The Effects of Grace, Justification & Sanctification | Fr. Dominic Legge, O.P.
Nov 21, 2024
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Dive into the intricacies of grace with insights from Aquinas, revealing how it shapes justification and human free will. Discover the liberating power of divine grace over sin, illustrated through Augustine's experiences. Explore the dynamic interplay of grace and free will, contrasting Thomistic theology with Protestant thought. This discussion highlights the balance between divine assistance and personal responsibility in the journey towards salvation.
Justification is a transformative process in Aquinas's view, moving individuals from sin to righteousness through divine grace rather than mere status change.
Aquinas emphasizes the necessity of free will in the justification process, asserting that individuals must cooperate with God's grace while maintaining true freedom.
Deep dives
The Effects of Grace: Justification and Merit
The discussion centers on the effects of grace as articulated by Aquinas, primarily focusing on justification and merit. Justification is described as the process of being reconciled with God and receiving righteousness, contrasting with the Lutheran perspective, which sees justification as a mere change in status without alteration of one's sinful essence. Aquinas emphasizes that justification is a transformative process, where a sinner is moved from a state of sin to one of righteousness through divine grace, akin to the motion from cold to hot. This shift highlights the genuine change that occurs within a person, making them just rather than simply placing them in a new categorical position.
Operating and Cooperating Grace Explained
Aquinas distinguishes between two types of grace: operating grace and cooperating grace. Operating grace is divine action that moves individuals away from sin and towards God, representing a profound inner change initiated by God. In contrast, cooperating grace involves God working in tandem with human actions, where individuals respond to divine prompting through their deeds, such as participating in sacraments like baptism or confession. This dynamic suggests an ongoing relationship between divine grace and human freedom, indicating that while individuals must cooperate, they also rely on God's initial movement towards them.
The Role of Free Will in Justification
Aquinas addresses the necessity of free will in the justification process, asserting that God's movement towards justice does not override human freedom. He posits that God infuses justifying grace in a way that encourages a free response from the individual, making the act of turning towards God an expression of true freedom rather than coercion. This perspective holds that sin diminishes but does not eliminate free will, allowing individuals to experience a liberation through God's grace. Consequently, the cooperation of human will with divine action is essential, affirming the mutuality of grace and human response in the journey towards salvation.
Resistance to Grace and Human Responsibility
The possibility of resisting grace is a critical point in understanding salvation, with Aquinas acknowledging that although God wills all to be saved, the reality is that not everyone responds positively to grace. He articulates that resistance is not an active choice but a deficit related to human condition, such as pre-existing vices or disordered attachments to lower goods. This understanding presents a theological framework where God's grace invites individuals, but the reception depends on their willingness to overcome their flaws. Thus, the interplay between divine will and human agency underscores the importance of personal responsibility in the collaborative process of salvation.
Fr. Dominic Legge is the Director of the Thomistic Institute and Associate Professor in Systematic Theology at the Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C. He is an Ordinary Member of the Pontifical Academy of St. Thomas Aquinas, and holds a J.D. from Yale Law School, a Ph.L. from the School of Philosophy of the Catholic University of America, and a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. He entered the Order of Preachers in 2001, after having practiced constitutional law for several years as a trial attorney for the U.S. Department of Justice. He has also taught at The Catholic University of America Law School and at Providence College. He is the author of The Trinitarian Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas (Oxford University Press, 2017).
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