Teologiczne podstawy godności osoby ludzkiej

Abstract

Man and his dignity is one of the most basic issues of Catholic social science. Deep grounds for this option are to be found in the doctrine of faith and in the principles of Christian morality. Already in his first encyclical, “Redemptor hominis”, John Paul II reminded the world that man constitutes the “first and fundamental way of the Church” Each experience of man - in every possible social relation - involves assuming a clear anthropological conception as its basis. One can say that we meet man as we understand him. The Church in her teaching of this matter has always underlined the dual character of man's dignify, supernatural and natural. The natural aspect of dignity is its inherent attribute. Its source is the sheer fact of being bom as a human being, the basis of which is God Himself. Man, however, emerges in his entirety only when the supernatural aspect of his dignity has been taken into account. This touches not only the origins but also the destiny of man. Man has been created by God as His picture and likeness, redeemed with the precious blood of Christ, and invited to be God's child, the living sanctuary of the Holy Spirit and to gain eternal life in sanctifying communion with God.