What Exactly is Grace Anyway? | Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P.
Sep 16, 2023
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Fr. Gregory Pine, O.P., a Catholic priest, discusses the meaning and transformative power of grace in our lives, its connection to virtue, and the various dimensions and types of grace. He emphasizes the importance of discerning and cooperating with grace, highlighting its ability to heal and elevate individuals.
Grace is a gift that informs our being and causes thanksgiving, pushing sin to the periphery of our lives.
Different types of grace, such as sanctifying grace and actual grace, have specific roles in our spiritual life.
Deep dives
The Nature of Grace
Grace is the substance of Christian perfection and our sharing in the divine life itself. It is freely given, a gift, and causes thanksgiving in us. Grace is a habit that informs our being or living, similar to how being healthy is a habit. Grace is the health of our whole person, including our spiritual health, and it cannot coexist with sin. It has the power to push sin to the periphery of our lives and has a healing and elevating effect on us.
Types of Grace
There are different types of grace, such as sanctifying grace and actual grace. Sanctifying grace is the abiding grace that dwells within us, making us pleasing to God. It is associated with the most blessed Trinity and is received through the invisible missions of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Actual grace, on the other hand, is more punctual and spurs us to perform certain spiritual acts. There are also charismatic graces that are specifically for the upbuilding of the Church.
Understanding and Growing in Grace
Understanding grace can be challenging because it is invisible. However, certain evidential signs can indicate the presence of grace in our lives. We are called to work in accord with grace, welcoming it and cooperating with it. Grace is given to us, but we must appropriate it and allow it to take hold more deeply in our lives. By doing so, we can participate more intensely and extensively, allowing grace to extend to more aspects of our existence.