The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

"""""THE SACRAMENT OF BAPTISM. 305According to the teachings of Holy Writ, manwas created in a state of innocence and holiness, andafter having spent on this earth his allotted term ofyears, he was destined, without tasting death, to hetranslated to the perpetual society of God in heaven, 1But in consequence of his disobedience, he fell fromhis high estate of righteousness ;his soul was defiledby sin ;he became subject to death and to variousills of body and soul, and forfeited his heavenly inheritance.Adam s transgression was not confined to himself,but was transmitted, with its long train of dire consequences, to all his posterity.And it is calledOriginal sin because it is derived from our originalprogenitor. Wherefore," says St. Paul, as byone man sin entered into this world, and by sinin whomdeath, and so death passed unto all men,all have sinned." * And elsewhere he tells us thatwe were *by nature children of wrath.""Who," says Job,"can make him clean that isconceived of unclean seed," or, as the Septuagintversion expresses it: "There is no one free fromstain, not even though his life be of one *Asday."an infant one day old cannot commit an actual sin,the stain must come from the original offence ofAdam. Behold," says David, I was conceivedin iniquities,and in sins did my mother conceive6 me." The Scripture also tells us that JeremiahASee Wisdom ii. 23.2Eom. v. 12. Eph.4Job xiv. 4.6 Ps. 1. 7.26* U8ii. 3.