ENDOWED WITH DIGNITY
“Drop seven pounds in seven days with the Vitamin D Diet!” “Fit into your skinny jeans fast!” “The secret to sleek, sexy arms!” These are just a few of the headlines from a leading women’s fitness magazine. If I were to read this magazine in search of good reasons to integrate a workout into my daily life, I would get one answer: to be skinny and sexy. There is certainly nothing wrong about exercising to improve our physical appearance. After all, there is a level of concern about how we present ourselves to others that is an appropriate way of honoring our own dignity. For the Catholic woman, however, keeping the body strong and active has a much deeper purpose than what the mainstream culture presents. As women of God, our fitness habits can’t just be about enhancing our own self-image. Instead, the wisdom of the Church teaches us that physical activity can actually be an opportunity 8
Dignitas Magazine | Autumn 2012
to honor the image of God we bear in our body, to give thanks to Him for the gift of life, and to grow in virtue and holiness by disciplining our bodies. Physical Activity as an Act of Gratitude: The human body is God’s work of art—the crowning masterpiece of His Creation. We have the privilege of bearing God’s image on earth and because of this, our whole physical existence is elevated and meaningful. Everything we do with and through our body should always live up to our dignity and give glory to our Creator. The Catechism of the Catholic Church describes the dignity and purpose of our body in this way: “THROUGH HIS VERY BODILY CONDITION [MAN] SUMS UP IN HIMSELF THE ELEMENTS OF THE MATERIAL WORLD. THROUGH HIM THEY ARE THUS BROUGHT TO THEIR HIGHEST PERFECTION AND CAN RAISE THEIR VOICE IN PRAISE FREELY GIVEN TO THE CREATOR.”1 Fitness is a special opportunity to fulfill our vocation of giving praise and thanksgiving to our Maker through
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