355: Catechism of the Catholic Church; "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him, male and
female he created them". Man occupies a unique place in creation: (I) he is "in
the image of God"; (II) in his own nature he unites the spiritual and material
worlds; (III) he is created "male and female"; (IV) God established him in his
friendship.
356: Catechism of the Catholic Church; Of all visible creatures only man is "able to know and love his creator" He is "the only creature on earth that God has willed for its own sake," and he alone is called to share, by knowledge and love, in God's own life. It was for this end that he was created, and this is the fundamental reason for his dignity.
What made you establish man in so great a dignity? Certainly the incalculable love by which you have looked on your creature in yourself! You are taken with love for her; for by love indeed you created her, by love you have given her a being capable of tasting your eternal Good. (Saint Catherine of Siena)
357: Catechism of the Catholic Church; Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving himself and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to covenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his stead.
2319: Catechism of the Catholic Church; Every human life, from the moment of conception until death, is sacred because the human person has been willed for its own sake in the image and likeness of the living and holy God.
Genesis: 1:26-28; God said, "Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth." God created man in the image of himself, in the image of God he created him, male and female he created them.
Genesis: 9:6; "He who sheds man's blood, shall have his blood shed by man, for in the image of God man was made.
Ecclesiasticus: 17:1-4; The Lord fashioned man from the earth, to consign him back to it. He gave them so many days' determined time, he gave them authority over everything on earth, he clothed them with strength like his own, and made them in his own image.
James: 3: 9-10; We use it (our tongue) to bless the Lord and Father, but we also use it to curse men who are made in God's image: * the blessing and the curse come out of the same mouth.
________________
©2000, James J. Schwarzwalder, 400 East Elm Avenue, Lindenwold, N.J. 08021