Saints LightWhy Does Every Person Matter?
Every human being, at every stage and in every condition, has equal dignity because each is made in God's image, and society exists to serve persons.
What this lesson teaches
- Human dignity comes from being made in God's image, not from usefulness or status.
- Society exists for the person, and basic rights come before the state.
- Every person is equal in dignity; unjust discrimination contradicts God's plan.
- The same principle protects the unborn, the dying, the migrant, the prisoner and the worker.
Catechism paragraphs this lesson cites
- CCC 357
- CCC 1700
- CCC 1929-1935
- CCC 2258
- CCC 2267
CCC means the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Saints Light teaches it in its own words and never quotes it. Look up any paragraph in a printed copy or at vatican.va. See every lesson by paragraph in the Catechism index.
Scripture read in this lesson: Genesis 1:27; Psalm 8:6 (8:5 in most modern Bibles).
A sample question from this lesson
On what does a person's dignity depend, according to Catholic teaching?
- On their contribution to society
- On being made in the image of God
- On their legal citizenship
- On their ability to reason and choose
Show the answer
On being made in the image of God. Dignity is rooted in creation in God's image (CCC 1700) and does not depend on usefulness, status or ability.
The lesson in the app has three questions, each with an explanation.
Words to know
- Human dignity
- The worth every person has because they are made in God's image, which cannot be earned or lost.
More terms in the Catholic glossary. More passages in the Scripture index.
Read the full lesson in the app
"Why Does Every Person Matter?" is lesson 2 of Catholic Social Teaching. In Saints Light you get the whole teaching, the Scripture quoted in full, all three questions and a step to live it this week.
Every course is open free for your first 14 days. After that, one payment of $14.99 unlocks every course. There is no subscription.
Related lessons
- The Fifth Commandment: Respect for Human Life (The Commandments)
- Why Were We Made? (Start Here, free)