In creation, there is a law of transformation, in which what exists in a lower order, dies to itself so that it may be raised to a higher order of life. We see this in nature. Within the earth’s soil, the chemical order of minerals passes from a lifeless state into that of the living state of plant life. It “dies” to the lower order and is taken up into the living organism of the plant life. That which was in a lower order has now become a participant in the life of a higher order. It has been raised to a new life.
In a like manner, plant life exists in a lower order of life than that of animal life. So too, for the plant to rise to a higher life, it must die and be consumed. It now becomes incorporated into the organism of the higher animal life. In turn, for the animal life to be incorporated into a higher order of life, it too must undergo death. Having died and having been consumed, what was once animal life, now becomes incorporated into a higher order of life within the organism of human life.
We now apply this principle of transformation to our own Christian lives. To enter into the higher life of God, we must die to our lower sinful nature. Jesus said to his disciples, “If any man has a mind to come my way, let him renounce self, and take up his cross, and follow me” (Matt 16:24). This is the mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection. By living out our baptismal life in daily conversion, renouncing sin through the mortification of our lower fallen nature, we live a life of prayerful virtue in a state of grace that comes from the life-giving springs which are the sacraments. This is the mystery of our salvation, to die with Christ, so that we may rise with Him and be incorporated into the divine life of His Mystical Body, the Catholic Church