Faith of Our Fathers

New Zealand Tablet, 17 November 1921, Page 33

Faith of Our Fathers

[A Weekly Instruction for Young and Old.] t , Second Article Actual Grace. 9. Regarding actual grace rive questions may be put: (1) What is meant by actual grace? (2) How far is it necessary ? • (3) What effects does it produce ? (4) How is it distributed? (5) How may we obtain it? (1) Actual Grace. —We mean by actual grace an interior supernatural help, which the Holy Ghost gives us to accomplish the works of salvation. Widely differing from exterior graces, such as sermons and other means of salvation that fall under the senses, actual grace is purely interior, spiritual, and invisible: it is like a ray from the Holy Spirit, penetrating the soul and affecting it in all its faculties. The principal effects produced by it in the soul are these four: (1) it enlightens the understanding; (2) it inflames the will; (3) it increases the strength of the soul; ' (4) it raises our actions to a superhuman dignity. Because of these effects it is called, sometimes the light of the Holy Ghost, sometimes inspiration or unction, or, again, virtue from on high, or divine assistance which fortifies and elevates tho soul. Grace shines as light on .the understanding, showing it the truth, the duty to be fulfilled, the good to be done: as unction it causes good to be appreciated; as help and strength it aids in tho doing of good; as elevating power it ennobles the action of the creature, and invests it with the lustre of a divine action, worthy to be regarded by God. A writer having only common ink can only write in ordinary characters; but give him liquid gold and the writing he produces will shine with the brilliancy of gold. In like manner it is that man, provided with the grace of the Holy Spirit, and corresponding with that grace, produces works that are of heavenly value and brilliancy. (2) Necessity of Actual Grace. The interior grace of the Holy Ghost is absolutely necessary to man to enable him to perform the works of salvation ; without the interior help of grace he is incapable of doing anything good for heaven, or of taking a single step in the way of salvation. / If a bird cannot soar into the air without wings, still less ■ can man ascend to tho ineffable heights of salvationin other words, to God Himself — grace. Although by the simple powers of nature man, fallen by sin, is still capable of distinguishing good from evil, and of leading a good life in conformity with the dictates of the natural law within certain limits, he nevertheless requires the help of God to know that natural law, to observe all its precepts, and to overcome all the temptations that incline him to violate it. All men have need of grace: sinners that they may rise from their sins, and the just that they may persevere in good. Final perseverance is a grace apart, a grace of especial value and necessity: but God does not refuse it to those who humbly pray for it. 3. Efficacy of Grace. —The grace of God is all-powerful. Without it, and left to ourselves, we are weakness itself; but by its help we can do all things. "I can do all things," says St. Paul, "in Him who strengthens me" (Phil. iv. 13). Without the hand of God, who sustains him by grace, man is like a tottering child, that can neither walk nor stand without the help of its mother's hand. And on the other side, with the help of this same grace, if they will only correspond with it, the greatest sinners can return to God, break the chains of their evil habits, tear them- .■ selves away from the occasions of sin, and regain the friendI ship of God by a sincere conversion. The just also, fortified by grace, triumph over all temptations, all persecutions, all obstacles in the way of good, and practise the eminent virtues we admire in the saints and martyrs. Notwithstanding it& power, grace leaves man perf fectly free: he may, if he chooses, accept it and render it fruitful by his co-operation; or he may, if he chooses, reject P.- - it and render it sterile. - ..',•' % (4) Distribution of Grace.—Grace is a gift of God perL fectly gratuitous in itself, and so excellent, that no created \ being can merit it by hisxown works. But Our Lord Jesus f Christ has merited it for lis by His Blood; and in consider- .-: ation of His infinite merits, the divine mercy bestows on >... all men at least a sufficient degree of grace for their salva-

tion: "For God," says the Apostle, "will have all men to be saved, and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (Tim. ii. 4). The greatest sinners, even those most hardened in their guilt, receive graces, from time to time, to lead them'back to God. At the same time, it is true that God distributes this precious gift unequally, granting more grace to some, and less to v others, according to the inscrutable, designs of His wisdom and mercy. The goodness of God prevents souls, gratuitously granting to all a first grace, by which they may produce good works and thus obtain further graces. Generally speaking, the first grace given is the grace to pray, in order to obtain more abundant help. It is like money given in alms to a poor hungry beggar; with, this money he must buy the bread he wants to support him. We see by this the necessity of prayer, even independently of tho precept given by Our Lord. (5) Means of Obtaining Grace. —The means by which to obtain further graces are prayer, the Sacraments, and good works of every kind. By employing these means Ave receive • powerful helps to observe the commandments of God, to overcome all temptations and all obstacles. Therefore no man will be lost for want of grace, but purely through his own-fault; it is in the power of all to obtain graces from God and to gain eternal life by co-operating with them. —<XX> :