¶ … Thomas Merton's teachings on meditation, contemplative prayer encourages honesty and self-awareness. Honesty and self-awareness in turn depend on genuine humility: the humility that at once embraces the divine origins of humankind but also acknowledges the existence of original sin. Meditation helps individuals acknowledge the dual nature of the human soul. Thus, humility is both a prerequisite and a by-product of meditation. A practitioner must approach contemplative prayer with a humble attitude because arrogance, pride, and egotism prevent the honesty and self-awareness that Merton encourages. At the same time, meditation helps the individual achieve a greater and truer sense of humility. The person becomes gracefully humble: aware of his or her personal faults, sins, and failures while also aware of the divine spark, the power of redemption, and the possibility of being created anew. Therefore, Merton suggests that one must approach meditation with humility and a sincere desire to know God. Merton also suggests that meditation be an aide in becoming a more genuinely humble human being.

2. According to the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, human dignity is directly related to moral action. In section 14, the Pope writes, "But the very dignity of man postulates that man glorify God in his body and forbid it to serve the evil inclinations of his heart." Moral righteousness is an outward sign of human dignity. Dignity depends on moral action. In contrast, any immoral action or sin is an affront to human dignity. Sin "has diminished man, blocking his path to fulfillment," (section 13). Also, the voice of conscience is akin to the voice of God. If a person ignores his or her conscience, that act is explicitly a sin. Not only is conscience a reflection of higher law; the conscience provides an opportunity for an individual to enhance human dignity through the Word of God. A moral action reflects God's love for the world. The human being who acts with dignity and moral righteousness is one who becomes a beacon of light, a steward for God's will. On the other hand, a person who acts with sin directly affronts God by ignoring moral law as well as the inner voice of conscience.

References

Pope Paul VI. Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Retrieved Sept 27, 2008 from http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19651207_gaudium-et-spes_en.html