To the Praise of His Glory: An Introduction to Catholic Morality

“What doth the Lord thy God require of thee, but that thou fear the Lord thy God, and walk in His ways, and love Him, and serve the Lord thy God?” (Deut 10:12)

At a time when a mixture of bewilderment and positive error regarding morals has led to much chaos, contradiction, and uncertainty among Christians, this handy book provides the reader with a thorough introduction to the Catholic Church’s teaching on morality. This teaching is founded upon her understanding of the human person within God’s gracious plan of salvation. Created by God in His image and likeness, man has an immortal, immaterial soul, an intellect and will for freely apprehending and choosing the good, and an innate desire to seek happiness as his ultimate good and final end. Though wounded by original sin and our own personal sin, by divine grace we can live as true disciples of Jesus Christ and, through virtuous living, obtain some measure of happiness in this life and eternal bliss in the life to come.

In order to understand the moral universe in which we live, it is necessary to grasp what freedom really consists in and how it matures to its full stature through the virtues, particularly the mighty seven—faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance. One must also examine the contrary vices in order to recognize and avoid them. This book’s specific descriptions of venial and grave sins in various spheres of life will be welcome to those looking to form their consciences rightly, without veering into either laxity or scrupulosity. The “template” of the Beatitudes, most perfectly lived by Jesus Christ, and the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, guide the Christian through the tempest of this world along the secure path of salvation. This work also looks at the role of law and its various types, and closes with a presentation of the seven sacraments, which, together with prayer, are the chief means of receiving divine grace, growing in it, or recovering it when lost.

Ideal for converts, reverts, catechists, teachers, preachers, homeschoolers, and all who are simply looking for a clear guide to Christian morality, To the Praise of His Glory offers the “bird’s-eye view” that can otherwise be so difficult to obtain.