Human Nature...

[frozencell]

I'm currently reading a book on the subject of saint and Mary veniration. It's a reprint of some papers a guy named Oresten(?) wrote back in the 1800's. It explains reasons that we venerate the saints and Mary and how it is, in essence, the backbone of our Catholic faith. It asserts that once you disbelieve in the veneration and the prayers to saints you basically become Protestant-minded. Also, explains that the reason that Protestants see our veneration of the saints as worship like they do God is because our veneration of the saints and Mary is on the same level that they worship God (because they do not have the supreme sacrifice of the Eucharist to offer). But, when it gets a little deeper, it explains that we venerate the saints because they are the pinnacle of human nature and God has made our nature His nature through the Immaculate Conception.

So, after all of that, I was wondering exactly what do you think "human nature" is and how is it best defined?

[MrsFrozen]

Hmmm... I don't know. I usually ask you for answers to questions like this! Anyhow, I'll have to think about that!

[HartfordWhalers]

[quote name='frozencell' date='Oct 1 2004, 06:47 AM'] I'm currently reading a book on the subject of saint and Mary veniration. It's a reprint of some papers a guy named Oresten(?) wrote back in the 1800's. It explains reasons that we venerate the saints and Mary and how it is, in essence, the backbone of our Catholic faith. It asserts that once you disbelieve in the veneration and the prayers to saints you basically become Protestant-minded. Also, explains that the reason that Protestants see our veneration of the saints as worship like they do God is because our veneration of the saints and Mary is on the same level that they worship God (because they do not have the supreme sacrifice of the Eucharist to offer). But, when it gets a little deeper, it explains that we venerate the saints because they are the pinnacle of human nature and God has made our nature His nature through the Immaculate Conception.

So, after all of that, I was wondering exactly what do you think "human nature" is and how is it best defined? [/quote]
The Immaculate Conception was the conception of the Blessed Virgin, not Christ, which occured at the Annunciation (feast March 25).

Human nature is defined as: 'The sum of qualities and traits shared by all humans.'

I would say human nature would better be considered: the proclivity to adhere to natural law.

[frozencell]

[quote name='HartfordWhalers' date='Oct 1 2004, 12:04 PM'] The Immaculate Conception was the conception of the Blessed Virgin, not Christ, which occured at the Annunciation (feast March 25). [/quote]
Right. I was saying that it was accomplished, or perpetuated, by the Immaculate Conception. It was realized by the birth of Christ.