Questions on the soul and the self

[Kephapaulos]

Can a priest care for other souls still even if his soul be in mortal sin without the parishioners knowing?

What I mean to ask if I personally also, who am just a layman, could do good to other souls but at the same time not care for my own soul? Is that possible at all?

 

As to the issue concerning the self, I know the concept of self-esteem is something foreign to the Church, but should one love one's own self? And if so, how?

[DominusTecum]

A priest may care for souls by dispensing the sacraments, and he can do that regardless of his personal sanctity. He could be the most wicked man alive but his absolution would still be valid and his mass sanctifying, communion the Real Presence.

 

We are not to love ourselves for what we are or have done, but we are to love ourselves in that we are God's creations and we love all that He has made. Go with this attitude and then if you feel pride coming on, read Cardinal Merry del Val's litany of humility. It is very good.

[miss_fluffy]

My RCIA facilitator gave a talk that touched on the self-love subject.  While she is very much a modernist I liked what she had to say about it.

 

One of Jesus's greatest commandments has just as much to do with self-love as self sacrifice.  "Love thy neighbor as thyself."  The idea here is to love both your neighbor and yourself.

 

She was also careful to make a distinction between self-love and self-gratification.  As an example, pre-marital sex may be self-gratifying but it is not self-loving, nor is it particularly loving to the object of your affection.  Sex within marriage (usually) respects the loving nature of the Marital Act.

 

I think in the case of self-esteem, it can sometimes be self-preserving rather than self-loving.  A strong sense of self-esteem can cause one to rationalize sinful behavior.  But it would be more self-loving to admit fault to God, and pray that you will learn from your mistakes.

[lumengentleman]

One of Jesus's greatest commandments has just as much to do with self-love as self sacrifice.  "Love thy neighbor as thyself."  The idea here is to love both your neighbor and yourself.

 

This is true, but honestly, I've always understood this to mean "Love your neighbor the way you already love yourself."  I've heard people explain this verse by saying, "See?  Jesus first tells us that we have to love ourselves, and then love our neighbors as much as we love ourselves" - I say, for crying out loud, I already love myself.  I have no trouble with that part.  It's the second bit that gives me fits.

[DominusTecum]

I would agree with Lumen here. Due to our fallen human nature, we already have no problem, deep in our heart, with loving ourselves. We are, in fact, completely enamored of ourselves, and pride comes perhaps easiest of all to us, of all the sins, usually prefacing some other, more obvious sin. What is hard, though, is to truly love others just as much as you love yourself. It is not an easy thing to do. Sometimes it can seem that way, but, most of the time, it seems quite impossible.

 

 

[VoxClamantis]

 

I think in the case of self-esteem, it can sometimes be self-preserving rather than self-loving.  A strong sense of self-esteem can cause one to rationalize sinful behavior.  But it would be more self-loving to admit fault to God, and pray that you will learn from your mistakes.

 

You said a mouthful, sister. There was a thread about this not too long ago ("Self-Esteem, Schmelf-Esteem"). You can read it here, if you want:

 

http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post/apologia/vpost?id=574871&highlight=esteem

["The Eighth Chapter]

Imitation of Christ:

"The Eighth Chapter

SELF-ABASEMENT IN THE SIGHT OF GOD

THE DISCIPLE

I WILL speak to my Lord, I who am but dust and ashes. If I consider myself anything more than this, behold You stand against me, and my sins bear witness to the truth which I cannot contradict. If I abase myself, however, if I humble myself to nothingness, if I shrink from all self-esteem and account myself as the dust which I am, Your grace will favor me, Your light will enshroud my heart, and all self-esteem, no matter how little, will sink in the depths of my nothingness to perish forever.  

It is there You show me to myself -- what I am, what I have been, and what I am coming to; for I am nothing and I did not know it. Left to myself, I am nothing but total weakness. But if You look upon me for an instant, I am at once made strong and filled with new joy. Great wonder it is that I, who of my own weight always sink to the depths, am so suddenly lifted up, and so graciously embraced by You.  

It is Your love that does this, graciously upholding me, supporting me in so many necessities, guarding me from so many grave dangers, and snatching me, as I may truly say, from evils without number. Indeed, by loving myself badly I lost myself; by seeking only You and by truly loving You I have found both myself and You, and by that love I have reduced myself more profoundly to nothing. For You, O sweetest Lord, deal with me above all my merits and above all that I dare to hope or ask.  

May You be blessed, my God, for although I am unworthy of any benefits, yet Your nobility and infinite goodness never cease to do good even for those who are ungrateful and far from You. Convert us to You, that we may be thankful, humble, and devout, for You are our salvation, our courage, and our strength."

http://catholictradition.org/combat2.htm

This is a chapter from The Spiritual Combat, dealing with that as well

 

I really suggest Imitation of Christ by Thomas A Kempis.

Book 2 Chapter 5 p.76, last para:

 

"Those who love God and their own soul for the love of God despise all else; for only the infinire and eternal God can fill our every need and desure, the solace of our soul and the true joy of our heart."

 

So, clearly, we are to love ourselves in the sense of what God made us. [Have respect for ourselves etc] 

 

However...book 1 chapter 2 p.18 (last para) states: "Nothing is so beneficial as a true knowledge of ourselves, which produces a wholesome self-contempt.  Always think kindly of others, while holding yourself as nothing; this is true wisdom and leads to perfection." --  "Always keep in mind that all are frail, but none so frail as yourself."

etc.

 

I have to go now.  God bless

ciao