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115. How One Creature Moves Another: Bodies

1. Bodies act upon other bodies. Fire burns wood; foodsupports living substance; a horse pulls a wagon; wind erodes amountain; water moistens earth. Every bodily substance, by itsbeing what it is, by its actuality, has an activity by which itaffects other bodies, and is in potentiality to be affected byother bodies.

2. Living bodies bear the germs or seeds of offspringwhich they tend to move into existence. Nonliving bodies haveaptitude to be moved or affected by other bodies. In a word, allbodies exhibit a basic fitness or aptitude for the movement of bodyby body.

3. The heavenly bodies, and notably the sun, produceeffects in inferior bodies. Each inferior body receives, accordingto its nature, the action of a superior body. The movement ofearthly bodies is referred to movements of the heavenly bodies.

4. The heavenly bodies cannot directly affect the higherpowers ofman, that is, the intellect and the will. They may,however, exercise an indirect influence on the intellective powersthrough the senses of the human body. It is impossible that theheavenly bodies should be the direct cause of human actions.

5. The heavenly bodies can have no effect at all upon thedemons or bad angels; these angels are spirits, and no influence ofextraneous bodies on spirits is possible.

6. Nor is the direct influence of heavenly bodies onmatter always and necessarily effective.

"To do God's will -- this was the goal upon which the saints constantly fixed their gaze. They were fully persuaded that in this consists the entire perfection of the soul. "
St Alphonsus de Liguori

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"To think of oneself as nothing, and always to think well and highly of others is the best and most perfect wisdom. Wherefore, if you see another sin openly or commit a serious crime, do not consider yourself better, for you do not know how long you can remain in good estate. All men are frail, but you must admit that none is more frail than yourself. "
Thomas á Kempis

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"Men should often renew their good resolutions, and not lose heart because they are tempted against them."
St Philip Neri

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