Sanctifying grace not only enables us to live in close union and communication with God in this life, it also prepares the soul for another gift which God will add after death. The gift of supernatural vision, the power to see God face to face, as he really is—the Light of Glory. Sanctifying grace is the prerequisite.
If we go into eternity deprived of sanctifying grace, then we have lost God forever.
Therefore, after receiving sanctifying in Baptism, we need to:
1: Preserve it permanently till the end
2: Recover it immediately (through the sacrament of Penance) if lost through mortal sin
3: Seek to grow in it—the higher the degree of sanctifying grace the greater our happiness in heaven
And God has not left us without help. On our own, these 3 tasks would indeed be impossible. So God provides momentary spurts of spiritual energy with which God touches the soul, otherwise known as actual graces—interior supernatural gifts of God bestowed on us through the merits of Jesus Christ for our own salvation.
| "(B)ut he has answered me, 'My grace is enough for you: for power is at full stretch in weakness.' It is, then, about my weaknesses that I am happiest of all to boast, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me; and that is why I am glad of weaknesses, insults, constraints, persecutions and distress for Christ's sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 | |||
| Ref: The Faith Explained by Leo J. Trese |
No comments:
Post a Comment