Are the two people who brought evil to humanity considered saints of the Church? Even though they are not in the official Catholic Martyrology, they are accepted as being in Heaven. But let’s first consider their place in salvation history. First, they disobeyed God and brought about Original Sin and its consequences of concupiscence, sin, suffering, and death! Second, they lost original justice and original holiness, keeping us from benefiting from these graces. However, they also are the progenitors of humanity, from whom the Son of God is descended in his human nature. And, finally, they are the first holders of the covenant that God made with humanity in order to bring about our salvation!
Genesis 3:15 states the curse of God upon the serpent who tempted our parents:
I will put enmity between you and the woman,
and between your offspring and hers;
They will strike at your head,
while you strike at their heel.
This is the protoevangelium, the first proclamation of the Good News of God’s gift of salvation! Here God states that Original Sin is not the final word. The final Word is Jesus Christ! Thus we can proclaim, “O happy fault! O truly necessary sin of Adam, that won for us so great a Redeemer!” We have Adam and Eve in the Old Testament and the New Adam and the New Eve, Jesus and Mary, in the New Testament. Even so, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception includes this passage from Genesis as the first reading!
Even though Adam and Eve are not thought of as official saints of the Catholic Church, there has been honor given to them throughout history. As well, the Eastern Orthodox Churches honor them. We can pray to them for their intercession. Saints Adam and Eve, pray for us!
We don’t normally think of Old Testament figures as saints, but they are! When Jesus was crucified and died he descended into “hell” but not the hell of the damned, rather, the abode of the dead, also known as Hades in Greek and Sheol in Hebrew. There those who awaited the Resurrection were in, what is called, the bosom of Abraham. If we remember the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus (Lk. 16:19-31), Jesus tells of Lazarus resting with Abraham, who is clearly seen as being in a place of comfort and rest. “It is precisely these holy souls, who awaited their Savior in Abraham’s bosom, whom Christ the Lord delivered when he descended into hell” (CCC, 633).Thus, Abraham, our father in faith, Isaac, the son of promise, and Jacob, who is called Israel, “one who contended with God,” were delivered from the abode of the dead and are now living in Heaven. These patriarchs, along with their wives, the matriarchs Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel, brought forth a new people, the nation of Israel, who became the people of the covenant under Moses. Then a new covenant was established with David, which promised a Messiah with an everlasting kingship from his house. Further, a final covenant was promised through the prophets Jeremiah and Ezekiel, which would bring about everlasting peace and salvation through Jesus Christ, son of David, son of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.In this season of Advent it’s worthwhile to remember our spiritual ancestors who prepared the way of the Lord. Let us learn from their faith, hope, and love. Let us imitate their perseverance, resilience, and fortitude. Let us go forth sharing the joy of our salvation through Jesus Christ. Saints Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah, Rebekah, Leah, and Rachel, pray for us!
