Life
is the activity by which a being moves itself. The soul is the
principle and the faculties and organs are the means of human activity.
The word “life” is often used to designate the nature, the faculty, or
the vital action of a particular being. Thus we speak of the vegetative
life of a plant, of the sentient life of an animal, of the rational life
of man, of the intellectual life of an angel, and of the divine life of
God. Life is also used to designate man's earthly pilgrimage. In this
sense it is a journey to eternity. "What is life?'' asks St. James. "It
is a vapor which appeareth for a little while, and afterwards shall
vanish away'' (James iv. 15).
As
man is composed of body and soul, he has a physical and a spirit life.
The former is temporal and changeable, the latter immortal and
immutable. The body increases, decreases, and dies, but the soul lives
forever.
Besides
the natural life the soul of a Christian receives a supernatural life
in holy Baptism. During his earthly career man may increase, decrease,
or destroy this life of grace, even as he can care for or take his
physical life.
No comments:
Post a Comment