The Dignity of Man (CCC 1701-1709)

ARTICLE 1
MAN: THE IMAGE OF GOD
1701 "Christ, . . . in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his love, makes man
fully manifest to himself and brings to light his exalted vocation."2 It is in Christ, "the image of
the invisible God,"3 that man has been created "in the image and likeness" of the Creator. It is
in Christ, Redeemer and Savior, that the divine image, disfigured in man by the first sin, has
been restored to its original beauty and ennobled by the grace of God.4

1702 The divine image is present in every man. It shines forth in the communion of persons, in
the likeness of the unity of the divine persons among themselves (cf. chapter two).

1703 Endowed with "a spiritual and immortal" soul,5 the human person is "the only creature on
earth that God has willed for its own sake."6 From his conception, he is destined for eternal
beatitude.

1704 The human person participates in the light and power of the divine Spirit. By his reason,
he is capable of understanding the order of things established by the Creator. By free will, he is
capable of directing himself toward his true good. He finds his perfection "in seeking and loving
what is true and good."7

1705 By virtue of his soul and his spiritual powers of intellect and will, man is endowed with
freedom, an "outstanding manifestation of the divine image."8

1706 By his reason, man recognizes the voice of God which urges him "to do what is good and
avoid what is evil."9 Everyone is obliged to follow this law, which makes itself heard in
conscience and is fulfilled in the love of God and of neighbor. Living a moral life bears witness to
the dignity of the person.

1707 "Man, enticed by the Evil One, abused his freedom at the very beginning of history."10 He
succumbed to temptation and did what was evil. He still desires the good, but his nature bears
the wound of original sin. He is now inclined to evil and subject to error:
Man is divided in himself. As a result, the whole life of men, both individual and social, shows
itself to be a struggle, and a dramatic one, between good and evil, between light and
darkness.11

1708 By his Passion, Christ delivered us from Satan and from sin. He merited for us the new life
in the Holy Spirit. His grace restores what sin had damaged in us.

1709 He who believes in Christ becomes a son of God. This filial adoption transforms him by
giving him the ability to follow the example of Christ. It makes him capable of acting rightly and
doing good. In union with his Savior, the disciple attains the perfection of charity which is
holiness. Having matured in grace, the moral life blossoms into eternal life in the glory of
heaven.
Questions
1. In what way has Christ restored and ennobled man? (1701)

2. The image of God is present in whom?

3. What endowment, given to us by God, separates us from other creatures? What is our
destiny? (1703)

4. What two things do reason and free will make us capable of doing? (1704)

5. What thing does each human being have which allows us to have freedom? (1705)

6. St. Thomas Aquinas maintained that the first principle of Natural Law was to do good and
avoid evil (also see 1 Peter 3:11). How is it that human beings recognize the voice of God which
urges him to do what is good and avoid what is evil? (1706)


7. We suffer from concupiscence an inclination to do evil which resulted from what action by
human beings at the very beginning of history? (1707)



8. Christ, by His Passion, accomplished what for us? (1708)


9. In what ways does faith in Christ, and the resulting filial adoption, transform a person? (1709)

Ten Commandments (the Catechetical Formula):
1. I am the Lord your God. You shall have no other gods besides me.
2. You shall not take the name of the Lord your god in vain.
3. Remember to keep holy the Lords day.
4. Honor your father and mother.
5. You shall not kill.
6. You shall not commit adultery
7. You shall not steal.
8. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbors.
9. You shall not covet your neighbors wife.
10. You shall not covet your neighbors goods.

NB: The original list, with the original wording, is found in Exodus 20:2-17. A secondary list is found in
Deuteronomy 5:6-21. All three lists, the original from the Book of Exodus, the secondary list from
Deuteronomy, and the catechetical formula are published in the Catechism of the Catholic Church right
after paragraph number 2051.

