46 Q. What other effects followed from the sin of our first parents?  A. Our nature was corrupted by the sin of our first parents, which darkened our understanding, weakened our will, and left us a strong inclination to evil.

Our “nature was corrupted” is what I have said of the body rebelling against the soul.  Our “understanding darkened.”  Adam knew much more without study than the most intelligent men could learn now with constant application.  Before his fall he saw things clearly and understood them well, but after his sin everything had to be learned by the slow process of study.  Then the “will was weakened.”  Before he fell he could easily resist temptation, for his will was strong.  You know we sin by the will, because unless we wish to do the evil we commit no sin; and if absolutely forced by others to do wrong, we are free from the guilt as long as our will despises and protests against the action.  If forced, for example, to break my neighbor’s window, I have not to answer in my conscience for the unjust act, because my will did not consent.  So, on every occasion on which we sin, it is the will that yields to the temptation.  After Adam’s sin his will became weak and less able to resist temptation; and as we are sharers in his misfortune, we find great difficulty at times in overcoming sinful inclinations.  But no matter how violent the temptation or how prolonged and fierce the struggle against it, we can always be victorious if determined not to yield; for God gives us sufficient grace to resist every temptation; and if anyone should excuse his fall by saying he could not help sinning, he would be guilty of falsehood.

“A strong inclination” to do wrong—­that is, unless always on our guard against it.  Our Lord once cautioned His Apostles (Matt. 26:41) to watch and pray lest they fall into temptation; teaching us also by the same warning that, besides praying against our spiritual enemies, we must watch their maneuvers and be ever ready to repel their attacks.

47 Q. 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.

48 Q. 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 souls.

49 Q. 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.

It remains that we may merit by overcoming its temptations; and also that we may be kept humble by remembering our former sinful and unhappy state.

50 Q. Was anyone 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.