How to live
A Christian Moral Life
The Way of Christ: the Christian Moral Life
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think about the biggest decision you've
made today this week this month did you
choose well was it the right thing to do
or the wrong thing to do when we choose
what is good and avoid evil we grow in
God's grace and become holier so it's
really important to be able to determine
whether our actions are good or not
[Music]
let's say you just got a new electronic
device as you're reading through the
instruction manual to figure out its
features and how it works you come
across words in big bold print that
reads do not submerge in water would
your response be how do these people
tell me what I can and can't do with my
device they don't even know me
this is my device and I can do whatever
I want whenever I want and however I
want with it no most people wouldn't
even think that because we all know that
water and electronic devices don't mix
well in fact water could ruin my device
but have you ever heard these words this
is my life or this is my body I can do
whatever I want whenever I want however
I want with my life I've heard and maybe
even said things that resemble these
statements however this mentality does
not work for ultimate good God created
us for a life with him and he has a plan
for us he knows what will break us and
what will fulfill us so he sets before
us an instruction manual rules and
guidelines that teach us right from
wrong so we can avoid damage to our
souls and to live in unity with him so
how do we know when an act is right or
wrong does it conform to God's will or
not when we're talking about the moral
goodness of an act we're talking about
how God sees it in its entirety he's not
only concerned with what we do but also
why we do it and when where and how we
do it the church gives us three elements
that determine whether an act is morally
right or wrong all three of these
elements have to be good in order for
the act as a whole to be good the first
and most important element is the object
what we do the second element is our
intention why we do it and the third is
the circumstances surrounding the action
the when where and how it's done now
this is a silly example but it
demonstrates how the
elements work let's pretend I'm on a
field trip at a museum with my class at
the end of a long day of walking around
my feet are tired when we get to the
exit of the building there's a sign and
a few chairs that says visitor seating I
choose to sit for the intention of
resting my feet in the proper designated
area now choosing this doesn't make me a
saint but all of the elements are good
therefore there's something bad about my
decision let's change it up and say that
there's a classmate that I really don't
like and as we're touring the museum I
heard her talk about how she sprained
her ankle and couldn't wait to sit down
so as we approach the exit of the
building I see that there is a one chair
left so I speed up a little bit and I
take it so she can't have it even though
the object of sitting is neutral my
intention is motivated by malice thus it
is not in conformity with God's will so
that action as a whole is morally wrong
ok let's change the circumstances so I'm
walking around this museum all day and
all I want to do is rest my tired feet I
glanced up to see this beautiful gold
trim to chair with red velvet lining and
a rope around it with a sign that reads
exhibit do not touch but I think to
myself wow that looks really comfortable
and my feet really hurt so I go and I
sit down that action is not morally
acceptable because the circumstances
don't allow me to sit in that chair
hopefully now we see how the object
intention and circumstances determine
the righteousness or lack thereof of an
action in the example I gave I used a
morally neutral object sitting there are
however objects or actions that are
intrinsically evil meaning they are
always wrong despite the goodness of the
intention or the circumstances some
examples of intrinsically evil objects
include blasphemy murder direct abortion
adultery and idolatry
these things are never permitted because
they are incompatible with the love of
God and neighbor so it's important to
educate ourselves in the moral law that
God has handed down through Scripture
and tradition blessed Louise hazeh once
said God's invitation to become Saints
is for all not just a few sanctity
therefore must be accessible to all and
what does it consist in a lot of
activity no in doing extraordinary
things no for this could not be for
everybody and at all times
therefore sanctity consists in doing
good and in doing this good in whatever
condition in place God has placed us
strive to lead a good moral life by
studying God's law
listening to the teachings of the church
practicing the virtues forming your
conscience and working with God's
abundant grace to conform your life to
his will and grow in sanctity I'm Bishop
Joseph Strickland thank you so much for
viewing this episode of the way of
Christ is an excellent resource for
growing in your Catholic faith for
deepening your life in Jesus Christ you
can purchase your own copy of the way of
christ at saint philip institute.org
slash store god bless you and let us
continue to grow in his light
