re: "The love of husband and wife"
"Sexuality is ordered to the conjugal love of man and woman. In marriage the physical intimacy of the spouses becomes a sign and pledge of SPIRITUAL COMMUNION."
(# 2361)

virtues: generosity

Re: "A lamp under a bushel basket" (Mk 4 :21-25)
v24 "And he said to them, 'Pay attention to what you hear; the MEASURE you GIVE will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you.'"

secrecy: futility

Re: "A lamp under a bushel basket" (Mk 4:21-25)
v22 "'For there is nothing hidden, except to be disclosed; nor is anything secret, except to come to light.'"

evil: purposes: detachment

Re: Evil, Purposes; Detachment
Fr: Excerpt from Bill Donaghy* (2008 Jan 16). “New year’s resolution # 6 – Letting go.” http://missionmoment.blogspot.com/, accessed 2008 Jan 22 (highlight mine)

“Thank God another hand was there that day, when Frodo refused to let the Ring fall. But it was an unexpected hand, a gnarled and withered hand that saved the day. Gollum clutched and grasped at his master and bit the hand of Frodo, causing the Ring to plummet into fire and out of memory.

“How often does it seem that Providence puts these unwelcome hands in our way, gnarled and withered hands that take things away from us, tear at us and tease us. It should be stressed that this is not the Hand of God... directly. He wills only our good and we must believe this, we must trust this. But we must know too that God is a jealous Lover. And He may from time to time unbind and allow the hands of the Devil to act. This is the mysterium iniquitatis, the mystery of evil, and the mystery of Good as well. The puzzling Plan of Providence.

“Does this frighten us? Is this an unsettling thought for us? To consider that God would ever allow us, His children to be burned, to be hurt, to suffer like Job? It takes tremendous faith, and a laser focus on that one thing needful, that pearl of great price. It is, we find in the end, not the pearl that matters, but the Person holding it. All else must fall away. Everything must fall away and we must be stripped, just as Frodo and Samwise on their journey through Mordor, and Abraham through the countless miles to Canaan, and Moses in the wilderness, and Hannah in her tears, and David in his battles, and Anthony in his barren cave, Clare in the cutting of her hair and all the ties that bound her to comfort. Everyone must pass through Mordor, through Calvary. And there, if we are to be free, we must lay down the Precious. Cast it into the fire, let it burn upon the altar of the Cross.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Bill has a Master’s degree in Systematic Theology and teaches theology at Malvern Preparatory School. He was a lay missionary to South America.

idolatry: golden calf

"... a Golden Calf (aka, a tribute to the Egyptian cult of Apis, which is basically an obsession over sex, power, and wealth for the ancients)."
- bill donaghy (2008 jan 22). "modern idolatry". http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/69185

attachment: quotes

St. John of the Cross once wrote "It comes to the same thing whether a bird be held by a slender cord or by a stout one; since, even if it be slender, the bird will be as well held as though it were stout.... And thus the soul that has ATTACHMENT to anything, however much virtue it possess, will not attain to the liberty of divine union."
- Bill Donaghy (2008 jan 22). "Modern Idolatry." http://www.catholicexchange.com/node/69185

sin: definition: pope john paul ii

"If sin is the breaking off of one's filial relationship with God in order to situate one's life outside of obedience to him, then to sin is not merely to deny God. To sin is also to live as if he did not exist, to eliminate him from one's daily life."
-- Pope John Paul II (1984 Dec 2). Reconciliatio et Paenitentia (Apostolic Exhortation on Reconciliation and Penance in the Mission of the Church Today). # 18 par 9. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/ hf_jp-ii_exh_02121984_reconciliatio-et-paenitentia_en.html

sin: root

"the root of sin is in the HEART of man, in his FREE WILL...." (cf. mt 15:19-20)
- catechism of the catholic church (1994) # 1853

sins: mortal or venial

Re: Sins, Classification: Gravity, Mortal or Venial
Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church {CCC} (1994). # 1855-1863 and Pope John Paul II (1984 Dec 2). Reconciliatio et Paenitentia {RP} [Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation on Reconciliation and Penitence in the Mission of the Church Today]. http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_exhortations/documents/hf_jp-ii_exh_02121984_reconciliatio-et-paenitentia_en.html

