There is more compelling scientific evidence for God, life after death, a transphysical soul, Jesus, the Church, the Eucharist, and Mary than ever before. Here are a few examples:
In our search for wholeness, Catholic tradition teaches that temperaments are the inclinations and patterns of reaction that originate in a person’s physiology. It’s our raw material. The study of temperaments can be traced back thousands of years. Hippocrates (c. 460-377 B.C.), the father of medicine, was the first to recognize and develop a personality theory. He claimed each person has a basic temperament that comes from an imbalance of body fluids, or “humors.” He categorized these humors into four main types: choleric (yellow liver bile), sanguine (blood from the heart), melancholic (black kidney bile), and phlegmatic (lung phlegm). His theory was further developed by Galen, a Roman physician who lived around 190 A.D., and also concluded these fluids affect our temperament but in a more positive light. He found the “sanguine” to be eager, the “melancholic” woeful, the “choleric” passionate, and the “phlegmatic” calm. Many other physicians and philosophers throughout the centuries, like Plato and Paracelsus, added their own insights to the study of the four main temperaments. Each used their own language for categorizing and understanding. The Latin word temperamentum, meaning mixture, was first used during the 17th century in order to understand how individuals could achieve balance and wellness.
But as we utilize and enjoy our smartphones, search engines, and the benefits of artificial intelligence, it is vital that we stay connected to our own humanity. To nurture genuine relationships, to engage our senses, and most importantly, to communicate with our Creator.