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man to perceive God and to accustom God
to dwell in man, according to the Fathers pleasure.3 II. The Stages of Revelation
In the beginning God makes himself known 54 God, who creates and conserves all
things by his Word, pro- 32 vides
men with constant evidence of himself in created realities.
And furthermore, wishing to open up the way to heavenly
salvation, he manifested himself to our first parents from
the very beginning.6 He invited
them to intimate communion with him- 374 self and
clothed them with resplendent grace and justice.
397, 410 ~ This revelation was not broken off by our
first parents sin. After
the fall, [God] buoyed them up with the hope of
salvation, by promising redemption; and he has never ceased
to show his solicitude for the human race. For he wishes to
give eternal life to all those who seek salvation by
patience in well-doing.7
761 you did not abandon him to the power of death... Again and again you offered a covenant to man.8 The covenant with Noah
once sought to save humanity part by part.
The covenant with
economy toward the nations, in
other words, towards men grouped in their lands, each
with [itsi own language, by their families, in their
nations.9 ~7 This state of
division into many nations is at once cosmic, social and
religious. It is intended to limit the pride of fallen
humanity,° united only in its perverse ambition
to forge its own unity as at Babel. But, because of
sin, both polytheism and the idolatry of the nation and of
its rulers constantly threaten this provisional economy
with the perversion of paganism.2 ~8 The covenant with Noah remains in force during the
times of 674 the Gentiles, until the universal
proclamation of the Gospel.3 The |
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