WEEK 1: THEOLOGICAL VIRTUES

SAINT OF THE WEEK:

SAINT JUDE, THE APOSTLE
Jude, also known as Judas Thaddaeus, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is sometimes
identified with Jude, the brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas Iscariot, the apostle who
betrayed Jesus prior to his crucifixion. He is also known as the Patron Saint of hope and impossible
causes. He preached the Gospel with great passion, often in the most difficult circumstances.

CONTEXT
As the saying goes, "character defines the person". The character of a person brings attainment or non-
attainment of a person's dreams. The attainment of the dreams relies on his/her values. The narrative
regarding Martha and Mary in the Gospel of Luke provides some insights of these values.

INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

Martha and Mary
Luke 10:38-42
As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed
him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. Martha,
burdened with much serving, came to him and said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by
myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me". The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are
anxious and worried about many things. There is a need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better
part and it will not be taken from her".

A. The Three Theological Virtues

"The Theological virtues are the foundation of Christian moral activity, they animate it
and give it its special character. They inform and give life to all the moral virtues. They
are infused by God into the souls of the faithful to make them capable of acting as His
children and of meriting eternal life. They are the pledge of the presence and action of
the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being. There are three theological virtues:
faith, hope, and charity" (CCC 1813).
Theological virtues are set apart from cardinal virtues. Cardinal virtues are within
human domains with God's inspiration. However, theological virtues go beyond human
limits; they exceed the capacity of unaided human nature. Theological virtues have God
as the immediate and proper object, are divinely infused and known only through divine
revelations. These virtues are usually associated with salvation. They result from the
grace of God which enlightens human mind.
In fact, the theological virtues, namely, faith, hope and love, are the foundations of
Christian morality. They are God's gifts to the faithful to make them capable of acting as
His children, living in accordance with His will. This was pointed out by St. Paul in his
first letter to the Corinthians (I Cor. 13). Hence, as they are gifts from God, human
beings cannot attain and achieve them through human efforts, but only with God's
grace. As gifts, they have to be understood as God's free offer to human beings, and they
may be accepted or rejected. That is why many people could hardly manifest and
witness to the life of faith, hope and love because of their rejection of God's offer of gifts.
However, those who accept heartily can be seen in the way they live (caring and loving
individuals, religious and faithful persons, and hopeful and persevering people).
1. FAITH
Faith is the theological virtue related to Christian's belief in God. "Faith in God is
grounded in God's own revelation through his words and deeds in salvation history"
(CFC 122). It firmly believes in all the truths God has revealed. Faith, in essence
according to the letter to the Hebrews, is the substance of things to be hoped for, the
evidence of things that are not seen. Faith cannot be acquired by individuals on their
own. In fact, faith is a gift of God offered to a person. It involves living life aligned with
the ideals and examples as shown by Jesus. Christian faith as PCP II says, is a personal
acceptance of the person of Christ as Lord and Savior which is made possible through
the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. This also reminds us of one trait of our Christian Faith
which is Trinitarian.
a. Offenses against Faith
(1) Pride about results when one lacks humility and obedience to the revealed truths
about God. One may think that he/she is higher and even greater than God.
(2) Distrust happens when a person no longer trusts God for he/she has doubts and
uncertainties about God's mighty power. In a way, a person becomes too dependent on
himself/herself where there is no room for God to stay in his/her life.
(3) Unbelief refers to one's denial and rejection of God's presence in life. One example is
atheism. Atheists are people who deny the existence of God. They are not saying that
God does not exist; they just deny God's presence in the world.
 
b. While the offenses discussed above are against faith in general, there are also specific
offenses against the Christian faith. These are infidelity, heresy, blasphemy, and apostasy.
(1) Infidelity refers to the unfaithfulness of Christians to Jesus Christ. This happens
when a person does not follow God's commandments and precepts in his/her daily
existence.
(2) Heresy is the obstinate adherence to an error that contradicts the divinely revealed
truths. For instance, teaching that pre- marital sex is absolutely or relatively acceptable
in the Christian faith. Such claim becomes heretic in the sense that Christian faith
teaches people to respect the sanctity of marriage and sex. Hence, sex can only be done
within the context of marriage. Pre-marital sex, therefore, contradicts the very teaching
of the Catholic faith.
(3) Blasphemy is a direct offense against God because it is a form of irreverence to God
and religion. In some of the Gospel passages, Jesus, for many instances, was accused of
blasphemy because He used God's authority in His ministry. Jesus, on the other hand,
contested people's accusation by claiming that He, as the Son of God, can use God's
authority in doing and performing His ministry. For people, they can be charged with
blasphemy when they disrespectfully use the name of the Lord.
(4) Apostasy is a complete defection from the faith. In other words, it is the
renouncement of the faith by a baptized person. This may be due to a lack of firm belief
in God.
 
c. Duties and Responsibilities towards the Christian Faith
The following are the duties and responsibilities that a person must embrace to have a
meaningful existence in the Christian faith.
(1) Knowing the truth of faith. This means that one must strive to know God's revelation
in the readings of the Scriptures and in the sacred traditions of the Church about the life
and work of God in Jesus Christ and the readings of the signs of the times. Furthermore,
knowing the truth leads to proper and sincere witnessing or practicing of the faith. PCP
II says "Catholic Faith must be 'informed' that is believing Jesus' words, and accepting
His teachings, trusting that He has the words of eternal life"( 65). Faith causes change as
it seeks greater understanding of God.
(2) Boldly professing the faith in words and deeds. In a prayer gathering for instance,
professing one's faith means that one should not be ashamed of making the sign of the
cross as part of claiming one's identity as a Catholic. Sometimes, people would have the
tendency to hide their faith identity by neglecting some basic duty. The profession of
faith is very evident in the lives of martyrs - people who courageously fought and offered
their lives for the sake of their faith.
(3) Spreading the faith. Evangelization takes place through preaching and teaching the
Word of God to all people and living it out in one's life. Missionaries such as the CICM
are witnesses to the proclamation and spreading of God's word. In the CICM history,
CICM priests devote themselves to the proclamation of the good news by going to places
where the Gospel of Jesus is not yet known or lived - forming and establishing
communities.
(4) Safeguarding the faith from imminent destructions. Safeguarding of faith is in the
context of protecting religiously the faith from the practice of blasphemy, heresy,
apostasy, and the like.
(5) Promoting unity among other faith denominations. Basic to Jesus' teaching is for all to
be united in and with Him. Hence, each one is called to follow and be faithful to the
gospel of peace and unity.
 
