Lesson18/26

Grace, Conscience, and the Beatitudes

Discover moral life as a response to grace, learn to form your conscience, grow in virtue, and seek happiness according to the Gospel.

Estimated time: 16 min Reviewed
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Live from the identity you have received

Christian life is not an effort to save ourselves. Grace goes before us, heals us, and raises us up; freedom is invited to cooperate through good choices, virtue, and returning to God after a fall.

Key point

Conscience is a judgment of reason about what must be done; it is not the same as a feeling or preference. Conscience has dignity, but it must be formed by the Word of God, the teaching of the Church, prayer, reason, and wise counsel.

Scripture

Suggested reading: Matthew 5:1-16; Galatians 5:13-26. The Beatitudes portray Christ and direct freedom toward the fruit of the Spirit.

Discern the morality of an act

To evaluate an act morally, one must consider the act chosen, the intention, and the circumstances. A good intention does not make an intrinsically evil act good; circumstances can increase or diminish responsibility but cannot arbitrarily change the nature of every act.

Reflection

Do I usually decide according to pressure, immediate consequences, feelings, or a well-formed conscience?

Practice

Choose a real decision. Write down the act, intention, circumstances, people affected, relevant teaching, and the step that leads to greater love.

References

Path progress

Grace, Conscience, and the Beatitudes

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