1	Beatitudes and Gospel Morality By Fr. Edward J. Richard, MS, DThM, JD Kenrick School of Theology
2	The Beatitudes Finding a Context
3	Christian morality How do we understand the meaning of our lives from a moral standpoint? What is the Christian’s moral journey? What are its points of reference? Is it any different than Jewish justice or Greek wisdom?
4	What good must I do? What is morality all about? There are numerous theories about what would constitute a good life; ex. Hedonist, epicurean, pragmatist, utilitarian, etc.
5	Inclination to our Perfection Goods consistent with perfection Freedom is for seeking and doing good At the intersection of intellect and will Intellect seeks truth Will seeks the truth as good
6	What good must I do? Our question is answered by the concept of the perfection of our human nature, with all its capacities, especially the inclination to truth and moral goodness. This quest for the true goal of human life is placed in our hearts by God
7	The Moral Life Human Being-as is
8	Inclination Gospel Morality taught by the Church Best understood as Morality of Attraction (to our ultimate Good) Foundation principle in philosophy A thing, according to its nature, is inclined to its own end Upon the attainment of that end, it is at rest
9	Morality of Human Acts CCC1749. Human acts, that is, acts that are freely chosen in consequence of a judgment of conscience, can be morally evaluated. They are either good or evil.
10	Good vs. Evil Good is identified as something that is good for its own sake, such as health, life, etc., for a human person. Or something that is useful for attaining another thing that is good, such as good food, exercise, etc., that leads to a more fundamental good.
11	Good vs. Evil Evil is something that is lacking. In our actions, evil leads us away from our true good.
12	Morality Human Being
13	Christian Morality In Christ- holding fast to the very person of Jesus Christ, taking part in his life and destiny by his invitation and grace
14	Christian Morality It is faith in Jesus Christ, who has become the source of God’s justice and wisdom for all who believe. This became the foundation for the new morality. Thus while not rejecting the justice of the Jews and wisdom of the Greeks, in Paul’s description of the moral life, he gave them a new source.
15	Christian Morality Thus, the unique foundation for all Christian morality was established as faith in Jesus Christ. Paul substitutes humility and the truth of faith for human wisdom and power allowing the light and power of the Spirit to enter.
16	Christian Morality Self-confidence or trust in Jesus is the choice. The Spirit produces the virtue of holiness which comes from God through Jesus. In this way morality will be transformed in its entirety, in its inspiration, elements, structure, and applications.
17	Christian Morality St. Paul’s teaching Virtues Faith, Hope, and Love-Transformation in Christ from old to new Human virtues which were transformed by grace to make them operative in the “new man” Prudence, justice, temperance, courage Still, the struggle against the old man which must be put to death
18	Christian Morality-Life in Christ Human Being Image and Likeness of God
19	Virtue A habitual and firm disposition to do the good Characterized by Promptness or readiness Ease or facility Joy or satisfaction
20	The “Sources” of Morality 1750 The Morality of human acts depends on: --the object chosen; what one is doing --the end in view or the intention; why --the circumstances of the action.
21	Virtue and Good Action Virtue helps us to do the good and avoid evil
22	Prudence Prudence is the capacity to know how to pursue the good and avoid evil in every circumstance It guides all of our virtues In prudence we must judge that we are choosing the best means to achieve the good, with the intention of avoiding as much evil as possible
23	Choosing the Good Following the moral path involves the use of all the virtues, under the guidance of Prudence, to make sure that good is chosen and evil is avoided So morality is clearly a matter of will We are talking about goods intended and foreseen evils
24	Passions Another element of our nature Sense appetite-Passions
25	Being Passionate about the Good Will desires possession of the good This is part of a basic structure which begins with love Love exists before desire because we can only desire what we love Knowledge comes before willing because we can only love what we know
26	Happiness and the Good Loving Desire Joy, Peace, Happiness Seeking the truth as good The loved good is not present The good is present
27	CCC 1770 Moral perfection consists in being moved to the good not by will alone, but also by sensitive appetite, as in the words of the psalm: “My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Ps 84:2.
28	Virtue and The Moral Life Human Being-as is
29	Virtue and The Moral Life in Christ Human Being-as is
30	Beatitudes Christ’s answer to the question about Happiness Confronted with the Jewish notion of justice along with the Greek systems; how to understand the meaning of true happiness Particularly considering the Cross and our suffering
31	CCC 1718 The Beatitudes respond to the natural desire for happiness. This desire is of divine origin: God has placed it in the human heart in order to draw man to the One who can fulfill it: We all want to live happily; in the whole human race there is no one who does not assent to this proposition, even before it is fully articulated. (St. Augustine, De moribus eccl. I, 3, 4; PL 32, 1312.
32	CCC 1720 - 1729 These articles present in greater scope the concept of Christian beatitude, how it is characterized in SS, what is its joy, and the moral consequences of the promises.
33	Suffering Beatitudes closely related to suffering. The Beatitudes present the contrasts. The suffering described appears as the reverse of the promised happiness. Happiness is the resolution of the human dilemma experienced through the trial of suffering.
34	Suffering CCC 1500ff mentions suffering in the context of the sacrament of anointing. The connection between sin and suffering is evidenced. It also indicates that suffering can open the way to further maturity and a more profound search for God.
35	The Beatitudes Making them Practical
36	The Sermon on the Mount Jesus declares to his followers that they cannot be content to do as the pagans do. A perfect model for the Christian life. Charter for Christian Living One of the chief sources of renewal in the Church throughout the ages. Is it too demanding?
37	Sermon How to make it practical St. Augustine is one of the main writers in the patristic tradition and helps us to understand how the sermon was interpreted in the early Church. A presentation of Christian ethics in immediate contact with the Gospel
38	Augustine’s 5 Intuitions Charter for Christian Living Beatitudes and the Stages of Christian Life Sermon organized around the Beatitudes Beatitudes and Gifts of the Holy Spirit The Petitions of the Our Father
39	Charter Christ’s answers about deepest questions Perfect teaching of Christian morality
40	Beatitudes and Stages of Christian Life Seven Stages of the Christian Life These stages led from humility or poverty in spirit to wisdom and the vision of God. The eighth beatitude was a summary of all the others and fulfilled them inasmuch as it returned to the initial promise of the Kingdom.
41	Blessedness-Conversion
42	Blessedness-Growth in Holiness
43	Beatitudes Organize the Sermon The interpretation of the entire sermon grows out of the seven stages of happiness described by the Lord. The quest for happiness initiates a search for wisdom Happiness often perceived as shallow pleasure. The true definition of happiness needs to be developed in the light of faith.
44	Beatitudes Organize the Sermon Since I must now discuss the appointed ends of the heavenly and earthly cities, I ought to first explain . . . the arguments men use to create happiness for themselves in the midst of the sorrows in this life, and the vast distance between their hollow pleasures and the hope held out to us by God, whose object is that blessed bliss he will one day grant us. This can be illustrated not only by revelation but also by the light of reason, for the sake of those who do not share our faith. (City of God 1.19.1)
45	Beatitudes and Gifts Christians cannot follow the way of the B’s without the grace of the Holy Spirit. The Christian life is a life in the Spirit. The B’s describe the stages of the Christian life through which the Holy Spirit guides us progressively. This relationship between B and gift preserves a unity in SS, uniting Matthew and Paul closely through Isaiah.
46	Beatitudes and Gifts
47	Petitions of the Our Father It was another intuition of Augustine to establish the connection among the seven beatitudes, the gifts and the seven petitions of the Our Father. The our Father is the perfect prayer and should accompany the Christian through life’s pilgrimage.
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