Christianity Includes Morality
Christian morality centers on the law of love for God and neighbor, guided by human reason, divine revelation, and the teachings of the Church. Loving God and your neighbor summarizes all moral duties. These moral principles are ingrained in human nature and can be understood through reason alone. It should be stated that every person is made in God's image, giving them sacred physical and spiritual worth.
Christianity is no stranger to a moral life. Jesus’ saving message founded in Sacred Scripture includes a moral system united to it in such a way that Christianity necessarily includes morality. The morality of Jesus protects the life of our relationship with him. Together with sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit gives us seven infused moral virtues; these are a combination of four cardinal virtues (which are human virtues acquired by habit, education, and effort) and three theological virtues (which are supernatural gifts infused into the soul by God at the time of our baptism). Together, they serve as the foundation of Christian moral behavior.
The word cardinal derives from the Latin cardo, meaning “hinge.” Consequently, these four virtues are called “cardinal” because all other virtues are categorized under them and hinge upon them. The Book of Wisdom of the Old Testament states, “For [Wisdom] teaches temperance and prudence, justice and fortitude, and nothing in life is more useful for men than these” (8:7). These cardinal virtues remove the obstacles to our union with God and make us lead good Christian lives.
CCC 1806: “Prudence is the virtue that disposes practical reason to discern our true good in every circumstance and to choose the right means of achieving it; "the prudent man looks where he is going… It is prudence that immediately guides the judgment of conscience. The prudent man determines and directs his conduct in accordance with this judgment. With the help of this virtue we apply moral principles to particular cases without error and overcome doubts about the good to achieve and the evil to avoid.”
Prudence makes us see what we should do and what we should avoid in order to save our souls, as well as choosing the best means to reach heaven.
CCC 1807: “Justice is the moral virtue that consists in the constant and firm will to give their due to God and neighbor. Justice toward God is called the "virtue of religion." Justice toward men disposes one to respect the rights of each and to establish in human relationships the harmony that promotes equity with regard to persons and to the common good.”
Justice makes us render to each one his due.
CCC 1808: “Fortitude is the moral virtue that ensures firmness in difficulties and constancy in the pursuit of the good. It strengthens the resolve to resist temptations and to overcome obstacles in the moral life. The virtue of fortitude enables one to conquer fear, even fear of death, and to face trials and persecutions. It disposes one even to renounce and sacrifice his life in defense of a just cause.”
Fortitude gives us strength to do God’s will amid trials and difficulties.
CCC 1809: “Temperance is the moral virtue that moderates the attraction of pleasures and provides balance in the use of created goods. It ensures the will's mastery over instincts and keeps desires within the limits of what is honorable.”
Temperance helps control evil desires and use rightly the things that please our senses.
The theology virtues dispose the Christian to live in a relationship with the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. They also inform the cardinal virtues and give life to them. These virtues are called theological virtues because they enable us to share in the divine life of God.
CCC 1842: “By faith, we believe in God and believe all that he has revealed to us and that Holy Church proposes for our belief.” Faith is the virtue by which we firmly believe –on the word of God- all of the truths he has revealed.
CCC 1843: “By hope we desire, and with steadfast trust await from God, eternal life and the graces to merit it.” Hope is the virtue by which we firmly trust that God will give us eternal happiness in heaven and means to obtain it.
CCC 1844: By charity, we love God above all things and our neighbor as ourselves for love of God. Charity, the form of all the virtues, "binds everything together in perfect harmony" (Col 3:14). Charity is the virtue by which we love God above all things for his own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.
No truly Christian life can be found that does not include the specific morality of Jesus Christ. This morality finds its perfection in the moral message taught by Jesus of Nazareth.
—Deacon Gerry Flamm
“Dear children! May this time be a time of prayer for you. My call, little children, desires to be for you a call to decide to follow the way of conversion; therefore, pray and seek the intercession of all the saints. May they be for you an example, an incentive and a joy towards eternal life. Thank you for having responded to my call.”
