Catechism of the Catholic Church

Share this paragraph of the Catechism:

To Catechism home page

Paragraph:

2516 Because man is a composite being, spirit and body, there already exists a certain tension in him; a certain struggle of tendencies between "spirit" and "flesh" develops. But in fact this struggle belongs to the heritage of sin. It is a consequence of sin and at the same time a confirmation of it. It is part of the daily experience of the spiritual battle:

For the Apostle it is not a matter of despising and condemning the body which with the spiritual soul constitutes man's nature and personal subjectivity. Rather, he is concerned with the morally good or bad works, or better, the permanent dispositions - virtues and vices - which are the fruit of submission (in the first case) or of resistance (in the second case) to the saving action of the Holy Spirit. For this reason the Apostle writes: "If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit." 304

Move forward or back a paragraph: Previous | Next

Where this paragraph appears in the Catechism:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

»

PART THREE: LIFE IN CHRIST

»

SECTION TWO: THE TEN COMMANDMENTS

»

CHAPTER TWO: YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF
Jesus said to his disciples: "Love one another even as I have loved you." 1

Notes for the above paragraph:

304 John Paul II, DeV 55; cf. Gal 5:25.

English Translation of the Cathechism of the Catholic Church for the United States of America © 1997, United States Catholic Conference, Inc.

To Catechism home page