Original Sin

Original sin is the name given to the offense against God committed by the first human couple. That sin was the origin of all others and the cause of the state of sin in which all men are born.

The devil tempted the woman to distrust God, then encouraged her pride, and finally induced her to disobey the divine command. Afterwards the woman did the same with her husband. It is narrated at the beginning of the Old Testament.

Before sinning, man had received many gifts from God:

• He possessed supernatural graces and virtues, enjoying divine friendship and intimacy.
• Preternatural gifts made him immortal and impassible: without pain, without illness, without fatigue.
• His nature was in its fullness: his intelligence, his will, his appetites functioned well. For example, he desired to eat and drink in just the right measure.

As a consequence of original sin, man lost the supernatural and preternatural gifts. Even his human nature was wounded, losing part of its dignity, with several consequences:

• To the natural inclination toward good there was added an inclination toward sin.
• When the soul rebelled against God, the body rebelled against the soul and began to demand more pleasures than was reasonable. Since then man must strive to master himself, restraining his appetites for food, sex, comfort, etc. Not everything that is appealing is good.
• Sometimes man has good intentions but does not achieve them due to lack of drive to begin, to continue or to face difficulties. This weakness derives from that first sin.

If Adam and Eve had not sinned, they would have transmitted to us a nature in perfect condition, adorned with the gifts mentioned. With original sin, their nature was wounded, and wounded they transmitted it.

Obviously the baby has not committed personal sins, as a Chilean friend reminded me. What happens is that original sin was a personal sin in the case of Adam and Eve; but it is a state of sin for all other men, who are born with an inclination toward evil and deprived of sanctifying grace. This deficiency is similar to the loss of grace that occurs with personal sin. And for this reason that state at birth is also called sin. But this original sin with which we are all born is not an act committed but a state acquired.

Original sin is forgiven in baptism (sacraments). There the principal gifts that were lost are recovered, the supernatural ones: grace and friendship with God. The other gifts will be attained in heaven. The redemption of all this required the blood of Christ.