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111. The Classification of Graces

1. Grace given to make the receiver holy issanctifying grace. Grace given to one person for thebenefit and holiness of others is gratuitous grace; such,for example, is the grace of miracles, or the grace ofprophecy.

2. Grace which directly moves the mind or will to act isoperating grace; grace which disposes mind and will toreceive and use operating grace is cooperating grace.

3. Grace which precedes an operation or state of the soulis pre-venient grace; grace which follows a prior effectof grace is subsequent grace. Grace has five effects: (a)it heals the soul; (b) it awakens the desire for good; (c) it helpscarry the desire for good to the actualachievement of good;(d) it gives perseverance; (e) it conducts the soul to glory. Thesame grace may be subsequent to one of these effects and prevenientto another.

4. Gratuitous graces are thus listed by St. Paul (I Cor.12:8-10): wisdom, knowledge, miracles, prophecy, discerning ofspirits, tongues, interpretation of speeches.

5. Sanctifying grace sets man directly in line with God,his last end. Gratuitous grace stirs man and prepares him to get inline with his last end. Thus a man observing a miracle (wrought bythe gratuitous grace of miracles in the person God uses asinstrument to perform the miracle) may be stirred to repentance orto deeper piety, and so be moved to obtain sanctifying grace. It isclear, therefore, that sanctifying grace is, in itself, more nobleand excellent than gratuitous grace; it is better to be in thestate of sanctifying grace than to have the grace of miracles.

"The supreme perfection of man in this life is to be so united to God that all his soul with all its faculties and powers are so gathered into the Lord God that he becomes one spirit with him, and remembers nothing except God, is aware of and recognises nothing but God, but with all his desires unified by the joy of love, he rests contentedly in the enjoyment of his Maker alone."
St Albert the Great

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"Lord, take from me everything that hinders me from going to You. give me all that will lead me to You. Take me from myself and give me to Yourself."
St Nicholas Flue

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"It is vanity to be concerned with the present only and not to make provision for things to come."
Thomas á Kempis

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