Actual grace

A series of articles on
Grace in Christianity
Actual grace a Catholic theological concept Common grace a theological concept Free grace a theological concept Irresistible grace a Calvinistic theological concept Prevenient grace a theological concept Sola gratia a Protestant theological concept Grace (prayer) said before or after a meal

Actual grace is, in Roman Catholic theology, a share in God's life. It is contrasted with sanctifying grace, which is a state of being that can be permanent, in that it consists only in a passing influence of God on the soul.

For example: if a person has, by grace, developed the will to follow the teaching of Jesus, "turn the other cheek", then if in the moment of an assault they choose to turn the other cheek, they may hope for the grace to actually turn the other cheek. Hence the term, "actual" grace, because it is given for action, as opposed to altering a person's state (cp. Sanctifying Grace). However the distinction is not total since actual grace can lead to righteous action and good works. (Cp. justification by works.)

There is a biotheological analogy between spiritual growth and grace and plant growth and sunlight, in that sunlight provides the power to actually photosynthesize and grace provides the power to actually do good deeds.

See also

• Blaise Pascal's 4th Provincial Letter

Attribution

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). "Actual Grace". Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.