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Bonita
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| Joined: | Mon Nov 20th, 2006 |
| Location: | Texas USA |
| Posts: | 15 |
| First Name: | Bonita | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 09:52 pm |
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| I wonder if we are two parts : body and soul or three parts: spirit, soul and body. I wonder why the writer of Thessalonians says that he hopes we will be preserved blameless - "spirit, soul and body". The Blessed Mother says that her soul proclaims and her spirit rejoices. I think there really must be a difference, but I can't figure it out. I have a book by Frank Sheed called Theology for Beginners, and the first chapters seem to distinquish the soul and spirit but then he seems to blend them together so I can't tell what their definitions really are. Venerable Jeanne Chezard de Matel, foundress of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament Order also says there is a difference, but her writings are so mystical, they are hard to follow. I would like to know definitions for the two terms and how they relate to the life of Christians. Thank you for any help.I hope I have posted this question in the right area of the forum. I didn't know where it belongs. Your Sister in Christ, Bonita
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japhy
Member
| Joined: | Thu Apr 26th, 2007 |
| Location: | Princeton, New Jersey USA |
| Posts: | 180 |
| First Name: | Jeff (you can call me "japhy" | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic (Latin Rite) |
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Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 11:35 pm |
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I'm also trying to figure out exactly what role the "soul" and "spirit" play. I think it the Thessalonians reference may be a prayer that our flesh, our soul, and their association with the Spirit of Christ (the Holy Spirit) may remain united, in contrast with some evil spirit.
That is, the "spirit" is a foreign part of us, if you will. We are temples of the Holy Spirit, or we are possessed by evil spirits (demons). Our body (that is, our flesh and our soul) claim allegiance to either the Holy Spirit or some other spirit.
That's how I've been understanding it lately...
____________________
[Mary said,] "Do whatever he tells you." - John 2:5
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 1796 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Thu Aug 2nd, 2007 11:52 pm |
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From the Catechism of the Catholic Church:
367 Sometimes the soul is distinguished from the spirit: St. Paul for instance prays that God may sanctify his people “wholly”, with “spirit and soul and body” kept sound and blameless at the Lord’s coming (1 Thessalonians 5:23). The Church teaches that this distinction does not introduce a duality into the soul (cf. Council of Constantinople IV, 870 AD). “Spirit” signifies that from creation man is ordered to a supernatural end and that his soul can gratuitously be raised beyond all it deserves to communion with God (cf. Vatican Council I, Dei Filius; Humani Generis).
Theologians sometimes distinguish between “soul” as the spiritual principle of a human being on the lower level (the principle of bodily life, which controls the emotions, affections and imagination) and “spirit” as the spiritual principle of a human being on the higher level (the principle of the rational and voluntary powers, also known as intellect and will).
David
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