Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-20
THE SOUL.
Its Separate Existence From Death to
the. Resurrection of the Body.

ITS SeDarate Existence From Death to
the Resurrection of the Body.
Rev J. A. Mulcahy resumed his Monday
evening" instructions at the convent of
the Notre Dame last evening. He said:
Throughout our instructions on the ma
ture of man we have held that the soul is
the form of the body, giving to it its life
and distinct existence. Hence the union
of soul and body is not accidental, or such
as would admit that both could have a
separate independent and complete exist
ence. The body cannot exist without the
soul and the soul is dependent upon the
body for the full exercise of all its faculties.
"From this teaching serious difficulty
arises viz: if the soul is dependent upon
| the senses for the full exercise of its facul-
ties how can it continue to perform its in
tellectual operations when separated from
these senses during the period intervening
| between death and the resurrection of the
body? 1t will be seen at once that If the
union is essential dependence upon the
| senses is the natural state of the soul, and
| therefore these are necessary for the ex-
ercise of its functions.
"If we accept the doctrine of Plato that
| the union of the soul with the body is ac-
cidental, and a burthen to the spirit rather
than an aid the difficulty will cease, and
death will serve but to enlarge the free
| dom and the powers of the soul. This,
however, we cannot do, and hence we must
endeavor to understand how the soul can
continue to exist, to know and to think,
even when separated from the body.
Some have thought to solve this diff
Guilty by stating that the soul would retain
all the ineligible images which it received
whilst in union with the body, and draw
ing these forth at will in its separated
| q
memory, and find in them the conditions
of thought. This solution, which perhaps
is not entirely devoid of merit, is unsatis-
factory. 1t does not explain how the souls
of children who have not yet come to the
use of reason, and therefore had no lntelll-
gible images, could continue to exist and
acquire knowledge.
For the solution of this difficulty we
must consider the position which it has
pleased Divine Providence to assign to the
soul of man, among the purely intellectual
| beings of his creation. 1t stands midway
between the angels who, in the exercise OF
the their functions are entirely independ-
ent of matter and the Vegetative or ami
nal souls which are wholly dependent
upon matter, and limited to matter in al
their functions. Situated in this middle
plain, it partakes of the modes of actor
employed by the two extremes In com
mon with plant or animal soul 1t is sc
united with matter as to be dependent OF
. it for the exercise of its faculties; and II
common with angels it can act withou
matter, because it can certainly exist with
out it, and fo- spiritual beings to exist /:
to think.
''This double mode of acquiring knowl
edge pertains naturally to the soul willis
on earth. But when the soul enter.
| ! IL INT 10 of Sfa
where it is deprived of the organs O.
sense, its mode of acquiring knowledge is
also changed. In its own new position
the soul will acquire knowledge, and per
, form its intellectual operations after tho
manner of purely intellectual beings.
In this state the soul is conscious of it,
own existence and identity. For this it,
nature as an intelligence suffices. 1t car
also know other beings similar to itself il
nature.
''In Its new state the soul will retain the
knowledge which it acquires here on earth
Although this knowledge may have beer
gained through the ministration of the
senses, it is, strictly speaking, the property
of the intellect, and 1t cannot be alienateC
from that intellectual power even by death
Regarding the knowledge which these
separated souls may have of that which is
taking place here on earth, We must say
that, whilst they may retain that which
they acquired when in union with they
could not by their own unaided nature
know that which has taken place after
death or separation from the body.
I'VE speak here, however, only If that
which in this unnatural and temporary
state they can accomplish by their own un
aided powers. Considered in their union
with God we must say of them with 81
Gregory, that it is impossible that the
saints plunged III the brightness of God
should not be able to see all things that
take place around them"