Eight Beatitudes/Sermon on the Mount (Gospel of Matthew 5:3-10)

1. Blessed are the poor in spirit, the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
2. Blessed are the meek, for they shall possess the earth.
3. Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
4. Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for holiness, for they shall be satisfied.
5. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.
6. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall they shall see God.
7. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called children of God.
8. Blessed are they who are persecuted for what is right; the kingdom of heaven is theirs.

The Seven Precepts of the Church
1. To attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation, and resting from servile works.
2. To observe the days of abstinence and fasting.
3. To confess our sins to a priest, at least once a year.
4. To receive Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist at least once a year during Easter Season.
5. To contribute to the support of the Church.
6. To obey the laws of the Church concerning Matrimony.
7. To participate in the Church's mission of Evangelization of Souls. (Missionary Spirit of the Church

The Four Sins that Cry Out to Heaven
1. Homicide
2. Sodomy (Homosexual Acts)
3. Oppression of Widows and Orphans
4. Cheating Laborers of their Just Wages

In what way has Christ restored and ennobled man? (1701)
"Christ, . . . in the very revelation of the mystery of the Father and of his
love, makes man fully manifest to himself and brings to light his exalted
vocation."
2
It is in Christ, "the image of the invisible God,"
3
that man has
been created "in the image and likeness" of the Creator. It is in Christ,
Redeemer and Savior, that the divine image, disfigured in man by the first
sin, has been restored to its original beauty and ennobled by the grace of
God.
4
(1701)
The image of God is present in whom?
The divine image is present in every man. It shines forth in the communion
of persons, in the likeness of the unity of the divine persons among
themselves (cf. chapter two). (1702)
What endowment, given to us by God, separates us from other
creatures? What is our destiny?
Endowed with "a spiritual and immortal" soul,
5
the human person is "the
only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake."
6
From his
conception, he is destined for eternal beatitude. (1703)
What two things do reason and free will make us capable of doing?
(1704)
The human person participates in the light and power of the divine Spirit. By
his reason, he is capable of understanding the order of things established by
the Creator. By free will, he is capable of directing himself toward his true
good. He finds his perfection "in seeking and loving what is true and good."
7

(1704)
What thing does each human being have which allows us to have
freedom? (1705)
By virtue of his soul and his spiritual powers of intellect and will, man is
endowed with freedom, an "outstanding manifestation of the divine image."
8

(1705)
St. Thomas Aquinas maintained that the first principle of Natural
Law was to do good and avoid evil (also see 1 Peter 3:11). How is it
that human beings recognize the voice of God which urges him to
do what is good and avoid what is evil? (1706)
By his reason, man recognizes the voice of God which urges him "to do what
is good and avoid what is evil."
9
Everyone is obliged to follow this law, which
makes itself heard in conscience and is fulfilled in the love of God and of
neighbor. Living a moral life bears witness to the dignity of the person.
(1706)

We suffer from concupiscence an inclination to do evil which
resulted from what action by human beings at the very beginning of
history? (1707)

"Man, enticed by the Evil One, abused his freedom at the very beginning of
history."
10
He succumbed to temptation and did what was evil. He still
desires the good, but his nature bears the wound of original sin. He is now
inclined to evil and subject to error:
Man is divided in himself. As a result, the whole life of men, both
individual and social, shows itself to be a struggle, and a dramatic one,
between good and evil, between light and darkness.
11
(1707)

Christ, by His Passion, accomplished what for us? (1708)
By his Passion, Christ delivered us from Satan and from sin. He merited for
us the new life in the Holy Spirit. His grace restores what sin had damaged
in us. (1708)
In what ways does faith in Christ, and the resulting filial adoption,
transform a person? (1709)
He who believes in Christ becomes a son of God. This filial adoption
transforms him by giving him the ability to follow the example of Christ. It
makes him capable of acting rightly and doing good. In union with his
Savior, the disciple attains the perfection of charity which is holiness. Having
matured in grace, the moral life blossoms into eternal life in the glory of
heaven. (1709)




Bosch