by John Gilbert

Created on: June 28, 2009   Last Updated: July 07, 2009

The body and soul are connected in more ways than one can imagine. In its biblical form, the bible tells us that our souls are created in the image of God. This clearly tells us that we are all the same and that are souls are beyond anything magnificent and beautiful than we can imagine. Also, because our souls are all created in the "image of God", we are all the same. For this reason God laid out the ten commandants warning us not to judge each other or covet each other.

Our bodies are the vessels of the soul. Where our bodies go, so does the soul. This may sound like a cliche but it is more than that. If we treat our bodies poorly, it will have an effect on our souls and our spirituality. Take for example a severe alcoholic or drug addict. How often do we see them in church reaching out for God or trying to deepen their spiritual life?

On a much deeper level we nourish our souls only through our faith. As a Catholic, we are also given spiritual food that feeds our soul as we consume the Eucharist (which is bread transformed in the body of Christ) and wine (which is transformed into the blood of Christ) during the celebration of the Holy Mass. For other religions, it is their faith that feeds the soul. Let me make it clear, Catholics also believe the faith feeds the soul as well. As we nourish our souls, it seems to have a dramatic effect on our health. Everyone reading this article probably knows people that have a commitment to a deep spiritual life that never seem to get too sick beyond a common cold. We also know of people that have had miraculous healing through their faith.

Miraculous healing only comes from the soul as Jesus made very clear. He told his disciples, "you are the fruit and I am the vine". He uses this analogy because we clearly know that nourishment to the fruit comes from through the branches. More importantly, if the fruit should fall or be removed from the branch, it will die. So too with our souls, if we separate ourselves from the vine of Christ, our souls will wither and our bodies clearly follow.

Lets us turn back to some Old Testament literature. We all know that Moses rescued the Israelites and led them to the Promised Land. After they were free and crossed over the Sea, they fell back in their old ways. God decided to leave them in the desert for forty years. During this time he fed them with "Manna" that fell from heaven. This "Manna" kept their physical bodies alive for the forty years. So we have a physical man, Moses

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