Grace is a supernatural gift from God bestowed on a soul through the merits of Jesus Christ. Grace is a favor, a free gift, granted to us though we have no claim to it. God grants us graces because He is good, not because we deserve them. God grants us graces for the sake of His Son, Who died on the cross to earn for us these graces; we can never merit these graces.
"All have sinned and have need of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ" (Rom. 3:23-24).
The Holy Spirit dispenses the graces of God merited by Our Lord Jesus Christ; He bestows and perfects what is already earned, and acts as the channel of grace. The assistance of the Holy Spirit is necessary. Without the help of the graces that He dispenses, with merely natural powers, we cannot do the least work to merit salvation. Without God, we are nothing.
In order to reach heaven, we need God's grace; so we say with the Apostle: "Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything, as from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God" (2 Cor. 3:5) ; "By the grace of God I am what I am. . . . I have laboured more than any of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me" (1 Cor. 15:10).
There are two kinds of grace: sanctifying grace and actual grace.
Sanctifying grace is that grace which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in the life of God Himself. By sanctifying grace, our souls are made holy and pleasing to God. It is an abiding or permanent grace, which we gain by baptism, and lose only by mortal sin.
By Adam's sin all mankind lost the friendship of God; that is, we are born in original sin, without sanctifying grace. Our Lord's death won back sanctifying grace for us; it is granted freely at Baptism.
A soul to whom God grants sanctifying grace receives not merely a gift from God, but God Himself. The Holy Spirit lives in him and becomes united with him, so that he receives a new life, a new nature.
St. Paul refers to this acquisition of sanctifying grace as the putting off of the old man and the putting on of the new. It is as if an old and worn man were suddenly to become a handsome young man full of the vigor of life. The beauty of a soul in the state of sanctifying grace is too great for human eyes to bear.
The chief effects of sanctifying grace are:
First, it makes us holy and pleasing to God.-When we are in possession of sanctifying grace, we are free from mortal sin; the two cannot dwell together. The fire of the Holy Spirit sears away all that God abhors, so that we acquire God's friendship.
However, although free from mortal sin, we do not: with sanctifying grace, become free from the remains of sin. So even saints feel the human inclination to sin, against which the struggle is lifelong. This human frailty is imbedded in our flesh, and is present in our souls as a result of original sin.
Sanctifying grace, however, although it does not cure us of the weakness of the flesh, strengthens our will, so that for us the war against sin becomes easier. The charity accompanying sanctifying grace makes us more prone to good works, more attracted to God, with minds illumined as to the folly of sin.
Second, it makes us adopted children of God. - With sanctifying grace, the Holy Spirit enters our soul; we are led by His Spirit, and are therefore His children: "For whoever are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God" (Rom. 8:14).
"Now you have not received a spirit of bondage so as to be again in fear, but you have received a spirit of adoption as sons, by virtue of which we cry, "Abba! Father!" The Spirit himself gives testimony to our spirit that we are sons of God" (Rom. 8:15-16).
Third, it makes us temples of the Holy Spirit.-Sanctifying grace brings the Holy Spirit to dwell in us as in a temple. St. Paul says, "For you are the temple of the Living God" (2 Cor. 6: 16).
"Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anyone destroys the temple of God, him will God destroy; for holy is the temple of God and this temple you are" (1 Cor. 3: 16,17)
Fourth, it gives us the right to heaven. When we are in sanctifying grace, we are inspired to do good works. The Holy Spirit does not sleep within us, but expands our heart with His grace, and urges our will to do good. And as we are adopted children of God, such actions become meritorious for heaven.
If we are children of God, we are at the same time heirs, and therefore have a right to His Kingdom. "We are the sons of God. But if we are sons, we are heirs also; heirs indeed of God, and joint heirs with Christ" (Rom. 8:16-17)
Sanctifying grace is necessary for salvation because it is the supernatural life, which alone enables us to attain the supernatural happiness of heaven.
The presence of God in the soul gives it life. When the Holy Spirit is dwelling in the soul, it is enabled to know and love God, to do supernatural works. Speaking of the "gift of God", Our Lord said it "shall become in him a fountain of water, springing up unto life everlasting" (John 4:14). Without sanctifying grace, the soul is without God; and without God, the soul becomes the devil's.
One cannot gain any merit for heaven as long as he is not in sanctifying grace, what is termed "in the state of grace". For without sanctifying grace one is an enemy of God, and cannot enter His kingdom.
Mortal sin makes the soul displeasing to God, and thus deprives it of sanctifying grace (1 John 5:16-17). Mortal sins are extremely serious sins that are committed in full knowledge of their severity and with full consent of the will. A mortal sin is saying a definitive “no” to God. These sins are termed mortal because they kill off the supernatural life, the sanctifying grace. Mortal sin cannot coexist with sanctifying grace.
Less serious sins, termed venial sins, do not totally kill the supernatural life within a soul but they do weaken the soul making it more vulnerable to mortal sin. Mortal sin destroys the supernatural life within a soul.
When lost, there is nothing a person can do on his or her own to regain sanctifying grace. The soul is reduced to the merely natural life again, and no natural act can merit a supernatural reward. Such a supernatural reward can only be attained by a person being made able to act above the natural nature – which can only be done through the help of God – through grace.
