Christian Morality and Prayer

8/3/2019 Christian Morality and Prayer

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Morality: Life in ChristMorality: Life in Christ

It is no longer I who live, butIt is no longer I who live, but

Christ lives in me.Christ lives in me. St. PaulSt. Paul


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Sacraments = Mysteries ofSacraments = Mysteries of

ChristChrist Christ who acts in theChrist who acts in the

sacraments and communicatessacraments and communicates

grace, his Divine Life, to us.grace, his Divine Life, to us.


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Grace = Divine LifeGrace = Divine Life

GraceGrace for just one man is worthfor just one man is worthmore than:more than:

all the 170 billionall the 170 billion galaxiesgalaxies all the billions ofall the billions ofmenmen

all the myriads ofall the myriads ofangelsangels putputtogethertogether

The good of grace given to one man is greater than the goodThe good of grace given to one man is greater than the goodof the whole natural universeof the whole natural universe St. Thomas AquinasSt. Thomas Aquinas


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Christian MoralityChristian Morality

Christians can live the life of GodChristians can live the life of God

By living in Christ.By living in Christ.

St. Paul: It is no longer I who live,St. Paul: It is no longer I who live,

but Christ who lives in me.but Christ who lives in me.


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Christians are ipseChristians are ipse ChristusChristus

By receiving grace, divine life,By receiving grace, divine life,they can live as otherthey can live as other ChristsChrists,,

who is fully God and fully man.who is fully God and fully man.

Christians are otherChristians are other ChristsChrists,,Christ himself.Christ himself.


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Examples of fullness of humanityExamples of fullness of humanity

Saints are divinized humans =Saints are divinized humans =

Fullness of happinessFullness of happiness


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Mans dignityMans dignity

Made in the image and likenessMade in the image and likenessof God.of God.

Includes invalids, mentallyIncludes invalids, mentallyretarded, embryos, suffering oldretarded, embryos, suffering oldpeople, unaccomplished.people, unaccomplished.

Like God, we are a spirit, withLike God, we are a spirit, with

IntelligenceIntelligence

Free WillFree Will


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SpiritSpirit

IntelligenceIntelligence

You can know more, more, and more.You can know more, more, and more.

Open to the infiniteOpen to the infinite Free willFree will

You can decide to do something or notYou can decide to do something or not

You cannot be forced. You are in controlYou cannot be forced. You are in controlof your interior spirit.of your interior spirit.

You can decide to stop bad actions youYou can decide to stop bad actions youusually do. You can decide to do good.usually do. You can decide to do good.


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FreedomFreedom

Interior space where we can act andInterior space where we can act andnobody can force usnobody can force us

Power to act or not to act. PerformPower to act or not to act. Performdeliberate actions on one's owndeliberate actions on one's ownresponsibilityresponsibility

Our free actions are caused by us. We areOur free actions are caused by us. We areresponsible for them. We are the captainresponsible for them. We are the captainof our ship.of our ship.


10/30

Classification of moral choicesClassification of moral choices

Ten CommandmentsTen Commandments

Love God about allLove God about all

1. I am the LORD1. I am the LORDyour God: youyour God: you

shall not haveshall not havestrange Godsstrange Gods before me.before me.

2. You shall not2. You shall nottake thetake the name ofname ofthe LORDthe LORD youryourGod in vain.God in vain.

3. Remember to3. Remember tokeep holy thekeep holy theLORDS dayLORDS day..

Love others as selfLove others as self

4. Honor your4. Honor your fatherfatherand your motherand your mother..

5. You shall not5. You shall not killkill.. 6. You shall not6. You shall not

commitcommit adulteryadultery..

7. You shall not7. You shall not stealsteal..

8. You shall not bear8. You shall not bear

false witnessfalse witness againstagainstyour neighbor.your neighbor.

9. You shall not9. You shall not covetcovetyour neighborsyour neighbors wifewife..

10. You shall not10. You shall not covetcovet

your neighborsyour neighbors goodsgoods..


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ConscienceConscience

We can know what is good and bad,We can know what is good and bad,using our reason.using our reason.


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Who is freer?Who is freer?

He who can read? He who cant?He who can read? He who cant?

He who can write? He who cant?He who can write? He who cant?

He who loves the poor? He who does not love theHe who loves the poor? He who does not love the

poor?poor? He who loves his Creator? He who doesnt?He who loves his Creator? He who doesnt?

