Inherent Dignity

Who are we?Why are we here?

How should we live?

Inherent Dignity• Inherent: in the very fabric of our being;

cannot be taken away from us. We are born with it. A gift from God– Made in God’s image and likeness– Have intelligence– Have free will– Able to love and be loved– Immortal soul– Human dignity

Human Beings

• Uniqueness– Unique DNA– Varying degrees of intelligence– How we use our free will– Quantity and quality of relationships– Each of us has unique or different abilities but we

are all of the same value and worth because of the love of God

We are created as Good

• Made in the image and likeness of God– Unique creatures of the creation

• Incarnation affirms the basic goodness of the world in general, humanity in particular– Jesus would not have come into the world if it

were not good– Jesus would not have assumed a human nature if

it were not good

Image and Likeness of God• Fundamental dignity– We have value and worth because God made us in

His image. This is the basis for human dignity and our claim to human rights no matter how we look, what we do or what others say.

• Reflection of God in this world– We image God to others in this world– We are the visible face of God to others

• Jesus as our model– Jesus gives dignity to humankind– Ministers to all people with respect and love

Intellect and Free Will

• Intellect – Think and reason– Make wise decisions– Pursue truths of a higher order

• Free Will– Conscience

• Aid to our decision making

– Moral decisions • Choose freely what to do

– Act • Of our own will, without coercion

To Love and Be Loved

• How did Jesus love?– Spoke the truth– Healed– Showed mercy– Willingly gave his life for us

• How does he want us to love?– Love God above all– Love others as he has loves us– Seek the good for others even at our own expense

Stewardship• Creator’s gift– God’s gracious gift that destined all material creatures for

the good of the human race• Intended for all– Original gift of God to the human race– All people are entitled to their needs– Right to private property, possessions

• Call to stewardship– Dominion to care for and use but not to abuse or use for

selfish purposes– Environmental protection

• Earthly goods belong equally to the future humankind

Men and Women

• Created for each other– Revealed in the creation story of Genesis

• Created as equals– Equal in dignity, rights, and capacity to be a sign of

God’s presence in the world– Different physically

• Created with the gift of Sexuality– Love, procreation, and bonding– Chastity , the virtue that helps us successfully integrate

our sexuality into the total person.

Human Dignity

• The heart of human dignity consists of these three fundamental truths:1. We are all created as good2. We are in need of salvation3. We are meant for eternal life in the glory of

God’s holy presence

In Need of Redemption

• The “Fall” brought sin into the world and has been part of the human experience since.

• Affected our human nature in that it is now weakened and inclined to sin. (Concupiscence)

• Because God loves us, he sent Jesus to expiate that sin, Jesus undoes what Adam did– Baptism heals our wounded nature and gives us

the grace to fight temptation and sin– Jesus restored what we lost

Redeemed

• Justified– Through God’s loving action we are cleansed of

our sin and made “right” through our faith in Jesus the Christ

• Sanctified– The work of the Holy Spirit that makes us, as

individuals, holy with our cooperation.• Salvation through faith and actions

Bound for Glory

• Ultimate destiny: eternal life in the glory of God’s holy presence– Beatific vision

• Sharing in the sacramental life strengthens us for the journey and enables us to attain this ultimate destiny

Revelation of Inherent Dignity• Assumed our human nature (Incarnation)– Restored our image that was tarnished from sin

• Ensured our ultimate destiny– Eternal life in the glory of God’s holy presence

• Revealed our inherent dignity– All people have been created in God’s image– Men and women are equal partners– Life is sacred, at all its stages, from conception to

natural death

How to Follow Jesus

• Evangelical Counsels: Practices over and above the adherence to the commandments and precepts of the Church– Poverty– Chastity– Obedience

• Beatitudes– Guidelines for living in holiness and for happiness

• Works of Mercy– Corporal works– Spiritual works

Evangelical Counsels• Poverty– Avoid putting undue value on material things and

wealth• Chastity– Integrate sexuality in to our total person. We are

physical, emotional, intellectual, social, moral and spiritual persons in addition to sexual.

– Dress, speak, act, think in a modest way.• Obedience– Obey God and official authority

Beatitudes• Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.• Blessed are the meek,

for they shall possess the earth. • Blessed are they who mourn,

for they shall be comforted. • Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for justice,

for they shall be satisfied.• Blessed are the merciful,

for they shall obtain mercy. • Blessed are the clean of heart,

for they shall see God. • Blessed are the peacemakers,

for they shall be called children of God.• Blessed are they who suffer persecution for justice' sake,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Works of Mercy

• Corporal (physical)– To feed the hungry; – To give drink to the

thirsty; – To clothe the naked; – To shelter the homeless; – To visit the sick; – To ransom the captive; – To bury the dead.

• Spiritual– To instruct the ignorant ; – To counsel the doubtful ; – To admonish sinners ; – To bear wrongs

patiently; – To forgive offences

willingly; – To comfort the afflicted; – To pray for the living and

the dead

Respect for Human Life• Sacred gift of life

– God gives life only God can take life– Killing at any stage is a violation of the fifth commandment– “cides,” torture, trafficking and degrading conditions– Dignity of the body

• At life’s beginning– Abortion, the intentional termination of any pregnancy, in any

circumstances– Genetic alteration– IVF and other artificial methods of conceiving a child

• At life’s end– Euthanasia, the direct action or deliberate and purposeful lack of

action that causes the death of a person who is sick, disabled or dying.