The Power of the Soul

Yesterday we reflected in the creation of the invisible world and better understanding of the Angels. Today, the visible world and a better understand of who we are as human persons.  CCC 355, 1700, As human persons we were created “in the image of God.” This means we were endowed with a spiritual and immortal soul… To have direction in life we need to know the purpose of the soul To know the purpose of the soul we need to know the purpose of the powers of the soul There are Three Powers of the Soul: intellect, will, and passions. In the beginning, God designed the powers of the soul to work in harmony: The job of the intellect is to know reality and make a judgement – this is good, that is evil. The passions respond to the intellect’s perception of reality and prompt the will to go toward what is good for me or away from what is bad for me. Led by the intellect and propelled by the feelings, the will chooses what is good or rejects what is evil.   Tragically Original Sin damaged the powers of the soul: We are born with a darkened Intellect - subject to Ignorance + Confusion about right and wrong, good and bad We now have a weak Will so that even when we know what is right we have a hard time choosing it  We have Strong Passions or feelings inclined toward selfishness and use Our desires have become dis-ordered We have become slaves to our disordered desires Manifest in the 7 Deadly Sins Pride, envy, anger, greed, gluttony, sloth and lust The Vices that make us vicious They Destroy the good things we need to be happy Which 2-3 deadly sins are habits in your life? At the beginning of each day, the beginning of your time in prayer, or at the end of the day, take a few minutes for an examination of conscience which consists of three things:  Gratitude,  Acknowledgment of our wrongs  A practical game plan to go forward Start with Gratitude – call to mind all the things from which you are you thankful to God? Then think back over the last 24 hours and admit where you have sinned in your thoughts, words or actions. Ask, why did I do these things? What was at the root? Was it Pride, envy, anger, sloth, greed, gluttony or lust? Then make a practical game plan to live differently today.