44 



SIN 



also in the form of pride. Though not a sin in it- 

 self, it is "of sin and inclines to sin." 30 It is "an 

 incentive" to sin, and becomes sinful only when 

 freely consented to. 40 



Concupiscence is in all human beings (with the 

 exception of the Blessed Virgin Mary 41 ), but 

 manifests itself differently 42 according to tem- 

 perament, age, sex, disposition, heredity, edu- 

 cation, training, association, manner of life, and 

 other factors. Every man has his own tempta- 

 tions according to his peculiar constitution of 

 body and soul. But each also has his own means 

 of fighting temptation. Hence, while no man is 

 free from concupiscence and temptation, no one 

 is tempted beyond his strength. Every man is 

 able, with the aid of grace, to overcome tempta- 

 tions. Nay, more, he can and should convert 

 them into means of spiritual progress. "Blessed 

 is the man that endureth temptation ; for when he 

 hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of 

 life, which God hath promised to them that love 



39 Cone. Trident., Sess. V, can. 5. 

 — Cfr. 1 John II, 16; Rom. XIII, 

 23. — Prop. Damnat. Ban, n. 50 sq., 

 74-76 (Denzinger-Bannwart, n. 1050 

 sq., 1073 sqq.). — Denifle, Luther 

 und Luthertum, Vol. I, 2nd ed., pp. 

 438 sqq. 



40 Cone. Trident., Sess. V, can. 5. 



41 Pius IX, Bull "Ineffab. Deus" 

 (Dec. 13, 1854). — St. Augustine, De 

 Nat. et Grat., c. 36, n. 42: "Ex- 

 cepta sancta Virgine Maria, de qua 



propter honorem Domini nullam 

 prorsus, quum de peccatis agitur, ha- 

 beri volo quaesttonem." (Migne, 

 P. L., XLIV, 267). Cfr. Pohle- 

 Preuss, Marxology, pp. J2 sqq. 



42 Cfr. St. Ambrose, Expos, in 

 Evang. sec. Luc., IV, n. 39: "Di- 

 versitas ipsa tentationum pro diver- 

 sitate certantium est." (Migne, P. 

 L., XV, 1624).— Cfr. Pius IX. 

 Bull "Ineffabilis Deus." 



