The Catechism describes grace as the “free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to His call” (CCC 1996). Through grace, God shares His divine life with us and gives us the help we need to grow in holiness.
The Church helps us understand grace in several ways:
Sanctifying Grace is the gift of God’s own life within our souls. We first receive sanctifying grace in Baptism. It is lost through mortal sin and restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
Actual Grace is God’s help at particular moments in our lives. It may prompt us to do something good, resist temptation, forgive someone, pray, or turn back toward God.
Sacramental Graces are special gifts associated with each of the seven Sacraments, helping us live out the purpose of that Sacrament.
Charisms are special graces of the Holy Spirit given for the good of others and the building up of the Church. These may include gifts for teaching, service, leadership, encouragement, or other ways of serving the Body of Christ.
Grace Is a Gift
We do not earn God’s grace. We cannot purchase it or make God owe it to us. Grace begins with God. Even our desire to turn toward Him and do what is good is made possible by His grace.
Yet God does not force us. He gives us the freedom to respond to His grace and cooperate with it.
That means grace is not simply something we receive at Baptism and never think about again. God’s grace is at work throughout the Christian life—calling us, strengthening us, forgiving us, and helping us become the people He created us to be.
“The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 6:23
St. Augustine: “The law detects, grace alone conquers sin.”
St. Ignatius of Loyola: “Give me only Your love and Your grace, with these I will be rich enough, and will desire nothing more.”
St. Anthony: “Let us therefore pray to our Lord Jesus Christ that he give us the grace to seek His Kingdom and to build within ourselves a moral Jerusalem.”
