# Soul ## Catechism of the Catholic Church The spiritual principle of human beings. The soul is the subject of human consciousness and freedom; soul and body together form one unique human nature. Each human soul is individual and immortal, immediately created by God. The soul does not die with the body, from which it is separated by death, and with which it will be reunited in the final resurrection ([[1.2.1.1.6.p1b#^ccc-363|363]], [[1.2.1.1.6.p1b#^ccc-366|366]]; cf. [[3.1.1.1.p5g#^ccc-1703|1703]]). ## Ignatius Catholic Study Bible **Soul** Sometimes soul refers to the deepest aspect of the human person: [[matthew-22#^matthew-22-37|Mt 22:37]]; [[matthew-26#^matthew-26-38|26:38]]; [[luke-01#^luke-01-46|Lk 1:46]]; [[john-12#^john-12-27|Jn 12:27]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-04#^acts-of-the-apostles-04-32|Acts 4:32]] Sometimes the soul, as the principle of natural life, is distinguished from the spirit, which is open to the divine life of the Holy Spirit: [[romans-08#^romans-08-16|Rom 8:16]]; [[1-thessalonians-05#^1-thessalonians-05-23|1 Thess 5:23]]; [[hebrews-04#^hebrews-04-12|Heb 4:12]] Spiritual aspect of man, distinct from the body: [[matthew-10#^matthew-10-28|Mt 10:28]]; [[luke-12#^luke-12-20|Lk 12:20]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-02#^acts-of-the-apostles-02-27|Acts 2:27]]; [[revelation-06#^revelation-06-9|Rev 6:9]]; [[revelation-20#^revelation-20-4|20:4]] Term can also be used for the whole person: [[luke-12#^luke-12-19|Lk 12:19]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-02#^acts-of-the-apostles-02-41|Acts 2:41, 43]]; [[acts-of-the-apostles-07#^acts-of-the-apostles-07-14|7:14]] *See also* [[body]]; [[man]]; [[spirit]] ### Sources [[index-of-doctrines|Index of Doctrines]] ## The Way of Perfection SOUL. The interior part of the human composite (body and soul). It is like a rich palace of gold and precious stones in which dwells a King gracious enough to become its Father ([[tj-way-ccel-28|28.9]]). The palace can be made beautiful through the virtues: the greater the virtues, the more resplendent the jewels ([[tj-way-ccel-28|28.9]]). The Lord can enlarge this palace ([[tj-way-ccel-28|28.12]]). We should empty the soul so that he may store or remove things as with his own property ([[tj-way-ccel-28|28.12]]). In recollection the soul receives a supply of provisions to strengthen it against the body ([[tj-way-ccel-28|28.6]]). In the prayer of quiet, satisfaction is felt in the soul ([[tj-way-ccel-31|31.3]]). The soul is subject to many difficulties resulting from dwelling in the prison of the body ([[tj-way-ccel-32|32.13]]). The soul has three faculties (or powers): intellect, memory, and will; it is wonderful when they are in accord ([[tj-way-ccel-31|31.8]]). ## Divine Intimacy Meditations - Temple of the Holy Trinity: [[11-in-search-of-god#Meditation 1|11,1]], [[11-in-search-of-god#Meditation 2|11,2]]; [[16-guard-of-the-senses#Meditation 1|16,1]]; [[58-i-am-in-the-father#Meditation 2|58,2]]; [[61-the-works-of-jesus#Meditation 2|61,2]]; [[78-the-necessity-for-interior-purification#Meditation 2|78,2]]; - the — totally free from every attachment acts only according to the Will of God: [[5-sanctity-and-gods-will#Meditation 2|5,2]]; - when the — is completely purified, God transforms it into Himself by means of grace and love: [[78-the-necessity-for-interior-purification#Meditation 1|78,1]], [[78-the-necessity-for-interior-purification#Meditation 2|78,2]]; - when the — does what it can, God will not fail to do His part and to communicate Himself to it at least in secret and in silence: [[366-the-reciprocal-gift#Meditation 2|366,2]]; - the — should open itself to the action of God: [[366-the-reciprocal-gift#Meditation 2|366,2]]; - the first vineyard that we should cultivate is our —: [[77-a-new-program#Meditation 2|77,2]]; - should be fully resolved to practice renunciation: [[82-rules-for-detachment#Meditation 1|82,1]]; - dispositions the — should have in order to draw profit from the word of God [[84-the-divine-seed#Meditation 2|84,2]]; - the — that seeks the esteem of creatures does not live alone with God alone [[114-the-hidden-life#Meditation 2|114,2]]; - the — should forget itself to be completely centered on Christ [[115-to-be-hidden-from-myself#Meditation 1|115,1]]; - the — living an interior life should not act as a mercenary, but as a child [[115-to-be-hidden-from-myself#Meditation 2|115,2]]; - the enamored — should give herself exclusively to God giving up all that she is and all that she has: [[134-the-supper-at-bethany#Meditation 1|134,1]]; - the — who has given herself seriously to God has two great attractions: prayer and the apostolate: [[342-martha-and-mary#Meditation 1|342,1]]. ### See Also - [[5-sanctity-and-gods-will|5. Sanctity and God’s Will]] - [[11-in-search-of-god|11. In search of God]] - [[16-guard-of-the-senses|16. Guard of the Senses]] - [[58-i-am-in-the-father|58. “I Am in the Father”]] - [[61-the-works-of-jesus|61. The Works of Jesus]] - [[77-a-new-program|77. A New Program]] - [[78-the-necessity-for-interior-purification|78. The Necessity for Interior Purification]] - [[82-rules-for-detachment|82. Rules for Detachment]] - [[84-the-divine-seed|84. The Divine Seed]] - [[114-the-hidden-life|114. The Hidden Life]] - [[115-to-be-hidden-from-myself|115. To Be Hidden from Myself]] - [[134-the-supper-at-bethany|134. The Supper at Bethany]] - [[342-martha-and-mary|342. Martha and Mary]] - [[366-the-reciprocal-gift|366. The Reciprocal Gift]] ## Compendium of Social Doctrine ![[sd-10-index-s#Soul]] ## The Interior Castle Study Edition The **spiritual component in the human person**, the **body being the material component**. Supported by Pauline texts and the liturgy, Teresa speaks of the body as the prison of the soul and of the soul imprisoned in the body as long as this earthly condition endures: “our poor little imprisoned soul shares in the miseries of the body” (L 11.15). In her mystical life, Teresa experiences her own **soul as the subject of all her experiences of Christ**, of God, of the Trinity, of the church, as the container receiving all of these experiences, their carrier. In her openness to transcendence she experienced **her soul as God’s garden**, a symbolism she developed in her _Life. The soul **is fertile land in hopes of water (or of grace or of prayer)**. The idea that Teresa has of the soul does not proceed from a psychological approach but from a religious and metaphysical one. Only obliquely does she allude to its biological function of animating the body. ## Source The Interior Castle by Saint Teresa of Ávila Study Edition, ICS Publications