P1. The Creed: L9 - The Holy Spirit and Grace Flashcards
Who is the Holy Spirit?
The Holy Spirit is God and the third Person of the Blessed Trinity.
From whom does the Holy Spirit proceed?
The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
Is the Holy Spirit equal to the Father and the Son?
The Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and the Son, because He is God.
What does the Holy Spirit do for the salvation of mankind?
The Holy Spirit dwells in the Church as the source of its life and sanctifies souls through the gift of grace.
What is grace?
Grace is a supernatural gift of God bestowed on us through the merits of Jesus Christ for our salvation.
How many kinds of grace are there?
There are two kinds of grace: sanctifying grace and actual grace.
What is sanctifying grace?
Sanctifying grace is that grace which confers on our souls a new life, that is, a sharing in the life of God Himself.
What are the chief effects of sanctifying grace?
The chief effects of sanctifying grace are:
first, it makes us holy and pleasing to God;
second, it makes us adopted children of God;
third, it makes us temples of the Holy Spirit;
fourth, it gives us the right to heaven.
What is actual grace?
Actual grace is a supernatural help of God which enlightens our mind and strengthens our will to do good and to avoid evil.
Can we resist the grace of God?
We can resist the grace of God, for our will is free, and God does not force us to accept His grace.
Why is sanctifying grace necessary for salvation?
Sanctifying grace is necessary for salvation because it is the supernatural life, which alone enables us to attain the supernatural happiness of heaven.
Is actual grace necessary for all who have attained the use of reason?
Actual grace is necessary for all who have attained the use of reason, because without it we cannot long resist the power of temptation or perform other actions which merit a reward in heaven.
What are the principal ways of obtaining grace?
The principal ways of obtaining grace are prayer and the sacraments, especially the Holy Eucharist.
How can we make our most ordinary actions merit a heavenly reward?
We can make our most ordinary actions merit a heavenly reward by doing them for the love of God and by keeping ourselves in the state of grace.