Freedom is not incompatible withFreedom is not incompatible withdiscipline, working for the good,discipline, working for the good,training to choose the right thing.training to choose the right thing.

The more we do what is good, theThe more we do what is good, thefreer we become.freer we become.


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Sources of MoralitySources of Morality

For an action to be good, theseFor an action to be good, thesethree have to be good:three have to be good:

1.1. ObjectObject action (action (giving alms,giving alms,

going to Massgoing to Mass oror cheatingcheating))

2.2. IntentionIntention interior aim (interior aim (helphelp

people, give glory to Godpeople, give glory to God ororvanityvanity))

3.3. CircumstancesCircumstances big or small,big or small,

place, etc.place, etc.

Bad object/action is

bad even if intention

is good. One cannot

do evil so good may

result from it.

Evil intention

corrupts the

action, even if the

object is good in

itself.

A great intention

can make small

good acts great.


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What did the greatest of all saintsWhat did the greatest of all saints

do?do? Take care of the babyTake care of the baby

Cook foodCook food

Fetch waterFetch water

Sew clothesSew clothes Wash clothesWash clothes

Clean the houseClean the house

Ponder things in her heartPonder things in her heart

Stood beside the crossStood beside the cross

Time alone with JesusTime alone with Jesus

'Great' holiness consists in doing the 'small duties' of each moment.

Do everything for Love. Thus there will be no little things: everything willbe big. St. Josemaria


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Love: essence of ChristianLove: essence of Christian

moralitymorality

Seeking God is the greatestSeeking God is the greatest

adventure.adventure. Finding God is the greatestFinding God is the greatest

accomplishment.accomplishment.

Loving God is the greatest romance.Loving God is the greatest romance.


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What is love?What is love?

Willing the good to the otherWilling the good to the other

Giving oneself to anotherGiving oneself to another

"the unselfish loyal and benevolent"the unselfish loyal and benevolentconcern for the good of anotherconcern for the good of another

BeneBene--volerevolere will the goodwill the good


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Only God satisfies

Saints are the aristocrats of happiness


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The just man falls 7 timesThe just man falls 7 times

But while he was still a long way off, hisBut while he was still a long way off, hisfather saw him and wasfather saw him and was filled withfilled withcompassion for himcompassion for him;; he ran to his son, threwhe ran to his son, threwhis arms around him and kissed himhis arms around him and kissed him..

2121 The son said to him, Father, I haveThe son said to him, Father, I havesinned against heaven and against you. I amsinned against heaven and against you. I amno longer worthy to be called your son.no longer worthy to be called your son.

2222 But the father said to his servants,But the father said to his servants,

Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.

Put a ring on his finger and sandals on hisPut a ring on his finger and sandals on hisfeet.feet. 2323 Bring the fattened calf and kill it.Bring the fattened calf and kill it.Lets have a feast and celebrate.Lets have a feast and celebrate. 2424 For thisFor thisson of mine was dead and is alive again; heson of mine was dead and is alive again; hewas lost and is found.was lost and is found.


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How to go to ConfessionHow to go to Confession

1.1. Examination of ConscienceExamination of Conscience--ContritionContrition

2.2. Confession to the priestConfession to the priest3.3. Penance/SatisfactionPenance/Satisfaction

there will bethere will be more rejoicing in heaven overmore rejoicing in heaven overone sinnerone sinner whowho repentsrepents than over ninetythan over ninety--nine righteous persons who do not need tonine righteous persons who do not need torepentrepent


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Confession properConfession proper

1.1. Kneel downKneel down

2.2. Say:Say:

Bless me Father for I have sinned.Bless me Father for I have sinned.

My last confession was (when it was).My last confession was (when it was).

My sins are: I lied 3 times. I did not go toMy sins are: I lied 3 times. I did not go toSunday mass once. Etc. etc.Sunday mass once. Etc. etc.

3. After the Priest gives advice, mentions3. After the Priest gives advice, mentionsyour penance, and says: Now you canyour penance, and says: Now you canmanifest your contrition.manifest your contrition.

You reply:You reply: "Lord Jesus, Son of God,"Lord Jesus, Son of God,

have mercy on me, a sinner."have mercy on me, a sinner."


