Catholic doctrine on spiritual vocation
score:4
Accepted answer
It seems you're asking about the difference between precepts and counsels. All are bound to follow the precepts (10 Commandments, Precepts of the Church, etc.), but a person not bound by religious vows does not sin by not living up to the counsels (poverty, chastity, obedience) to their fullest.
See:
- St. Thomas Aquinas's question "Whether, in this life, perfection consists in the observance of the commandments [precepts] or of the counsels?" (Summa Theologica II-II q. 184 a. 3).
- Fr. Antonio Royo Marín, O.P.'s Theology of Christian Perfection
- p. 141 on the obligation of the laity to strive toward perfection,
- We are all (religious and non-religious) obliged to strive for perfection (Mt. 5:48: "Be you therefore perfect").
- p. 142 on choosing the better good.
- cf. St. Thomas's commentary on Mt. 19:12 ("He that can take, let him take it [celibacy]."):
Is not a man obliged to do the greater good? I say that one must distinguish the greater good in regard to the actual performance or in regard to the desire. One is not held to the greater good in regard to their actual performance, but to the desire to do them, because every rule and every action is determined to something defined and certain: but if one is bound to do every action that is better, one is bound to something uncertain. Hence, in regard to exterior actions, because one is not bound to do something uncertain, one is not bound to do the greater good; but in regard to the desire, one is held to desire the greater good. Hence, he who does not always wish to be better, cannot wish without contempt [of doing the greater good].*
Thus, married Christians must have the spirit of the counsels, even if they do not have the opportunity to put them into practice.
* "There is a way of fulfilling this precept, so as to avoid sin, namely, if one do what one can as required by the conditions of one’s state of life: provided there be no contempt of doing better things, which contempt sets the mind against spiritual progress" (II II, q. 186, a. 2 ad 2um).
- cf. St. Thomas's commentary on Mt. 19:12 ("He that can take, let him take it [celibacy]."):
- St. Athanasius, Fragments on the Moral Life, "Allegory on Lot's ascent: Moderate and advanced virtue" (Brakke 1995 pp. 315-16):
Gen. 19:15-30: God tells Lot to save himself by fleeing to the mountain, but Lot was afraid of the arduousness of doing such a greater good; he, as St. Athanasius explains, "hesitated to go up because he was tired and he feared when he saw the fire" and "was afraid also of the angels, lest he die because he did not flee to the mountain as they had said to him." "Therefore, since he hesitated with respect to great things, he asked for a little (city) [Segor] instead", i.e., a lesser good.
More post
- 📝 Are Calvinism and Arminianism compatible?
- 📝 What do the Apologists mean by three persons as "one in nature" if the Son and Spirit are not eternal?
- 📝 Is creationism falsifiable?
- 📝 Ascension Mass when traveling between dioceses?
- 📝 How was the term 'The Cross' understood by the audience of Jesus? (Catholic perspective)
- 📝 According to Catholic Church, how long should a person pray for the soul of his/her dear ones after the death of the latter?
- 📝 Catholic Lay Saints Who were Economically Well Off When They Died
- 📝 Does the Catholic Church have any (quasi) interdiction against the Harry Potter books?
- 📝 What is the purpose of the ten Hail Marys in the Rosary if you should not focus on them?
- 📝 What is the LDS (Mormon) view of the necessity of Jesus death and resurrection?
- 📝 Have there been any cases of Stigmata outside of Catholicism?
- 📝 What is the biblical basis for a continued illness indicating unforgiven sin?
- 📝 How does LDS handle doctrine changes?
- 📝 Is Jehovah Jesus Christ?
- 📝 On which date was Christ born?
- 📝 What is the Biblical basis for Irresistible Grace?
- 📝 Why did Christ need to be the first person to be resurrected?
- 📝 Did Jesus act out His parables?
- 📝 Why does Jesus' Resurrection mean hope for an individual and in what context?
- 📝 Were the 12 apostles all Jewish?
- 📝 Is having a collection greed?
- 📝 Given many questions as to whether Jesus was born on 25 December or not, I ask if the ambiguity in scripture is meant to teach us something?
- 📝 Can you be Christian if you don't believe in God?
- 📝 Gregorian Chant - Is it merely a form of music, like Hymns, or is there a deeper meaning?
- 📝 Why does the altar of incense not appear to be located in the Holy Place in Hebrews 9?
- 📝 Why is Satan called the prince of the power of the air?
- 📝 Why do the Gospels not mention the name of Enoch?
- 📝 When did the Church in the West begin communicating in Latin, instead of Greek?
- 📝 Who was the first person on record who was killed by a Christian or group of Christians for religious disagreements?
- 📝 Who is the pardoning authority for Sin against the Holy Spirit?
Source: stackoverflow.com
Search Posts
Related post
- 📝 Catholic doctrine on spiritual vocation
- 📝 History of the doctrine of religious vocation in Catholic Church
- 📝 Does Catholic doctrine teach that the Incarnation would have taken place regardless of Adam's decision?
- 📝 Does Catholic doctrine teach that atheists go to heaven, too?
- 📝 What is the Biblical argument used by Evangelical Christians against the Catholic doctrine of the invocation of the saints?
- 📝 Does Roman Catholic doctrine recognize a moral distinction or difference between abortion and birth control?
- 📝 Spiritual gifts and their exercise within today's Catholic Church
- 📝 Where was Catholic doctrine defined before the Catechism?
- 📝 What is the current and historical viewpoint on universal salvation as a doctrine in the Catholic Church?
- 📝 What was the 16th century Catholic doctrine on Greek gods?
- 📝 How would the Catholic Church reconcile 1 Thess 4:13 (which suggests soul sleep) with the doctrine of Intercession of Saints?
- 📝 What is the biblical argument used by Protestants against the Catholic doctrine of Penance?
- 📝 Is it Catholic doctrine that no one can be certain of being in God's grace?
- 📝 Is *infallibilitas in credendo* a new or established doctrine within the Roman Catholic Church?
- 📝 What is an overview of the similarities and differences between the Catholic doctrine of Original Sin and the Reformed doctrine of Total Depravity?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, does the spiritual sense of scripture change with the times?
- 📝 Is compatibilism compatible with the doctrine of the Catholic Church?
- 📝 Is the catechism of the Catholic Church seen as official doctrine for Catholics?
- 📝 According to the Catholic Church, are there levels of spiritual enlightenment in Christianity?
- 📝 How does Catholic doctrine differ from LDS doctrine concerning God the Father?
- 📝 How does the Catholic doctrine of free will reconcile with peccability?
- 📝 Does Roman Catholic doctrine teach that Christ no longer has a body that possesses flesh?
- 📝 How do spiritual fathers of Catholic Church explain a sudden urge to pray?
- 📝 Is it possible to receive the full effects of the Catholic Spiritual Communion if one is being distanced from the Communion due to being gay?
- 📝 Is the doctrine nowadays that it is very important to receive the Eucharist if you as a Catholic attend or hear Mass?
- 📝 What is the Catholic doctrine on how to humble oneself before the Lord?
- 📝 Whether Ignatian spiritual exercises are good for the discernment of vocation according to Thomistic understanding of vocation?
- 📝 Who is a Reformed substitute for Catholic Marian Doctrine in exemplifying the new dignity accorded women?
- 📝 How do Cessationists reconcile the doctrine of Cessationism with Paul's exhortation to earnestly desire the spiritual gifts in 1 Corinthians 14:1?
- 📝 What doctrine of the Catholic Church covers the commandment, "Thou shall not commit adultery."?
