Nature and Grace
1. “Observe diligently the motions of nature and grace,” says the
Imitation of Christ, “for they move with great contrariety and subtlety,
and can hardly be distinguished but by a spiritual man, and one that is
inwardly enlightened.” (Imit. of Christ, Bk. III, c. 54.)
The struggle between fallen nature and grace is due to original sin, which extinguished in us the supernatural
life and gave rise to the disharmony which exists between our lower
faculties and reason, and between reason and God. Even the Saints
experienced this fearful internal battle between good and evil. “I see
another law in my members,” says St. Paul, “warring against the law of
my mind.” (Rom. 7:23) Elsewhere he complains that “the flesh lusts
against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh,” (Gal. 5:17) and
that the temptations of the flesh assailed him so strongly that he
pleaded with God to save him. But God's reply to his entreaties was: “My
grace is sufficient for thee, for strength is made perfect in
weakness.” (Cf. 2 Cor. 12:7-9)
This does not mean that human
nature is substantially corrupt and incapable of doing good as a result
of sin. The inclination towards goodness and towards God remains and is
very strong in our better moments. Nevertheless, we need the helping
hand of God so that this inclination may express itself in good actions
worthy of an everlasting reward. For this reason we should pray humbly
and constantly for the precious gift of divine grace.
2. Two
extremes must be avoided in the relationship between nature and grace.
The first is that of the rigorists who see in human nature nothing but
confusion and the propensity towards evil, and therefore advocate an
iron domination completely lacking in any understanding of human
frailty. They believe that perfection must be achieved swiftly by means
of the most ferocious privations and penances. This excessively severe
approach to the spiritual life can lead to discouragement and eventual
collapse. The way of perfection is an ascending ladder which must be
climbed step by step. Falls must be expected, but it is necessary to
rise again at once with renewed courage, knowing that when we reach the
top we shall find rest and peace.
The other extreme is an
attitude of superficial ease. There is no emphasis on the necessity of
grace, nor on the need for prayer and faithful co-operation with God's
grace in order to perform good works. Instead there is a kind of natural
decency and luke¬warm virtue which ignores the necessity for
mortification and the spirit of sacrifice. Anyone who sets out on this
path can never be a fervent and active Christian.
3. Even
though there is a contrast between grace and nature there is also a
certain harmony, because God made us for Himself, as St. Augustine says,
and our hearts will never be at rest until they rest in Him. Grace is a
supernatural graft which elevates our nature and makes it capable of
attaining everlasting life. It is necessary to take away all the shoots
of the old tree-stump and to care for the new branches. Only then shall
we begin to approach Christian perfection.
“Therefore, O Lord,
let Thy grace always go before and follow me, and make me ever intent
upon good works, through Jesus Christ Thy Son, Amen.” (Imit. of Christ,
Bk. III, c. 55)
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label grace. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 July 2014
Friday, 18 July 2014
The Grace of God - Cardinal Bacci
The Grace of God
1. God has endowed us with wonderful corporal and spiritual gifts, creating us after His own image with powers of intellect and of will. More than this, He has raised us to the supernatural order by communicating to us His grace, which enables us to live His own life and to share in His divine nature as His adopted sons.
Grace is the greatest gift which God has given us. It enlightens our minds and moves our will to obey His commands and to perform actions which merit an everlasting reward. It is an entirely supernatural and gratuitous gift. For this reason we cannot merit it, but we should continually pray for it because it is absolutely necessary if we are to do good and to merit Heaven. Our first ancestor, Adam, was endowed with this gift by our Creator. Unfortunately, by original sin he lost it for himself and for his descendants.
We cannot complain to God about this loss, since grace is an entirely supernatural gift which is in no way due to our human nature. For the same reason we cannot merit it on our own. But God, being infinitely good as well as infinitely just, sent His only begotten Son to redeem us from sin and to grant us His friendship once more.
We should be very grateful to God for this extraordinary favour and should unite our efforts to the divine action of grace in the performance of good works which will enable us to merit everlasting life.
2. It is astonishing to consider how much St. Paul accomplished when he had been transformed by the grace of God. Formerly a persecutor of Christians, he became the Apostle of the Gentiles. Enlightened by faith and inspired by charity, he travelled the globe spreading everywhere the religion of Jesus Christ.
