| A | B |
|---|
| 50. How is the soul like God? | The soul is like God because it is a spirit having understanding and free will; and is destined to live forever. |
| 51. Who were the first man and woman? | The first man and woman were Adam and Eve; the first parents of the whole human race. |
| 51 A. Is it possible that there are intelligent beings created by God on other planets of the universe? | Yes; it is possible that there are intelligent beings created by God on other planets of the universe; because GodÂ’s power is unlimited. |
| 52. What was the chief gift bestowed on Adam and Eve by God? | The chief gift bestowed on Adam and Eve by God was sanctifying grace; which made them children of God and gave them the right to heaven. |
| 53. What other gifts were bestowed on Adam and Eve by God? | The other gifts bestowed on Adam and Eve by God were happiness in the Garden of Paradise; great knowledge; control of the passions by reason; and freedom from suffering and death. |
| 54. What commandment did God give Adam and Eve? | God gave Adam and Eve the commandment not to eat of the fruit of a certain tree that grew in the Garden of Paradise. |
| 55. Did Adam and Eve obey the commandment of God? | Adam and Eve did not obey the commandment of God; but ate of the forbidden fruit. |
| 56. What happened to Adam and Eve on account of their sin? | On account of their sin; Adam and Eve lost sanctifying grace; the right to heaven; and their special gifts; they became subject to death; to suffering; and to a strong inclination to evil; and they were driven from the Garden of Paradise. |
| 57. What has happened to us on account of the sin of Adam? | On account of the sin of Adam; we; his descendants; come into the world deprived of sanctifying grace and inherit his punishment; as we would have inherited his gifts had he been obedient to God. |
| 58. What is this sin in us called? | This sin in us is called original sin. |
| 59. Why is this sin called original? | This sin is called original because it comes down to us through our origin; or descent; from Adam. |
| 60. What are the chief punishments of Adam which we inherit through original sin? | The chief punishments of Adam which we inherit through original sin are: death; suffering; ignorance; and a strong inclination to sin. |
| 61. Is God unjust in punishing us on account of the sin of Adam? | God is not unjust in punishing us on account of the sin of Adam; because original sin does not take away from us anything to which we have a strict right as human beings; but only the free gifts which God in His goodness would have bestowed on us if Adam had not sinned. |
| 62. Was any human person ever preserved from original sin? | The Blessed Virgin Mary was preserved from original sin in view of the merits of her Divine Son; and this privilege is called her Immaculate Conception. |
| 63. Is original sin the only kind of sin? | Original sin is not the only kind of sin; there is another kind; called actual sin; which we ourselves commit. |
