What is Grace
Grace is a necessary part of our spiritual life; without it, we cannot live in a way that is pleasing to God. We are simply too weak. So, what is grace?
“Grace is favor, the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons and daughters, partakers of the divine nature and of eternal life,” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1996).
Further: “Grace is a participation in the life of God. It introduces us into the intimacy of Trinitarian life,” (Catechism, 1997).
There are different types of grace. The Catechism talks about actual grace in paragraph 2000. Actual grace is the intervention and initiative God makes to encourage us towards holiness. It is a nudge from him, if you will. And we are obliged to respond and cooperate with his inspirations and graces. God will always give us the strength to act as he desires.
Sanctifying grace abides within our souls, and we receive it at baptism. It remains in our soul, giving us supernatural life. If we commit a mortal sin, though, we cut ourselves off from sanctifying grace.
Mortal sin is death in the soul, and we are, therefore, left without supernatural life; we have only natural life. Fortunately, God is very merciful. The sacrament of Confession brings us back into Trinitarian life and sanctifying grace is restored.
Sanctifying grace helps us to purify ourselves. Both words "sanctify" and "saint" come from the Latin sanctus, meaning holy. So, to sanctify is to make holy, to make one a saint.
Sanctifying grace transforms the heart, soul, and mind. It increases the theological virtues (faith, hope, and love), which are supernatural; we cannot attain them on our human, natural level.
Grace can move our will and behavior. The Holy Spirit nudges us and we have the power to accept or reject his beckoning. We are to try our best to respond to God’s grace. If, in our weakness, we don’t, God won’t forget us; he will always pursue us!
“My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)