Question: Does the Catholic Church teach the possibility of achieving dispassion in this life?

[Nagomirov]

Can a believer, at the very heights of holiness, achieve dispassion? What does the Catholic Church say about this?

 

[Nagomirov]

Is it possible, according to the Catholic faith, to achieve complete sanctification in this life, the absence of passions?

 

[Nagomirov]

Is it possible to have a pure heart?

 

[fhansen]

Passions are normal while the lack of control of passions is abnormal, an effect of the Fall. Jesus was passionate but His passions were pure, undefiled by the influence of an impure heart. Desires can be ordered or disordered/inordinate, a result of concupiscence. A healthy appetite for food, for example, is a self-controlled appetite while gluttony is the abuse of that normal appetite- where one becomes a slave to it instead. A completely sanctified or holy person would have complete, balanced control of desires and passions-and some have probably come close to this perfection in all things. But perfect sinlessness is not expected in this life even if that's the right and proper goal for Christians. The Catholic Church teaches:

1767 In themselves passions are neither good nor evil. They are morally qualified only to the extent that they effectively engage reason and will. Passions are said to be voluntary, "either because they are commanded by the will or because the will does not place obstacles in their way."44 It belongs to the perfection of the moral or human good that the passions be governed by reason.45

 

[Bob Crowley]

I suppose there are a few saints who achieved what might be called "dispassion". Francis of Assisi comes to mind along with a handful of other saints. I think they would be few and far between.

If it comes to that I think dedicated Buddhist monks could lay claim to being "dispassionate".

But for most of us mortal Catholics, i think we might need a bit of time in Purgatory to make the grade.

 

[fhansen]

I think this quote from Augustine is interesting:

"Complete abstinence is easier than perfect moderation."

Perfect moderation being the greater or most mature holiness as I understand it.