man”3 at one time, but because they have ceased to have them. The words that follow should be understood in the same way: “So that the Church may be holy and spotless”4—not because their souls were spotless from the beginning (one cannot even suspect that they were not stained), but because they are counted as pure and unblemished after they have ceased being stained. We say this to teach that someone who has stopped sinning can be called “without sin and spotless.” Hence, Scripture says clearly