2. HOPE
"The virtue of hope responds to the aspiration to happiness which God has placed in the
heart of every men" (CCC 1818).In the Sacred Scriptures, there are allusions as to what
hope entails. In the Old Testament, hope is seen as one’s immense longing for the
fulfilment of God’s promise which for the Israelites gradually became more explicit as
the messianic reign with the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed One. This was
beautifully described by the prophet Isaiah: "For a child is born to us, a son is given us;
upon his shoulder dominion rest. They named Him Wonder-Counselor, God-hero,
Father-Forever, Prince of Peace (Is.9:5). On the other hand, in the New Testament, the
object of hope is the complete realization of God's Kingdom with the Second Coming of
the Messiah. Although God's kingdom is already with the people by the coming of Jesus,
its full realization (happiness and salvation) happens when He returns.
 When a person loses hope, he/she has lost, as well, his/her awareness of God's presence
in life.
a. Offenses against Hope
 (1) Despair occurs when the idea that one has lost confidence in the goodness and mercy
of God. This is manifested when one treats life as nothing because of misery and
problems.
(2) Resignation is an attitude of giving up life because hope is too remote. An instance is
the case of suicide where hope cannot be experienced and felt. That's why, the reality of
suicide points to one's total lack of hope that life has something good to offer. Cutting
one's life is a direct offense against the virtue of hope.
 
b. Fruits and Challenges of Hope
The virtue of hope has its fruits and challenges.
(1) Endurance. Hope entails endurance in adversity and suffering. Endurance helps one
not to easily give up because God is there as support. Atypical example of endurance is
when a person suffers extremely from sickness or any ailments. The person is
challenged to cling to Jesus as his/her hope in order that his/her suffering may be
lessened. However, if nothing happens to his/her suffering, his/her tendency is to be
reluctant to the gift of hope. As a result, he/she has to give up for he/she could not
anymore endure the suffering.
(2) Openness. Hope is a future-oriented reality. It points to one's openness to the future.
However, when one talks about the future, it must be perceived from a holistic point of
view. The future can only be achieved when one learns from the past and lives
accordingly to the present. Thus, as pilgrims of this world journeying together,
everybody moves forward to the realization of God's Kingdom.
(3) Commitment for the liberation of people. If hope is future oriented, it should direct
people to commit themselves for the liberation of others from oppression and injustices.
The Kingdom of God is a kingdom where there is justice and peace. As people nourish
themselves with the virtue of hope, they are on their way towards liberation from the
evils of the world, and venturing towards the attainment of goodness and happiness.
3. LOVE
The virtue of love is ingrained in one's heart as it is a gift coming from God. It is infused
into the hearts of people for them to imitate the source of love who is God. God has
shown us His great love in sending His begotten Son, and Jesus' offering of His life on
the cross for the forgiveness of sins. " the suffering and death of Christ help us to grasp
fully, with all the holy ones, the breadth and length and height of Christ’s love, and
experience this love which surpasses all knowledge” (CFC 557). The Lord, then, asks
people to love one another as He loves everyone without reservation. Loving entails
loving all, not only between and among friends, but also one’s enemies—a challenge that
each one is confronted with, in the daily events of life. This love is not just an emotion,
but it is a love that speaks of being truly human—love manifested through the use one’s
intellect and will.
What kind of love is Jesus asking the people to imitate and practice?
a. Forms of love
(1) Erotic love is the love that is centered on one's exclusive relationship. This is in the
form of love between intimate lovers such as boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and
wives. In its context, it is limited in such a way that it becomes exclusive for some people
only.
 
(2) Filial love is a kind of love that is observed among friends. Such love is built on a
give-take relationship. In a way, this kind of love is still limited because it is confined
within and among friends.
 
(3) Agape love is what Jesus is asking people to do and imitate. It is an unconditional
form of love for all; be it friends or enemies, and lovers or not. This is a love that
encompasses love of God, love of neighbor and love of mother earth. Such love goes
beyond prejudices and stereotyping. It is a love that compels each one to be diligent and
faithful because it is what makes a person truly a child of God. Jesus manifested this
love when He welcomed people in His life without discrimination. Loving entails giving
admonitions for wrongdoing with and appreciation for the good things done. This is not
a passive kind of love, i.e ., loving without examination. Rather, this love is active in such
a way that one loves a person not just by appearances or status, but by God's command,
revealed in His teachings and examples.
 
Jesus commanded His disciples to cultivate love, not only among themselves, but for
others as well. Thus, one can say that love is the basic condition of discipleship
(believing in Jesus Christ). With this love, one becomes a faithful child of God.
 
Therefore, agape love is characterized by two qualities.
Love must be focused on the sovereign. The sovereignty of love emphasizes that human
beings must love God more than anyone else on earth. The love of God takes the top
priority in all things.
Love must be effective. The effectiveness of love is shown when a person's love affects
others positively and productively in deed and in truth. For instance, a husband's love to
the wife expresses not just an erotic kind of love, but in itself a faithful and loyal love; or
a child's love to his/her parents is real love in giving and showing respect to them.
b. Offenses against Agape Love
(1) Indifference. Indifference results from the culpable negligence of the love of God.
This happens when a person becomes passive about God's love to the extent that he/she
doubts the importance and relevance of God's love to people.
(2) Hatred towards God. Uncontrolled anger against God results in hatred. This is
contrary to the virtue of love because love does not allow any room for hatred. An
example on how one offends God because of hatred Is when various miseries and
oppressions happen to a person. If things become worse and uncontrollable, a person's
tendency is to question God and even accuse Him for the misery he/she is experiencing.
As a result, a person develops hatred because he/she thinks that God has abandoned
him/her. This hatred is translated into his/her relationship with others: he/ she can
never engage in a healthy and sincere relationship.
MISSIONARY RESPONSE
 After our discussion, we learned with certainty that we need to develop virtues in
order to achieve Christian maturity. We are called to live a virtuous life by:
 Developing a prayerful life like actively participating in religious/ liturgical activities;
 Reading the stories of holy people and emulating their virtuous life;
 Cultivating a appreciation of our cultural values and realizing in our own way the
humanizing aspect of these values;
 Advocating cause in solidarity with movements fighting for gender equality.
VALUE STATEMENT:
“Faith is exercised not only in explicitly religious acts. It must be exercised in service to care for the
needy and to care for our earth”.
–Second Plenary Council of the Philippines (PCP II)

WEEK 2: A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH

GOD AND NEIGHBORS
SAINT OF THE WEEK:
ST. MARY OF EGYPT
St. Mary became a prostitute at age 12 and engaged in the “oldest profession” for over 17 years until her
dramatic conversion. It occurred during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Exultation of the
Holy Cross. She had joined the pilgrimage merely to seek out more customers but decided that she
wanted to see the relic of the cross the pilgrims were venerating. She tried to enter the church but a
mysterious force kept her from crossing the threshold. Seeing a statue of the Virgin Mary, she begged for
forgiveness and promised to renounce her sinful life if she could enter the church. She was able to do so
and turned away from prostitution. She became a desert hermit, fasting, praying and living alone for 47
years. St. Mary is the patron saint against sexual temptations. Her feast day is April 1st.

CONTEXT
The Parable of the Lost
11 
Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father,
give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.13 “Not long after that, the
younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild
living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to
be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to
feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him
anything.
17 
“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare,
and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have
sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one
of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father.
“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to
his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against
heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
22 
“But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his
finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For
this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.
25 
“Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and
dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’
he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’
28 
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with
him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed
your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when
this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened
calf for him!’
31 
“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to
celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is
found.’'

INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

“Sin is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and
neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures
human solidarity. It has been defined as "an utterance, a deed, or a desire contrary to the eternal law."
(CCC 1849)

Nature of Sin
“Our faith response to the call of Jesus brings us into the struggle with sinfulness” (PCP
II 81). Sin separates human beings from God. It is a manifestation of a person’s failure
to respond to God’s invitation and love. It breaks one relationship with Him. It traces
itself from the abuse of human freedom, a gift where an individual can choose actions
towards what is good. Though conscience is made available to facilitate his/her thought-
processing whether the commission of omission of an action is permissible or within the
acceptable norms, his/her freedom sets him/her apart from the creatures. The human
person can willfully choose good actions. Human freedom should not be adequate as
choice between what is good and bad, whether to do what is right or wrong, to be a
blessing or a curse, or to be morally upright or viciously wicked, One’s wrong exercise of
freedom leads him/her to abuse God’s gift of free choice.
The concept of sin, in Christian perspective, uses the Holly Scripture as a point of
reference to describe its reality and the evil that come with it. Both Old and New
Testaments view sin as a universal human experience. Sin does not limit itself to a select
few but exists as a common human condition. According to William May, "Sin is seen as
a power that has entered into human persons by their voluntary refer to the abuse one's
freedom."
 The Old Testament used three common Hebrew terms anent to sin, to wit: hatta, pasha,
and awon. Hatta literally means “missing mark." This stresses that sin is a wilful
rejection of God’s known will. Pesha meaning rebellion, shows how in sinning human
person reject God and His love. Awon, iniquity or guilt, refers to the way sin twists and
distorts the sinner’s inner being.
In the New and Testament, the principal Greek terms used that to refer to sin in are
anomia, adikia, and skotos. Anomia or lawlessness stresses that sin consists in a spirit of
rebellion and contempt for God and His law. Adikia, meaning injustice, emphasizes that
sin is a refusal to accept God and His reign revealed in Christ and to live in the justice
that God has given. Skotos, meaning darkness, shows that sin is an opposition to the
truth of God, to Jesus Christ --- who is the way, the truth and the life, to one's
fellowmen/women, and to the truth of being a human person.
One way of understanding the nature of sin in view of the theology of the Catholic
Church is to begin with the definition of St. Augustine of Hippo. According to him, sin
pertains to "anything said, done, or desired contrary to the Eternal Law." Moreover, it is
the act of "turning away from God and a turning toward the creature."
1. Sin as Contrary to Eternal Law.
The description holds that the essence of committing and omitting an action to sin is a
stark manifestation of breaking God's law. Contemporary theologians are a little
apprehensive of this concept since it raises the issue whether breaking a particular law is
adequate and sufficient determinant in ascertaining the central element in the concept
of sin as contrary to Eternal Law. Sin falls within the bounds of legalism, where sin is an
infraction of some externally imposed norm. 
2. Sin as the Absolute Absence of Goodness in an Action
"The mystery of sin hates the light ... "(CFC 761), it dwells in the darkness of harming
oneself, damaging human community and destroying the relationship between human
beings and God.
3. Traditional Classification of Sin
Sin comes in various forms and kinds depending on the gravity of the matter, whether
or not it leads to the separation of the human being from God. The rationality of a
Christian, which includes his/her knowledge and consent, determines the extent
through which he/she is accountable to God. The more he/she has complete knowledge
and exerts deliberate consent on the conduct of a certain behaviour, the more it
increases his/her moral responsibility upon himself/herself and God. Traditionally, the
Church classified sin as either venial or mortal.
a. Venial sin pertains to a moral action that leads to the separation an individual from
God. In the spectrum of sins, venial sin is consider as lesser sin and thus results to the
loss of God's grace. Any of the conditions must be considered for a certain behaviour or
action to be called as venial: 
 The action is not a grave matter, or not serious in nature -- in contrast to killing,
adultery and others.
 Action is impaired with ignorance, thus the lack of full knowledge of the
circumstances of a situation.
 Action has been committed in the absence of deliberate and complete consent.
b. Mortal sin refers to a moral action that is graver than venial sin, thus the action is
serious. An individual is fully knowledgeable of the moral responsibility of his/her
action. Yet, he/she takes a wilful decision to precede with the action despite the
knowledge that it is an absolute violation of God's law in a grave manner and will
seriously strain his/her relationship with God. The nature of the action as seriously
wrong and the existence of full consent qualify the behaviour or action as mortal.
Three important features must necessarily surround a certain action to qualify it as
mortal sin.
 The nature of thoughts, desire or action must be serious or grave. The action in
itself is morally bad and not permissible. It includes robbery, cheating, lustful
actions, killing, and others.
 The individual is fully aware of the gravity and seriousness of the action and
decision.
 Despite the full knowledge, the individual still fully consents to the action.
He/she performs the action with his/her freewill.
C. Sins of Commission and Omission
The performance or non-performance of an action spells out whether or not the
existence of sin transpired. The commission or omission of an action brings with it
moral responsibility. The sin of commission takes place when an individual actually
performed or is performing an evil action. There is the presence of wilful consent to
perform an action despite the full knowledge that the action is forbidden or is against
norms. Commission of sin is usually reflected in the negative precepts of the Ten
Commandments such as, "You shall not kill" and "You shall not steal."

However, the sin of omission is the failure to perform a certain good action. When a
certain individual chooses not to act on a certain thing, in the guise of not committing an
error, the omission of the action is a wilful consent which also changes the moral
responsibility of the individual. This sin is an offense against the positive precepts or the
Do's such as, "Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy" or "Honour your father and
mother." Moreover, omissions are also manifested when an individual neglects his/her
professional responsibilities, social obligations or religious duties.
We realized in this lesson that the mercy and forgiveness of God is greater than the sins
we committed. In order to receive the forgiveness of God, we have to do the following:
1) Examining our conscience and accepting with all humility the sins we committed.
2) Resolving to avoid sin in the future.
3) Receiving absolution and doing acts of penance.
4) Reconciling with the person/s whom you have hurt.
 WEEK 3: A BROKEN RELATIONSHIP WITH
GOD AND NEIGHBORS (CONTINUATION)
SAINT OF THE WEEK:
St. Paul the Apostle
Prior to his conversion on the road to Damascus, Paul was a terror to Christians. He held the coats of
those who stoned Stephen, the first martyr, to death for proclaiming Jesus. In essence, he was an
accessory to the martyrdom of Stephen. He vigorously sought permission from authorities to gather up
Christians, throw them in prison for blasphemy, and have them killed. But when Paul met Jesus,
everything changed.
Lesson: The greatest plans God has may include the worst of sinners, even the enemies of God’s people.
Never allow fear of someone’s past to cloud your attitude toward them and the hope they will come to
Christ.

CONTEXT
The two who started it all, Adam and Eve. Because of their conduct, these two names will live on
in our minds forever. The second chapter of Genesis describes how man was created perfect, faultless,
and in God's favor. These two people alter the course of mankind from that point forward. When sin
entered the world, everything changed.
Our world is growing smaller each day, our world is becoming a smaller community where people
can easily interact; sometimes, we hurt each other in one way or the other. Now we need to be healed.
We need to regain back our broken relationship/s.

A. The Three-Fold Dimension of Sin

 The act of sinning, willfully deviating from what is morally required, affects an
individual three-fold - personal, social, and transcendental.
 The first dimension of sin is personal.
a. Meaning and example:
 This is when an individual commits an action that results in the loss of Meaning of
one's life. A person experiences sin by merely seeking the gratification of the self,
always desiring what is easy for them without consideration of others.
 This situation is characterized by minor sacrifice. Sometimes, this appears to be
venial, but the increase of moral responsibility on a personal level transpires when
the commission of the action is merely focused on the self, to the prejudice of others
- disregarding their needs and concerns.
 An example of this is when a person narcissistically loves themself to the detriment
of others. That means what matters to the person is his/her welfare alone, and others
regard them as non-existent.
           The next dimension is social.
b. Meaning and example:
 This means that the individual is not the only one affected by sin but the community
and society. The consequences of an individual's action directly affect their
 fellowmen/women. This causes direct harm to another individual or leads to a
situation that brings evil conditions to others.
 A politician, for example, refuses to release the funds for the implementation of an
infrastructure program in a particular locality out of their rage to the people for their
lack of electoral support from the recently concluded election. The politician's action
is not only self-serving but deprives the supposed beneficiaries of the infrastructure.
It hinders the development of the locality and leaves the community people damaged
when the opportunity to improve their standard of living is taken away from them.
Moreover, social sins are manifested when they violate human rights, freedom,
justice, and the common good. They, such as class struggle, inflict and strain the
relationship between human communities.
 As PCP Il states, “There are sinful social structures which can harden into
institutions, and result in a network or environment that effectively hinders growth
in the Christian life. These sinful social structures perpetuate disvalues or the
wrong hierarchy of values. They are inducements to sin and are a formidable
obstacle to Christian living. The terrible effects of sin and sinful structures are seen
in the many uncared for and malnourished children of our unjust society, the
wretchedness of the jobless and the homeless, the proliferation of crimes, the
pervasiveness of graft and corruption, the lack of peace and order, or the horrors
of war (82).
 The final dimension is transcendental.
c. Meaning:
 The commission of sin is a manifestation of complete disregard for God and His
divine plan. The individual completely rejects God and willfully transgresses God's
law, crafted to achieve the common good. All mortal sins are situated within the
range of transcendental dimensions since an individual who commits a mortal sin is
not governed by their faith in God which contributes to their complete disregard and
disobedience to God’s plan.
 A Christian maximizes their reason and will to determine whether a particular action
is worth the consequence. They weigh whether the commission or omission act
would lead to the betterment of the self, others, and their relationship with God and
not. The three-fold dimension of sin reflects that the commission of sin can widely
affect the self and others.

