Grace: An Introduction (Pre-Order)

It is impossible to overstate the wonder of grace and its absolute centrality to Christianity. Matthias Scheeben says well:

"If, out of all the millions of men and angels, God had selected a single soul and bestowed upon it this unheard-of-dignity [of grace], such a soul would, if visible, darken the beauty of the sun, of all nature and of all heavenly spirits. It would amaze mortal men. The Angels themselves would be inclined to adore it as God Himself."

The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines grace as "a participation in the life of God." This calling toward union with God is at the very heart of what it means to be a Christian, and thus grace is at the core of living the Christian life. Yet, like a fish in water, the Christian life is so immersed in grace that it can be difficult to distinguish it from the rest of the Christian experience.

This book will outline what grace is, its major divisions and distinctions, and its centrality to the Christian life and Catholic theology. Moreover, we will consider important debates and controversies throughout Church history on the nature of grace. The Catechism of the Catholic Church will be a guide, as well as the Doctors of the Church, particularly St. Thomas Aquinas and the Doctor Gratiae, St. Augustine.