Moral necessity... Absolute necessity

[Bonarges]

What is a moral necessity as opposed to an absolute necessity? An example would be St. Liguori’s statement that “Devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity.”

 

[Bonarges]

Really, no one knows the difference? I sure don’t…

 

[Oreoracle]

What is a moral necessity as opposed to an absolute necessity? An example would be St. Liguori’s statement that “Devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity.”

All necessities or “I need” statements assume a goal of some kind (I need water if my goal is to live. I don’t just need water.) Goals, or ends, belong in the sphere of ethics/morality, so there’s no such thing as an amoral necessity.

 

[Bonarges]

All necessities or “I need” statements assume a goal of some kind (I need water if my goal is to live. I don’t just need water.) Goals, or ends, belong in the sphere of ethics/morality, so there’s no such thing as an amoral necessity.

Okay…so there is no distinction between a moral necessity and an absolute necessity? For example, baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation while devotion to Our Lady is only a moral necessity. There is no difference between them??

 

[Pug]

What is a moral necessity as opposed to an absolute necessity? An example would be St. Liguori’s statement that “Devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity.”

Eh, he probably meant the kind of “moral necessity” that is trying to say that in the circumstances that man in general now finds himself, a man needs to be devoted to Our Lady to walk on the right path. It is not a logical or absolute necessity. It is more like a practical necessity, given the circumstances of the times.

 

[Oreoracle]

Okay…so there is no distinction between a moral necessity and an absolute necessity? For example, baptism is absolutely necessary for salvation while devotion to Our Lady is only a moral necessity. There is no difference between them??

I mean that there’s no such thing as an absolute necessity. The need to be baptized only exists if you follow the ethic “I ought to be saved”. There is no need independent of a goal, and no goal independent of ethics.

 

[Verbum_Caro]

bonarges,

Yes, there is a distinction:

Moral necessity refers to a practical necessity. An absolute necessity is one where it is impossible to reach a goal without it.

A moral necessity is one where it is practically, actually, and properly necessary to reach a goal, taking into account actual circumstances.

Any help?
VC

 

[Bonarges]

bonarges,

Yes, there is a distinction:

Moral necessity refers to a practical necessity. An absolute necessity is one where it is impossible to reach a goal without it.

A moral necessity is one where it is practically, actually, and properly necessary to reach a goal, taking into account actual circumstances.

Any help?
VC

Yes, and thanks to all responses.

Now for the million dollar question: Do you agree that devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity for salvation?

 

[Verbum_Caro]

You’re welcome!

Now for the million dollar question: Do you agree that devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity for salvation?

Jim, agree with whom? I’m not entirely sure that Saint Liguori said that devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity. I think he held that the intercession of Our Lady is a moral necessity.

VC

 

[Pug]

Yes, and thanks to all responses.

Now for the million dollar question: Do you agree that devotion to Our Lady is a moral necessity for salvation?

Hmmm. Are you sure you have the quote right? It is possible that I’ve heard one somewhere about devotion to Mary and being a good priest. Also, I’ve seen one somewhere about her intercession for us. I don’t recollect one about personal devotion to Mary being necessary for salvation. I had been assuming you meant some variant of one of those.