Elements Of Moral Theology

The comprehensive introduction to Catholic moral theology by the leading theologian and author of The Moral Virtues and Theological Ethics. In Introduction to Moral Theology, Father Romanus Cessario, O.P. presents and expounds on the basic and central elements of Catholic moral theology written in the light of Veritatis splendor. Since its publication in 2001, this first book in the Catholic Moral Thought series has been widely recognized as an authoritative resource on such topics as moral theology and the good of the human person created in God’s image; natural law; principles of human action; determination of the moral good through objects, ends, and circumstances; and the virtues, gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the Beatitudes. The Catholic Moral Thought series is designed to provide students with a comprehensive presentation of both the principles of Christian conduct and the specific teachings and precepts for fulfilling the requirements of the Christian life. Soundly based in the teaching of the Church, the volumes set out the basic principles of Catholic moral thought and the application of those principles within areas of ethical concern that are of paramount importance today.

Excerpt from Elements of Moral Theology: Based on the Summa Theologiae of St. Thomas Aquinas The reader of these Elements Of Moral Theology, a student, as I hope, of this great science of God's law, will doubtless indulge the writer in a few prefatory words. My humble Office is that of editor rather than that of author. But even as such I would gladly have resigned the task to abler hands if any such had appeared. My best hope is that this poor attempt will soon be superseded by something better. I have called our study a science, for such it is; se., the science of the law of God, as given to man, in what ever way it is given. This definition distinguishes it from Moral Philosophy, which seeks to account for and develope, from reason only, the laws and principles of right living. Moral Theology, on the other hand, is the science of the Divine Will as revealed to man. Well understood, these two must needs coincide, although their methods may be different. Moral Theology, making use Of the other, is also grounded on it, as that in turn is grounded on the nature of man and the being of God. Both the philosophy and the theology, therefore, require a sound psychology, and a true theosophy, which in these Elements are assumed. For, like every other special science, Moral Theology has its assumptions that the law of God is revealed in Holy Scripture that the Catholic Church has authority to apply that law, and to add positive laws, under the guidance of the Holy Ghost, which bind the con science oi every Christian man; and that the gifts of gra cions help for the due keeping of God's holy law are freely bestowed through the ordained channels of grace. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

Part I. - Introduction. CHAPTER I. 13 On Beatitude § 1. What is man's ultimate end? § 2. What is beatitude? § 3. On the obtaining of this beatitude. CHAPTER II. 17 On Will § 1. What constitutes the voluntary and the involuntary? § 2. On the circumstances of human acts. § 3. Acts elicited by the will. 1. The end. What is willed in reference to the end. § 4. On motives. § 5. How is the will moved? § 6. On the choice of means for the end. § 7. On acts commanded by the will. CHAPTER III. 26 On Good and Evil in Human Acts § 1. Whence are they derived? § 2. The good and evil of the inward acts of the will. § 3. On good and evil in outward human acts. § 4. What results from the moral character of human acts? CHAPTER IV. 36 On Good and Evil in the Passions of the Soul § 1. General view. § 2. Love. § 3. Hate. § 4. Concupiscence. § 5. Pleasure. § 6. Pain and sorrow. § 7. Anger. CHAPTER V. 43 On Virtues § 1. On habits. § 2. The essence and subject of virtue. § 3. On Intellectual virtues. § 4. On moral virtues. £ 5. On the theological virtues. § 6. How arc virtues acquired? § 7. On the connection of virtues. CHAPTER VI. 52 On Vices and Sins § 1. The nature of vice and sin. £ 2. Divisions. § 3. On the comparative guilt of sins. § 4. The subject of sin. § 5. The causes of sins. § 6. Relations of ignorance to sin. § 7. The moral relations of sense- appetite to sin. §8. Sins of malice, i.e., of deliberate wickedness. § 9. External causes of sin. § 10. The effects of sin. § 11. Venial and mortal sins. CHAPTER VII. 74 On Law § 1. What is law? § 2. Eternal law. § 3. The law of nature. § 4. Human law. § 5. Divine law. § 6. The Evangelical law. Part II. - The Theological Virtues. CHAPTER I. 91 Faith and its Opposite Vices § 1. Faith. § 2. The inward act of faith. § 3. The outward act of faith. § 4. The virtue of faith. § 5. Infidelity, heresy, apostasy, and blasphemy. CHAPTER II. 103 Hope and its Opposite Vices § 1. Hope. § 2. Vices opposed to hope: despair and presumption. CHAPTER III. 108 Charity § 1. Charity in general view. § 2. Charity in subjective view. § 3. The object of charity. § 4. The order of charity. § 5. Love. § 6. Joy. § 7. Peace. § 8. Mercy and pity (misericordia). § 9. Beneficence. § 10. Alms-giving. § 11. Fraternal correction. § 12. The precepts of charity. CHAPTER IV. 135 Vices Opposed to Charity § 1. Hatred. § 2. Spiritual sloth ("acedia"). § 3. Envy. § 4. Discord and strife. § 5. Schism. § 6. Wars, quarrels, and seditions. § 7. Scandal. Part III. - The Cardinal Virtues. CHAPTER I. 147 Prudence and its Opposite Vices § 1. Prudence. § 2. Vices opposed to prudence. CHAPTER II. 153 Justice and Injustice § 1. Right. § 2. Justice. 3. Injustice. § 4. Judgment. § 5. Commutative and distributive justice; estitution. CHAPTER III. 165 Vices Opposed to Justice § 1. Respect of persons. § 2. Homicide. § 3. Theft and robbery. § 4. Injustice in legal proceedings. § 5. Injurious words. § 6. Frauds in trade. § 7. Sins of Omission. CHAPTER IV. 180 Religion and Vices Opposed to it § 1. Introduction. § 2. Religion. § 3. Devotion and prayer. § 4. Outward acts of Divine worship: Adoration, sacrifices, and oblations. § 5. On Vows. § 6. On oaths. § 7. Superstition. § 8. Irreligion; viz., Tempting God, perjury, sacrilege, and simony. CHAPTER V. 200 Duties towards Others, Depending on Justice, and their Opposite Vices § 1. Piety, reverence, and honour. § 2. Obedience and disobedience. § 3. Gratitude, ingratitude, and vengeance. § 4. Veracity and vices opposed to it. § 5. Affability and liberality, with their opposite vices. § 6. Equity ("epicheia") § 7. The precepts of justice: the Ten Commandments. CHAPTER VI. 221 Courage and Fortitude: Their Allied Virtues, and Their Opposite Vices AND MORE!!!

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.