(1) The remission of sin granted in the process of justification is a real annihilation of guilt; that is to say, the sins remitted cease to exist in the moral (though not, of course, in the historical) order. Cfr. Ps. L, 3: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.”(867) Is. XLIII, 25: “I am he that blot out thy iniquities.”(868) After God has blotted out a sin, it no longer exists. Cfr. Is. XLIV, 22: “I have blotted out thy iniquities as a cloud, and thy sins as a mist.”(869) Acts III, 19: “Be penitent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.”(870) Elsewhere God is said to “take away” sin. Cfr. 2 Kings XII, 13: “The Lord also hath taken away thy sin.”(871) 1 Paral. XXI, 8: “I beseech thee, take away the iniquity of thy servant.”(872) When He takes away sin, it is really and truly blotted out. Cfr. Mich. VII, 18 sq.: “Who is a God like to thee, who takest away iniquity?... He will put away our iniquities, and he will cast all our sins into the bottom of the sea.”(873) Ps. X, 15: “His sin shall be sought, and shall not be found.”(874) Ps. CII, 12: “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our iniquities from us.”(875) Consequently, when our Divine Saviour said of Mary Magdalen: “Many sins are forgiven her,”(876) He meant that her sins were completely blotted out and taken away. (2) Justification washes the soul from iniquity and purifies the heart. Cfr. Ps. L, 4: “Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”(877) Is. I, 16: “Wash yourselves, be clean.”(878) After one’s sins are washed away, the heart is clean and pure. Cfr. Ez. XXXVI, 25 sq.: “And I will pour upon you clean water, and you shall be cleansed from all your filthiness, ... and I will give you a new heart.”(879) 1 Cor. VI, 11: “And such [fornicators, etc.] some of you were; but you are washed, but you are sanctified, but you are justified.”(880) Spotless purity takes the place of the impurity that previously defiled the soul of the sinner. Cfr. Ps. L, 9: “Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I shall be cleansed: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be made whiter than snow.”(881) Is. I, 18: “If your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool.”(882) No trace of sin remains in the soul after it has been washed in the Precious Blood of Christ. Apoc. I, 5: “... Jesus Christ, ... hath loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood.”(883) 1 John I, 7: “... the blood of Jesus Christ ... cleanseth us from all sin.”(884)