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In the days when faith has either grown cold or been lost altogether in so many instances, there are persons, and among their number girls of eighteen or twenty, who, when they are exhorted to reflect upon death and eternity merely reply: “I am no child to be frightened by nursery tales; who knows whether everything does not end at death!”
Such expressions in the mouths of young people fill us with horror and compassion. But how can it be possible to speak in this way? It is possible, because in the case of these individuals, faith in the fundamental truth of our holy religion no longer exists, because they either do not know, or refuse to know the true answer to the question: “Whose is his image?” or: “In whose likeness was man created?
You, dear reader, know the answer, and are firmly convinced of the fundamental truth that man was created in the image and likeness of God. Yet, placed as you are amid the dangers of un belief, it is of the very greatest importance that this conviction should be rooted as deeply as possible in your heart; therefore ponder well the chief reasons for this conviction.
Whose is this image? In whose image and likeness was man created? Holy Scripture tells us, clearly and distinctly, that he was created in the image of God. And the fact that we have a soul endowed with reason plainly proves that so it is and must be. But is it really true, we do indeed possess a soul? Does anything actually exist outside the sphere of our senses, besides the things which we see, hear, smell, taste or feel?
Once upon a time a simple peasant went to a priest who lived in Rome and laid before him a singular doubt. “Your Reverence,” he said, “I cannot believe that I have a soul!” It is easy to imagine what was the astonishment of the priest on hearing this strange announcement. With all his might he tried to think how he could best convince the foolish man of his error, and the spirit of God at length suggested to him the means of doing this. “My good man,” he inquired, “why cannot you believe that you have a soul?” “Because I cannot see it,” was the reply. “Very well, continued the priest “now think of something, anything you like.’ After the lapse of a few minutes he inquired again: “Have you thought of something?” “I have, your Reverence,” said the peasant. “I don’t believe you have thought of anything at all,” rejoined the priest. “Why do you say this?” asked the other. “Because I cannot see your thought,” was the reply.
In this summary fashion was the man delivered from his doubt. It would indeed be too unreasonable to doubt that man can think, will, and remember. In like manner it is utterly unreasonable to call in question the existence of a soul endowed with reason.
In the beginning of Holy Scripture we read that it was only in regard to the creation of man that God uttered the words, so full of meaning; “Let us make man to our image and likeness. How sublime and how wondrous a thought is this! In regard to all other things which the Creator called into being, He merely said: “Fiat—be it done!” But in regard to the creation of man, the three Persons of the Most Holy Trinity took counsel as it were together. And then God formed the body of man out of the dust of the earth and breathed into him a living soul. And thus is this soul like unto God, a spirit like unto God, simple and immortal.
No one who intelligently considers the subject can deny the immortality of the soul. Would it be possible for you to deny this immortality when you stand beside the deathbed of any one who is dear to you, of a father, a mother, a brother, a sister, a friend? “It is difficult,” an innocent person once remarked, “to believe that those whom we love not only die but sink into nothingness.” And so it is; for all our feelings, all our convictions resist and struggle against the supposition that our existence ends with death. And Christ’s own words clearly prove to us that death is not death but the entrance into life: “The wicked shall go into everlasting punishment: but the just into life everlasting.”
It is certain that the soul continues to live after the death of the body, and that we shall meet again those whom we love. Were no such future reunion possible, we might justly blame Heaven for having inspired us with affections which belie themselves. Then would the mother whom we loved so fondly have been taken from us forever! Then would everything be at an end at the close of this brief life which is often so full of sorrow and suffering, and nothingness alone would remain! Can love and friendship be mere empty words, can virtue and justice be but a delusion? No, it is impossible to entertain such ideas even for a moment, impossible at least for those in whose breast there beats a warm and affectionate heart. The soul was made in the image of God, and is therefore immortal.
Whose is this image? Man was created in the likeness of God, and we assert this, in the third place, because he has a soul destined to behold God, destined to enjoy everlasting happiness. Happiness! The mere mention of the word quickens our pulses, and stirs our being to its inmost depths. The desire for happiness is the strongest impulse in our nature. And this desire, this longing, must needs be satisfied somewhere. But where is this to be? Where is the happiness for which we so ardently long? Everything proves that it is not to be found on earth. Small as is our heart, the whole world would not suffice to fill it. Alexander the Great, who conquered the whole of the then known world, was not satisfied, but wept because there were no more worlds to conquer.
Therefore the words of St. Augustine will be true as long as the world shall last: “Thou didst make us for Thyself, O Lord, and our heart can find no rest until it rests in Thee!” Until it rests in God! This is indeed a true saying, for our hearts can find no permanent satisfaction, no lasting content, in temporal possessions, in health, friendship, honor, pleasure and renown. This earth is only a transitory abode; here we have no abiding dwelling place, but we seek one which is to come, which awaits us in heaven. After a few days of exile in this valley of tears, we shall be admitted to the presence of God, we shall be privileged to behold the glories of the other world; there will all sorrow be at an end, all suffering cease, every tear be wiped away. Do you, my daughter, ever bear in mind that you have been made in the image of God, that your soul is like unto God, that it is immortal, and destined to behold Him one day in heaven.
In His own image, child, God fashioned thee,
Destined in realms of light His face to see.