Death of the soul

[Phyllo]

Hi,
The following is from the Council of Trent Session 5 PP 2:

1. If any one asserts, that the prevarication of Adam injured himself alone, and not his posterity; and that the holiness and justice, received of God, which he lost, he lost for himself alone, and not for us also; or that he, being defiled by the sin of disobedience, has only transfused death, and pains of the body, into the whole human race, but not sin also, which is the death of the soul; let him be anathema:–whereas he contradicts the apostle who says; By one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.

What is meant by death of the soul? The soul/spirit is eternal so I thought it couldn’t die.
I think the Council is talking about the body and soul/spirit here.
If by death of the soul is meant the absence of God–I thought we couldn’t live without God so there for the soul would die and not be eternal.

Thanks

 

[Bookcat]

What is meant by death of the soul?

*Spiritual *death…

(Not the ceasing of existing)

The souls in hell are …“alive” but “spiritually dead”. Those in the life of Christ are in true life.

 

[Nita]

Our souls are spiritually “alive” when they have the supernatural life of God (called sanctifying grace) present in them. It is the presence and power of that Life that enlivens our souls spiritually. When that grace is absent, they are “dead” – eternal “life” is absent.

As Bookcat noted, “death” does not mean annihilation or ceasing to exist. It doesn’t even mean that the soul ceases to function. Eg. we are still able to think, reason, will. Our soul still is the principle of physical life being present in our bodies,

We can’t continue to exist without God; it is His will that not only brought us into existence, but keeps us in existence. He has willed that we exist eternally. But some will exist eternally in the state of hell, separated from Him and the presence of His life in them. The others will exist eternally in the state of heaven, united with God and experiencing His life within them.

 

[fhansen]

Hi,
The following is from the Council of Trent Session 5 PP 2:

1. If any one asserts, that the prevarication of Adam injured himself alone, and not his posterity; and that the holiness and justice, received of God, which he lost, he lost for himself alone, and not for us also; or that he, being defiled by the sin of disobedience, has only transfused death, and pains of the body, into the whole human race, but not sin also, which is the death of the soul; let him be anathema:–whereas he contradicts the apostle who says; By one man sin entered into the world, and by sin death, and so death passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.

What is meant by death of the soul? The soul/spirit is eternal so I thought it couldn’t die.
I think the Council is talking about the body and soul/spirit here.
If by death of the soul is meant the absence of God–I thought we couldn’t live without God so there for the soul would die and not be eternal.

Thanks

We’re “born dead”, so to speak, in need of being “born again”, from above. At the Fall man effectively separated himself from God, from the source of his life and true happiness. In this world we experience a life where the Master’s gone for all practical purposes, a place half way between heaven and hell, where we can decide which one we want, God or no God, IOW. We’re here to learn that we need God, like the Prodigal becoming sick of the pigsty, away from home, so we can turn back to the Father once again where we’ll receive life, and life abundantly. Man is lost, hopeless, dead without communion with God.

 

[Phyllo]

Thanks for the responses.

 

[Evan]

A couple things.

From the Latin, mortal sin, is a sin that kills you. So if you are in the state of mortal sin, you are dead. Jesus said “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.” Mt 10:28.

Also, an old way of dividing the sacraments was, those for the living and those for the dead.

Baptism, Confession, and Anointing of the Sick was for the dead. You had to be alive to receive the other sacraments. These are referring to spiritual death. All 3 can bring you from death to life in Christ.