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353 God willed the diversity of his
creatures and their own particular goodness, their
interdependence and their order. He destined all material
creatures f or the good of the human race. Man, and
through him all creation, is destined for the glory of God. 354 Respectfor laws inscribed in creation and the
relations which derive from the nature of things is a
principle of wisdom and afoundation for morality. 355 ‘God created man in his own image, in the
image of God he 1700 created him, male and female he
created them.~2I8 Man occupies a unique place in
creation: (I) he is ‘in the image of God’; (II) in
his 343 own nature he unites the spiritual and material
worlds; (III) he is created ‘male and female’;
(IV) God established him in his friendship. I. ‘In the Image of God’
356 Of all visible creatures only man is ‘able to know
and love his creator’.219 He is ‘the only creature
on earth that God has willed 1703, 2258 for its own
sake’,22° and he alone is called to share, by
knowledge and love, in God’s own life. It was for this
end that he was created, and this is the fundamental reason
for his dignity: 225 What made you
establish man in so great a dignity? Certainly the
incalculable love by which you have looked on your creature
in yourself! You are taken with love for her; for by love
indeed you created her, by love you
have given her a being capable of tasting your eternal
Good.22’ 295 357 Being in the
image of God the human individual possesses the dignity of a
person, who is not just something, but someone. He is
1935 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 1877 response of faith and love
that no other creature can give in his ~ stead.
358 God created everything for man,222 but man in turn
was created to serve and love God and to offer all creation
back to him: 299, 901 What is it
that is about to be created, that enjoys such honour? It is
man — that great and wonderful living creature,
more precious in the eyes of |
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