December 24 + Saints Adam and Eve

Adam and Eve are recognized as saints in the Catholic Church, and they are traditionally honored on December 24th, Christmas Eve. They are the exemplars of humble penance for their original crime against God. Christmas introduces Jesus Christ as the New Adam Redemptor and Mary as the New Eve Coredemptrix as those who liberate mankind from sin into grace and glory.

Adam is the father of the human race. Eve, his wife, was formed from Adam’s body. 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 the forbidden fruit. The entire human race (excluding Jesus and Mary) inherited original sin because of Adam. Adam repented and by his sorrow, his contrition, his pleading and his love, Adam won God’s full forgiveness.

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. Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich revealed that after Christ died and "descended into hell" He went searching for Adam and Eve first because they had been in Limbo the longest.

Adam ascended into Heaven with Our Lord on Ascension Thursday. Adam’s feast is the vigil of Christmas, which is also the feast of Eve, his wife, who is with him in Heaven.