I am not a theologian and don’t have an idea on this, but do you really consider disobeying God, being thrown out of Paradise, becoming subject to illness, death, hard labor, pain in childbirth and sin “winning”?
I do not believe Adam and Eve had enjoyed the beatific vision for the simple reason they were not created at their highest level of sanctity but were created at a lower level of sanctity. They were created at this lower level of sanctity in order to grow into a higher level. The Angels for instant had enjoyed the beatific vision right off the bat because the Angels need not to grow into higher levels of sanctity. The devil for instance was described in the Scriptures as one who had fallen like lightening which means it was quick and it came from a very high height of sanctity. No where in the scriptures did Adam and Eve had fallen like lightening. They had fallen simply from their lowest level of sanctity. Therefore what Adam and Eve had known was in no way compared to what the Angels had known. We are a created species that needs to grow into sanctity, and to grow and to grow,
In the Beatific Vision, it is impossible to sin, because the intellect and will see the Divine Essence perfectly according to their full capacity, and thus know that this is the ultimate good and have the perfect freedom to continue choosing it.
I meant sinning, not “winning.” Again, I was posting from an iPhone (now I’m on my laptop, luckily).
OK. That makes more sense.
So all the men and women alive today who will one day be raised to the altar are directly beholding the Divine Essence?
But since this is a Catholic forum, the OP is seeking Catholic teaching and perspective. Thank you. :tiphat:
The OP is asking about whether they had the beatific vision before the Fall, not whether they received it after they died.
Far better answer than others.