1723. The beatitude we are promised confronts us with decisive moral choices. It invites us to purify our hearts of bad instincts and to seek the love of God above all else. It teaches us that true happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or in any human achievement – however beneficial it may be – such as science, technology, and art, or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love:
All bow down before wealth. Wealth is that to which the multitude of men pay an instinctive homage. They measure happiness by wealth; and by wealth they measure respectability…. It is a homage resulting from a profound faith … that with wealth he may do all things. Wealth is one idol of the day and notoriety is a second…. Notoriety, or the making of a noise in the world – it may be called “newspaper fame” – has come to be considered a great good in itself, and a ground of veneration.24
Aprofunde seus conhecimentos
36. Why does the Profession of Faith begin with the words, “I believe in God”?
500. How should children be considered?
563. How does the Church pray to Mary?
15. To whom is the deposit of faith entrusted?
191. How do they participate in the kingly office?
519. In what way do Christians participate in political and social life?
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
What can we learn about the growth of the early church in Jerusalem from Acts 2:41-47?
How to Avoid the Temptation of Lust and Adultery (Proverbs 5:3-6)
What does the Bible teach about the importance of humility and modesty?
What is Ahijah’s prophecy in 1 Kings 11 and what is its importance in Israel’s history?
What is the importance of gratitude and contentment according to the book of Ecclesiastes?
What is the importance of gratitude in the Christian life, according to the first letter to Timothy?
What does it mean to choose godliness over the flesh, according to 1 Peter 4:1-6?
