Redemption, grace, and the theological virtues

Question 102

Which are the chief effects of the Redemption?

The chief effects of the Redemption are two: The satisfaction of God's justice by Christ's sufferings and death, and the gaining of grace for men.

Question 103

What do you mean by grace?

By grace I mean a supernatural gift of God bestowed on us, through the merits of Jesus Christ, for our salvation.

Question 104

How many kinds of grace are there?

There are two kinds of grace, sanctifying grace and actual grace.

Question 105

What is sanctifying grace?

Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul holy and pleasing to God.

Question 106

What do you call those graces or gifts of God by which we believe in Him, hope in Him, and love Him?

Those graces or gifts of God by which we believe in Him, and hope in Him, and love Him, are called the Divine virtues of Faith, Hope, and Charity.

Question 107

What is Faith?

Faith is a Divine virtue by which we firmly believe the truths which God has revealed.

Question 108

What is Hope?

Hope is a Divine virtue by which we firmly trust that God will give us eternal life and the means to obtain it.

Question 109

What is Charity?

Charity is a Divine virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God.

Question 110

What is actual grace?

Actual grace is that help of God which enlightens our mind and moves our will to shun evil and do good.

Question 111

Is grace necessary to salvation?

Grace is necessary to salvation, because without grace we can do nothing to merit heaven.

Question 112

Can we resist the grace of God?

We can and unfortunately often do resist the grace of God.

Question 113

What is the grace of perseverance?

The grace of perseverance is a particular gift of God which enables us to continue in the state of grace till death.

Redemption as gift

Questions 102, 103

The opening answer connects Christ's suffering and death with grace given for salvation. It carries forward the previous lessons rather than beginning a separate system of rewards. Catechism 1996 describes grace as God's freely given help. The word supernatural indicates a sharing in divine life beyond what human effort can produce by itself. It does not mean that ordinary acts of care become irrelevant; the lesson will place love of neighbor at the heart of that life.

A lasting gift and particular helps

Questions 104, 105, 110

Sanctifying grace names the gift by which a person shares in God's life. Actual grace names God's help in conversion and holy action. Catechism 2000 distinguishes the stable gift from particular interventions. One question therefore concerns the life of the soul, while the other concerns help in knowing and choosing the good. Actual does not mean more real, and sanctifying does not refer merely to a pleasant or religious feeling.

Faith, hope, and charity together

Questions 106, 107, 108, 109

Faith receives revealed truth; hope trusts God's promise and help; charity loves God and neighbor. These are related but not identical. A person may know the words of a belief while needing to grow in trust or in practical love. First Corinthians 13 asks the reader to consider what even impressive actions become without charity. Use its description of love to make the catechism's final definition concrete in patience, honesty, and care for another's good.

Response and perseverance

Questions 111, 112, 113

The lesson affirms both the need for grace and the possibility of resisting it. These answers rule out treating salvation as either unaided achievement or an excuse for passivity. John 15 uses the image of branches bearing fruit through their union with the vine. Perseverance concerns continuing in grace to life's end. A practical response is to ask for help in the next faithful action, rather than imagine that a single moment of enthusiasm settles every future choice.

Ephesians 2:4–10

The passage joins salvation as gift with a life directed toward good works.

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

John 15:1–11

The vine and branches explain dependence on Christ through the images of abiding and fruitfulness.

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. 2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. 4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. 5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. 6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you. 8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. 9 As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. 10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

1 Corinthians 13:1–13

Paul's full discussion of charity gives substance to the lesson's treatment of the theological virtues.

1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.