Adam and Eve are not
called saints in ordinary
reference, historical or
scriptural. But they may
be called saints on their
feast day, which is the
vigil of Christmas, because
we know from sound Catholic
tradition that they repented
of their great sin, lived lives
of holiness and are now in Heaven.*
Our first parents
Adam is the father of the human race. Eve, his wife, was formed from Adams
body. All of us have descended from these two. Adam was created in a state
of paradisal innocence, with no human frailties or weaknesses. Adam sinned
by disobeying the command of God not to eat a forbidden fruit. The whole human
race inherited original sin because of Adam. Adam personally repented. Adam
lived for 930 years. By his sorrow, his contrition, his pleading and his love,
Adam finally won Gods full forgiveness for himself.
Adam died and went to the Limbo of the Just, which is called hell in the
Apostles Creed. This was not the hell of the damned. It was the place where
the Just had to wait for the coming of Christ. Adam ascended into Heaven in
body and in soul with Our Lord on Ascension Thursday, forty days after Easter.
Adams feast is the vigil of Christmas, which is also the feast of Eve, his
wife, who is with him in Heaven.
Romans 5:19
Wherefore as by one man sin entered into
this world, and by sin death; and so death
passed upon all men, in whom all have sinned.
For until the law sin was in the world; but sin was not
imputed, when the law was not. But death reigned from
Adam unto Moses, even over them also who have not sinned
after the similitude of the transgression of Adam, who is a
figure of him who was to come.
But not as the offence, so also the gift. For if by the
offence of one, many died; much more the grace of God, and
the gift, by the grace of one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded
unto many.
And not as it was by one sin, so also is the gift. For judgment
indeed was by one unto condemnation; but grace is of many offences,
unto justification.
For if by one man s offence death reigned through one; much
more they who receive abundance of grace, and of the gift,
and of justice, shall reign in life through one, Jesus Christ.
Therefore, as by the offence of one, unto all men to condemnation;
so also by the justice of one, unto all men to justification of life.
For as by the disobedience of one man, many were made sinners;
so also by the obedience of one, many shall be made just. Now
the law entered in, that sin might abound. And where sin abounded,
grace did more abound.
That as sin hath reigned to death; so also grace might reign by
justice unto life everlasting, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:12-19
1 Corinthians 15:22
The Paradise Tree
In the Middle Ages special mystery plays were held on Christmas Eve,
which featured a Paradise Tree, a tree representing both the Tree of
the Knowledge of Good and Evil as well as the Tree of Life from the
Garden of Eden. The tree was decorated with apples (for the forbidden
fruit) and sweets/cookies (for the Tree of Life). When the mystery plays were
suppressed during the fifteenth century, the faithful moved the Paradise
trees from the stage into their homes. The apples were later substituted
for other round objects (such as shiny red balls), and lights and the Star
of Bethlehem were added, but the symbolism remained the same. Thus, our
modern Christmas tree is actually the medieval Paradise tree, a reminder
of the reason why God deemed it important to become man in the first place
and a foretaste of the sweet Tree from which our Lords birth would once
again enable us to taste. The lights of the Christmas tree also form a
glowing Jesse tree, with each light representing one of Christs ancestors
and the Star representing our Lord Himself.
https://www.holytrinitygerman.org
Adam (detail) and Eve (detail) from The Ghent Altarpiece by Jan van Eyek; 1425-29; Cathedral of Saint Bavo, Ghent, Belgium;
https://www.wga.hu
Immaculate Conception with Adam and Eve and Saints by Francesco Signorelli; ca. 1523;
Museo Diocesano, Cortona, Italy. (Our Lady stands above a tree (reduced in size), upheld by cherubs.
Underneath the tree Adam and Eve accept the fatal fruit from Satan.)
https://www.wga.hu
December 24 - The Feast of Saint Adam and Saint Eve
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