B. Other Christian Virtues as threatened by the

Capital Sins 
The Bible enunciates that specific actions strain one's loving relationship with
God. These are considered capital sins. As much as possible, Christians are called to
refrain from the commission of capital sins and take conscious efforts to overcome them
and develop virtues that run entirely contrary to the capital sins. These capital sins are
called because they give rise to other sins.
1. Chastity as threatened by lust.
     Chastity is not simply abstaining from sex but directs one's sexuality towards a
proper expression of love and intimacy. Chastity encourages Christians to respect
the individuality and sexuality  of others by not engaging in sexual activities until
the right time has come --the celebration of the Sacrament of Matrimony.
Moreover, married Christians must be loyal to each other and never defile their
marriage by engaging in sexual relationships outside marriage. Chastity aligns
with God's desire to keep one's body as a temple of the Holy Spirit by not
engaging in lustful activities.
     Lust refers to the strong emotional force of an individual directly or indirectly
associated with the thinking or fantasizing of someone, usually in a sexual way. It
is an excessive desire of a person to think about and engage in sex: The physical
need of the flesh urges the person to prioritize their fleshly desires.
      According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, a Christian's heart is lustful when
"venereal satisfaction is sought for either outside wedlock or, at any rate, in a
manner which is contrary to the laws that  govern marital intercourse."
    Moreover, the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) defines lust as the
"disordered desire for or inordinate enjoyment for sexual  pleasure." Lust, by
nature, attacks the sexual aspects of a person. It comes in various forms, such as
fornication, adultery, incest, criminal assault, abduction, and sodomy.

1. Moderation as threatened by gluttony.

 Moderation refers to the reasonable and willful control of the desire for
pleasure. Naturally, the desire for food is good; however, it results in gluttony
when it becomes unnecessary and not within limits. Excessive indulgence in
drinking wine or alcoholic beverages leads to drunkenness. This is controlled
or overcome through abstinence.
 Gluttony comes from the Latin glutire, meaning to gulp or swallow. This is a
human behavior that pertains to the overindulgence of a person to consume
food more than what is required. Accordingly, gluttony manifests in five
ways: prae-propere, laute, nimis, ardenter, studiose. When translated,
gluttony is committed when it happens too soon, too expensively, too much,
too eagerly, and too daintily. Moreover, moral responsibility increases when
the commission of the act leads one to injure their health or impair the mental
faculty needed to discharge their duties.
1. Generosity as threatened by greed.
 Generosity pertains to the unselfish act of showing compassion, concern, and
love for others. It was the imitation of the examples of Jesus Christ when He
showed His compassion to the poor, lonely, and outcast. It is the giving of the
self to others with love and compassion - even without consideration of any
reciprocal action from them. It is a show of love to Jesus through others.
 Greed refers to the excessive possession of wealth, material goods, or anything
of value. It places the individual at the center of one's obsession with
possessing material wealth. Greed is viewed as an excessive desire to acquire
or possess more than one needs, primarily material wealth. It becomes more
 systemic within a culture as contributed by increasing consumerism. People
endlessly want to buy or possess luxurious things even if they are not needed
anymore, where there is a crossing beyond what is considered basic needs.
1. Diligence as threatened by sloth.
 Diligence pertains to the hard work exerted by an individual in performing a
task. Through diligence, Christians are helped to fulfill their calling by
directing them away from vice and leading them to earnest care for others.
Christians exert extra effort to avoid being negligent and neglectful of their
responsibilities.
 Sloth, laziness in simplest terms, refers to avoiding physical or spiritual work.
Whatever endeavor in life requires effort. Failure to exert diligence, therefore,
is a manifestation of sloth. Here, the person longs for those that do not
require effort. There is an unwillingness of the person to respond to God's call
of salvation.
1. Patience as threatened by wrath.
      Grace under pressure characterizes a Christian who can keep his/her cool
and patience even amid adversaries and turmoil. A person avoids letting his/her
emotion get a hold of himself/herself when situations do not turn out the way
they expect them to be. Instead of bursting out his/her anger and animosities, a
person will take some time to sort things out, assess the situation and think of
possible situations to settle the problem. Patience manifests the value of
endurance wherein, under challenging circumstances, an individual can
persevere without being annoyed.
      Accordingly, wrath, also known as rage or extreme anger, is an excessive and
uncontrolled feeling of hatred and anger. It is sinful because it pursues revenge,
whether one deserves it. It is a sin because it is associated with selfishness. Anger
can be dispelled. One should consciously overcome wrath to avoid untoward
incidents due to one's inability to control it.
 
1. Kindness as threatened by envy.
 Kindness is simply described as a thoughtful consideration of others by showing
concern and genuine courtesy to them. Christians do not solely focus on
themselves but consider the welfare of others. It may be extending a helping
hand, patiently waiting for one's turn, or even responding to others with a smile.
 Although sometimes used with greed, envy is more distinct since it is not solely
associated with material possession but may apply more in general terms. An
example is the negative notion of crab mentality. Due to envy and jealousy, a
person tends to pull down another who has achieved something higher.

1. Humility as threatened by pride.

 Humility pertains to the quality of an individual being modest and respectful. It
signifies submissiveness. As stated in the Catholic Encyclopedia, "humility is a
virtue by which a person considers his/ her defects and has a lowly opinion of
himself/herself and willing to submit oneself to God and others for God's sake."
  Pride refers to a satisfied sense of attachment toward one's own or another's
choices and actions, or toward a whole group of people, and is a product of
praise, independent self-reflection, or a fulfilled feeling of belonging. However, it
can be understood from the perspective of unguarded pride.
Pride, or hubris, is considered the original and most serious of the sins. It is
identified as a desire to be more important or attractive than others, failing to
acknowledge their excellent work. It is the excessive love of self (especially
holding self out of proper position toward God). Pride constitutes sin, for it
hinders one from being humble. It makes one self-sufficient in themselves
when there is no room for God's grace to the person.
 
We realized in this lesson that the mercy and forgiveness of God are greater than
the sins we committed. In order to receive the forgiveness of God, we have to do the
following: 
1. Examining our conscience and accepting with all humility the sins we committed.
2. Resolving to avoid sin in the future.
3. Receiving absolution and doing acts of penance.
4. Reconciling with the person/s whom you have hurt.

