Honors Theology III

Midterm Review

1. Holiness – Holiness is our call to sainthood. It is made possible through the grace we
received at Baptism. Every baptized person is called to live a life of holiness. Holiness is
the aim of Christian morality. Adam & Eve were created in a state of holiness. Holiness
is about having an intimate relationship with God.

2. Cardinal Virtues – “Card” comes from the Latin word “cardo” that means, “hinge”. There
are four Cardinal Virtues: Prudence (gives us the wisdom to know right from wrong);
Justice (give what is deserved); Temperance (control over our desires); and Fortitude
(strength to resist evil)

3. Theological Virtues – There are three theological virtues: faith (belief), hope (trust), and
love (charity). The greatest of these is love. Love is the crown of morality; it finds its
beginning and end in love.

4. Sanctifying Grace – Sanctifying grace is God’s life in us. This type of grace comes to us
through participation in all of the sacraments. We receive it at Baptism, nurture it through
the Eucharist, and restore it through Penance if we lose it through mortal sin. It is called
the “seed of eternal life”.

5. Actual Grace – We receive actual grace through our actions. Without actual grace, we
cannot keep ourselves in a state of sanctifying grace for very long.

6. The Nature of Good & Evil – The concepts of good and evil are objective – they cannot
change. What is good is good; what is evil is evil. St. Augustine used the image of a
waterfall to describe creation. He stated that God poured his grace out onto everything;
therefore, everything was created good. Evil is the perversion of good.

7. Sources of Christian Morality - The chief sources of Christian morality are the Beatitudes
and the Ten Commandments.

8. Sources of Moral Theology – The sources of moral theology are Sacred Tradition, Sacred
Scripture, the Magisterium, and the Ancillary Sciences of Moral Theology (philosophical
ethics, law, and other human sciences such as psychology)

9. Tradition vs. tradition – Tradition is the customs of God’s revelation while tradition is the
customs of man.

10. The Magisterium – The Magisterium is the Church’s teaching office. It comes from the
Latin word magister which means “teacher”. It is made up of the Pope, councils, and
bishops in their dioceses. The Magisterium defines both the truths of faith and the
Church’s moral teachings and transmits them to every generation.

11. Infallibility – Infallibility refers to the immunity from error of the Magisterium over all moral
doctrine.

12. Christian Understanding of Man – According to Christian beliefs, man has an eternal soul
with intellect and free will. The soul is created by God. Man is body and soul and the
 body and soul are united.

13. Non-Christian Understanding of Man – Non-Christians may believe that: Man is only a
body and we act out of instinct; choices are predetermined; or man is only a soul.

14. Human Acts and Acts of a Human – Acts of a human are acts accomplished without
knowledge or deliberation (e.g. breathing, blinking). Human acts are acts performed with
both knowledge and free will. Human acts may be either morally good or morally evil
(e.g. choosing to shoot someone when they won’t shut up … btw, this is evil. Very evil).

15. Freedom vs. freedom – Freedom is the power a person has to choose to love God or
reject him while freedom is the power a person has over regular actions (e.g. choosing to
not study for your chemistry midterm)

16. The Different Types of Conscience – Antecedent (precedes the action); Concomitant
(during the action); Consequent (follows the action); True (based on truth); Erroneous
(based on a false understanding of truth; two types of ignorance – vincible [can be
overcome] and invincible [cannot be overcome]); Scrupulous (over judges); Lax (under
judges: evil is bad, bad is ok/good; mortal = venial, venial = not sinful)

17. Formation & Degradation of Conscience – Three teachers form our conscience: people,
experiences, and reflection. The means to forming a good conscience include
acceptance of moral theology, knowledge of the Christian life and doctrine, prayer and
meditation, personal examination, and spiritual direction. Degradation of conscience
occurs when you reject the Church and start believing what you want to believe and
making up your own rules.

18. Different Types of Law –

 Just Law – An ordinance of good reason for the common good corresponding to
divine law and promulgated by who has care of the community.
 Natural Law – The part of eternal law that applies to the rational creature.
 Eternal Law – God’s wisdom as manifested in all acts and movements.
 Unjust Law – Human or civil laws that do not correspond to divine law and should
not be followed.
 Evangelical or New Law – The law that holds the baptized person as a new
creature.
 Positive Law – Laws created by the proper authorities. Classified as either
ecclesiastical positive law (the law that directs the life and worship of the
Church.), divine positive law (legislated by God), or civil positive law (legislated
by a legitimate government).

19. Ethical Relativism – Situation ethics (act is judged by circumstances surrounding the
acting agent); Proportionalism (moral value of an act comes from the proportion of good
and evil effects); Consequentialism (determines good and evil from the consequences of
an act)

20. The Principle of Double Effect – Some acts that were intended to bring about good result
in evil (e.g. rare deaths resulting from vaccines). In order to be considered morally
permissible, the act must meet the following criteria: the action must be good in itself or
at least indifferent; the agent must have the right intention; the evil effect cannot be
means to the good effect; the good effect must balance the evil effect.
21. Classifications of Sin – There are five main classifications of sin:
 Gravity: Mortal Sin (a grave offense against God which severs our relationship
with God; three conditions must be met: grave matter, full knowledge, complete
consent); Venial Sin (less serious offense that weakens our relationship with
God; repetition of venial sins doe not add up to mortal sin… they just make it
easier for us to fall to mortal sin)
 Origin: Original (sin of disobedience by Adam and Eve; every person is born with
its effects; attraction to sin is called concupiscence); Actual (sin of any kind which
each of us commits)
 Intent: Formal (freely and voluntarily chosen action that offends God; because
there is knowledge and free will, there is always culpability to formal sin); Material
(involuntary action that offends God; no knowledge and no consent mean no
culpability).
 Manner: Sin of Omission (failing to do what is right); Sin of Commission (doing
what is wrong)
 Manifestation: External (committed by word or action); Internal (committed by
thought or desire)

22. Contrition – In order to be receptive of God’s forgiveness, we must be sorry for our sins.
Contrition is defined as: sincere sorrow for having offended God; hatred of sin; firm
resolve to avoid sin. Contrition can be either perfect (being sorry for our sins because we
have offended God; this leads to immediate forgiveness) or imperfect (aka. Attrition;
being sorry for our sins out of fear of Gods punishment; does not forgive sins immediately
and Sacramental Absolution is needed). If we are sorry because there is punishment,
that is not attrition because there is no recognition of sin.

23. The Ten Commandments – Aka. Decalogue. Given to Moses by God on Mt. Sinai during
the time of the Exodus. They were simple because the Israelites were an unsophisticated
people. The Ten Commandments are:
I. You shall have no other gods.
II. Do not take the LORD’S name in vain.
III. Remember and keep holy the Sabbath.
IV. Honor thy father and mother.
V. You shall not kill.
VI. You shall not commit adultery.
VII. You shall not steal.
VIII. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
IX. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife.
X. You shall not covet your neighbor’s belongings.

24. The Beatitudes – The word comes from the Latin word “beatus” which means blessed.
These only perfect the Ten Commandments, not take away. They are:
 Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
 Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
  Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be
satisfied.
 Blessed are the merciful, for they shall be shown mercy.
 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the
kingdom of heaven.

25. The Precepts of the Church –

 Fast and abstain on Good Friday and Ash Wednesday
 Go to Mass on Sundays and Holy Days.
 Go to Confession and Holy Communion at least once a year between the first
Sunday of Lent and Trinity Sunday.
 Obey the marriage laws of the Church and raise children according to the
Catholic faith.
 Be confirmed and continue religious studies.
 Help the Church in any way possible.