Actual grace is a supernatural help of God which enlightens our mind and strengthens our will to do good and to avoid evil.
By actual grace the Holy Spirit shows us the emptiness in themselves of earthly things. He makes us see our own sins, and the true goal of life. By it we can perform a virtuous act or reject a temptation.
Actual grace is transient; that is, it is given to us only when we need it, to perform a good act, or to overcome a temptation.
An example of the wonderful action of the Holy Spirit in enlightening the mind and strengthening the will is the First Pentecost. Before the descent of the Holy Spirit, the Apostles were ignorant and afraid; after His descent, His grace made them wise and fearless men, going forth to preach Christ everywhere, ready to die for their faith.
God gives us always sufficient grace to be saved. A true Christian should view his whole life in the light of grace. All God's gifts granted for man's salvation are graces.
A good family, a good education,-these are graces. But even sickness and hardships are God's graces, and may be the steps by which to ascend to heaven. And God grants graces to protect us against temptation, never suffering us to be tempted beyond our strength. If we do our part, avoid the occasions of sin, and cooperate with His graces, we shall win.
Actual grace is necessary for all, because without it we cannot long resist the power of temptation, nor perform other actions which merit a reward in heaven.
We all need actual grace. Sinners need it to rise from sin. The just need it to persevere in good. Without grace, we fall into sin.
Herod was offered actual grace when he heard of the birth of the Messiah from the three wise men; but Herod rejected the grace, and added to his sins.
Grace is given to all, although not in equal amounts. Some receive more, some less. Some ordinary graces are granted to all; certain extraordinary graces are granted to chosen ones.
God is free to bestow His gifts as He likes. Those in the state of grace are likely to receive more than those in the state of mortal sin. In a way, our graces depend also on our dispositions. If we are faithful in corresponding with what we get, we receive more abundantly. Often our carelessness and indifference turn away God's graces from us. We reject Him who only wishes to make us saints, whose "delight is to be with the children of men" (Prov. 8:31).
The principal ways of obtaining grace are prayer and the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.
The sacraments of Baptism and Penance give grace to those not possessing it; the other sacraments increase grace in those already in the state of grace.
Actual grace is obtained by good works. It is especially obtained by the use of means offered by the Church, such as participating in the Mass, sermons, etc., and receiving the sacraments, particularly the Holy Eucharist, which contains God, the Source of Grace.
Although we cannot merit grace by our good works, still our good works can beg God for us, to give us grace. Good works are necessary, for God will not save us without our cooperation.
Actual grace is made to act through various means: through sermons, reading of good books, illness and death, advice of superiors and friends, good example, etc.
The first converts at Pentecost were moved by the preaching of the Apostles. St. Ignatius of Loyola was moved by the reading of the lives of the saints; St. Francis of Assisi, during an illness; St. Francis Borgia, upon seeing the corpse of Queen Isabella. Often God sends us sufferings as a means by which the Holy Spirit may speak to us.
Unfortunately, we can resist the grace of God, for our will is free, and God does not force us to accept His grace.
Grace does not force us. It leaves us free to choose between good and evil. The Holy Spirit guides and enlightens, but we can still close our eyes to His grace. If we cooperate, we gain other graces.
As Christ said, "For to him who has shall be given, and he shall have abundance" (Matt. 13:12). He who persists in rejecting the gift of God's grace and refuses to be converted will die in his sin and will be forever excluded from the sight of God. "From him who does not have, even that which he seems to have shall be taken away. But as for the unprofitable servant, cast him forth into the darkness outside, where there will be the weeping, and the gnashing of teeth" (Matt. 25:29-30). Would it not be an insult to a king if he keeps offering gifts to one of his people, and these gifts are despised?
We should be on the lookout for the graces of God, ready to accept them as soon as they are offered. The action of the Holy Spirit on the individual soul is not continuous in particular graces; we must be ready when He comes with special gifts.
Some receive only one summons to the banquet. In the desert, the Israelites who rose late found the manna melted away. There are times of special grace for the Christian, such as Lent, a retreat, etc.
We can make our most ordinary actions merit a heavenly reward by doing them for the love of God, and by keeping ourselves in the state of grace.
God grants us the right to a heavenly reward for the most ordinary good actions in the supernatural order, provided we are in the state of grace. God does not ask us to do extraordinary things. If we do the most ordinary tasks of the day, like cooking, studying, doing small chores, carpentry work, sewing, and such, in a spirit of love and obedience to Him, our acts will deserve merit before God's eyes.
God does not expect all of us to be great scientists saving thousands of lives each day, great discoverers, great lawyers, great statesmen. After all, God does not need our help. All He wants is our love; and this we can give in the most ordinary daily actions. "Whether you eat or drink, or whatever else you do, do all to the glory of God."
By mortal sin one loses the merit he has gained from his good actions. It is necessary that he regain that state of grace before he can regain that merit.
To regain God's friendship, we must be sorry for our sins, make a good confession, and resolve never to displease Him again. Then He will give us back the gift of His grace and love, and the merit of all our good works.
Excerpt from My Catholic Faith by Most Reverent Louis Laravoire Morrow, S.T.D. Copyright 1954. Kenosha, WI: My Mission House.
