Grace

1
Grace
2
Opening Prayer

• Apostles Creed p.175
• Scripture p. 75

3
Grace

• Grace is God dwelling within us.
• As we discussed before, we have to choose to open
  ourselves to God so that He might dwell within
  us.
• Opening our soul for God to dwell within is
  called being in a state of grace.
• In order to get into heaven we need to remain in
  a state of grace.
• If we die with our hearts closed to God, with
  mortal sin, than our hearts will remain closed to
  God after death.
• Our purpose in life is to welcome God into our
  lives so that we can know, love, and serve him to
  be happy in this life and the next.
• Only with grace can reach our goal of eternal
  life with God in heaven.

4
Read p.75 Paragraphs 1-3
5
Reading and Reviewing

• Grace is a supernatural gift which God, because
  of his goodness, bestows on men for their eternal
  salvation.
• There are two types of grace to be considered
• Sanctifying Grace the life of God in our souls
  by which we are made children of God, and without
  which we cannot go to heaven.
• Actual Grace Gods inspiration to us to help
  enlighten the mind and strengthen the will to do
  good and to avoid evil.

6
Grace is a Supernatural Gift

• This means that it is above the nature of man
• We have no right to it
• We do not have grace naturally within us (we are
  not born with it)
• We cannot reach it through our own power.
• Grace is an entirely free gift from God.
• Grace is not something that can be seen, but it
  is still very real. (We cant see the wind but
  the effects of the wind make it known to us).
• God is supernatural and so is his grace.

7
Supernatural

• Supernatural by DC Talk

8
Cooperating with Grace

• Man has free will and can cooperate with Grace
• Grace perfects nature
• God gives us grace because he loves us and wants
  us to be perfected
• We receive Gods grace by practicing virtue
  (Chastity, purity, obedience, faith, hope, and
  love) and prayer.
• We must choose to receive the sacraments and to
  receive and grow in grace.

9
Freedom and Cooperation

• The only thing we have to give God is our freedom
  to love Him.
• We can choose to live in a state of grace but we
  can also choose to remove grace from our lives
  through mortal sin.
• We choose heaven or hell by our actions.
• Our thoughts, words, deeds, and omissions
  determine our ability to receive, sustain, and
  reject grace, which determines our eternal
  reward.
• Grace is effective, if we choose it, and
  transforms man in Gods image and likeness.

10
Workbook p. 49
11
Sanctifying Grace

• Sanctifying grace is a supernatural gift that
  heals and perfects our imperfect human nature
• It is a gift from God that draws us more deeply
  into his heart
• This grace is a real participation in the divine
  nature.
• With grace we share in the divinity of Jesus
  Christ
• Grace, the seed of glory, is destined to blossom
  perfectly in heaven.

12
Sanctifying Grace

• Sanctifying grace sanctifies (makes holy) the
  soul.
• A soul in the state of grace is free from mortal
  sin and has the theological virtues of faith,
  hope, and love.
• It also gives supernatural beauty to the soul.
• It makes us a friend and child of God, and heir
  to the Kingdom of Heaven.
• Through sanctifying grace, man becomes a living
  temple of the Holy Spirit.

13
Our Primary Duty as Catholics

• Our primary duty is to retain and develop a
  relationship with God through sanctifying grace.
• Sanctifying grace cannot exist in a soul in
  mortal sin.
• If we confess our sins in the Sacrament of
  Penance, God who is ever-faithful will forgive us
  our sins and renew sanctifying grace within us.
  Confession is free!
• If one dies in mortal sin he risks eternal
  damnation (Hell).
• All who die in the state of grace inherit heaven.

14
Grace and the Sacraments

• The sacraments are the ordinary channels of
  grace.
• There are seven sacraments, who can name some of
  them?
• Baptism
• Eucharist
• Confirmation
• Penance/Reconciliation/Confession
• Anointing of the Sick
• Matrimony
• Holy Orders

15
Sacraments of Initiation

• Baptism Sanctifying grace is first infused into
  the soul the door is open to all other
  sacraments.
• Confirmation This is completion of initiation
  into the church grace is poured into the soul
  so that one can live as a Christian
• Eucharist This sacrament contains Christ, the
  source of all grace, substantially present. The
  Holy Eucharist is food for the soul, it
  strengthens us, unites us with God himself, and
  allows us to enter more deeply into the mystery
  of his life.

16
Sacraments of Healing

• Penance Grace, which was lost or diminished as a
  results of sins committed after Baptism, is
  restored to the soul. Penance gives us grace for
  strength to overcome sin.
• Anointing of the Sick This sacrament gives the
  strength of grace we need to live (and suffer)
  according to Gods will. The Anointing of the
  Sick gives grace to unify us forever with God in
  heaven.

17
Sacraments of Service

• Matrimony This sacrament unites a man and a
  woman together in a relationship, which witnesses
  Christs love for the Church it is life-giving.
  The spouses become ministers of grace for one
  another.
• Holy Orders This sacrament configures a man to
  Christ and gives him the power to continue the
  apostolic ministry as a bishop, priest, or
  deacon.
• Remember we may also grow in grace by living in
  virtue and doing good works and through prayer.

18
Actual Grace

• Actual grace is a temporary supernatural act of
  God to move man to do good, avoid evil, and
  become more holy.
• This grace internally and directly enlightens the
  intellect and strengthens the will.

19
Why is grace necessary?

• The Church teaches that For every salutary act
  internal supernatural grace of god is absolutely
  necessary.
• This means that everything we do that is
  wholesome requires grace.
• Grace is essential for the beginning of faith and
  for salvation, for the performance of salutary
  acts, for final perseverance, and for avoiding
  all venial sins.

20
Small Group Discussion

• How does grace fit into our every day lives?
• How can it elevate natural activities to have a
  supernatural character?
• If grace is Gods life in our souls, then
  whatever we do while in the state of grace takes
  on a supernatural character.
• How can our good works take on a special
  significance in the eyes of God when we do them
  in a state of grace?
• Any merit (Credit) we earn from good works are
  earned through Jesus, with Jesus, and in Jesus.
• Why do you think we can only please God through
  Jesus?
• Answer Without Jesus no one could obtain the
  necessary grace for heaven, not even with all the
  good works of the world combined, so Jesus is the
  reason we are even able to get any credit.
• It is like a small child that wants a cookie from
  the counter that she cant reach. It is the
  stool that makes it possible, she can only have
  the reward with the stool, on the stool, because
  of the stool.

21
Closing Prayer Eternal Rest

• Leader Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord.
• Response And let perpetual light shine upon
  them.
• Leader May the souls of the faithful departed,
  through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
• Response Amen