It is precisely because of the Hypostatic Union that we worship with latria the aspects of Jesus’ humanity…the Holy Face, the Sacred Heart, the Precious Blood, the Wounds of Christ, and so forth. We do this by virtue of the Communicatio Idiomatum. The assumed human nature is inseparable from the Divine Person of the Logos who assumed it.Jesus God nature and human nature are united into one person which we refer to as the Hypostatic Union. Now, we worship Jesus because he is God. We worship his God nature. But, do we also worship his humanity?
Doesn’t that mean that God changes? On Earth Jesus walked and talked, changes. If the natures are inseparable, then doesn’t that violate immutability?It is precisely because of the Hypostatic Union that we worship with latria the aspects of Jesus’ humanity…the Holy Face, the Sacred Heart, the Precious Blood, the Wounds of Christ, and so forth. We do this by virtue of the Communicatio Idiomatum. The assumed human nature is inseparable from the Divine Person of the Logos who assumed it.
To look at Jesus is to see the human face of God, as both Pope Saint John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI articulated in their writings.
When HE walked the earth, prior to His Sacrifice on Golgota. Yes! He changed, because He allowed time to take its natural course over a human being.Doesn’t that mean that God changes? On Earth Jesus walked and talked, changes. If the natures are inseparable, then doesn’t that violate immutability?
Does that mean we shouldn’t do the Sacred Heart devotions, etc.?No. We worship the Person. We do not worship His natures.
Nature is WHAT someone/something is.
Person is WHO someone is.
Jesus HAS two natures, but He IS one Person, a Divine Person.
So when we worship Jesus, we are worshipping a Person, who He is, not the natures He possesses.
Why do you ask that?Does that mean we shouldn’t do the Sacred Heart devotions, etc.?
I am sorry. I don’t understand your question. This is precisely resolved by the Communicatio Idiomatum. This is a most fundamental principle of Christology.Why do you ask that?
We do not adore Christ’s Sacred Heart apart from the rest of Him.
I am confused why my post invited this question. I answered the original question by consulting the catechetical materials I use in teaching. But maybe I misunderstood the question.
What is meant by “do we worship the humanity of Christ”?
Does it mean, do we worship His human nature?
Or does it mean, do we worship Him, in His humanity?
To my simple mind, those are different questions. So I would say no to the first, but yes to the second.
What do you think?
This question is very well addressed by Aquinas in the Tertia Pars of the Summa, in Question 25, articles 1 and 2.Does that mean we shouldn’t do the Sacred Heart devotions, etc.?
Isn’t the Summa on New Advent?This question is very well addressed by Aquinas in the Tertia Pars of the Summa, in Question 25, articles 1 and 2.
I was responding to Upgrade, actually. He asked me a question and I was confused by his question and responding to him. I wasn’t asking a question of you, Don Ruggero.I am sorry. I don’t understand your question. This is precisely resolved by the Communicatio Idiomatum. This is a most fundamental principle of Christology.
The two natures are perfectly distinct…they are unconfused…however they are perfectly united at the level of the Person; thus, it is a union that is distinguishable but a union that will not end, as there is no terminus to the Incarnation. It is in that sense that the natures are inseparable since the assumed human nature will never be separated from the Second Person of the Trinity, subsequent to the incarnation.Doesn’t that mean that God changes? On Earth Jesus walked and talked, changes. If the natures are inseparable, then doesn’t that violate immutability?
I know it is available on the Internet but I am not well positioned to tell you the best place to access it and above all to do so in English. I simply remember the references from when I was a professor of Christology in years past. The questions you are asking would suggest you might benefit from a basic handbook/textbook of Christology.Isn’t the Summa on New Advent?
If you own a Kindle, it looks like you can download it here for 99 cents. I have not read it yet.Isn’t the Summa on New Advent?
I believe it is only Part 1.If you own a Kindle, it looks like you can download it here for 99 cents. I have not read it yet.
amazon.com/Theologica-Complete-Unabridged-Thomas-Aquinas-ebook/dp/B003T9V9A4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458612792&sr=8-1&keywords=summa+theological
I did. I have the Supplement to Part 3, missing in that Summa, as a web app courtesy New AdventIf you own a Kindle, it looks like you can download it here for 99 cents. I have not read it yet.
amazon.com/Theologica-Complete-Unabridged-Thomas-Aquinas-ebook/dp/B003T9V9A4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1458612792&sr=8-1&keywords=summa+theological
Yes it is.Isn’t the Summa on New Advent?
AndOn the contrary, We read in the chapters of the Fifth Council [coll. viii, can. 9]: “If anyone say that Christ is adored in two natures, so as to introduce two distinct adorations, and does not adore God the Word made flesh with the one and the same adoration as His flesh, as the Church has handed down from the beginning; let such a one be anathema.”
On the contrary, Damascene says (De Fide Orth. iv, 3): “On account of the incarnation of the Divine Word, we adore the flesh of Christ not for its own sake, but because the Word of God is united thereto in person.” And on Psalm 98:5, “Adore His foot-stool,” a gloss says: “He who adores the body of Christ, regards not the earth, but rather Him whose foot-stool it is, in Whose honor he adores the foot-stool.” But the incarnate Word is adored with the adoration of “latria.” Therefore also His body or His humanity.