Capacity of Man for God
INTRODUCTION
The human capacity to
search for God
is a profound and intrinsic aspect of our existence, reflecting an innate curiosity and yearning for meaning beyond the tangible world.
Throughout history, individuals and civilizations have grappled with existential questions, seeking a deeper understanding of their purpose
and the existence of a higher power.
As humans pursue knowledge of God, tools that assist discernment—such as well-chosen spiritual books or journals—can support the journey.
Resources like a **Catholic Study Bible**
(Amazon)
or a **guided prayer journal**
(Amazon)
often help readers deepen reflection and contemplate the divine more intentionally.
DESIRE FOR GOD
The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself.
Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:
The dignity of man rests above all on the fact that he is called to communion with God...
(no. 27)
In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and
behavior: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth…
From one ancestor [God] made all nations...
(no. 28)
But this intimate and vital bond of man to God can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected by man…
To help sustain a life of prayer and focus—especially in the face of distractions—many find value in using simple aids such as
**meditation candles**
(Amazon)
or **inspirational Christian wall art**
(Amazon)
to create a prayer-supportive environment at home.
WAYS OF COMING TO KNOW GOD
Created in God's image and called to know and love him, the person who seeks God discovers certain ways of coming to know him…
The world
Question the beauty of the earth...
(no. 32)
The human person
With his openness to truth and beauty… the soul can have its origin only in God. (no. 33)
The world and man attest that they contain within themselves neither their first principle nor their final end… (no. 34)
Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God…
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH
"Our holy mother, the Church, holds and teaches that God… can be known with certainty from the created world" (no. 36).
Though human reason is… capable of attaining to knowledge of God, many obstacles prevent the effective use of this faculty… (no. 37)
This is why man stands in need of being enlightened by God's revelation… (no. 38)
HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT GOD?
In defending human reason’s ability to know God, the Church expresses her confidence in dialogue with all peoples. (no. 39)
Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally limited… (no. 40)
All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God… (no. 41)
God transcends all creatures… Our human words always fall short of the mystery. (no. 42)
Nevertheless, our language really does attain to God himself… (no. 43)
IN BRIEF
Man is by nature and vocation a religious being… (no. 44)
Man is made to live in communion with God… (St. Augustine)
When he listens to the message of creation and to the voice of conscience… (no. 46)
The Church teaches that the one true God can be known with certainty… (DS 3026)
We really can name God, starting from the manifold perfections of his creatures… (no. 48)
Without the Creator, the creature vanishes… (no. 49)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the capacity of humanity to search for God remains a timeless and universal aspect of the human experience…
Point for Reflection
How has your own journey in searching for God or spiritual meaning shaped your understanding of yourself, others, and the world around you?
Recommended Resources
Here are additional materials that may support your personal search for God and enrich moments of prayer and reflection.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the ministry and keeps this blog running.
Related Posts
INTRODUCTION
The human capacity to search for God is a profound and intrinsic aspect of our existence, reflecting an innate curiosity and yearning for meaning beyond the tangible world. Throughout history, individuals and civilizations have grappled with existential questions, seeking a deeper understanding of their purpose and the existence of a higher power.
As humans pursue knowledge of God, tools that assist discernment—such as well-chosen spiritual books or journals—can support the journey. Resources like a **Catholic Study Bible** (Amazon) or a **guided prayer journal** (Amazon) often help readers deepen reflection and contemplate the divine more intentionally.
DESIRE FOR GOD
The desire for God is written in the human heart, because man is created by God and for God; and God never ceases to draw man to himself. Only in God will he find the truth and happiness he never stops searching for:
In many ways, throughout history down to the present day, men have given expression to their quest for God in their religious beliefs and behavior: in their prayers, sacrifices, rituals, meditations, and so forth…
But this intimate and vital bond of man to God can be forgotten, overlooked, or even explicitly rejected by man…
To help sustain a life of prayer and focus—especially in the face of distractions—many find value in using simple aids such as **meditation candles** (Amazon) or **inspirational Christian wall art** (Amazon) to create a prayer-supportive environment at home.
WAYS OF COMING TO KNOW GOD
Created in God's image and called to know and love him, the person who seeks God discovers certain ways of coming to know him…
The world
The human person
With his openness to truth and beauty… the soul can have its origin only in God. (no. 33)
The world and man attest that they contain within themselves neither their first principle nor their final end… (no. 34)
Man's faculties make him capable of coming to a knowledge of the existence of a personal God…
THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD ACCORDING TO THE CHURCH
"Our holy mother, the Church, holds and teaches that God… can be known with certainty from the created world" (no. 36).
This is why man stands in need of being enlightened by God's revelation… (no. 38)
HOW CAN WE SPEAK ABOUT GOD?
In defending human reason’s ability to know God, the Church expresses her confidence in dialogue with all peoples. (no. 39)
Since our knowledge of God is limited, our language about him is equally limited… (no. 40)
All creatures bear a certain resemblance to God… (no. 41)
God transcends all creatures… Our human words always fall short of the mystery. (no. 42)
Nevertheless, our language really does attain to God himself… (no. 43)
IN BRIEF
Man is by nature and vocation a religious being… (no. 44)
Man is made to live in communion with God… (St. Augustine)
When he listens to the message of creation and to the voice of conscience… (no. 46)
The Church teaches that the one true God can be known with certainty… (DS 3026)
We really can name God, starting from the manifold perfections of his creatures… (no. 48)
Without the Creator, the creature vanishes… (no. 49)
Conclusion
In conclusion, the capacity of humanity to search for God remains a timeless and universal aspect of the human experience…
Point for Reflection
How has your own journey in searching for God or spiritual meaning shaped your understanding of yourself, others, and the world around you?
Recommended Resources
Here are additional materials that may support your personal search for God and enrich moments of prayer and reflection.
Disclosure: Some of the links above are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This helps support the ministry and keeps this blog running.
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