What Is Grace?

[willguy]

I just realized the other day that I use the word grace so often, but don't really have a solid concept of what it really is. One of my friends (non-Catholic Christian, and a very cool guy) wrote this [url="http://www.crukc.org/bearcats/experience/beck_092803.htm"]http://www.crukc.org/bearcats/experience/beck_092803.htm [/url]and I was wondering if ya'll had other thoughts or things to say about what grace is.

[phatcatholic]

there are actually two kinds of grace: sanctifying and actual.

sanctifying grace cleanses us from all stain of original sin as well as sins we have committed. as such, it is grace that makes our souls fit for heaven. this grace we recieve through our baptism, and later in life every time we partake in the sacrament of reconciliation.

actual grace is grace that "pushes" or "motivates" or makes it easier for us to do God's will. this grace we recieve through all seven sacraments, but also when we do good works through Jesus Christ. actual grace is also recieved through sacramentals, such as holy water, scapulars, and the rosary.

[b][url="http://www.catholic.com/library/Grace_What_It_Is.asp"]this article[/url][/b] is a good presentation of what i have briefly described.

i hope this helps........pax christi,
phatcatholic

Edited April 4, 2004 by phatcatholic

[willguy]

From the article:
[quote]Sanctifying grace stays in the soul.[/quote]
Is this basically saying that once we are forgiven of a sin by sanctifying grace, we are always forgiven of it (not of future occurances, but of the actual instance of sin).

[quote]Mortal sins are deadly sins because they kill off this supernatural life, this sanctifying grace. [/quote] This seems contrary to saying that sanctifying grace stays on our soul.

Also, I've heard of grace being a thing God gives (like we give objects to each other), and then I've heard it described as a sort of combining with God. Is the latter what is meant by infused grace? And, is grace one or the other, or is actual grace more of a gift while sanctifying grace is a combining with God?

[cmotherofpirl]

Grace is God in your soul.