WEEK 4:  FUNDAMENTAL GUIDES

TOWARD CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
SAINT OF THE WEEK:
St. Dymphna of Ireland
She was declared patroness of those with mental problems because of the great anguish her father's
mental affliction caused. A church was built in Gheel in her name and many people suffering from mental
disorders began traveling there for healings. The townspeople of Gheel began accepting the mentally ill
travelers into their homes. This tradition continues to this day. 

INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

The Parable of the Good Samaritan
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to
25 

inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered,
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all
your mind’[a]; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ [b]” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do
this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my
neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was
attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A
priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other
side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a
Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He
went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey,
brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii [c] and gave them to the
innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you
may have.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of
robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do
likewise.”

A. The Life of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Luigi Gonzaga was born on March 9, 1568 in Northern Italy, between Brescia and
Mantova. He received military training and an excellent classical education while
serving at the court of Francesco I de Medici in Florence.
Luigi found his life turned upside down when he became ill with a kidney disease, and,
during his recovery, he devoted himself to prayer and the study of the lives of the Saints.
At the age of 12, he returned to his father’s castle, where he met the great saint and
cardinal Charles Borromeo. Luigi had not yet received his First Communion, so the
cardinal administered it to him.
In 1590, Luigi, suffering from his kidney problems and other ailments, received a vision
of the Archangel Gabriel, who told him that he would die within a year. When a plaque
broke out in Rome in 1591, Luigi volunteered to work with plaque victims, and he
contracted the disease in March.
He received the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick and recovered, but, in another
vision, he was told that would die on June 21, the octave day of the Feast of Corpus
Christi that year.

B. Traits of a Christian
Christians must be governed by moral virtues and values to live harmoniously with
others. The Parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates a genuine concern for others.
 
1. God above all
     This enunciates that God is the source of everything. Putting Him above all the
rest is indeed recognizing His sovereignty and the limitedness and frailty of human
beings. It reveals that mere human efforts are not enough to bring fulfillment in life.
This traits places Jesus Christ at the epicenter and locus of the lives of Christians,
ensuring that actions and behaviors must be in consonance with the life, teachings and
Ministry of Jesus Christs.
 
2. Faithfulness to the teachings of Jesus and the Church.
     Christians are exposed to the teachings of Christs as manifested in the doctrines
of the Catholic Church to illuminate them with the realities and complexities of life.
Through these teachings, Christians are taught on how to widen their understanding
and to respond to every situation in their lives. It guides them to live a life that is full
obedience to the teachings Jesus Crist. Observance of the teachings of Jesus and the
Church also reflects the virtue of obedience, which is a supreme test of faith and
confidences in God. Jesus Christ portrayed a perfect example of obedience as He lived
His life on earth in full and absolute obedience to His Father, even to the point of death.
 
3. Ability to bear fruits in words and deeds
As Christians become more obedient to the Lord and learn to walk in His ways, their
lives are renewed. Their actions bear fruit when they touch others’ lives which are a
great testimony to the life of Jesus Christ. Living in conformity to Christian norms and
morals, they are able to live and respond to the realities of life with better perspective.
Their words, thoughts and actions are representative of that change within bounds of
Christ like response to their relationship with Christ and others.
 
4. Passionate towards others
This shows love towards others in Christ like manner, a manifestation of
responsiveness to moral responsibility towards others. The love for others shows that a
person responds to others positively since he/she sees others as extension of Jesus
Christ. When one respects, loves and understands others, he/she, in return, does the
same towards Christ. One’s good dealings with others also serve as a deepening of
his/her faith in Jesus Christ.
 
5. Making disciples of all people
Christians are expected to share their faith to all peoples and cultures. Christians
bring others to the Catholic fold in order for them to fully realize and experience the
promises of God to those who believe and profess Him as their God. Christians are
expected to place God above all, devote time to learn the teachings of Christ and the
Church and bear fruits in words and deeds, passionate toward others and make disciples
of all people.
The lesson provides us a clear grasp of our traits as Christians. We are challenged
to respond to the call for living a virtuous life by:
1. Devoting our everyday life in aligning our thoughts, words and deeds to the teachings
of Christ and the Church;
2. Developing habits in putting God at the center of our lives and surrendering ourselves
to the sovereignty of God;
3. Allocating time in prayer, knowing that God destines things to happen and knowing
that God gives direction and guidance; and
4. Dedicating time in reading the Word of God and in attending masses, so our faith is
nourished and deepened.
 WEEK 5: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
SAINT OF THE WEEK:
SAINT JOHN THE APOSTLE
John the Apostle or Saint John the Beloved was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus according to the
New Testament. Generally listed as the youngest apostle, he was the son of Zebedee and Salome. His
brother was James, who was another of the Twelve Apostles.
St. John, wrote sublime epistles for the early Christians, and after years in Palestine and beyond was
exiled to the island of Patmos "for the word of God and the testimony of Jesus" where he was honored
with the heavenly revelation contained in the Apocalypse.

INSPIRED WORD OF GOD

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS
Then God delivered all these commandments: “I, the Lord, am your God, who brought you out of the land
of Egypt, that place of slavery. You shall not have other Gods besides me. You shall not carve idols for
yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God,
inflicting punishments for their fathers’ wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the
third and fourth generation, but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of
those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not take the name of the Lord your God, in
vain for the Lord will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain. Remember to keep holy
Sabbath day.

CHRISTIAN TEACHING
“All men are called to belong to the new people of God. Wherefore this people, while remaining one and
only one, is to be spread throughout the whole world and must exist in all ages, so that the decree of
God’s will may be fulfilled. In the beginning God made human nature one and decreed that all His
children, scattered as they were, would finally be gathered together as one. It was for this purpose that
God sent His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, that be might be teacher, king and priest of all,
the head of the new and universal people of the sons of God. For this too God sent the Spirit of His Son
as Lord and Life-giver. He brings together the whole Church and each and every one of those who
believe, and who is the well-spring of their unity in the teaching of the apostles and in fellowship, in the
breaking of bread and in prayers”.

A. Understanding the ten Commandments

In full obedience to the command of the Lord, Moses started his sojourn at Mount Sinai
and received the Lord’s Commandments on tablets of stones. God gave the
Commandments to remind His people that there are certain acceptable guidelines that
they need to follow in order to live a life that would reflect their respect to their own
lives and to the lives, honor, and dignity of others, and to deepen their faith and
fellowship with Him.
1. Finding Relevance in Modern Reality
The Ten Commandments, though it was instituted in the ancient times, is still
relevant to modern Christianity. The substance of the Commandments
remains to be pure and steadfast, standing the test of time as to its relevance
and efficacy. These are not antiquated commandments that are non-
responsive to the present circumstances and situations of people.
 
2. Dimensions of the Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments reveals the moral responsibility of a Christian into
two dimensions: towards God and towards others. God recognizes that for
people to live fruitful life, it is not sufficient that they solely focus their
attention on their faith in God. Through His commandments, He emphasized
that living harmoniously with others also play a vital role in living a religious
and Christian life.
B. Moral Responsibility towards God in the Ten Commandments
The principles underlying the Ten Commandments are focused on the basic and
fundamental values of life and good relationship with others and how to maintain these
good conditions for the human person. Compared with other societal norms, there is a
strong emphasis on the common ground or foundation of all these values which is God
the Creator of everything.
1. First Commandment
“I, The Lord, am your God… You shall not have other Gods besides me. You
shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth. You shall now bow
down before them or worship them”.
 
