Sharing In Christ S Virtues

The encyclical Veritatis splendor (The Splendor of Truth) represents the first document of the magisterium devoted to the foundations of the Catholic moral life. Though it was intended to confront a genuine crisis of moral disintegration and to offer positive directions for carrying out the work of renewing moral theology, it was fiercely criticized by theologians who regarded it as a simplistic and "repressive" document. Now, several years after the publication of the encyclical, Livio Melina offers an original contribution not only to the study of Veritatis splendor and the controversy surrounding it, but also to the field of moral theology as a whole. In Sharing in Christ's Virtues, Melina proposes a blueprint for organizing moral theology, one that is in harmony with the directions given in Veritatis splendor and one that likewise respects the requirements of both the "theological" and the "scientific" character of the discipline. He describes it as a "Christocentricism of the virtues," which understands the moral life of Christians as a participation in the virtues of Christ by means of the grace of one's ecclesial incorporation in Christ. Melina argues that the renewal of moral theology should result in, first, a search for a more integral and dynamic understanding of human action, and second, a theological "re-dimensioning" of morality to better comprehend the synergy between human action and God's action. The contents of the book are: Part One: Toward a Christocentrism of the Virtues: Lines of Renewal 1. Between Crisis and Renewal: The Cultural and Theological Context of Morality Today 2. An Ethics of the Good Life and of Virtue 3. An Ethics Founded on the Truth About the Good of the Person 4. A Morality of Faith: The Salvific Relevance of Moral Action 5. A Christocentric Ethics of the Virtues Part Two: Ecclesial Sense and Moral Life: Perspectives and Developments 6. Ecclesial Dimensions of Moral Theology 7. The Call to Holiness in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Morality and Spirituality of "Life in Christ" 8. Moral Conscience and Communio: Toward a Response to the Challenge of Ethical Pluralism Livio Melina is professor of moral theology at the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and Family at the Lateran University in Rome. In addition to numerous articles, he has written and coauthored several books, including La conoscenza morale. Linee di riflessione sul Commento di san Tommaso all'Etica Nicomachea; Morale: tra crisi e rinnovamento; Corso di bioetica. Il Vangelo della vita; Amor conjugal y vocacion a la santidad; Domanda sul bene e domanda su Dio; and Quale dimora per l'agire? Dimensioni ecclesiologiche della morale. "Melina's thought-provoking and powerful presentation of key themes in moral theology will be welcomed by English readers.... One comes away with an understanding and appreciation of the basis of Christian morality for the twenty-first century. The excellent bibliography lists authors from Aristotle to John Paul II, many not well known in the English literature on moral theology. . . . Melina's work is timely. ..."--Catholic Library World

Kindness is not what we have been taught it is. It isn't a soft virtue, expressed only by sweet grandmothers or nice Boy Scouts. Kindness is neither timid nor frail. Instead, it is brave and daring, willing to be vulnerable with those with whom we disagree. It is the revolutionary way that Jesus himself called us to live. The way of selfless risks. The way of staggering hope. The way of authenticity. Dr. Barry Corey, president of Biola University, believes we tend to devalue the importance of kindness, opting instead for caustic expressions of certainty that push people away. We forget that the essence of what God requires of us is to "love kindness." In this book, filled with stories from his travels around the globe, Barry shows us the forgotten way of kindness. It is a life that calls us to put ourselves at risk. A life that calls us to hope. A life of a firm center and soft edges. It is the life Christ invites us to follow, no matter what the cost. This new paperback edition has an added chapter and a foreword from Steven Curtis Chapman.

Building a new America with Christ's Values provides solutions to our most critical problems: - the need to create enough sustainable jobs, - the need to shift to solar, wind and, hydrogen power before oil is unaffordable or unavailable, and finally - the need to stop destructive climate change. The Department of Defense has instructed the military that they must be independent of oil by 2040. There is hope for an abundant future, but only if we: - Develop a national energy and transportation plan and proceed with rapid implementation to stop burning fossil fuels. - Shift resources from the Military Industrial Complex to a Nation Building at Home Complex. - Establish a new business model and banking model as provided by the Mondragon Cooperative Corporation, which is worker owned. - Follow Christ's teaching: "As I have loved you, love one another."

A gentle, practical guide to help readers meditate on some of the virtues that can be cultivated in daily life.

This book provides a theological foundation for consideration of the moral dimensions of human sexuality from a Roman Catholic perspective.

The Virtues of Holiness offers a road-map for navigating our everyday activities: work, family, leisure pursuits. It shows how we can reach the heights of Christian life in and through these activities. For many people this is unfamiliar territory, and the author has written this book just for them. Fr. Lorda offers his readers a daily spiritual plan and describes strategies for gaining the virtues needed for following Christ closely. The next steps are familiarity with the life of Christ and developing a deep interior relationship with Him. Although its path is challenging, The Virtues of Holiness leaves no doubt that the struggle to stay close to Christ lies within the reach of every Christian. The author draws on a wide range of Christian apologists from the Church Fathers to St. Thomas Aquinas, as well as the 16th century Spanish mystics, John of Avila, John of the Cross, and Teresa of Avila. The result is a book that is accessible to readers of all ages, and especially young believers.

Throughout the Bible, God lovingly shows us what character traits He desires for us to cultivate. In this study we will look at seven virtues in Colossians 3:12-14 that we are instructed to ""put on"" in regard to how we treat each otherÉ compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, forgiveness, and love. The beautiful thing about our Creator is that He will only ask us to clothe ourselves with virtues that are at the center of who He is. In this study we will look at not only the meaning of each virtue, but also at how God uses them in His interactions with us. These virtues may stretch you, make you feel uneasy, and challenge you. But with God's help we are able to change how we interact with others. That change will help us know God better and help us show the love of God to the world.

The tradition of Christian spirituality offers many insights and courageous personal examples to guide contemporary disciples in following the way of Jesus. The thoughts of early Christian writers, martyrs, medieval mystics, and notable Christians from more recent centuries, have all contributed to the development and understanding of the Christian virtues contained in this book. Christian spirituality offers a practical wisdom that has been tempered by the joys and trials of past centuries, helping to form and strengthen disciples of later generations. It offers the same for our time. Each Christian virtue in this book reveals a timelessness that offers an old yet rearticulated quality for our contemporary Western world that, regrettably, tends to overlook the riches of the classical Christian tradition. Christian disciples are called to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and experience the fullness of life that he did, through interiorizing Jesus’ way of relating to others. His faithfulness and openness to the love of his heavenly father enabled Jesus to fully and freely share that love with others. Examining and embracing these seven Christian virtues will help to strengthen us along our journey, as they have for countless disciples over the centuries.