The faith of our fathers - Carmel Apologetics

306 THE FAITH OI OUR FATHERS.and Johu the Baptist were sanctified before theirbirth, or purified from sin, and of course, at thatperiod of their existence, they were incapable ofactual sin.They were cleansed, therefore," from theoriginal taint.These passages clearly show that we have all inherited the transgression of our first parents, andthat we are born enemies of God. And it is equallyplain that these texts apply to every member of thehuman family, to the infant of a day old as well asto the adult.Indeed, even without the light of Holy Scripture,we have only to look into ourselves to be convincedthat our nature has undergone a rude shock. Howelse can we account for the miseries and infirmitiesof our bodies, the blindness of our understanding,the perversity of our will, inclined always to evilrather than to good, the violence of our passions,which are constantly waging war in our hearts?How well does the Catholic doctrine explain thisabnormal state. Hence, Paschal truly says thatman is a greater mystery to himself without Original sin, than is the mystery itself.The Church, however, declares that the BlessedVirgin Mary was exempted from the stain of Original sin by the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ ;and that, consequently, she was ne\er for an instantsubject to the dominion of Satan. This is what ismeant by the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception..but God, in passing sentence of condemnation on