St. Bonaventure [born Giovanni di Fidanza] (1217-1274)

Breviloquium

1257

"Consequently, while original sin is a disease infecting both elements, the personal and the physical - the personal through the will and the physical through the flesh - the stain of original sin is blotted out in the soul, while on the other hand the infection and its consequences remain in the flesh."

2.  This should be understood as follows. As infection is caused in all men by that created principle which is responsible for propagation, that is, the flesh or inferior element, so healing is brought about by the uncreated Principle who is responsible for the infusion of the soul, that is, the higher element or the spirit. As regards the soul, men are unrelated in that one soul is not born of another, but all come directly from God. Healing grace, then, poured into the soul by God, applies to each one considered as a single, individual person, and not as a principle of physical propagation. Consequently, while original sin is a disease infecting both elements, the personal and the physical - the personal through the will and the physical through the flesh - the stain of original sin is blotted out in the soul, while on the other hand the infection and its consequences remain in the flesh. Now, man is a principle of propagation, not in his spirit which is healed, but in his flesh, which remains infected; not as spiritual, but as carnal. Hence, while he himself, a baptized person, is cleansed from original sin, he still hands it down to his offspring.
(III.7.2)

Body::Disease::Infection Uncategorized::Stain Writing::Blotting

Reading

St. Bonaventure, The Breviloquium (Paterson, NJ) <Link to http://www.catholic.uz/>

01/13/2011