Author: Debbie Granger

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.” 

What Catholics Should Know About Receiving the Eucharist

Whether you receive the Host on the tongue or in the hand, whether you chew it or allow it to dissolve, your heart should recognize the extraordinary mystery taking place.

The real question should not be: “Did I chew or did I allow it to melt?”
The better question is: “Did I receive Jesus understanding that this is the real presence of Jesus…., body, soul and divinity?

Jesus is fully present under the appearance of simple bread and wine so should never be treated casually.
Whether you receive the Host on the tongue or in the hand, whether you chew it or allow it to dissolve, your heart should recognize the extraordinary mystery taking place.

The Catholic Church does not prescribe one method over the other. Neither practice, by itself, makes someone more holy.

You are receiving Christ.
Receive Him with faith.
Receive Him with reverence.
Receive Him with love.

“May this Holy Communion bring about a perfect union with You, the one true God, and at last enable me to reach eternal bliss when You will call me.” ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Why Do Catholics Ask Saints for Help?

Catholics do not believe that saints perform miracles or answer prayers on their own. God is the source of all grace.

When we ask a saint for help, we are asking that saint to pray for us—to intercede with God on our behalf, just as we might ask a friend or family member to pray for us.

So when we say, “St. Anthony, help me find what I’ve lost,” we are asking St. Anthony to join his prayers with ours and bring our need before God.

We pray with the saints, and we ask the saints to pray for us. We worship God alone.

Which saint do Catholics traditionally turn to for…?”

Here are some of the most familiar ones:

Here are some of the most familiar ones:

• St. Anthony of Padua — lost things
• St. Christopher — travelers and safe travel
• St. Joseph — workers, fathers, families, and a happy death
• St. Jude — desperate or seemingly hopeless causes
• St. Francis of Assisi — animals and care for creation
• St. Thérèse of Lisieux — everyday needs; doing small things with great love
• St. Michael the Archangel — protection against evil
• St. Peregrine — people with cancer and serious illness
• St. Padre Pio — healing, suffering, and difficult illnesses
• St. Dymphna — people experiencing mental or emotional suffering
• St. Monica — children and loved ones who have fallen away from the faith
• St. Gerard Majella — expectant mothers, pregnancy, and childbirth
• St. Anne — mothers, grandmothers, and families
• St. Valentine — engaged couples and happy marriages
• St. Cecilia — musicians and singers
• St. Francis de Sales — writers and journalists
• St. Isidore the Farmer — farmers and agricultural workers
• St. Florian — firefighters
• St. Luke — physicians and healthcare workers
• St. Matthew — accountants, bankers, and financial workers
• St. Joseph of Cupertino — students taking exams
• St. Blaise — ailments of the throat
• St. Lucy — eyesight and people with eye problems
• St. Nicholas — children
• St. Rita of Cascia — difficult and seemingly impossible situations