The Incarnation and human dignity
Professor Monsignor Antonio Miralles - Pontifical University of the Holy Cross
Videoconference, December 18th 2004
The debate concerning human dignity is still very relevant and millions of human beings agree in demanding this, although disagreeing in their religious, social, philosophical and anthropological views. It is a debate we Christians join in willingly because, as stated by the Second Vatican Council, the Church "champions the dignity of the human vocation" (GS 21/7) and gives hope once again to those who now despair this will be achieved.
The debate is currently ongoing, but the faith’s answer is already an ancient one especially as regards to dignity. Pope Saint Leo Magnum provided the answer long ago at Christmas in the year 440. After summoning everyone to joy and to praise the Lord, because they had "become participants in the birth of Christ", he encouraged them to "Acknowledge, oh Christians, your dignity, now a participant in the divine nature" (see the Sermon on the Lord’s Birth 1, 3.1-2). And in another Christmas sermon, pronounced ten years later, he stated: "The birth of Christ marks the origins of the Christian people […] we no longer belong to the lineage of the father by flesh, but to the progeny of the Saviour, who became the Son of man that we could become children of God" (see the Sermon on the Lord’s Birth 6, 2.2-3).
In the Gaudium et spes the Second Vatican Council provides a splendid passage precisely concerning human dignity founded on the Incarnation. Do we wish to acknowledge the real value of humankind, its destination, the meaning of its existence and from where its authentic dignity emerges? The first answer leads us towards a really enlightening fire: "The truth is that only in the mystery of the incarnate Word does the mystery of man take on light." (GS 22/1). And this starts with the Incarnation: "Since human nature as He assumed it was not annulled, by that very fact it has been raised up to a divine dignity in our respect too. For by His incarnation the Son of God has united Himself in some fashion with every man (GS 22/2). From that moment onwards, He is not only one of us, but He provides a centre, an apex for all humankind, Himself. No man is alien to Jesus, also because Redemption, Christ’s paschal mystery, does not only concern Christians. "For, since Christ died for all men, and since the ultimate vocation of man is in fact one, and divine, we ought to believe that the Holy Spirit in a manner known only to God offers to every man the possibility of being associated with this paschal mystery" (GS 22/5). It is up to man to use his freedom well, meekly welcoming Christ’s work, opposing no resistance. This is humankind’s great dignity.