"If you see your brother or sister committing what is not a mortal sin, you will ask, and God will give life to such a one -- to those whose sin is NOT MORTAL. There is sin that is MORTAL; I do not say that you should pray about that. [17] All wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that is not mortal."
-- I John 5:16-17 (CCC # 1854)

“The Synod {1983, 6th General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops} … reaffirmed the teaching of the Council of Trent {1545 – 1563, Trent is an Italian City} concerning the existence and nature of mortal and venial sins….” (RP # 17 § 12)

“The church has a teaching on this matter [gravity of sin] which she reaffirms in its essentials, while recognizing that it is not always easy in concrete situations to define clear and exact limits.” (RP # 17 § 1)

I. Mortal Sin

Definition:
= “is sin whose object is grave matter and which is also committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent”. (RP # 17 § 12 as quoted in CCC # 1857)

= is a “radical rupture with God, the supreme good, of deviation from the path that leads to God or interruption in the journey towards him (which are all ways of defining mortal sin)….” (RP # 17 § 11)

= “the act by which man freely and consciously rejects God, his law, the covenant of love that God offers, preferring to turn in on himself or to some created and finite reality, something contrary to the divine will (conversion ad creaturam).” (RP # 17 § 15)

= “… when through sin, the soul commits a disorder that reaches the point of turning away from its ultimate end Got to which it is bound by charity, then the sin is mortal….” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I-II, q. 72, a. 5 (RP # 17 § 9)

Examples:
(1) direct and formal: idolatry, apostasy, and atheism
(2) indirect and informal: disobedience to God’s commandments (RP # 17 § 15)

“Do not kill, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and your mother” (Mt 10:19). (CCC # 1858)

Effect:
“Mortal sin destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God’s law; it turns man away from God, who is his ultimate end and his beatitude, by preferring an inferior good to him.” (CCC # 1855)

Mortal sin, “if unforgiven, leads to eternal punishment….” (RP # 17 § 10)

NB:
“Unintentional ignorance can diminish or even remove the imputability of a grave offense. But no one is deemed to be ignorant of the principles of the moral law, which are written in the conscience of every man.” (CCC # 1860)

“The promptings of feelings and passions can also diminish the voluntary and free character of the offense, as can external pressures or pathological disorders.” (CCC # 1860)

“… although we can judge that an act is itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.” (CCC # 1861)

“Considering the omnipotence and mercy of God, no one should despair of the salvation of anyone in this life….” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, II-II, q. 14, a. 3, ad primum. (RP # 17 § 6)

“The Christian possesses the power that preserves him from falling into sin, and ‘the evil one does not touch him’ (1 John 5:18)….” (RP # 17 § 4)

II. Venial Sin

Definition:
“One commits venial sin when, in a less serious matter, he does not observe the standard prescribed by the moral law, or when he disobeys the moral law in a grave matter, but without full knowledge or without complete consent.” (CCC # 1862)

“Man knows well by experience that along the road of faith and justice which leads to the knowledge and love of God in this life and toward perfect union with him in eternity, he can cease to go forward or can go astray without abandoning the way of God; and in this case there occurs venial sin.” (RP # 17 § 13)

“… whenever the disorder does not reach the point of a turning away from God, the sin is venial.” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I-II, q. 72, a. 5. (RP 3 17 § 9)

Examples:
“When a sinner’s will is set upon something that of its nature involves a disorder, but is not opposed to the love of God and neighbor, such as thoughtless chatter or immoderate laughter and the like, such sins are venial.” – St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologiae, I-II, 88, 2, corp. art. (CCC # 1856)

Effect:
“Venial sin allows charity to subsist, even though it offends and wounds it.” (CCC # 1855)

“… venial sin is the sin that merits temporal punishment (that is, a partial punishment which can be expiated on earth or in purgatory).” (RP # 17 § 10)

