Man: the Image of God
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, Simplified
Nine Truths About Christ and Man (1701-1709)
- Only in Christ ("the image of the invisible God") can man understand himself and his exalted call. God's image in man has been restored by Christ.
- When man is in communion with others, he is a likeness of the communion of the three divine persons.
- Because man has an immortal soul, God has willed his existence for his own sake. From his conception, man is destined for eternal life.
- By reason, man can understand that God created this world. By his free will, he can direct himself to his true good.
- Because his soul has the power of intellect and free will, man has freedom, "an outstanding manifestation of God's image" (Second Vatican Council).
- By his reason man can know that God wills him "to do what is good and to avoid what is evil." He must follow this law of his conscience.
- Enticed by the Evil One, man misused this freedom. His nature is wounded by sin, inclined to evil, and subject to error. "Man is divided in himself. As a result, his whole life shows itself to be a struggle between good and evil" (Second Vatican Council).
- By his Passion, Christ delivered man from Satan and merited grace which restores what sin damaged.
- By believing in Christ, a person becomes a son of God, capable of following Christ and gaining a perfection which blossoms into eternal glory.
The Warning — Only $1
Five riveting true stories by people who have experienced supernatural Warnings. order »
Five riveting true stories by people who have experienced supernatural Warnings. order »
Pray to Save America —
Only $1
Join the movement! Pray 12 minutes a day to help God save America. order »
Join the movement! Pray 12 minutes a day to help God save America. order »
Find Local Young Adult Groups
Find friends in the world's largest directory of Catholic young adult groups. Learn More »
Find friends in the world's largest directory of Catholic young adult groups. Learn More »
Our supporters have distributed tens of millions of life-changing Catholic gifts since 1991, making us America's largest producer of high-quality, super-affordable tools for evangelization. Join our work today!
See All Our Catholic Materials
Meet Bud Macfarlane, Our Founder
