## Sources and Bibliography: Sources used in article: - *Theologiae Moralis vol. 1: De Principiis*, H. Noldin and A. Schmitt # Introduction: Source: Noldin, Schmitt, vol. 1, intro., q. 1-3 ## Definition of Moral Theology: The science of human activity as it is directed towards God as the ultimate supernatural end. (*see* Prologue of *ST* I-II *and* I-II.1.1.) - *Material object:* human acts. - *Formal object:* the ordering of these acts towards a supernatural ultimate end. - *Two kinds:* - *Strictly speaking:* inquire and prove which acts are *necessary* for the attainment of the end. - e.g. strict obligations, etc. - *Broadly speaking:* acts that are ordered to the supernatural end but are not *absolutely necessary* for the attaining of it. - e.g. acts of counsel, acts of the highest Christian perfection, etc. - In this sense, moral theology *contains* ascetical and pastoral theology. - *Contra:* - *[[Bernard Haring]]*: *The Law of Christ* (1954): Claimed that the broad and the strict sense cannot be distinguished. - *[[Servais Pinckaers]]*: Moral theology cannot be just about what is strictly necessary. *History of Moral Theology* #### Scholium 1: definitions of moral theology note: all english is my rough translation/paraphrase 1. **Prummer, Theologia Moralis vol 1:** 1. Definitione reale: *theologia moralis est scientiae theologicae illa pars, quae diiudicat atque dirigit actus humanos in ordine ad finem supernaturalem iuxta principia revelata* 1. objectum materiale: actus humanos 1. moral theology is not merely a descriptive science of human acts, like psychology, but it is a science both practical and normative. 1. for even as the cardinal virtue of **prudence** has 3 acts (to take counsel well, to judge, and to command), so the duty of moral theology is threefold: 1. to take counsel well (that is, with great diligence to inquire about the principles and about the nexus between the principles and the conclusions) 2. to judge the liceity or illiceity of acts 3. and to advise or prohibit particular actions (to order particular actions to the last end according to the particular norm of divine law) 2. objectum formale: the order of acts to the supernatural last end 1. n.b formal object just means the aspect under which the material object is viewed. hence the supernatural last end is what distinguishes moral theology from psychology or any other science that has human acts as the material object 2. n.b 2: the formal object 2. **Theologiae Moralis Summa**: 2. *scientia theologica de actibus deliberatis hominis prout relationem dicunt ad regulam morum in ordine supernaturali vigentem et ad finem ultimum supernaturalem per ipsos actus et per media salutis obtinendum* 1. Material Object : actibus deliberatis hominis 1. "insofar as they relate to the rule of morals prevailing in the supernatural order" specifies the aspect underwhich we are treating of these human acts 3. **McHugh / Callan, Moral Theology:** 1. etymological: moral theology is the study of God, considered as the beginning and the end of man's moral life, i.e., of those acts that proceed from reason and will 2. Scientific: Moral theology is that part of sacred theology which deals with God as our Last End and of the means by which we may tend to him 1. Objectum formale quod: God the supernatural End of man. 2. Objectum materiale: the means by which one is advanced towards one's last end, such as human acts, virtue, grace, the sacraments, or the obstacles which hinder one from attaining the End, such as vice, temptation, etc 3. objectum formale quo: light of natural reason illuminated by faith studying the sources of divine revelation and deducing conclusions from doctrines revealed by God 4. **Slater, SJ: A Manual of Moral Theology** 1. doesn't even give a definition lmao, just goes straight into "what is a human act?" 2. this book is much less scholastic/manualistic and much more for a general reading audience. 5. Merkelbach: Summa Theologiae Moralis 1. *scientiae theologicae pars quae de actibus humanis in ordine ad Deum finem supernaturalem agit ordinandis secundum principia revelata* #### scholium 2: relation of moral theology to other sciences 1. merkelbach (p. 11): moral theology differs from... 1. philosophical morality considers human acts as ordered to the NATURAL END and only uses rational principles 1. moral theology considers human acts as ordered to the supernatural end