Day 256: The Natural Moral Law

The moral law finds its fullness and its unity in Christ. Jesus Christ is in person the way of perfection. He is the end of the law, for only he teaches and bestows the justice of God: "For Christ is the end of the law, that every one who has faith may be justified." CCC 1953

In today's reading, the Catechism discusses the natural moral law. It acts as a guide of sorts on providing order to society and how to live our lives, with the ultimate destination leading to God. This can be discerned through reason, which God has given us, though sin can mar its understanding and acceptance.

The Catechism Compendium gives a summary in what the natural law consists:

The natural law, which is inscribed by the Creator on the heart of every person, consists in a participation in the wisdom and the goodness of God. It expresses that original moral sense which enables one to discern by reason the good and the bad. It is universal and immutable and determines the basis of the duties and fundamental rights of the person as well as those of the human community and civil law. (#416)

Finally, the Catechism Companion, Vol III has some good commentary on this:

God is the source of all goodness and life, so he commands good and life. God makes this world in accordance with reason - not because reason is a law above God, but because God is reasonable. The law that comes from God, the eternal law, is consistent with the Old Covenant laws, and those are consistent with the New Covenant law, the law of the Gospel. Hopefully, our civil laws are consistent with all of those. They are all meant to be interconnected and inform one another. (p. 28)