Why did God insist to stick with His conventional relationship with the
Israelites and even followed it up with the commandments? Before His
covenantal relationship with the Israelites, there was the human search for
the meaning of life and its elements such as security or stability, harmony,
true contentment, and specially the longing for immortality. With all these
human longings, the commandments especially the first one is God’s gracious
answer. This is God’s own initiative as part of His salvific plan for humanity.
 
God has formed the Israelites as His special possession and gave them the Ten
Commandments to proclaim Him as the true God for all people. The prophet
Amos proclaimed Yahweh as the God of all and this was ultimately realized by
the coming of Jesus the Saviour of all.
 
The first commandment has a follow up reminder of not making graven image
or statues and worshipping them as God. This follow up reminder does not
prohibit people from making any images or statues such as statues of heroes
and the saints since the warning emphasizes on not worshipping them as gods
such as the golden calf.
 
In venerating sacred images, CFC reminds people to be always aware of the
temptation from these images which is: from merely reminding as of God;
they tend to gradually “become” a God—an idol. An image can either bring the
reality it represents to mind, to a devotion and attention, or it can become a
substitute for the reality itself and does become an object of idolatry. The
 commandment reminds people that God the Creator is infinitely beyond any
of His creatures; no image or mental concept can ever “capture” Him.
 
a. Sovereignty of God as a Core Principle
The first commandment underscores the importance of submitting
ourselves under the authority of the Lord. Through this commandment,
God the Father establishes His authority, emphasizing His existence as an
Omnipotent and Omniscient God.
 
b. Violations against the First Commandment
 Indifference- reveals the outright neglect of the Christian to
reflect on God’s love, His innate goodness and denies His
control over him.
 Ingratitude- is the failure to respond to the love of Christ
(agape) living one’s life that shows his/her gratitude to the
protection, love, and blessing that God unselfishly gives to
His people.
 Lukewarmness- is the refusal to recognize the sovereignty of
God which eventually leads to one’s hesitation to respond to
God’s love. The grave violation against the first
commandment is hatred towards God.
 Divination- is also another important issue worth discussing
as deviation of the first commandment. Divination refers to
completely reliance on horoscopes, astrology, palm reading
and interpretation of omens, and lots as a basis to seek
guidance in determining the direction of an individual’s life.
 
2. Second Commandment
“You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain”.
a. Sanctity of the Name
For the Israelites, a name has a high value. Giving of a name is one of the
very difficult things to do. A name is very closely connected with the
person if not totally identified with him/her. It could also indicate the kind
of life that the person will have or his/her mission.
 
The second commandment expresses that the name of God should be
respected or revered at all times. The assumption goes that manipulating
the name of God is also manipulating God Himself. For most people in
order to gain credibility on a certain issue, they usually use God’s name to
support their own statement.
b. Violations against the Second Commandment
 Generally, the commandment abhors the misuse of the name of the Lord,
considering the sovereignty and authority that come with it. False
representation of God can be considered also as profanity, a discredit to
the true nature and divinity of God. The misrepresentation of God’s words
bears false witness against God, thus not a great testimony of who and
what God is and can potentially discourage others to embrace the Catholic
faith.
 
For others, this commandment clearly prohibits the casual use of God’s
name in interjections and curse. The blasphemous use of God’s name and
curse portray indecency and disrespect to God, in general.
 
However, despite strong prohibitation, some people still fall into the trap
of using the name of the Lord in vain. This eventually estranges human
beings from God, as it separates them from a loving relationship with Him.
 
3. Third Commandment
“Remember to keep holy the Sabbath day. Sixth day you may labor and do
all your work but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. No
work may be done than either by you or your son or daughter or your male
or female slaves or your beast or by the alien who lives with you… on the
seventh day God rested… and blessed it and made it holy”.
 
The observance of the Sabbath does not mean that it must be taken literally.
There are two things that this commandment is conveying to the human
person the time for God and the respect for the human person.
a. Worship as the Core of the Third Commandment
The Commandment clearly requires Christians to acknowledge six days,
where they can devote themselves to various undertakings; however, on
the seventh day, they must set it apart as a time for full worship and
devotion to God. God sets an example when He created heavens and the
earth. God recognizes that human beings have to work in order to fulfill
their physiological, social and psychological needs. The seventh day allows
Christians to spiritually rejuvenate themselves and draw inspiration from
the teachings of the Church.
b. Violations against the Third Commandment
The teachings of Jesus Christ are clear such that anything does not amount
to honoring God and extending ourselves for the benefits of others is a
direct manifestation of violating this commandment. Anything that does
not glorify God and respect the dignity of others must be avoided during
the Lord’s Day.
  The Ten Commandments reminds everyone of the covenant between God and
His people. The commandments are prescriptive and normative finding better
mechanisms, through which Christian strengthen their Catholic faith, deepen
their intimate relationship with God, and enjoin themselves to be a harmonious
fellowship with other Christians.
 As the Church progresses, she responds to the commandments through the
articulation of her Catholic teachings, namely: life and dignity of human person,
call to family, community and participation, rights and responsibilities, action of
the poor and vulnerable, dignity of work and rights of workers, solidarity, and
care for God’s creation.

WEEK 6: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

(CONTINUATION)
SAINT OF THE WEEK:
SAINT BRIGID OF KILDARE
Saint Brigid was born Brigit, and shares a name with a Celtic goddess from whom many legends and folk
customs are associated. Cogitosus recounted Brigid’s many purported miracles: As a girl, she gave away
the household’s butter and bacon to hungry beggars and dogs, then miraculously replaced the food for
her family. Later in life, she turned a wooden column into a living tree with one touch and hung her cloak
on a sunbeam.
After she founded her monastic community at Kildare and became its abbess, she also traveled,
preached and was said to have cured Christians of serious debilities such as blindness and muteness, all
in imitation of Christ. While many early female saints have miracles attributed to them, few of them
actively proselytized.

C. MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS OTHERS

4. Fourth Commandment
“Honor your father and your mother: That your days may be long upon the land which
the Lord your God has given you.”  (Ex. 20: 12).
a. Family as the Most Fundamental Unit of the Society
The fourth commandment underscores the imperative of respecting and honoring one's
parents or elders with a guarantee individual blessing. In the fourth commandment,
God reveals that after one's moral responsibility towards God, an individual is also
called to show respect and to honor others, having one's parents the foremost people to
whom he/she accords such. The family is the most fundamental agent of socialization
within a society. The strength of the moral fabric of the family, with mutual respect
between parents and children, reverberates and brings positive effect in the society.
The family is the foundation of social life. It is the natural society in which husband and
wife are called to give themselves in love and in the gift of life. Authority, stability and a
life of relationships within the family constitute the foundations for freedom, security and
fraternity within society. The family is community in which from childhood, one can
learn moral values, begin to honor God and make good use of freedom. Family life is an
initiation into life in society (CCC 2207).
The family is meant by God to be the first school of discipleship where the parents are
the first catechists of their children, and where all the members mutually evangelize
each other. It is also the first school of evangelization where the members learn to share
with others the grace and light of Christ. It ought to be a place where the Gospel is
transmitted and from which the Gospel radiates (PCP Il' 576).
b. From Birth to Perpetuity
The moral duty towards parents is not limited to fully submitting to them when they
are still providing for one’s needs and education, but it extends even up to their old age,
especially in times of illness and distress. This support is an acknowledgment and a
gesture of gratitude to parents for the life, love and effort given by them. The material
and moral support is a manifestation of giving back to the parents the immeasurable
love and sacrifices they have unselfishly given to their children. The commandment
implies that parents are innately good and that they are primarily concerned on the
well-being and welfare of their children. Their actions and decisions are geared towards
the holistic development of their children and a response to the growing needs of the
society. The parents are always in continuous search for the good of their children, and
that as a simple gesture of gratitude to these unselfish acts, children are bound to obey
their parents. However, modernity has been contributory to the corruption of the moral
fabric of the family, including the parents. Sometimes, there  are parents that are not
mindful of the needs and demands of their children and worst, do all sorts of abuse to
their children. Some children scorn their parents and not a single trace of respect to
their parents is apparent. However, the Commandment calls for respect and honor to
parents by virtue of their stature as parents
5. Fifth Commandment
"You shall not kill". (Ex. 20:13)
A. Primacy of Life
The fifth commandment emphasizes the importance and the dignity of human life. No
one has the innate right to take this away from his/her own self or from others, It is
neither a right that can be bestowed to anyone, The primacy of life is anchored on the
fact that human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, thus, must be
accorded with respect and esteem. The inherent value of human life reveals that in any
dealings, one does not have any entitlements to take away the life of others. It reminds
individuals that even in hatred and anger, there is a need to consider the inherent
human life one possesses and must make continuous effort to respect and honor it.
B. Violations against the Fifth Commandment
Murder and willful abortion are the direct violations to this commandment. PCP Il
stresses the crime against the unborn who can neither defend their God-given life nor
cry out in even the feeblest of cries for help. Their cries do reach the heart of the Creator
(382). It further stresses the Church's condemnation of directly-willed abortion (585).
Any action that deliberately takes away the life of other people is completely against this
commandment.
6. Sixth Commandment
"You shall not commit adultery". (Ex. 20:14)
A. Family and Marriage
The sacrament of marriage brings together husband and wife into the bonds of
everlasting love, with a promise to stay together in sickness or in health, till death do
them apart. The importance placed upon marriage, especially on remaining faithful to
one's partner, is revealed in one of Jesus' teachings during His public ministry.
According to Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew, have you not read that at the beginning
the creator made them male and female and declared, for this reason a man shall leave
his father and mother and cling to his wife, and the two shall become one? Thus, they
are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, let no man separate what God has joined.
The emphasis on marriage traces back on the creation story when God created human
beings’ man and woman, "So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God
has joined together, no man must separate„ (Gn. 2:24). The CFC stresses that the couple
should realize in a general way that man and woman are created for one another, to
unite to become one flesh in a communion of love that grounds their marriage and
family life (802). This unification between man and woman must weather all the odds to
demonstrate their commitment with each other. CFC states that, thus by its very nature
as an "intimate community of life and love," and inspired and sustained by the new
commandment of love, "the Christian family is placed at the service of the building up of
the Kingdom of God in history by participating in the life and mission of the Church
(808)
B. Violations against the Sixth Commandment
Adultery applies only to married partners. It happens when one or both of the couples
have sexual relations with other partners. The sexual intimacy shared within the context
of marriage must be continually reserved as the expression of affection and the deepest
union that only belongs to married people. Both man and woman must grow in chastity
towards each other, enjoying sexuality within marriage. Adultery, aside from its impact
on the relationship between an individual and God, is also an action that harms the
society especially the family as the most fundamental unit. Those who commit adultery
have broken their commitments in the sacrament of marriage, injuring the covenant of
marriage bond.
7. Seventh Commandment
"You shall not steal". (Ex. 20:15)
A. Respecting one’s Property 
The commandment recognizes sense of decency in one's content of possession, what one
has, and not coveting others’ good. This commandment is a reminder of the Christian
virtues of temperance, justice and solidarity. The seventh commandment forbids
unjustly taking or keeping the goods of one’s neighbor and wronging him in any way
with respect to his goods. It commands justice and charity in the care of earthly goods
and the fruits of men’s labor. For the sake of the common good, it requires the respect
for the universal destination of goods and respect for the right to private property.
 
B. Violations against the Seventh Commandment
How does a student commit the sin of stealing? Cheating may come in various forms,
such as: cheating during exams, tampering documents, work poorly done, asking
additional allowance for a requirement that is not really asked in school, and others. The
violations against this commandment include kidnapping and many forms of
exploitation such as exploitation in food, housing and clothing, which endangers
personal freedom.
Violation against this Commandment also includes stealing from public properties,
social structures and conditions which should serve the common good (CFC 901-903).
This is where the attention and conscience of some of our present-day government
officials who practice graft and corruption and perpetuate sinful social structures should
be called for. The CCC mentions in detail the different actions that amount to violation
against the commandment. In general terms, theft is considered as the taking or using
of another’s property against the reasonable will of the owner. CCC enumerates various
circumstances through which theft is manifested in different contexts, such as paying
unjust wages, speculation on the value of goods in order to gain an advantage to the
detriment of others, forgery of checks or invoices, tax evasion, business fraud, willful
damage of properties, usury, corruption, private abuse of common goods, work
deliberately done poorly.
8. Eight Commandment
"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor". (Exodus 20:16)
A. Upholding the Truth
This commandment pertains to the moral imperative of according respect to others and
ensuring that one speaks highly of others the value of integrity and honesty towards
others and the decency of speaking the truth about others and not
 discrediting and dishonoring them through rumor-mongering or baseless
gossips. Based on the teachings of Jesus, disregarding others and committing false
testimony is by nature, a manifestation of the sinfulness of the heart and renders it
unclean.  The CCC describes truth as "uprightness in human action and speech and is
the virtue which consists of showing oneself true in deeds and truthful in words, and in
guarding against duplicity, dissimulation and hypocrisy" (2468). Speaking highly and
truthfully of others reveals that as Christians we accord others the respect and dignity
that are rightfully due to them. Speaking highly of others also shows that Christians are
proactive and have "a clear conscience toward God and toward men." Respecting others,
who are the image and likeness of God, enables one to free himself/herself from any
moral fault of unjustly accusing others and destroying their name and credibility.
B. Violations against the Eighth Commandment
When does violation of the commandment take place? According to the CCC, one is
guilty of detraction who discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not
know them without objectively valid reason and one is guilty of calumny (a
misrepresentation intended to harm another’s  reputation) who harms the reputation of
others and gives occasion for false judgments concerning them by remarks contrary to
the truth (2477). These sins violate both the commandment against false witness and
the command to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Moreover, gossips and slander also are
violations of the commandment.         
Gossips pertain to spreading baseless accusations or statements against others. Slander
also qualifies within the range of gossip but it is with the intention of discrediting others
towards their prejudice or disadvantage. CCC further qualifies violations against the
commandment every word or attitude is forbidden which by flattery, adulation, or
complaisance encourages and confirms another in malicious acts and perverse conduct.
Adulation is a grave fault if it makes one an accomplice in another’s vices or grave sins
(2480). Neither the desire to be of service nor friendship justifies duplicitous speech.
Furthermore, boasting and bragging are viewed as offenses against truth. So is irony
aimed at disparaging someone by maliciously caricaturing (mocking) some aspect of his
behavior.
9. Ninth commandment
"You shall not covet you neighbor's wife". (Exodus 20:17)
The Lord Places much importance on controlling one's sexual desires or not allowing
sexual appetite take a complete hold of one's reason that Will eventually cause him/her
to commit lust or carnal concupiscence. Jesus Christ, His Public Ministry, emphasized
that our thoughts and attitudes determine the commission of lustful behaviors. He
implored Christians to live not only to respect others in external manner, but also
internally, through their minds and intentions. 
The CFC (868) states that Christ perfected this teaching in His Sermon on the Mount
when He said: "You have heard the Commandment, 'You shall not commit adultery.'
What I say to you is, anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed
adultery with her in his thoughts/ heart" (Mt. 5:29). Saint Paul also exhorted his
converts saying, "Put to death whatever in your nature is rooted in earth: fornication,
uncleanness, passion, evil desires, and that lust which is idolatry" (Col. 3:5). To the
Ephesians, he wrote, "make no mistake about this: no fornicator, no unclean or lustful
person-in effect an idolater has — any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God
(Eph. 5:5).
 
a. Violations against the Ninth Commandment
In reality, the spiritual fabric to look at others with modesty is slowly disintegrating with
the onset of mass communication which continually exposes the society to liberality in
relation to purity, faithfulness and modesty. The outright disregard to purity of one's
sexuality needs to be altered, thus requiring the changing of some norms in mass media.
There must be a high value to be placed in respecting others.
 
