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96. The Ruling Power of Man in the State of Innocence

1. The first man had absolute rule and command over theanimate creatures of the earth. For God said (Gen. 1:26): "Lethim [man] have dominion over the fishes of the sea, and the birdsof the air, and the beasts of the earth." Now dominion meanslordship, mastership, even ownership. All sentient creatures obeyedinnocent man and none disobeyed him. When, however, man disobeyedGod, these sentient creatures were no longer subject to man'sabsolute control or mastership.

2. Man was created as master of all earthly creatures. Andhe was master of his own powers and tendencies, finding in them norebellion against his reason, that is, against his intellectuallyenlightened free will.

3. Human beings are all equal as images and children ofGod. But, as we plainly see, there are otherwise many inequalitiesamong human beings. They differ in sex, size, age, tastes, manners,abilities, health, strength, skills, and in countless other ways.Now, in the state of innocence there would have been some of theseinequalities, but none that involved defect or fault, whether ofsoul or of body.

4. In the state of innocence, man could not have beenmaster of other men in the sense of holding them in thrall orslavery. But there would still have been need of a social order;there would have been rulers and subjects. Parents, too, would haveruled and guided their children. But there would have been noharshness of rule, no injustice, no resentment in those ruledagainst their rulers.

"It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come."
Thomas á Kempis

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"Though the path is plain and smooth for people of good will, those who walk it will not travel far, and will do so only with difficulty if they do not have good feet, courage, and tenacity of spirit. "
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church

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"Whom do you seek, friend, if you seek not God? Seek him, find him, cleave to him; bind your will to his with bands of steel and you will live always at peace in this life and in the next."
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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