Choose a topic from Part 2B:

40. War

1. War, which is armed conflict between countries ornations, may be sometimes lawful and without sin. Three conditionsare necessary for a justified war: (a) it must be waged by lawfulpublic authority in defense of the common good; (b) it must bewaged for a just cause; (c) it must be waged with the rightintention, not vengefully nor to inflict harm.

2. It is not lawful for bishops and other clerics to fightin a war; such action is not in harmony with their place and theirduties.

3. Ambushes are strategems of war; they are part of thenormal conduct of war, and are not considered to be unfair tricks.Hence, if the war be just, strategems, including ambushes, are notwrong in themselves.

4. For the safeguarding of the common welfare, it islawful to carry on the acts of a just war, and to wage fights, ifneed be even on Sundays and holy days.

"Those who love God are always happy, because their whole happiness is to fulfill, even in adversity, the will of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"What good does it do to speak learnedly about the Trinity if, lacking humility, you displease the Trinity? Indeed it is not learning that makes a man holy and just, but a virtuous life makes him pleasing to God. "
Thomas á Kempis

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"As the flesh is nourished by food, so is man supported by prayers"
St Augustine

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