12 SIN 



not merely from a momentary decision of the will, 

 as in the case of the fallen angels, but likewise 

 from original sin, which is a cooperating factor 

 in every personal transgression. For this rea- 

 son sin in man is not punished by death but is 

 pardonable. True, man cannot redeem himself, 

 but he can be redeemed. 39 Aside from the state 

 of final impenitence, moreover, the soul of the 

 human sinner is not utterly dead, but capable of 

 being revived. In the majority of cases sin, to 

 employ an Augustinian phrase, is "not nature, 

 but against nature," 40 and even the most griev- 

 ous offender still remains an object of compas- 

 sion in the eyes of God, who, while He hates sin, 

 desires that the sinner be converted and live. 41 



It is a characteristic fact of no small impor- 

 tance in judging the malice of sin that man was 

 named for the lower or mortal side of his na- 

 ture. Holy Scripture says: "As a father hath 

 compassion on his children, so hath the Lord com- 

 passion on them that fear him: for he knoweth 

 our frame." 42 



39 Matth. I, ax; Acts XVII, 22-31; *2 Ps. CII, 13 sq.— Cfr. Gen. V, a; 

 Rom. V, 12; Gal. I, 4; cfr. Jas. I, Ps. LXXVII, 38 sq.; Is. LXIV, 8 

 14. sq. — St. Ambrose, De Noe et Area, 



40 St. Augustine, Contra Epist. c. 4, n. 9: "Homo positus in terrae 

 Munich. Fundam., c. 35, n. 39: regione carnem portans sine peccato 

 "Videre iam facile est, [malum'] non esse non potest, terra enim velut 

 esse naturam, sed contra naturam." quidam tentationum locus est caro- 

 (Migne, P. L., XLII, 201). que corruptelae illecebra." (Migne, 



41 Cfr. Ez. XVIII, 32; XXXI, 11; P. L., XIV, 366).— Cfr. the major 

 Wisd. XI, 24 sq. ; Matth. V, 45; 2 antiphon for Dec. 22 in the Roman 

 Pet. Ill, 9. Breviary: "O rex gentium et desi- 



