Dignity

Dignity is defined as the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. A sense of pride in oneself, self-respect. In our relationship with Our Lord, our dignity is so much more. "In baptism, God entered into our soul in a special way. Joining our soul to Himself, He gives us a new life which we call sanctifying grace. We do not cease to be human, we do not become little gods. But we do become God-like. With our new powers, what we say and do now reaches God and has value in His eyes. God in turn is able to reach us with His graces and inspirations, is able to guide and strengthen us." (from: Grace is with you, Ch. XIV of "More than Many Sparrows". Fr. Leo Trese. 1958 Fides Publishers Assn.)

In rough economic times in which we find ourselves today, many people are living close to the wire, financially, myself included, and it is easy to lose a measure of self-respect. I was talking to a young woman the other day in a restaurant, and she was very sad and it was clear to me that her personal dignity was being undermined as she feared she was soon to lose her job. It is important that we do not let conditions get us down that much that self-respect flies out the window. God takes care of us, and we can always ask Him to help us with particular problems.

"Being in the image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a person, who is not just something, but someone. He is capable of self-knowledge, of self-possession and of freely giving himself and entering into communion with other persons. And he is called by grace to a covenant with his Creator, to offer him a response of faith and love that no other creature can give in his stead." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #357)

Unfortunately, in today's world, there are many instances that attack our dignity, and these range from downturns in our personal economy to various attacks upon the human body. People who were in concentration camps, imprisoned because their ideology differed from that of the captor, were in danger of losing their dignity. Only the very strong can survive injustice. But it hits closer to home, people who are attacked, raped, robbed, imprisoned in a marriage that isn't going anywhere, living in social conditions that undermine the very fabric of life, all these are strong reasons why we might lose our personal dignity. Humiliating and degrading treatment is an attack upon our dignity. That is a part of the reason why such international laws, such as the "Geneva Convention" where enacted.

Abortion, Euthanasia, and a score of other actions that threaten the dignity of human life, are primary reasons why our dignity as members of the Body of Christ are under attack. God never forgets us, never takes His mind off us, never leaves us alone. He is with that infant in the womb, too. “In a world where man must learn more and more to recognize and to respect his brother, the Church wishes to make her own contribution to the service of the human community, while pointing out ... the relation that binds each person to the Creator of all life and the source of the inalienable dignity of each person, from conception to life's natural end." (Pope Benedict XVI in a letter to UNESCO, 2005)

"Human life is sacred because we are made in the image of God and are endowed by our Creator with the inalienable right to life. Without an explicit exclusion for abortion, the health care proposals on the table will fund abortion." (Liberty Counsel, concerning the health care proposals in H.R. 3200)

This inalienable right to life is an integral part of human dignity. It is inherent in our relationship, our covenant with a loving Creator. It is difficult to believe how anyone can slap God in the face (isn't that what they are doing?) by refusing His Gift of Life, a baby so tiny and yet a complete person who has human dignity because he or she has been baptised. And even in existence before baptism, God watches over us.

"As Catholics we believe in the dignity of human life. In the book of Genesis we hear how the Creator has created the human being in his image and likeness, male and female, he created them (Gn 1: 26 ss). God blessed the first couple and gave them a command to be fruitful and multiply. They are given the power to share in God’s creation through their sexual intimacy. Life is a gift freely bestowed by the Creator, a good that is to be received. Of all creatures that God has created, only human beings share in his image and likeness and are given the ability to know, receive and return the love of God. The dignity of human life is determined by God and thus is always to be protected." From: "The Sanctity of Human Life from Conception to Natural Death" Presented by Most Rev. Samuel J. Aquila, Bishop of Fargo, at Loyola College, Baltimore, MD (Nov. 15, 2007)

"Whatever insults human dignity, such as subhuman living conditions, arbitrary imprisonment, deportation, slavery, prostitution, the selling of women and children; as well as disgraceful working conditions, where men are treated as mere tools for profit, rather than as free and responsible persons; all these things and others of their like are infamies indeed. They poison human society, but they do no more harm to those who practice them than those who suffer from the injury." The Church and the Modern World, #27.

"When we serve others, especially those who are the most poor and wretched, we recognize the innate dignity of the other on whom we see the face of God.

Think of the poorest person that you have served in your Secular Franciscan peace and justice work. In what ways had that person’s human dignity been denied? There are fundamental rights that flow from the dignity intrinsic to all persons. Those rights need to be part of the social structure so that all can have them.

Charity serves to ease the pain of human dignity denied. Justice seeks to repair the social fabric so that fewer need our charity. As members of the lay faithful, Secular Franciscans are in the service of both charity and justice." From "The Power To Serve" By Carolyn Colburn, SFO, NAFRA Peace & Justice Chair

There is enough written on the subject of human dignity and self-respect to fill a large book, and then some. The above quotations give examples what human dignity is all about and how badly it is attacked on a daily basis. With God's love for each and every one of us, and our reciprocal loyalty and love for Him, let us together make this a better world. We can do this, as Franciscans and Catholics through prayer, action, and love.

May the Lord give you peace!

Fred Schaeffer, SFO
September 4, 2009