Catholic Word of the Day: NATURAL LAW, 05-06-09

CatholicReference.net ^ | 05-06-09 | Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary

[Salvation]

Featured Term (selected at random):

NATURAL LAW

As distinct from revealed law, it is "nothing else than the rational creature's participation in the eternal law" (Summa Theologica, 1a 2ae, quest. 91, art. 2). As coming from God, the natural law is what God has produced in the world of creation; as coming to human beings, it is what they know (or can know) of what God has created.

It is therefore called natural law because everyone is subject to it from birth (natio), because it contains only those duties which are derivable from human nature itself, and because, absolutely speaking, its essentials can be grasped by the unaided light of human reason.

St. Paul recognizes the existence of a natural law when he describes the moral responsibility of those ancients who did not have the benefit of Mosaic revelation. "Pagans," he says, "who never heard of the Law but are led by reason to do what the Law commands, may not actually 'possess' the Law, but they can be said to 'be' the Law. They can point to the substance of the Law engraved on their hearts--they can call a witness, that is, their own conscience--they have accusation and defense, that is, their own inner mental dialogue" (Romans 2:14-15).

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

[Salvation]

Summa Theologica, 1a 2ae, quest. 91, art. 2 reference.

[wombtotomb]

This is the very law that is being ignored today in this country, to its detriment

[Salvation]

 

Catholic Word of the Day – not linked – but you can do a search to find them.

La Salette	Liturgy	Andacollo
Kings, Book of	Physiologus	Old Catholics
Baltimore Catechism	Armagh, Book of	Nature
Eulogia	Orders, Sacrament of	Missionary
Dominus Vocbiscum	Ichthus-Fish	Abbacy of St.Jerome
Invalid	Doctrinal Demythology	Metaphysics
Ecclesia Docens	Apostolic Signatura	Octaves
Religion as feeling	Temperament	Gifts of the Holy Spirit
Congregation for Catholic Education	Sponsor	Mystery Play
Paschal Candle	Imitation of Christ	Voluntarism
Matter, Sacramental	Notion	Chancel
Gabbatha	Gregorian Masses	Ordo
Resolution of Amendment	Supreme Evil	Archives, Vatican
Pride	Solovyevism	Natural Law

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[Salvation]

You are so right. Through abortion, euthanasia, embryonic cell destruction/research, etc.

[Salvation]

I thought for sure you would weigh in here! LOL!

[Natural Law]

Natural Law is essential because it it the litmus test for all other laws. It is even the test by which we are to apply to Revealed Law to validate it and to differentiate between a corruption of man, and truth, the essence of God.

[Salvation]

I knew you would have wise words for all of us!