ORIGIN OF SIN *i 



self and other creatures. Hence every sin springs from 

 inordinate self-love 34 and must result in shame, discon- 

 tent, unhappiness, and spiritual suicide. 35 The common 

 sense of mankind has embodied this truth in many prov- 

 erbs, e. g., "Every sinner is his own executioner," "Sin is 

 its own punishment," "It does not pay to be wicked," etc. 



3. Origin. — For an explanation of the origin 

 of sin we must turn to Revelation. 



a) The first sin, — the deliberate rebellion of 

 Lucifer and his angels against the will of God 36 

 — was purely spiritual. As these angels were 

 pure spirits, the decision they made was irrevoca- 

 ble, and their punishment will last forever. Man 

 also sinned, but his fall was not due to malice. 

 He was seduced by the devil, the prince or god of 

 this world, 37 who is not yet fully subdued, but 

 continues to work havoc in the "children of 

 unbelief." 38 



Man's sin, therefore, differs from the sin of 

 the fallen angels in several respects: (1) It is 

 not purely spiritual, but partly carnal, and hence 

 the result, not of pure malice, but of malice and 

 infirmity combined. (2) In man sin proceeds 



84 St. Thomas, Summa Theol., ia Lateran. IV (a. 1315), c. 1: "Dia- 

 2ae, qu. 77, art. 4: "Inordinatus bolus et alii daemones a Deo quidem 

 amor sui est causa omnis peccati." natura creati sunt boni, sed ipsi 

 SB Cfr. Gen. Ill, 5, 10; Jer. II, per se facti sunt mali. Homo vero 

 13; Tob. XII, 10; Prov. VIII, 36. diaboli suggestione peccavit." (Den- 

 se Cfr. Matth. XXV, 41; Luke X, zinger-Bannwart, n. 428). 

 18; Apoc. XII, 7-9. 38 Wisd. II, 24 sq.; John VIII, 

 87 John XII, 31; XIV, 30; XVI, 44; Eph. II, 1 sq.; VI, 12; 1 John 

 11; 2 Cor. IV, 3 sq. — Cfr. Cone. Ill, 8. 