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Christian PrayerChristian PrayerM

ary pondered all these thingsM

ary pondered all these thingsin her heart.in her heart.

Pray always, at all timesPray always, at all times --JesusJesus


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John Paul IIJohn Paul II

A great man of prayerA great man of prayer

For what does the Pope pray?For what does the Pope pray?

You would have to ask the HolyYou would have to ask the Holy

Spirit! The Pope prays as the HolySpirit! The Pope prays as the HolySpirit permits him to pray ManSpirit permits him to pray Manmust not put obstacles.must not put obstacles.


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Gift and responseGift and response

Prayer is both aPrayer is both a gift of gracegift of grace and aand adetermined responsedetermined response on our parton our part CCC 2725CCC 2725

Youth CatechismYouth Catechism 470: What470: Whatprompts a person to pray?prompts a person to pray?


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Forms of prayerForms of prayer

Traditional list (PACT)Traditional list (PACT)

PetitionPetition

AdorationAdoration

ContritionContrition

ThanksgivingThanksgiving

Catechism (BAPITP)Catechism (BAPITP)

Blessing andBlessing andAdorationAdoration

PetitionPetition

IntercessionIntercession


PraisePraise


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Forms of prayerForms of prayer

Traditional list (PACT)Traditional list (PACT)

PetitionPetition Lord hearLord hearour prayerour prayer

AdorationAdoration weweworship youworship you

ContritionContrition Lord haveLord havemercymercy

ThanksgivingThanksgiving -- ThanksThanks

be Godbe God

Catechism (BAPITP)Catechism (BAPITP)

BlessingBlessing Blessed be GodBlessed be Godforeverforever

AdorationAdoration --

PetitionPetition Lord have mercy onLord have mercy onme a sinner.me a sinner.

IntercessionIntercession


PraisePraise AlleluAllelu--iaia; Praise to you; Praise to youLord Jesus Christ. HosannaLord Jesus Christ. Hosanna


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Universal call to holinessUniversal call to holiness

All called to be holy (be perfect inAll called to be holy (be perfect inlove)love)

All called to be a very close friend ofAll called to be a very close friend ofJesusJesus

All called to continuous prayerAll called to continuous prayer

"We must remember God more often than"We must remember God more often thanwe draw breath. But we cannot pray "atwe draw breath. But we cannot pray "atall times" if we do not pray at specificall times" if we do not pray at specific

times, consciously willing it.times, consciously willing it.


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When should a person pray?When should a person pray?

YOUCAT: Anyone who loves anotherYOUCAT: Anyone who loves anotherperson and all day long never givesperson and all day long never givesthat person a sign of his love doesthat person a sign of his love doesnot really love him. So it is with Godnot really love him. So it is with Godtoo.too.

---- keep sending signals of his longingkeep sending signals of his longing

for his company and friendship.for his company and friendship.

Getting up/Mealtimes/End of dayGetting up/Mealtimes/End of day


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Expressions of PrayerExpressions of Prayer

Vocal prayerVocal prayer with external wordswith external wordsand soundsand sounds

MeditationMeditation reflection on readingsreflection on readings(Bible, spiritual writers, etc.)(Bible, spiritual writers, etc.)

ContemplationContemplation loving gazeloving gaze


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Mental prayer or interior prayerMental prayer or interior prayer

Making time for GodMaking time for God

Includes meditation andIncludes meditation andcontemplationcontemplation

St. Teresa of Avila: a closeSt. Teresa of Avila: a closesharing between friends; itsharing between friends; itmeansmeans taking timetaking time frequentlyfrequently totobe alone with himbe alone with him who we knowwho we knowloves usloves us

"I look at him and he looks at"I look at him and he looks atme"me"


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Opening prayer forOpening prayer for

mental prayermental prayer My Lord and my God,My Lord and my God,

I firmly believe that you are here, thatI firmly believe that you are here, that youyousee me, that you hear mesee me, that you hear me..

I adore you with profound reverence, II adore you with profound reverence, Iask your pardon for my sins, and theask your pardon for my sins, and thegrace to make this time of prayer fruitful.grace to make this time of prayer fruitful.

My immaculate

Mother, Saint Joseph my

My immaculate

Mother, Saint Joseph myfather and lord, my guardian angel,father and lord, my guardian angel,

intercede for me.intercede for me.

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Christian Morality and Prayer