Sufficient and Efficacious Grace

[MarysLittleFlower]

Can someone please explain to me the orthodox understanding of sufficient and efficacious grace. How does it work with free will? My source is Fr Garrigou Lagrange. He's great. But i still don't get it... If all are given sufficient grace but efficacious grace is needed to convert how come not all are given it? Everyone would probably say free will but how? if our wills can't convert without efficacious grace how does it work? Im sure there must be an answer. I accept the Church teaching in advance and reject the heresies against grace and free will. But whats the answer? My source: http://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology/gracegarrlagr.HTM

 

[Nihil Obstat]

No time to respond right now, but read the Catholic Encyclopedia on Newadvent.

Edit: it is long and dense, but if you go slowly it is perfectly understandable.

Edited August 5, 2015 by Nihil Obstat

[Amppax]

This is probably one of the toughest questions in theology, and there's actually a wide range of acceptable positions (see the New Advent article "The Controversies on Grace"). Garrigou-Lagrange is a good source, but he only represents one side of the debate (the Dominican/Neo-Thomist position). The Jesuits have their own school, so do the Augustinians (it seems like the Dominican, but it's not), and there's also a fourth position, somewhat of a grab-bag of a bunch of different opinions. Basically, don't be a Pelagian/Semi-Pelagian, don't be a Calvinist/Jansenist. If you're somewhere in between, you're within the bounds of orthodoxy. The arguments on this issue became so intense that a Pope (I believe it was Sixtus, don't remember his regnal number) declared everyone needed to stop arguing about it. That lasted until the late 19th, early 20th century. Garrigou-Lagrange was actually involved in a lot of debates on this issue, most famously with Henri de Lubac. In fact, it was because of this that de Lubac had that period where he wasn't allowed to teach or publish during the '50's. 

Also, Fr. John Hardon (really amesome, orthodox Jesuit) wrote a couple of books about this, which are really good. Parts of them are available online: http://www.therealpresence.org/archives/Grace.htm. Hardon is MUCH more accessible than Garrigou-Lagrange, if you're having a hard time with him, maybe look at Fr. Hardon's stuff. Another source is Fr. William Most, who's work's also available online. He espouses a version of Molinism (the Jesuit position) but I think he does a pretty good job of explaining things very simply.

Forgot to add, I'm writing my master thesis on this topic (broadly speaking). So I've done a fair bit of research on this topic, and am doing a lot more. I'll try to come back with an actual answer to your OP, but it'll be a bit. 

Edited August 6, 2015 by Amppax

[Nihil Obstat]

Of course, Garrigou-Lagrange is truly a pre-eminent theologian, widely regarded as one of the greatest modern Thomist philosophers. So you could not go wrong, I think, in simply accepting his opinions in their totality.  If the many different views become too confusing, that is.

[Amppax]

Of course, Garrigou-Lagrange is truly a pre-eminent theologian, widely regarded as one of the greatest modern Thomist philosophers. So you could not go wrong, I think, in simply accepting his opinions in their totality.  If the many different views become too confusing, that is.

I tend towards that school of thought on this matter, though at various times I've flirted with Molinism. I mean, there are saints on all sides of this issue (de Sales was a Molinist, Bellarmine was a Congruist, etc), so it's not like appealing to the saints helps at all. 

[MarysLittleFlower]

I tend to go with Fr Garrigou Lagrange :),

[Nihil Obstat]

I have had his book Mother of the Saviour for ages now and just have not gotten around to reading it. Really looking forward to it though.

[Amppax]

I'm reading Three Ways of the Spiritual Life tonight. I've really enjoyed everything I've read of his. Hoping to read Predestination before the start of the semester (which is looking more and more like it's not going to happen). 

[Nihil Obstat]

I'm reading Three Ways of the Spiritual Life tonight. I've really enjoyed everything I've read of his. Hoping to read Predestination before the start of the semester (which is looking more and more like it's not going to happen). 

Hm. I would love to read Predestination. It is a topic that has been interesting me lately, but I do not have much more than a basic apologetics level background on it.