Holy and Prone to Sin

"Father, may we receive your forgiveness and mercy as we celebrate the passion and death of the Lord…." (Prayer at Mass)

The life of the individual Christian is a microcosm of the life of the Body of Christ, of which the individual is a small stone in the building. The Church again and again asks for forgiveness and mercy from God because she needs it. The Church is holy and at the same time prone to sin, just like the individual Christian is holy because of the indwelling Spirit and at the same time prone to sin.