Choose a topic from Part 2A:
1. The good of human nature means one or all ofthree things: (a) the constitution and properties of human natureitself; (b) the inclination to virtue; (c) the original justice.Now, sin does not diminish or destroy the constitution of humannature. Nor does sin take away the original justice, for this wastaken away in the beginning by Adam's sin. Sin diminishes thegood of human nature inasmuch as this good is the inclination tovirtue.
2. Thus sin can never destroy the entire good of humannature, although it may go on diminishing a man's inclinationto virtue.
3. The wounds which sin inflicts on human nature may belisted as four: weakness, ignorance, malice, and concupiscence. Theconcupiscence mentioned here is an expression or stressing of theconcupiscence which is often used as a name for original sinitself.
4. A thing has good in its species, its mode, itsorder (cf. Ia, q. 5). Its species is a thing's completeessential kind. Its mode is discerned in both essential andaccidental qualities that it has. Its order is its purpose ordirection to an end or goal. Now, sin destroys or diminishes allthree types of goodness in the soul's inclinations,virtues, and actions. But sin does not diminish or destroy thegood of species, mode, and order in the soul's essence andsubstance.
5. By the sin of the first man, the original justice wasforfeited. In consequence, human nature was stricken with disorderin the soul, and, through this disorder, with corruption in thebody. Hence, death came by sin; bodily disorders and defects cameby sin.
6. Human nature, like every existing nature, tends topreserve itselfand to hold on to its perfections. In view ofthis fact, death and defects are not natural to man. Yet, despitethe inclination of bodily natures to preserve and perfectthemselves, the matter or bodiliness of their constitution cannotsupport them in endless existence. For matter as such is subject tocorruption, that is, to essential breakup. Therefore, in this view,death and defects are natural to man. In our firstparents, God supplied for the deficiency of matter, and bestowed onhuman nature the supernatural gift of incorruptibility orimmortality. This gift was rejected, together with the originaljustice, by human nature in Adam's sin. Hence, death camethrough sin, and is a penalty consequent upon sin.
"If, devout soul, it is your will to please God and live a life of serenity in this world, unite yourself always and in all things to the divine will. Reflect that all the sins of your past wicked life happened because you wandered from the path of God's will. For the future, embrace God's good pleasure and say to him in every happening: "Yea, Father, for so it hath seemed good in thy sight." "
St Alphonsus de Liguori
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"God speaks to us without ceasing by his good inspirations."
The Cure D'Ars
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"It is better to be burdened and in company with the strong than to be unburdened and with the weak. When you are burdened you are close to God, your strength, who abides with the afflicted. When you are relieved of the burden you are close to yourself, your own weakness; for virtue and strength of soul grow and are confirmed in the trials of patience."
St John of the Cross, OCD - Doctor of the Church
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