Book Description

Understand the "why" behind Catholic morality. In Made by God, Made for God: Catholic Morality Explained, Catholics will find a fresh approach to the timeless moral teachings of the Catholic Church. Steeped in Scripture and Catholic tradition, this book reveals the beauty of Catholic morality in a relatable and easy-to-understand way. Often, Catholic morality is seen as a list of things we can't do. But what it actually presents is a way to live that brings us closer to God and makes our joy complete. Catholic morality is a roadmap that shows us the way of life God intended for us. Life is better when we follow God's plan! Made by God, Made for God presents the beauty of living life according to Church teaching, which the Church received from Christ, and it doesn't shy away from tough topics. Have you ever wondered how to explain the Sunday Mass obligation, why exactly we fast, or what the logic of Catholic sexual ethics is? This is the book for you. Read Made by God, Made for God to discover that Catholic morality is: Confusing Boring Complicated For theologians About a relationship with God Encouraging Steeped in Scripture Steeped in Catholic Tradition For everyone! "This eloquent and luminous book, inspired by the best spiritual and intellectual traditions of the Church, makes Catholic moral teaching accessible to all, in a universal language that preserves the fullness of the truth, and communicates it with warmth and humanity. It is highly to be recommended!" —Fr. Thomas Joseph White, O.P. Rector Magnificus, Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas Rome, Italy "Matthew Minerd is a treasure and this book reflects it—filled with his delightful humor, his great joy in Christ, his penetrating insight into the full range of Christian mysteries, his philosophical precision, and his inability to write a boring sentence. Many books of moral theology read as though they aren't meant for living people, but this one is addressed to all who have ears to hear! Enchanted by the gift of new life in Christ, Minerd draws upon the Scriptures and the wisdom of the ages to instruct us in the joyful holiness to which we are all called." —Matthew Levering James N. and Mary D. Perry Jr. Chair of Theology Mundelein Seminary, Illinois "This book is a treasure! Dr. Minerd gives us wisdom that is deep, tried and true makes it immediately applicable to how we live today. He has read, synthesized, and integrated a tremendous amount of material from the best traditional Catholic sources and has brought it together for us in a way that is accessible to any Catholic who wants to understand Christian morality and live a life in Christ. Dr. Minerd also gives pathways for further exploration into the riches of our Catholic teaching tradition that can be followed by the more astute readers by introducing us to a structure of thinking and a vocabulary that gives us a framework for understanding the more traditional sources. And he does all this with a smile and a sense of humor that will win the heart even as he enlightens the mind of the reader. As a spiritual director, I highly recommend this book for anyone who is seeking to respond to God’s gift of communion and to live a new life in Christ." —Fr. Boniface Hicks, O.S.B. Director of Spiritual Formation and Director of the Institute for Ministry Formation Saint Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, PA "Everyone wants to be happy. Happiness, however, is not easy to realize. One doesn’t become happy accidentally. The happy life must be intentionally sought and habitually practiced. In this book, Dr. Matthew Minerd provides his readers with a roadmap to happiness: a fresh and compelling explanation of why eternal truth, divine grace, and supernatural love are essential for human flourishing. With the loving earnestness of an evangelist and the clear precision of a philosopher, Dr. Minerd neither downplays the glories of grace nor shies away from difficult moral questions. All who are serious about being truly happy will want to read—and to re-read!—this book." —Fr. Cajetan Cuddy, O.P. Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception Dominican House of Studies, Washington, D.C. "Matthew Minerd’s Made by God, Made for God is a gem of a book. Here is a thoroughly Catholic work of theology, inspired by the Fathers of the Church, east and west, as well as St. Thomas Aquinas and Vatican II (and the pontificates following the Council). One comes away with a clear sense that the Christian moral life is an invitation to supernatural (and mystical) life with God—one which absorbs and includes the natural truths of reason and human flourishing, but which brings them to divine heights, sharing in the trinitarian life of God himself. I’ve definitely found my new textbook for Moral Theology—the joy and freedom of the Christian life are on full display!" —Andrew Swafford Associate Professor of Theology Benedictine College Atchison, Kansas "So many seem to think that the Catholic faith is all about being crushed under a burden of rules and regulations that are impossible to keep. This book shatters that misconception. It shows that following Jesus as a Catholic Christian is all about a new way of life, empowered by the Holy Spirit, that makes us each day more life Jesus. A refreshing, encouraging, and enlightening read!" —Marcellino D’Ambrosio Author and Speaker Crossroads Initiative "Dr. Matthew Minerd fills a great need with this outstanding introduction to moral theology. Relying on Scripture and the broad Thomist tradition, this short volume provides a readable and organized treatment of the central elements that comprise the Christian life. Minerd grounds the study in the life of grace itself and then deftly moves though the theological virtues, natural law, and finally the cardinal virtues. Indeed, the virtue of this book is the lofty theological and spiritual synthesis that emerges to shine light on our high calling." —Jon Kirwin Assistant Professor of Theology and Director of Graduate Theology