Objectives Introduction

At the end of the session, the With much appreciation and a little bit envy to the success of
students can: others, we tend to imitate their ways, embrace their lifestyles as if they
are the ultimate basis of our existence to a point of ending our own
Discuss clearly the 4 sources of journey without recognizing and celebrating the uniqueness of our own
Christian Morality and the identity. Why look up to others when we have Jesus Christ as the model
Models of Christian Life through
on how to live a meaningful, progressive and grace-filled life?
a diagram;
Acquiring a deeper understanding of morality is actually a big
Cite concrete ways of living a
moral life through a mission challenge for this present generation considering that the complexed
Statement; consumerist world is wrapped by an advanced, but sometimes
irresponsible use of virtual Capsoul of the Session
Pray the prayer for moral communication. The truth about moral
resistance. life is somehow endangered by false
cultural practices that form part of man’s
behavior and ambitious demands of the
BTI changing world. Hence, there is really a
need to go back to where the “good”
The pre-service teachers can develop & demonstrate the following competencies:
originated that flows to all aspects of
human life. It is through this course that
Domain 1. Content Knowledge and Pedagogy
one can reflect the morality of an act done
or to be done which would lead
1.1.1 Demonstrate content knowledge and its application within and/or across curriculum teaching areas.
happiness of divine life
by acknowledging Jesus Christ as the primordial model of moral life.

Activity:

If you’ll be given a chance to choose a gift

and be part of the Familia Madrigal, what would it
be? Why would you prefer that gift? How are you
going to use it to promote your moral advocacy?
 Acquisition of New Knowledge

Principal Sources of Christian Morality | Four-Sector of Methodology of Moral Theology

How should we examine and judge is good or bad paradigm in respect of Christian ethics (Christian
morality)? To answer this question, moral theology lays down the principal sources of Christian
ethics/morality.

1. Holy scripture – “All scripture is inspired by God and can profitably use for teaching, refuting error, for
guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man dedicated to God becomes fully
equipped and ready for any good work” (2 Tim 3:16-17). Vatican ll teaches that the holy Scripture should
be the soul, as it were, of all theology. Further. The gospel is the source of al saving truth and moral
teaching. “The Church has faithfully preserved what the word of God
n profitably use for teaching, refuting error, forteaches,
guiding not
people’s lives truths
only about and teaching them
which must betobelieved
be holy.but also about
man dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and moralready foraction
action, any good work”.
pleasing to God.” Hence, these sacred texts in the
2 Tim 3:16-17 biblical writings are consulted when addressing moral issues. They
have always been granted a prominent place in theological
argumentation.

2. Sacred Tradition- St. Paul writes, “So then, brothers and sisters,
stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught by us.
Either by word of mouth or by our letter” (2 Thess 2:15). “Scared
Tradition and the Sacred Scripture, then are bound closely together,
and communicate one with the other. For both of them, flowing out
from the same divine well-spring, come
“So then, brothers and sisters,
together in somestand firm and
fashion hold one
to form fast to the traditions that you were taught by us. Eit
thing, and move towards the same 2 Thessalonians 2:15
goal. Sacred Scripture is the speech of
God as it is put down in writing under
the breath of the Holy Spirit. And tradition transmits it entirely the word
which has been entrusted to the apostles by the Christ the Lord and the
Holy Spirit. It transmits it to the successors of the apostles so that,
enlightened by the spirit of truth, they may faithfully preserve, expound
and spread it abroad by their preaching. Thus it comes about that the
church does not draw her certainty about all revealed truths from the
Holy Scriptures alone. Hence, both Scriptures and Tradition must be accepted and honored with equal
feelings of devotion and reverence.”

It should be recalled that the first generation did not yet have a written New Testament, and the New
Testament itself demonstrates the process of living Tradition. “tradition is to be distinguished from the
various theological, disciplinary, liturgical or devotional traditions, born in local Churches over time.
These are the particular forms, adapted to different places and times, in which the great tradition is
expressed. In the light of tradition, these traditions can be retained, modified or even abandoned under
the guidance of the church’s Magisterium.” The Historical development of a doctrine or moral norm is
examined in which history within Christianity is specifically given importance. In a word, historical events
or socio – cultural practices outside Christian community are not part of Sacred Tradition.

3. Magisterium – This is the teaching authority of the Church. “The Church magisterium intervenes not
only in the sphere of faith, but also, inseparably so, in the sphere of morals. It has the task discerning, by
 means or normative for the consciences of believers, those acts with
rvenes not only in the sphere of faith, but also, inseparably so, in the sphere of morals…”
themselves conform to the demands of faith and foster their expression in
life and those which, on the contrary, because intrinsically evil, are
incompatible with such demands… it teaches the faithful specific particular
precepts and requires that they consider them in conscience as morally
binding. In addition, the Magisterium carries out an important work of
vigilance, warning the faithful of the presence of possible errors, even merely
implicit one, when their consciences fail to acknowledge the correctness and
the truth of the moral norms.” “Theological subjects should be taught in the
light of faith, under the guidance of the magisterium of the Church.” The
teachings of the
councils and pope’s infallibility are given highest importance in addressing moral issues.

