DP 77 - doing what is right

DP 77 [1, 3]

Who cannot employ his faculty called rationality

to understand that this or that good is useful to society,

and that this or that evil is harmful to society?

That, for example,

justice, honesty, and chastity in marriage

are useful to society,

and that injustice, dishonesty,

and licentiousness with the wives of others
are harmful to society?

Consequently that these evils are in themselves injurious,

and that those goods are in themselves beneficial?

Who, therefore, cannot make these matters

matters of his reason, provided he is willing to?

He has the rationality,

and he has the freedom.

To the extent that he therefore refrains

from these evils in him,

his rationality and freedom are also

unveiled, emerge, take control,

and give him the perception and ability;

and to the extent that he does this,

to the same extent

he regards those goods

as a friend does his friends.

Now because, for the sake of reception and conjunction,

the Lord wills that whatever a person does

freely in accordance with his reason

appear to him as his own doing,

and this accords with reason itself,

it follows that a person can

by virtue of his reason

will something because it means his eternal happiness,

and by imploring the Lord's Divine power,

do it.