The incomparable worth of the human person
2. Man is
called to a fullness of life which far exceeds the dimensions of his earthly
existence, because it consists in sharing the very life of God. The loftiness
of this supernatural vocation reveals the greatness and the inestimable value
of human life even in its temporal phase. Life in time, in fact, is the
fundamental condition, the initial stage and an integral part of the entire
unified process of human existence. It is a process which, unexpectedly and
undeservedly, is enlightened by the promise and renewed by the gift of divine
life, which will reach its full realization in eternity (cf. 1 Jn 3:1-2). At the same time,
it is precisely this supernatural calling which highlights the relative character
of each individual's earthly life. After all, life on earth is not an
"ultimate" but a "penultimate" reality; even so, it remains
a sacred reality entrusted to us, to be preserved with a sense of
responsibility and brought to perfection in love and in the gift of ourselves
to God and to our brothers and sisters.
The Church knows that this Gospel of life, which she
has received from her Lord, 1 has a profound
and persuasive echo in the heart of every person - believer and non-believer
alike - because it marvellously fulfils all the heart's expectations while
infinitely surpassing them. Even in the midst of difficulties and
uncertainties, every person sincerely open to truth and goodness can, by the
light of reason and the hidden action of grace, come to recognize in the
natural law written in the heart (cf. Rom
2:14-15) the sacred value of human life from its very beginning
until its end, and can affirm the right of every human being to have this
primary good respected to the highest degree. Upon the recognition of this
right, every human community and the political community itself are founded.
In a special way, believers in Christ must defend and
promote this right, aware as they are of the wonderful truth recalled by the
Second Vatican Council: "By his incarnation the Son of God has united
himself in some fashion with every human being".2 This saving
event reveals to humanity not only the boundless love of God who "so loved
the world that he gave his only Son" (Jn
3:16), but also the incomparable value of every human person.
The Church, faithfully contemplating the mystery of
the Redemption, acknowledges this value with ever new wonder.3
She feels called to proclaim to the people of all times this
"Gospel", the source of invincible hope and true joy for every period
of history. The Gospel of God's love for man, the Gospel of the dignity of the
person and the Gospel of life are a single and indivisible Gospel.
For this reason, man-living man - represents the
primary and fundamental way for the Church. 4
|