On the Christian thinking on evil , St . Thomas Aquinas teaches that evil is a lack of harmony or “ order .” 67 But , since it suggests imperfection , it cannot be attributed to God , who is “ by nature ” eternally Good ( Mk 10:18 ; Diary , # 1741 , 1744 ) ix and holy Perfection Himself ( Mt 5:48 ). 68x And even if God allows evil or sin , He brings good out of evil ( Diary , # 949 , 1744 ), which Jesus Christ ultimately fulfills as the “ Righteousness of God ” ( 2 Cor 5:21 ) xi as well as man ’ s Savior ( Eph 1:7 ; Diary , # 1745-1747 ). 69xii On the other hand , sin is an evil in the “ moral order ,” which dissents against God ’ s law , as well as the right reason of an “ intelligent ” or a rational being with a free will ; and which is then expressed through his conscience . 70
Sr . Faustina wrote in her Diary that man freely chose to turn away from God ( Diary , # 1743 ). In his pride , he disobeyed God ; and in His place , trusted Satan and his wicked design 71 ( Gen 3:1-50 ). xiii Adam ’ s Original Sin , “ the sin of the world ,” or his “ original inheritance ” was passed on to all of humanity , including its penalties of a weakened human nature , as well as its burdens of sin , suffering , and death ( Diary , # 1744 ). 72
But even as God permits the existence of sin or evil ; He remains absolutely Good in Himself and in connection with others ( Ps 119:68 ; Diary , # 1741 , 1744 ). xiv And He is merciful to all of His creatures , as well ( Ps 145:9 ; 136:1 ; Diary , # 723 ). xv It is in this vein that the Church perceives Adam ’ s sin as a “ happy fault .” 73 For on a grander scheme , great good comes through the “ redemptive character ” of the suffering and the death of Christ , which culminated in His
67 O ' Neil , Arthur Charles . " Sin ." The Catholic Encyclopedia . Vol . 14 . New York : Robert Appleton Company , 1912 . http :// www . newadvent . org / cathen / 14004b . htm ( Internet Accessed April 16 , 2016 ), 1 . 68 Ibid ., O ' Neil , " Sin ." The Catholic Encyclopedia , Internet , 1-2 . 69 Ibid ., CCC , 312 , 622 , 539-540 , 561 , 570 . 70 Ibid ., CCC , 1730-1734 , 356-358 , 1783-1789 ; O ' Neil , Arthur Charles . " Sin ." The Catholic Encyclopedia . Internet ,
1-2 ; Harris , Ellis . “ Know the Difference between Sin and Sinner , Pope Francis Says .” Catholic News Agency . http :// www . catholicnewsagency . com / news / know-the-difference-between-sin-and-sinner-pope-francis-says-80884 / ( Internet Accessed April 20 , 2016 ), 1 . 71 Ibid ., Faustina , Diary , # 1744 , CCC , 414-415 . 72 Ibid ., Pope John Paul II , Salvifici Doloris , IV-15 ; CCC , 312 , 414-416 , 418 . 73 Ibid ., CCC , 312-314 ; Hardon , John A . The Catholic Catechism : God , Man , and the Universe – Divine
Providence . ( New York : Image Books Doubleday , 1981 ), 81 .
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