GOD'S CREATION


By Edward Matulanya 

Creation According to the Roman Catholic Church

The Roman Catholic Church teaches that creation is an act of God’s free will and love, in which He brings everything into existence out of nothing (creatio ex nihilo). This belief is drawn from Sacred Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and the Magisterium (the Pope and bishops in communion with him).

God is the One Creator

God alone is the source of all that exists, both visible and invisible. The Nicene Creed professes: “I believe in one God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth, of all things visible and invisible” (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997/2019, §325). Creation is not the work of chance or multiple gods but the free, intelligent, and loving action of the one true God.

Creation Ex Nihilo

Before creation there was nothing except God. He did not shape pre-existing matter but brought the universe into being by His Word (CCC, 1997/2019, §296). This reveals God’s omnipotence and that all creatures depend completely on Him for existence.

The Trinity’s Role in Creation 

Creation is the work of the Holy Trinity: the Father is the source of all, the Son (Logos) is the divine Word through whom all things were made (John 1:3), and the Holy Spirit is the “giver of life,” who brings order and sanctity (CCC, 1997/2019, §§291–292).

Purpose of God's Creation

God created the world to manifest His glory and to share His love and goodness, not because He needed anything (CCC, 1997/2019, §293). The universe is ordered toward the good of creatures and ultimately for their union with God.

Human Beings in the Image of God

Humanity is the high point of creation, made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26–27). Humans possess spiritual souls, reason, free will, and the capacity for relationship with God (CCC, 1997/2019, §356).

God's Creation and Providence

God’s Creation action is continuous: He not only created but also sustains and governs the universe at every moment (CCC, 1997/2019, §§301–302). This is known as divine providence, whereby God directs all things toward their ultimate purpose while respecting human freedom.

God's creation is Harmony with Science

The Catholic Church does not oppose scientific explanations such as the Big Bang or evolution, provided that God is acknowledged as the ultimate Creator and the source of the spiritual soul (John Paul II, 1996). Faith and reason are understood as complementary (CCC, 1997/2019, §159).

Summary of God's Creation 

In Roman Catholic teaching, creation is the loving, free, and purposeful act of the Triune God, who brings the universe into existence from nothing, sustains it at every moment, and orders it toward Himself so that all creatures—especially human beings made in His image—may share eternal life (CCC, 1997/2019, §§295–301).

God created Adam and Eve 

Reasons for God to create huma being

According to Roman Catholic teaching, God’s reasons for creating human beings are rooted in love, goodness, and a desire for relationship. The Church draws its understanding from Scripture, Sacred Tradition, and authoritative documents like the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC). Here are the key reasons:

1. To Share His Love and Happiness

God is love itself (1 John 4:8).

The Catechism states:

> “God created us to know him, to love him, to serve him, and to be happy with him forever in heaven” (CCC 1721).

Creation is not because God needed anything; rather, His goodness is so full and perfect that He freely chose to share it.

2. To Glorify God by Participating in His Plan

Human beings, made in God’s image and likeness (Genesis 1:26–27), reflect His glory in a unique way.

Our reason, freedom, and capacity to love allow us to give conscious praise back to God.

CCC 293 explains:

> “The world was made for the glory of God… God created all things not to increase his glory, but to show it forth and to communicate it.”

3. For Relationship and Covenant

God desires a personal relationship with each person—friendship and communion.

Humanity is called into covenant with God, to live in harmony with Him and with one another.

This relationship is fulfilled in Jesus Christ, who restores the friendship broken by sin.

4. To Share in the Divine Life (Deification)

The Church teaches that humans are created to become “partakers of the divine nature” (2 Peter 1:4).

CCC 460 expresses this in a famous line from the early Church Fathers:

> “The Son of God became man so that we might become God,”

meaning we are invited into God’s own life—not to be gods by nature, but to share in His holiness.

According to Roman Catholic teaching, God lovingly creates human beings in His image and likeness and calls them to a relationship of love, obedience, and holiness. What God “demands” is not arbitrary; it flows from His desire for humans to share in His life and happiness.

Here are the key aspects of what God asks of the people He created.

1. Faith and Worship

God commands humanity to believe in Him, trust Him, and worship Him alone (Deuteronomy 6:4–5; Exodus 20:2–3).

The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) teaches that our first duty is to acknowledge God as Creator and to adore Him with faith, hope, and love (CCC, 1997/2019, §§2084–2097).

Worship includes prayer, the sacraments, and participation in the liturgy, especially the Eucharist.

2. Love of God and Neighbor

Jesus summarized the law: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind… and your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39, NRSVCE).

Love of neighbor—expressed in mercy, forgiveness, and justice—is inseparable from love of God (CCC, 1997/2019, §§1822–1829).

