Dear Father Angelo,

I hope I am not annoying you with too many questions that are still unresolved in my mind.

You clarified all the other questions I have asked you so far, so I hope you can clarify this one too: I cannot understand how it is possible that every person is born with original sin, given that this sin was not committed by one’s own personal will.

Above all, I cannot understand how this can be reconciled with the idea of merit or demerit.

That is, if a whole series of evils depend on original sin, how is it possible that one pays for a sin one did not commit?

Seeking an answer, I got the idea that one must somehow be responsible for that sin, but this idea contradicts the fact that one did not commit it by one’s own will.

I would be very grateful if you could clarify this point as well.

Thank you in advance.

May God always bless you!

Dear,

1. Original sin has the character of guilt for those who committed it, namely our progenitors, Adam and Eve. It does not have the character of personal guilt for those who inherit it, because they are born with a nature deprived of God’s grace and subject to frailty. Therefore, no demerit burdens those who inherit it.

2. We must remember that grace far exceeds human nature. It is not a right, and it elevates human nature to the supernatural order and to filial communion with God. Grace was gifted to our progenitors. Through the redemption accomplished by Christ, that gift is bestowed anew through Baptism.

3. Frailty refers to certain wounds we carry in our intellect, in our will, and even in our inclinations toward the senses; it makes humanity struggling and combatting.

Precisely, that fighting increases blessed virtues and good works. Consequently, it increases the eternal beatitude of paradise. There is no doubt that a greater blessing is found in frailty than where there is no struggle.

4. This is why the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) in paragraph 412 poses a question: “But why did God not prevent the first man from sinning?”

Here is what it says: “St. Leo the Great responds, «Christ’s inexpressible grace gave us blessings better than those the demon’s envy had taken away». and St. Thomas Aquinas wrote, «There is nothing to prevent human nature’s being raised up to something greater, even after sin; God permits evil in order to draw forth some greater good». Thus St. Paul says, «Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more»; and the Exsultet sings, «O happy fault,. . . which gained for us so great a Redeemer!».” (CCC 412).

5. Furthermore, the Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds what original sin is for those of us who inherit it: it is the wound inherited from our progenitors and the privation of grace.

Here is what it says: ”Adam and Eve transmitted to their descendants human nature wounded by their own first sin and hence deprived of original holiness and justice; this deprivation is called ‘original sin’.” (CCC 417).

6. The consequences of original sin certainly remain in us: “human nature is weakened in its powers, subject to ignorance, suffering and the domination of death, and inclined to sin (this inclination is called ‘concupiscence’).” (CCC 418).

7. But ”The victory that Christ won over sin has given us greater blessings than those which sin had taken from us: ‘where sin increased, grace abounded all the more’ (Rom 5:20).” (CCC 420).

I bless you,

Father Angelo

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