Choose a topic from Part 1:
1. Holy Scripture (Gen. 2:7) says: "God made man ofthe slime of the earth." Earth and water mingled make slime.Thus the first human body has elements that belong to lifelessthings, and also to plants and animals. And man's soul is aspirit, like the angels. Hence man is called "a world inlittle," a microcosm, for he has in himself something of allcreatures in the universe: mineral, vegetal, animal, spiritual.
2. The first human body was produced by creation.{-The slime of the earth was not really material formaking a human being, and did not become human until the soul wasjoined to it. The human body did not exist as the human body untilGod's creative act produced and infused the spiritual soul.-}Creation is an act which precludes any medium; hence the firsthuman body was created immediately by almighty God.
3. Man's body is admirably suited for its connaturaloperations. God gives to every nature the best constitution andequipment for the purpose it is to serve. This is not absolutelythe best, but relatively the best-that is, best in relation to itspurpose and use.
4. Scripture fittingly describes the production of man,and indicates that other earthly creatures are made for man'suse and benefit.
"The more you know and the better you understand, the more severely will you be judged, unless your life is also the more holy. Do not be proud, therefore, because of your learning or skill. Rather, fear because of the talent given you."
Thomas á Kempis
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"Many words do not satisfy the soul; but a good life eases the mind and a clean conscience inspires great trust in God."
Thomas á Kempis
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"The essence of perfection is to embrace the will of God in all things, prosperous or adverse. In prosperity, even sinners find it easy to unite themselves to the divine will; but it takes saints to unite themselves to God's will when things go wrong and are painful to self-love. Our conduct in such instances is the measure of our love of God."
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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