NB:
“Deliberate and unrepented venial sin disposes us little by little to commit mortal sin.” (CCC # 1863)

“While he is in the flesh, man cannot help but have at least some light sins. But do not despise these sins which we call ‘light’; if you take them for light when you weigh them, tremble when you count them. A number of light objects makes a great mass; a number of drops fills a river; a number of grains makes a heap. What then is our hope? Above all, confession….” – St. Augustine, In ep. Jo. 1, 6: PL 35, 1982. (CCC # 1863)

sins: classifications

1. their OBJECTS
2. the VIRTUES they oppose
3. by EXCESS of DEFECT
4. the COMMANDMENTS they violate
5. concern GOD, NEIGHBOR, or ONESELF
6. SPIRITUAL or CARNAL
7. in THOUGHT, WORD, DEED, or OMISSION
8. MORTAL or VENIAL
- catechism of the catholic church (1994) # 1853-1854

sin: definition: ccc

Re: Sin, Definition
Fr: Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994). “The definition of sin.” # 1849-1851.

Sin =

-- “is an offense against reason, truth and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love of God and neighbor caused by a PERVERSE ATTACHMENT to certain goods”. (# 1849)

-- is “’an utterance, a deed or a desire CONTRARY TO THE ETERNAL LAW”. – St. Augustine, Contra Faustum 22: PL 42, 418; St. Thomas Aquinas, STh I-Ii, 71, 6. (# 1849)

-- is “’LOVE OF ONESELF even to contempt of God”. – St. Augustine, De civitatis Dei 14, 28: PL 41, 436. (# 1850)

7 capital sins: greed: story

Re: Capital Sins, Greed; Story
Fr: fwd email by dandount@hotmail,com, 2007 Jan 17

The Obedient Wife'

There was a man who had worked all his life, had saved all of his money, and was a real 'miser' when it came to his money.

Just before he died, he said to his wife...'When I die, I want you to take all my money and put it in the casket with me. I want to take my money to the afterlife with me.'

And so he got his wife to promise him, with all of her heart, that when he died, she would put all of the money into the casket with him.

Well, he died. He was stretched out in the casket, his wife was sitting there - dressed in black, and her friend was sitting next to her. When they finished the ceremony, and just before the undertakers got ready to close the casket, the wife said,

'Wait just a moment!'

She had a small metal box with her; she came over with the box and put it in the casket. Then the undertakers locked the casket down and they rolled it away. So her friend said,

'Girl, I know you were not fool enough to put all that money in there with your husband.'

The loyal wife replied, 'Listen, I'm a Christian; I cannot go back on my word. I promised him that I was going to put that money into the casket with him.'

You mean to tell me you put that money in the casket with him!?!?!?'

'I sure did,' said the wife. 'I got it all together, put it into my account, and wrote him a check.... If he can cash it, then he can spend it.'

mercy: importance: ccc

re: "mercy and sin"
"the gospel is the revelation in jesus christ of god's MERCY to sinners (cf. lk 15 [parable of the lost sheep, coin, prodigal son]" (ccc 1846)

"... to receive his MERCY, we must admit our faults." (ccc 1847)

"... to do its work grace must uncover sin so as to convert our hearts and bestow on us 'righteousness to eternal life through jesus christ our lord' (rom 5:21).... (ccc 1848)

abuse of power: ss

re: "the elders attempt to seduce susanna" (dan 13:15-27); "the elders testify against susanna" (dan 13:28-46)
vv19-21,41b "when the maids had gone out, the two elders got up and ran to her. [20] they said, 'look, the garden doors are shut, and no one dan see us. we are burning with desire for you; so give your consent, and lie with us. [21] if you refuse, we will testify against you that a young man was with you, and this was why you sent your maids away.'
"[41]... because they were elders of the people and judges, the assembly beleived them and condemned her to death.'"

moral dilemma: susanna

re: "the elders attempt to seduce susanna" (dan 13:15-27)
vv22-23 "susanna groaned and said, 'i am completely trapped. for if i do this [i.e., give in to the sexual desires of the two elders], it will mean death to me; if i do not, i cannot escape your hands. [23] i CHOOSE not to do it; i will fall into your hands, rather than sin in the sight of our lord.'"

theological virtues: questionnaire

Re: Virtues: Theological: Questionnaire
Fr: Extracted from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (1994) # 1812-1829.