3. Obedience to God’s Will

God calls humans to listen and respond freely to His commandments and guidance.

This obedience is not servile but filial—responding as beloved children to a loving Father (CCC, 1997/2019, §1730).

The Ten Commandments remain a fundamental moral law (CCC, 1997/2019, §§2052–2082).

4. Holiness and Moral Living

God demands that people become holy as He is holy (Leviticus 19:2; Matthew 5:48).

This involves practicing the Cardinal and Theological virtues—faith, hope, charity, prudence, justice, fortitude, and temperance (CCC, 1997/2019, §§1803–1832).


Catholics are called to live chastely, work honestly, protect life, care for the poor, and safeguard creation.

5. Repentance and Conversion

Because humans sin, God calls for ongoing conversion of heart.

Jesus’ first preaching was: “Repent, and believe in the good news” (Mark 1:15).

The Church teaches regular participation in the Sacrament of Reconciliation (confession) as a way to return to God’s grace (CCC, 1997/2019, §§1427–1432).

6. Participation in God’s Mission

God entrusts humanity with the care of creation (Genesis 1:28) and the duty to build a just society.

Catholics are called to share the Gospel and serve the poor and marginalized (CCC, 1997/2019, §§898–900).

References

Catechism of the Catholic Church. (2019). Catechism of the Catholic Church (2nd ed.). Libreria Editrice Vaticana. (Original work published 1997)

John Paul II. (1996, October 22). Message to the Pontifical Academy of Sciences: On evolution. Vatican.va. https://www.vatican.va/content/john-paul-ii/en/messages/pont_messages/1996/documents/hf_jp-ii_mes_19961022_evolution.html

The Holy Bible. (2018). New Revised Standard Version, Catholic Edition. National Council of Churches.

Vatican Council II. (1965). Gaudium et spes [Pastoral constitution on the Church in the modern world]. In A. Flannery (Ed.), Vatican Council II: The conciliar and post conciliar documents (pp. 903–1001). Liturgical Press.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

FAITH OF ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH

Image
Image of Catholic Church at Vatican By Edward Matulanya Here are Meaning, believe, founder, sacraments, teaching source, Morals, source of faith, History and key teaching of Roman Catholic Church. 1. Meaning of Roman Catholic Church  The Roman Catholic Church means the universal Christian community under the leadership of the Bishop of Rome (the Pope). 2. Understand the Core Beliefs of the Roman Catholic Faith The Roman Catholic Church belief in one God in three persons ; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1997, §234; Matt. 28:19). Catholics hold that Jesus Christ is true God and true man, whose incarnation, death, and resurrection bring salvation to humanity (CCC, 1997, §§461–463; John 1:14). 2. Founder of Roman Catholic Church  The Church, founded by Christ on the apostles with the pope as Peter’s successor, is “the universal sacrament of salvation” (CCC, 1997, §774; Matt. 16:18–19). Salvation is a gift of grace received through faith ...
Read more

TWELVE APOSTLES OF JESUS

Image
  Jesus Christ with twelve apostles at last feast By Edward Matulanya Here are twelve apostles chosen by Jesus, celebration of Eucharist, their mission, their succession, their liturgical Celebration a summary of their lives.  The Catholic Church teaches that Jesus personally chose and appointed the Twelve to share in His mission and to lay the foundation of the Church. Twelve apostles chosen by Jesus  Jesus called his disciples, and chose twelve of them, whom he also named apostles (Luke 6:13, NABRE). They were to be with Him, to preach, and to have authority to drive out demons (Mark 3:13-19). Celebration of Eucharist At the Last Supper He conferred on them a share in His priesthood and the command to celebrate the Eucharist (Luke 22:19–20; Catechism of the Catholic Church [CCC], 1994/2019, §§859–860). Catholics hold that this apostolic ministry continues through apostolic succession, with bishops as the successors of the apostles (CCC §§861–862). The Role of Jesus’ Ap...
Read more

SAINT JOSEPH OF CUPERTINO

Image
Saint Joseph of Cupertino  By Edward Matulanya Early life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino St. Joseph of Cupertino was born June 17, 1603, in Cupertino, Apulia (southern Italy). Orphaned before birth and raised in poverty, he struggled with learning and was considered slow by his peers. After repeated rejections from religious communities, he was eventually accepted as a servant by the Conventual Franciscans and later admitted as a friar. Vocational life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino  Despite his lack of education, Joseph was ordained a priest in 1628 after a providentially simple examination. He became famous for extraordinary mystical phenomena, especially levitation during ecstatic prayer. These events attracted large crowds and even the attention of the Inquisition, though he was never condemned. Because the public excitement disrupted community life, Joseph spent much of his later years in seclusion, devoted to humility and prayer. He died on September 18, 1663, in Osimo, Ital...
Read more