Q. 264.  What is this strong inclination to evil called, and why did God permit it to remain in us?  A. This strong inclination to evil is called concupiscence, and God permits it to remain in us that by His grace we may resist it and thus increase our merits.

Q. 265. {47} What is the sin called which we inherit from our first parents?  A. The sin which we inherit from our first parents is called original sin.

Q. 266. {48} Why is this sin called original?  A. This sin is called original because it comes down to us from our first parents, and we are brought into the world with its guilt on our soul.

Q. 267. {49} Does this corruption of our nature remain in us after original sin is forgiven?  A. This corruption of our nature and other punishments remain in us after original sin is forgiven.

Q. 268. {50} Was any one ever preserved from original sin?  A. The Blessed Virgin Mary, through the merits of her Divine Son, was preserved free from the guilt of original sin, and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception.

Q. 269.  Why was the Blessed Virgin preserved from original sin?  A. The Blessed Virgin was preserved from original sin because it would not be consistent with the dignity of the Son of God to have His Mother, even for an instant, in the power of the devil and an enemy of God.

Q. 270.  How could the Blessed Virgin be preserved from sin by her Divine Son, before her Son was born?  A. The Blessed Virgin could be preserved from sin by her Divine Son before He was born as man, for He always existed as God and foresaw His own future merits and the dignity of His Mother.  He therefore by His future merits provided for her privilege of exemption from original sin.

Q. 271.  What does the “Immaculate Conception” mean?  A. The Immaculate Conception means the Blessed Virgin’s own exclusive privilege of coming into existence, through the merits of Jesus Christ, without the stain of original sin.  It does not mean, therefore, her sinless life, perpetual virginity or the miraculous conception of Our Divine Lord by the power of the Holy Ghost.

Q. 272.  What has always been the belief of the Church concerning this truth?  A. The Church has always believed in the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin and to place this truth beyond doubt has declared it an Article of Faith.

Q. 273.  To what should the thoughts of the Immaculate Conception lead us?  A. The thoughts of the Immaculate Conception should lead us to a great love of purity and to a desire of imitating the Blessed Virgin in the practice of that holy virtue.

LESSON SIXTH.  ON SIN AND ITS KINDS.

Q. 274.  How is sin divided?  A. (1) Sin is divided into the sin we inherit called original sin, and the sin we commit ourselves, called actual sin. (2) Actual sin is sub-divided into greater sins, called mortal, and lesser sins, called venial.