[annalex]

Catholicism distinguishes between immortal and rational human soul, sensitive animal soul, and vegetative soul of the plants. Only human soul is immortal.

SOUL. The thinking principle; that by which we feel, know, will, and by which the body is animated. The root of all forms of vital activity. It is a substance or a being which exists per se; it is simple or unextended, i.e., not composed of separate principles of any kind; it is spiritual, i.e., its existence, and to some extent, its operations, are independent of matter; it is immortal (q.v.). The soul is the substantial form (q.v.) of the body. There are three kinds of soul, vegetative, the root of vital activity in plants; sensitive, the root of vital activity in animals; intellectual, the root of vital activity in man. The last contains the other two virtually (q.v.); the sensitive contains the vegetative also virtually. The sensitive and vegetative soul are both simple, but incomplete substances, incapable of existing apart from matter; they are therefore neither spiritual nor immortal...--Donald Attwater, Ed., A Catholic Dictionary, The MacMillan Company (1942), w/Nihil Obstat & Imprimitur, pp. 497-98

[Dr. Eckleburg]

Catholicism distinguishes between immortal and rational human soul, sensitive animal soul, and vegetative soul of the plants.

"Vegetable soul"???

Saturated or unsaturated?

[kosta50]

Thank you annalex on the Catholic deifnitions of soul. That was my understanding of the "anima." There are three kinds of living things, plants, animals and man. They all possess "life" or "that which moves them." All life is from God and we must respect it. "Preaching" Gospels to flies, as Dr E. mockingly says, in no way means by words but rather as the saint said "even by words." That may be a little too much for those who can't think outside the box.