On the other hand, regional or national conferences also hold a doctrinal authority as part of the
teaching office in a particular region or nation. However, the said authority is not equal to that of the
popes or councils. Hence, this is the avenue where the relationship between the Church and Morality or
Ecclesiology and Moral Theology intersect.

4. Signs of the times – This should be not understood in the context of the Pharisees’ and the
Sadducees’ demand on Jesus for a “sign” (Mt. 16: 1-4) or of the frightening events forecasted by the
“prophets of gloom” about the end of the world but rather this is the argument of
reason or rational reflection on the human
“God experiences
maybe summoning ofus
the
to human
recognize new challenges and to devise new ways of m
community in light of a true human flourishing. This form of argument
God may be calling us to conversion in its deepest meaning, a change of mind and h
should always be associated with the Gospel values and the natural law Richard McBrien
doctrine. “The church has always had the duty of scrutinizing the signs
of the times of interpreting in the light to the Gospel… we must
therefore recognize and understand the world in which we live, its
expectations, its longings, and its often dramatic characteristics.”
According to Richard McBrien, “God maybe summoning us to recognize
new challenges and to devise new ways of meeting this challenges. God
may be calling us to conversion in its deepest meaning, a change of
mind and heart (Mark 1:15)

Models of Christian Moral life

Richard McBrien (Catholicism, pp. 921-923) presented three different models of the Christian moral life
in the theological literature: the theological, the deontological, and the relational.

1. The theological model views the Christian moral life in terms of the goal
or end
ical model From a Greek word “telos” (Greek
which – “telos”
means which means goal) to be achieved, namely, eternal
goal
union with God. Something is good if it leads to the achievement of the goal,
and evil if it prevents one from achieving it. In the complexity in the human
historical existence, however, one must distinguish the ultimate goal from
immediate and subordinate goals. Thomas Aquinas is a classic exponent of
the theological model of the Christian life.
 2. The deontological model views the Christian moral life primarily Deontological model
in terms of duty (Greek – “deon” which means duty), law, or
From a Greek word “deon” which means duty
obligation. The categorical imperative of Emmanuel Kant is an
example of that approach (“Acts as if maxim from which you act
were to become through your will a universal law”) popular
Christian Piety, in effect, adopts this approach also when it makes
the ten Commandments the basis of the moral life. Although the
traditional manuals of moral theology assumed they were in the
tradition of Thomas Aquinas (whose approach was theological),
they were really operating within the deontological model, with their heavy emphasis on law as
the objective norm of morality and on conscience as the subjective norm.

3. The relational model, developed especially in the writings of

life primarily in terms of the ChristianBernard
multiple relations
Haring, with
views the God, neighbor,
Christian world,inand
moral life primarily self.
terms of the
Christian multiple relations with God, neighbor, world, and self. Although
preferable to the teleological and deontological models, the relation
model does not exclude some place for them in moral theology.

Contemporary biblical studies indicate that it is the relational model that

is the primary in the Christian moral Life. The ethical concept in the Old
Testament is not actually law but covenant. In the New Testament, love
occupies the central place. In fact, the nature of Holy Trinity is relational.
Sacraments, especially the Sacrament of Reconciliation includes
relationship with God, neighbor, world, and self.
Though the above models are helpful for scholars in understanding the pursuit of Christian moral life,
however one should know that the absolute and definitive norm of humanity id Jesus Christ. He is
standard and model of moral life as the following of Christ in all our daily free actions, values and
attitudes, empowered by Christ liberating and transforming presence, through the grace of his spirit,
within the Christian Community. It is simply responding to the Gospel Call to become loving persons, in
the fullness of life-with-others-in-community before God, in imitation of Jesus Christ”. Hence, Christian
must be founded on a wide-ranging Christology.

A prayer for moral resistance

make the welfare of all, the supreme law of the land, that so our commonwealth may be built strong and secure, on the love of all its inha

A prayer for moral resistance | Kairos (kairoscenter.org)

 APPLICATION

Diagram:
Instruction:
Complete the Diagram below. Give the right terms and elaborate each with three key points. At the
bottom of your Diagram, write your mission statement on how to live a moral life.

Four Sources of Morality

Models Christian Moral Life

ASSESSMENT: Quiz

REFERENCES

Reyes, J. (2018). Moral Theology, A Basic Study on Christian Morality. Unpublished book
A prayer for moral resistance | Kairos (kairoscenter.org) retrieved January 19, 2021