I. Questionnaire

Rate each of the statements below using the following scale:
1 = strongly disagree
2 = disagree
3 = somewhat disagree & somewhat agree
4 = agree
5 = strongly agree

A. Faith (# 1814-1816)

___ 1. Do I believe in God, in all that he has said and revealed to us, and all that
Holy Church proposes for our belief, because he is truth itself?
___ 2. Do I freely commit my entire self to God in faith?
___ 3. Do I seek to know and do God’s will?
___ 4. Do I have a living faith that works through charity? (cf. Rom 1:17; Gal
5:6)
___ 5. Do I keep the faith, live on it, profess it, confidently bear witness to it
and spread it? (cf. Jas 2:26; Mt 10:32-33)
___ 6. Is my faith full of hope and love?

B. Hope (# 1817-1821)

___ 1. Do I desire the Kingdom of heaven and eternal life as my happiness,
placing my trust in Christ’s promises and relying not on my own strength,
but on the help of the grace of the Holy Spirit?
___ 2. Do I hold fast to the confession of my hope without wavering because he
who promised is faithful? (cf. Heb 10:23)
___ 3. Do I hope, with the grace of God, to persevere to the end and to obtain
the joy of heaven, as God’s eternal reward for the good works
accomplished with the grace of Christ? (cf. Rom 8:28-30; Mt 7:21)
___ 4. Does my aspiration for happiness, which God has placed in the heart of
all, inspire and purify my activities so as to order them to the Kingdom of
heaven?
___ 5. Am I easily discouraged?
___ 6. Does hope preserve me from selfishness and lead me to the happiness
that flows from charity?
___ 7. Am I able to sustain my joy and patience even under trial? (cf. Rom
12:12)
___ 8. Do I express and nourish my hope in prayer, especially the “Our Father”
which is the summary of everything that hope leads us to desire?
___ 9. Do I pray in hope that all be saved? (1 Tim 2:4)
___ 10. Do I long to be united with Christ in the glory of heaven? (cf. St. Teresa
of Avila, Excl. 15:3)

C. Charity (# 1822-1829)

___ 1. Do I love God above all things for his own sake?
___ 2. Do I love my neighbor as myself for the love of God and in imitation of
Jesus?
___ 3. Do I abide in Christ’s love by keeping his commandments? (Jn 15:9-10;
cf. Mt 22:40; Rom 13:8-10)
___ 4. Do I love even my enemies?
___ 5. Do I love children and the poor as Christ himself? (cf. Mt 5:44; Lk 10:27-
37; Mk 9:37)
6. Am I …
___ jealous?
___ boastful?
___ arrogant?
___ rude?
___ insistent on my own way?
___ irritable?
___ resentful?
___ impatient?
___ unkind?
___ rejoicing at what is wrong? (1 Cor 13:4-7)
___ 7. Do I follow God’s commands out of love for him? (cf. St. Basil)


II. Reflection

1. What theological virtue is my strength? Why?


2. How can I share this strength in the service of my family and community?


3. What theological virtue is my weakness? Why?


4. What do I need to do to develop this theological virtue?


5. Reflect on this passage:

“If I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. [2] And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and If I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. [3] If I give away all my possessions, and if I hand over my body so that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing.

“... [8] Love never ends. But as for prophecies, they will come to an end; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will come to an end…. [13] And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Cor 13:1-3, 8 & 13).

6. Pray and memorize this prayer by St. Arnold Janssen, SVD which summarizes the theological virtues:

“O God, Eternal Truth, we believe in You.
O God, our strength and salvation, we trust in You,
O God, infinite goodness, we love You with all our hearts.

You sent the Word into the world as our savior, make us all one with Him.
Fill us with the Spirit of Christ, that we may proclaim Your name everywhere. Amen.”