Keeping our hearts pure is an ongoing struggle that requires discipline, self-control, and constant reliance on the grace of God. We can achieve purity of heart through prayer, frequent reception of the sacraments, and by cultivating modesty in our interactions with others.
In our digital age, social media should serve the common good by providing true and honest information. The search for beauty is also a moral duty, as it is intertwined with truth and goodness. The eighth commandment not only requires that we live by truth, but also with charity. Why? Because charity is the greatest of the commandments.
The duty to tell the truth must be “accompanied by the discretion of charity.” Charity sometimes requires that we do not reveal the truth to someone who does not have the right to it. Sins against this commandment include sins against charity, such as false witness, perjury, and lying, as well as rash judgment, slander, defamation, and calumny.
Work is not a punishment for original sin, but a gift from God that allows us to collaborate with Him in His creative power. Through our work, we can fulfill our potential, honor God’s gifts, provide for ourselves and our families, and serve the human community.
The lay faithful have a responsibility in social and economic matters to work in such a way that the Church’s social teaching can be carried out in specific situations. This involves animating temporal realities with a Christian spirit and collaborating with all as authentic witnesses of the Gospel and agents of peace and justice. Love for the poor, inspired by the Gospel and the example of Jesus, is a particular concern of the Church’s social teaching.
The seventh commandment, which defends the right to private property, requires us to respect the goods of others, practice justice and charity, and be prudent and moderate in the use of resources. It also involves respecting promises, making reparations, and avoiding theft and other forms of wrongdoing. Additionally, we must treat animals with kindness and avoid excessive love or misuse of them. As the Catechism reminds us, private property exists to serve the needs of human beings, and wasting resources is akin to stealing from the poor and hungry.
Children are the fruit of the love not only of husband and wife but of the love of God who is one of the parties in the marriage. Each of the parties – husband, wife, God – has a contribution to make.
Life is a gift. Existence is a gift. And so is sexuality. What do we do when we receive a gift? We thank the giver and treasure the gift and make it flourish.
How do we treasure the gift and make it flourish? Through chastity. Let us
discover the beauty of chastity as a means of treasuring and integrating sexuality in a positive and fruitful way. We explore the importance of self-mastery and the various means available to achieve it. Chastity is a call for everyone, regardless of their state in life.
The Catholic Church teaches that “Peace in this world, which is required for the respect and development of human life, is not simply the absence of war or a balance of power between adversaries. It is ‘the tranquility of order’ (Saint Augustine), ‘the work of justice’ (Isaiah 32:17) and the effect of charity. Earthly peace is the image and fruit of the peace of Christ” (CCCC 481).
The Catholic Church recognizes the sacredness of human life and provides guidance on how to treat embryos, the sick, and the dying with respect and dignity. The Catechism of the Catholic Church outlines the obligation to protect human life, and addresses the morality of medical experiments and organ donation, as well as guidelines for end-of-life care. Let us explore this important moral and ethical issue through the teachings of the Catholic Church.