The Connection Between Memory and Imagination
As previously mentioned, memory is one of the internal senses and is part of the sensitive soul. It plays a crucial role in retaining and recalling sensory experiences. Memory is closely linked to the imagination, which is one of the cognitive faculties of the human mind. Imagination essentially bridges the gap between sensory perception and intellectual understanding. Thus, while imagination is distinct from the intellect, it nevertheless plays a crucial role in the process of understanding and knowledge acquisition.
The Functions of the Imagination
The imagination serves two key functions: retaining sensory impressions and facilitating abstraction. First, the imagination retains images derived from sensory experiences, allowing individuals to recall and remember past perceptions. Next, it has the capacity to form mental representations or images of objects that are not present to the senses. These mental images are crucial for abstract thinking, memory, and creativity. In so doing, it facilitates abstract thinking. This abstraction is essential for intellectual cognition and understanding.
In simple terms, think of the imagination as a “movie screen” in your mind. Your memory and sense experiences supply the raw footage. The various passions then impact how the imagination presents the object to the mind. For example, we may have a memory of eating a steak. Our senses may detect a steak is nearby. If we are full, a steak may not appeal to us much since the passions downplay it. But if we are famished, then the passions amplify the image and the same steak becomes far more irresistible.
The mind’s judgment is based upon what the imagination presents to it and the imagination presents an intricate blending of memory with sense experience under the influence of the passions.
The Importance of Beauty
Along with Truth and Goodness, Beauty is one of the transcendentals that lead every man towards God. On this side of eternity, man can never be satiated by his desire for these transcendentals. This is because God is their Infinite Source and our desire for them is our yearning for Him.
Beauty has a powerful impact on the imagination. If our experience of beauty is deficient, then our imagination colors everything it presents to the mind with a certain ugliness. Instead of elevating the mind to heavenly goods, the imagination drags it down towards what is contemptible. The errors of Russia, which Our Lady warned, include making everything as ugly and banal as possible: architecture, clothing, the fine arts, science, etc.
A great error of modernity is to think beauty is subjective. Ultimately, beauty is when something is in right proportion and displays God’s right order. Real beauty reflects truth and goodness. If we surround ourselves with objectively beautiful music, art, literature, etc. then our imagination will be formed with a greater capacity and yearning for the things of God.
The Necessity of a Well-formed Imagination
As with other elements of Catholic anthropology, St. Thomas Aquinas taught the importance of a well-formed imagination for the good of the soul. While a natural and necessary faculty of the human mind, the imagination can also be a source of temptation and sin when it is not properly regulated. Everyone has a grave responsibility to ensure that sensory perceptions (i.e., what we see, hear, listen to, touch) aid the soul.
Once sinful perceptions are stored in the memory, they are incredibly difficult to undo and can be stirred up into the imagination at a moment’s notice, willfully or unintentionally. While the devils are unable to directly affect our mind and will (the higher faculties of our soul), they do have the ability to stir up our memories, inflame our passions, and ‘pop’ things into our imagination. Hence, we must not only practice custody of the eyes and senses but also the right custody of the imagination.
Sin can enter through the imagination in several ways:
Impure Thoughts: St. Thomas recognized that the imagination has the capacity to produce mental images and fantasies; if these images or fantasies are impure, they can lead to further sinful desires and actions. For example, entertaining lustful thoughts or fantasies is mortally sinful in itself. And so doing it can also lead to other sinful actions such as adultery or fornication. One sin can thus beget another. In fact, no one ever violates the Sixth Commandment without having first violated the Ninth.
We do well to remember the words of Our Lady, Who warned that “the spirit of impurity will saturate the atmosphere … like a filthy ocean it will run through the streets, squares and public places with an astonishing liberty.” People no longer regulate morality, which allows sin to proliferate by tainting the minds of the young whose imagination is warped.
Temptation: The imagination can be influenced by external stimuli or internal inclinations that prompt an individual toward sinful thoughts or actions. Temptations can arise through sensory experiences, memories, suggestions from the environment, or directly from the devils. If these temptations are dwelled upon and entertained in the imagination, they will lead to sin. Having a holy upbringing, ensuring we remove our phones and computers from sources of temptation, keeping good company, and similar practices can help reduce instances of temptation due to a poorly trained imagination.
Unfortunately, we often leave our souls vulnerable by not guarding our experiences and imagination. Consider the difference between one who frequently reads the Gospel and lives of the saints with one who reads romance novels, murder mysteries, or comic book material. The former will have a firm imagination filled with virtuous examples that are grounded in objective reality, whereas the latter will have a whimsical and inconstant imagination that flutters about in a realm of subjective unreality.
Sadly, ‘modern man’ is obsessed with being entertained. Entertainment is addictive because it captivates the imagination. An essential precondition for growth in holiness is limiting worldly entertainment and purifying the imagination.
Formation of Wrong Judgments: St. Thomas Aquinas also explains that the imagination plays a role in forming judgments and decisions. If the imagination is clouded by exaggerated images, false memories, or sinful inclinations, it can lead to erroneous judgments and choices that result in sin.
In all things, we need to be like another Christ and always grow in holiness. What would Christ do? What did the saints do in similar situations? What does the Church truly teach regarding any given matter? Making time for daily prayer, regular reception of the Holy Eucharist and Confession, daily mental prayer, the Rosary, lectio divina, the nightly examination of conscience, and similar practices can aid us in helping protect our souls.
Conclusion
Parents, priests, and catechists must be especially aware of the importance of exposing young souls to holy images, good conversation, and pious persons. While everyone needs to remove temptation and occasions of sin, it is critically important to do so whenever the formation of children is at hand. Never scandalize the young. If you say or do anything that relates to our Faith, you must be incredibly careful about what you say or do.
Our Blessed Lord said:
“Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of Heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in My name, receiveth Me. But he that shall scandalize one of these little ones that believe in Me, it were better for him that a millstone should be hanged about his neck, and that he should be drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:4-6).
O Lord, grant us many holy priests, holy vocations, holy families, and holy souls!