He feared neither the anger of the hostile Jews nor the tribunals of the Roman judges, neither long and difficult journeys nor scourging, shipwreck and imprisonment. “The love of Christ impels us,” (2 Cor. 5:14) he said. It was the love of God which drove him on and on until he met his martyrdom. But what about ourselves? We also have received grace from God. Often we hear His voice appealing to us to abandon our sinful ways, to practise virtue, to love Him more ardently and to prove our love by deeds. If we co-operate, we shall be able to say with St. Paul: “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace in me has not been fruitless,” (1 Cor. 15:10) and “I have labored . . . yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (Ibid.)
It is wise to recall, however, that Judas also received special graces from God. He did not correspond with them and was probably damned for eternity. If we fail to correspond with God's graces, the result will be tragic for ourselves.
3. “Be not silent; Lord, be not far from me.” (Ps. 34:22)
It is never really God Who is silent. He is forever appealing to us to lead good lives. He is never really far from us, but is always ready to bestow His gifts on us. Even when we have sinned, we hear His voice prompting us to thoughts of remorse. Even when we stray away from Him, He follows and asks us to return to Him. It is we who must ensure that the noise of the world will not prevent us from hearing His fatherly appeal, and that sinful temptations will not destroy His influence over us.
Let us continually implore His graces because we are always in need of them. Let us use them well so that they will enable us to gain everlasting life.
1. God has endowed us with wonderful corporal and spiritual gifts, creating us after His own image with powers of intellect and of will. More than this, He has raised us to the supernatural order by communicating to us His grace, which enables us to live His own life and to share in His divine nature as His adopted sons.
Grace is the greatest gift which God has given us. It enlightens our minds and moves our will to obey His commands and to perform actions which merit an everlasting reward. It is an entirely supernatural and gratuitous gift. For this reason we cannot merit it, but we should continually pray for it because it is absolutely necessary if we are to do good and to merit Heaven. Our first ancestor, Adam, was endowed with this gift by our Creator. Unfortunately, by original sin he lost it for himself and for his descendants.
We cannot complain to God about this loss, since grace is an entirely supernatural gift which is in no way due to our human nature. For the same reason we cannot merit it on our own. But God, being infinitely good as well as infinitely just, sent His only begotten Son to redeem us from sin and to grant us His friendship once more.
We should be very grateful to God for this extraordinary favour and should unite our efforts to the divine action of grace in the performance of good works which will enable us to merit everlasting life.
2. It is astonishing to consider how much St. Paul accomplished when he had been transformed by the grace of God. Formerly a persecutor of Christians, he became the Apostle of the Gentiles. Enlightened by faith and inspired by charity, he travelled the globe spreading everywhere the religion of Jesus Christ.
He feared neither the anger of the hostile Jews nor the tribunals of the Roman judges, neither long and difficult journeys nor scourging, shipwreck and imprisonment. “The love of Christ impels us,” (2 Cor. 5:14) he said. It was the love of God which drove him on and on until he met his martyrdom. But what about ourselves? We also have received grace from God. Often we hear His voice appealing to us to abandon our sinful ways, to practise virtue, to love Him more ardently and to prove our love by deeds. If we co-operate, we shall be able to say with St. Paul: “by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace in me has not been fruitless,” (1 Cor. 15:10) and “I have labored . . . yet not I, but the grace of God with me.” (Ibid.)
It is wise to recall, however, that Judas also received special graces from God. He did not correspond with them and was probably damned for eternity. If we fail to correspond with God's graces, the result will be tragic for ourselves.
3. “Be not silent; Lord, be not far from me.” (Ps. 34:22)
It is never really God Who is silent. He is forever appealing to us to lead good lives. He is never really far from us, but is always ready to bestow His gifts on us. Even when we have sinned, we hear His voice prompting us to thoughts of remorse. Even when we stray away from Him, He follows and asks us to return to Him. It is we who must ensure that the noise of the world will not prevent us from hearing His fatherly appeal, and that sinful temptations will not destroy His influence over us.
Let us continually implore His graces because we are always in need of them. Let us use them well so that they will enable us to gain everlasting life.
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