Day 262: Habitual and Actual Grace (2025)

In this episode of the Catechism in a Year podcast, Father Mike Schmitz delves into paragraphs 1996 to 2001 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, focusing on the concept of grace. He explains grace as God's favor and free, undeserved help that enables humans to respond to His call, become adopted children of God, and partake in divine nature and eternal life. Father Mike distinguishes between habitual or sanctifying grace, a stable disposition received in baptism that perfects the soul, and actual graces, which are God's interventions during conversion and sanctification. He also introduces the idea of prevenient grace, God's initiative that stirs a desire within us to seek Him. He emphasizes that any good we do is a result of God's prior action and grace, quoting St. Augustine to highlight that we are merely collaborators with God, who initiates and empowers our actions.