10. Tenth Commandment
"You shall not covet your neighbor's goods". (Exodus 20:18)
This commandment prohibits greed and envy thus all sorts of stealing are direct
violations of the commandment. The excessive desire to own material possession
sometimes compels others to steal or defraud others as an easy
The greedy and envious desires for material possession serve as precursor to the
commission of other sins like violence and injustice which are forbidden by the tenth
commandment. Greed pertains to the desire for earthly possessions and goods without
limit, completely disregarding spirituality and growth most of the time. The tenth
commandment compels Christians to be contented with what they have. sometimes,
Christians feel jealous on What others possess or achieve. But what happens next to
jealousy is something Christians must be wary of. If it grows into envy, the sadness over
others' success and possessions and the intemperate desire to acquire them become a
prohibition of this commandment.

After the discussion in lesson 2, we realized that throughout history, the Ten
Commandments have been used as a framework for expounding all of our ethical
responsibilities. We have to live ethical responsibilities by:
0. Setting a time each day for prayer and/or meditation to God. Develop a
reading plan to read the bible for a year.
1. "Saying no": giving more importance to your studies over some
“extracurricular activities" of your barkada or circle of friends.
2. Remembering the Sabbath. We set aside time to attend the Holy Mass
3. Recognizing the authority of our parents.
4. Appreciating the value and worth of others.
5. Keeping your commitment to your studies.
6. Prioritizing a need over a want.
7. Speaking highly of others.
8. Valuing a healthy relationship with others.
9. Desiring for the good of others.
 WEEK 7: FUNDAMENTAL GUIDES
TOWARD CHRISTIAN DISCIPLESHIP
INSPIRED WORD OF GOD
THE PARABLE OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN
3 
“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn, for
they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who
hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown
mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is
the kingdom of heaven.

CHURCH TEACHING
 “We are called to holiness, Jesus through his teachings particularly his Sermon on the Mount inspires us
to walk on the way to holiness. Pope Francis’ exhortation, On the Call to Holiness, Gaudete et Exsultate
(Rejoice and be glad) inspires us to live whatever our role, “by living our lives with love and bearing
witness”, and in the everyday turning to God. “Holiness grows through small gestures; refusing to gossip,
listening with patience and love, saying a kind word to a poor person”. These are ways to live our
“blessedness”. Our blessedness is a way to holiness and we need “moments of solitude and silence
before God, to face our true selves and let the Lord enter.
         Our vocation seeks the kingdom of God by engaging in temporal affairs and by ordering them
according to the plan of God. We live in the world, that is, in each and in all of the secular professions and
occupations.

I. THE EIGHT BEATITTUDES

A. Understanding the Beatitudes
   Jesus gave the Eight Beatitudes in His sermon on the mountain side. Just like the
Ten Commandments, He unselfishly shared important values and attitudes that
Christians must boldly confess and profess to reflect the goodness and greatness of God
in their lives.
The First Beatitude: Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
     Some people think that this beatitude requires them to embrace poverty.
However, this beatitude focuses on the virtue of humility and dependence of God. It
calls upon Christians to recognize their limitedness and fallibility, and importantly,
know that God is sovereign and supreme over them.
     By being poor in spirit, it means being humble. God, with his unending love and
grace, blessed us with gifts and blessings. Christians do not boast that their actions,
decisions and accomplishments are merely made possible by their strength and will
alone.
The Second Beatitude: Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
    This beatitude gives the consolation that when one mourns; Christ comes to the
rescue to provide comfort and relief. When Christians mourn over their sins, Christ
offers His saving grace to bring everyone closer to Him. When one mourns over the
realities of life, Christ offers comfort.
     The Lenten season is such a great opportunity for Christians to take time to
mourn for their human frailties and those of others.
The Third Beatitude: Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth,
    Christ calls upon His people to embrace the virtue of humility and gentleness
towards others. Meekness means that no one shows kindness and consideration towards
others. One stretches his/her patience to others and considers their feelings, ensuring
that his/her decision and actions will not adversely affect them. Others construe
meekness as a manifestation of weakness or false modesty.
      In Christian living, with the grace of God, the meek acknowledge the grace of
God, the meek acknowledge the primacy of God over others.
The Fourth Beatitude: Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for
they will be satisfied.
    This beatitude clearly shows that God will not disappoint those who will
deliberately act on nurturing their relationship with Him. He promises that He will
satisfy them and ensure that their hunger for righteousness run parallel to the teaching
of Christ on seeking God first, and all the cares of this world shall be properly provided
for.
The Fifth Beatitude: Blessed are the merciful, for they will obtain mercy.
This beatitude reminds one of the Golden Commandment, “Do unto others as
you would have them do unto you.” The act of faith, hope and charity one graciously
gives unto others will come back to oneself somehow. To be merciful requires that one
goes beyond what he/she sees on the surface
 The Sixth Beatitude: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
The Beatitude calls upon Christians to make a conscious effort to guard their hearts
from any sorts of impurities, grudges, hatred, and ungodly matters.
The heart is considered as the innermost part of a person. It is the seat of one’s thoughts
and emotions.
The Seventh Beatitude: Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children
of God.
 
Peace comes from the Hebrew word, shalom. This is rich in meaning, and
in fact, a common word of greetings for the Jews. Everyone is called to bring
others to a peaceful relationship with God. One’s faith must be living testimony
for others to believe in God, to come back to His fold and to live in reconciliation
with Him.
The Eight Beatitude: Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
  
This Beatitude encourages Christians to persevere and stick to their faith
and use it to enable them to make moral judgements in conformity with the
norms of Christian morality. They remain true and faithful to the teachings of
Jesus Christ and the Church, even if others are not, and even of others ridicule
them for choosing to act in a Christ-like manner.

B. SEVEN THEMES OF THE CATHOLIC SOCIAL TEACHINGS: FINDING

RELEVANCE TO MODERN REALITY 
Life and Dignity of the Human Person
         The Commandments clearly articulate the prohibition of killing and all sorts of
disrespect disregard to the dignity and worth of human life.
Call to Family, Community and Participation
    The Church places importance on maintaining the bonds of the family. God
established this in His fourth commandment of honoring parents.
 
Rights and Responsibilities
          The church recognizes that the sanctity and sacredness of life affirms that each
individual has natural rights which others must faithfully respond positively to.
Option for the Poor and the Vulnerable
    The Commandments primarily create a community where people respect the
innate beauty of humanity
Dignity of Work and Rights of Workers
           The Commandments of not coveting others’ goods clearly shows that people
must learn the value of hard work, to make a living for themselves.
Solidarity
   
    When every individual responds positively to his/her moral responsibility
towards others, there is no doubt that he/she contributes to the attainment of a
harmonious society where justice, love and solidarity are mutually shared
Care for God’s Creation
  
     The abundance and bounty of nature are sufficient enough to prove the
magnificence and greatness of God.
WEEK 8: