Part I, Chapter III — Creation of the World. Origin and Fall of Man

51. Why is God called "Creator of heaven and earth"?

God is called Creator of heaven and earth, that is, of the world, because He made it from nothing, and to make from nothing is to create.

52. Is the whole world the work of God?

The whole world is the work of God; and in its greatness, beauty, and wonderful order it shows us His infinite power, wisdom, and goodness.

53. Did God create only what is material in the world?

God did not create only what is material in the world, but also pure spirits; and He creates the soul of every man.

54. Who are the pure spirits?

Pure spirits are intelligent beings without bodies.

55. How do we know that created pure spirits exist?

We know that created pure spirits exist from Faith.

56. Which created pure spirits does Faith make known to us?

Faith makes known to us the good pure spirits, that is, the Angels, and the wicked ones, that is, the demons.

57. Who are the Angels?

The Angels are the invisible ministers of God, and also our Guardians, since God has entrusted each man to one of them.

58. Have we any duties toward the Angels?

Toward the Angels we have the duty of veneration; and toward our Guardian Angel we have also the duty of being grateful, of listening to his inspirations, and of never offending his presence by sin.

59. Who are the demons?

The demons are angels who rebelled against God through pride and were cast down into hell, and who, out of hatred for God, tempt man to evil.

60. Who is man?

Man is a rational being, composed of soul and body.

61. What is the soul?

The soul is the spiritual part of man, by which he lives, understands, and is free, and therefore capable of knowing, loving, and serving God.

62. Does the soul of man die with the body?

The soul of man does not die with the body, but lives forever, since it is spiritual.

63. What care must we have of the soul?

We must have the greatest care of the soul, because it is the better and immortal part of us, and only by saving the soul shall we be eternally happy.

64. In what way is man free?

Man is free in that he can do a thing or not do it, or do one thing rather than another, as we plainly feel within ourselves.

65. If man is free, can he also do evil?

Man can — that is, is able — to do evil also; but he must not do it, precisely because it is evil; freedom must be used only for good.

66. Who were the first human beings?

The first human beings were Adam and Eve, created immediately by God; all others descend from them, and for this reason they are called the progenitors of mankind.

67. Was man created weak and miserable as we now are?

Man was not created weak and miserable as we now are, but in a happy state, with a destiny and gifts above human nature.

68. What destiny did man receive from God?

Man received from God the most exalted destiny of seeing and enjoying Him eternally — the infinite Good — and because this is wholly above the capacity of nature, he received together with it, in order to attain it, a supernatural power which is called grace.

69. Besides grace, what else had God given to man?

Besides grace, God had given man exemption from the weaknesses and miseries of life and from the necessity of dying, provided he had not sinned, as Adam, the head of mankind, unfortunately did by tasting the forbidden fruit.

70. What kind of sin was Adam's?

Adam's sin was a grave sin of pride and disobedience.

71. What harm did Adam's sin cause?

Adam's sin stripped him and all men of grace and of every other supernatural gift, making them subject to sin, to the devil, to death, to ignorance, to evil inclinations, and to every other misery, and excluding them from heaven.

72. What is the sin called to which Adam subjected mankind by his fault?

The sin to which Adam subjected mankind by his fault is called original, because, having been committed at the beginning of mankind, it is transmitted with our nature to all human beings at their origin.

73. In what does original sin consist?

Original sin consists in the privation of original grace, which by God's disposition we ought to have but do not have, because the head of mankind, by his disobedience, deprived himself and all of us, his descendants, of it.

74. How is original sin "voluntary," and therefore a fault for us?

Original sin is voluntary and therefore a fault for us only because Adam, as the head of mankind, voluntarily committed it; and for this reason God does not punish, but simply does not reward with heaven, one who has only original sin.

75. Was man, because of original sin, to remain forever excluded from heaven?

Man, because of original sin, would have remained forever excluded from heaven, had not God, to save him, promised and sent from heaven His own Son, that is, Jesus Christ.

76. In what way did the Son of God become man?

The Son of God became man by taking a body and a soul, as we have, in the most pure womb of the Virgin Mary, by the work of the Holy Spirit.

77. In becoming man, did the Son of God cease to be God?

The Son of God, in becoming man, did not cease to be God, but, remaining true God, began to be also true man.