Do you know why original sin inclines man to commit personal sin? Think about what is lacking in a soul born with original sin. Frank J. Sheed in his acclaimed book, Theology for Beginners, says, "God created man and woman with the natural life of soul and body, and with sanctifying grace, God dwelling in his soul and pouring supernatural life into it." Every human being is composed of a body and a soul: two distinct entities that make us human. Our bodies descended from Adam and Eve; but our souls did not. God created and implanted them at our conception. Mr. Sheed continues, "Our souls are the direct creation of God, but by bodily descent we are all children of Adam. And in our father [Adam] we fell." At their creation, God implanted in Adam and Eve souls filled with sanctifying grace. This gift of grace gave them all the help they needed to remain in communion with God; but through an act of their free will, they sinned and fell from grace. From that moment forward, God has created and implanted within each man and woman a soul that mirrors the fallen souls of our first parents. Each fallen soul carries the stain of original sin and is void of sanctifying grace. God's grace cannot share our soul with original sin.

I'm repeating myself; but it's important to understand that sanctifying grace is lacking in a soul born with original sin. Without the gift of God's grace, we lack the ability to do His will. Without the gift of God's grace, we lack the ability to focus on Him. Without the gift of God's grace, we struggle with earthly desires in our effort to avoid sin. The Catechism (CCC 1849-50) defines sin as an offense against God as well as a fault against reason, truth, and right conscience. Sin is a deliberate thought, word, deed, or omission contrary to the eternal law of God. When we sin, we attempt to quench a bodily desire. Unfortunately, we can only temporarily quench bodily desires. Accept this reality: there is only one quenchable human desire---the desire for communion with God.

The Jesuit, Father John A. Hardon, in his highly acclaimed book, The Catholic Catechism (published by Doubleday in 1975), offers this excellent insight on page 101, "Before the fall, Adam enjoyed the gift of integrity, which meant absence of the conflict we now experience between our natural urges and the dictates of right reason. After the fall, Adam lost this gift for himself and his posterity, since even those who have been regenerated in baptism are plagued by an interior struggle with their unruly desires and fears." Since the fall, man's mortal body (flesh) has been in conflict with his immortal spirit (mind and soul). The desires of the flesh (earthly and sensual pleasures), if not controlled, draw us away from the wisdom of the mind and desires of the soul (communion and friendship with God). Saint Paul confirms this reality in Rom 7:15, 18-19, when he speaks about sin's pull on his desires of the flesh. "What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate. For I know that good does not dwell in me, that is, in my flesh. The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want." Read Paul again; I know these verses are difficult to follow. I had to read it six times before I began to understand Paul's dilemma.

Paul, perhaps history's most devout Christian, was subject to his passions and was constantly assaulted by the impulses of his flesh. Therefore, wouldn't we be fools to deny our own attraction to sin. The Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC 2516) says, "Because man is a composite being, spirit and body, there already exists a certain tension in him; a certain struggle of tendencies between 'spirit' and 'flesh' develops. But in fact this struggle belongs to the heritage of sin. It is a consequence of sin and at the same time a confirmation of it. It is part of the daily experience of the spiritual battle." Original sin inclines us to commit personal sin.

In Gen 4:1-16, we first see fallen man's natural urges in conflict with his right reason. God looked with favor on Abel, because he offered God one of the best from his flock. God did not look with the same favor on Cain's offering from his fruit of the soil. Cain, out of jealousy, murdered his innocent brother Abel. It's important that we listen to God's words and insight spoken to Cain before he freely chose to kill Abel. "The Lord said to Cain: 'Why are you so resentful and crestfallen? If you do well, you can hold up your head; but if not, sin is a demon lurking at the door: his urge is toward you, yet you can be his master.'" Even though Cain's offering fell short of Abel's, God still loved Cain. God's words offered Cain hope in his battle with sin, but Cain didn't listen to his heavenly Father. Cain allowed his earthly desires to rule his life.

Like Cain and Saint Paul, all of us are in a battle against the desires of the flesh, the inclination to sin. At times the intensity is unbearable. Although we will give in to sin, God will not stop loving us. Although we will give in to sin, God assures us that we can become sin's master.

For more insight read CCC paragraphs 402, 408-09, 1418, 1849-53, 2514-2516. Also, pull out your "Catholic" Bible and reference Ps 51:4; Mt 15:19-20a; Rom 1:28-32; 7:13-25; 1 Cor 6:9-10; Gal 5:16-21; Eph 2:3; 5:3-5; Col 3:5-9; 1 Tim 1:9-10; 2 Tim 3:2-5; 1 Pet 5:8-9a; 1 Jn 5:19; Rev 3:15-17.