Veritatis Splendor:

Introduction
(points 1-5)

Arnobit, Baseleres, Calsado, de Castro, Dimayuga, Sunga

 Jesus Christ, the
True Light that
Enlightens Everyone
 Point 1
● Man’s search for the truth is in his NATURE
- If Christ is good and Christ is the truth, then the
truth is good
● “Obedience is not always easy”
- man is constantly tempted by Satan who tries to dim
the light of truth
- if successful, man is led to relativism, scepticism and a
search for an illusionary freedom far from the truth
● Man’s heart yearns for the TRUTH and FULL
KNOWLEDGE
- man seeks knowledge in all aspects; “the meaning
of life”
- science and technology→ man’s understanding
and perseverance→ to ask ULTIMATE
RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS
Point 2
Man seeks to find his end, or basically his purpose here
on earth.
❖ To find an answer, the truth is needed.
➔ Jesus is the truth, the life and the way. He is the
answer.
➔ He gives answers to man that he seeks for, through
knowledge about himself.
Church - proclaim the Gospel
➔ Helps man seek the truth as well. Attends to discover
the meaning of life, which is answered too through
Jesus Christ.
➔ She makes the people understand in the best way
for them, since each generation is different in their
manner of comprehending.
Point 3
→ Church’s pastors play important roles
in man’s search for meaning
● teach ALL people about Jesus Christ &
Gospel
→ Church= “Expert in Humanity”
● Serves EVERYBODY
→ Morality in each person
● Even those who don’t know God but seek
to do what is right/good still have a chance
for “eternal salvation”
Point 4
● Two centuries ago, a moral teaching regarding the different spheres
of human life was proposed by the Popes and numerous other
bishops. This teaching gave a better perspective of moral demands
in the areas of human sexuality, the family, and social, economic
and political life and has also deepened their knowledge of morality.

● In present day, attention had been called to this topic again as

doubts and questions are raised to attack the social, cultural and
even theological nature of this moral teaching.
● Doubts on the traditional moral doctrine have been
raised due to anthropological & ethical
presuppositions → furthering away from the truth.

● Traditional doctrine ( natural law, the universality,

permanent validity of its precepts) is rejected which
leads the individual to independently make his/ her
own life choices
Point 5
● On August 1, 1987 on the second centenary of St. Alphonsus
Maria de’ Liguori’s death, Pope St. John Paul II decided to write
the Encyclical which aimed to address the issues regarding
the foundations of moral theology being undermined by
certain present day tendencies.
● It also aimed to safeguard the “sound teaching” from certain
aspects of the doctrine which have a crucial importance in
facing what is certainly a genuine crisis because it engenders
serious implications for one’s moral life and communion
with the Church, as well as for a just and fraternal social
life.
● Following the publication of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, a
complete and systematic exposition of the Christian moral teaching,
this Encyclical talks about the recognizing faith and leading a life
“worthy of the Gospel of Christ”, it will deal with fundamental
questions regarding the Church’s moral teaching taking the form
of necessary discernment about issues debated by ethicists and
moral theologians.
● The specific purpose of the present Encyclical is: to set forth, with
regard to the problems being discussed, the principles of a moral teaching
based upon Sacred Scripture and the living Apostolic Tradition and at the
same time shed some light on the presuppositions and consequences of the
dissent which the teaching has met.
ENCYCLICAL
● came after CCC(Catholic Cathechism of
the Church)
● safeguard “sound teaching”
● addresses issues on undermining of
foundations of moral theology
THANKS FOR LISTENING :)