Prompted by a comment from AdtheLad, today I shall examine the Catholic concept of Grace from a metaphysical standpoint. Let's start by asking – what is grace?
The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines graces as "the free and undeserved help that God gives us to respond to his call to become children of God, adoptive sons, partakers of the divine nature and eternal life. Grace is a participation in the life of God."
If one accepts (whatever one calls God), a Divine presence or purpose or reason in the Cosmos, and accepts the Church definition metaphorically (without attributing possession of XY chromosomes to the Divinity), the notion of Grace takes on a great metaphysical significance.
Yes – a helpful God, helpful to those who are responsive (that is, those who do see themselves as spiritual beings), helpful to those embarked on the eternal journey of spiritual growth, seeking the Divine.
I see being in a state of Grace as being plugged into the process of the unfolding of the Universe, ethically aligned with the eternal journey from Zero to One – the path that leads to ultimate fulfilment.
Catholic theology distinguishes two forms of Grace: sanctifying and actual. Sanctifying Grace is defined as the permanent gift which elevates the soul to a supernatural state, enabling it to participate in the life of God. Actual Grace is temporary and specific. An inspiration or a strengthening touch from God that empowers us to make good choices in particular moments.
Again, I can buy into these two distinct forms of Grace; Sanctifying Grace serving as the catalyst that initially binds an individual consciousness into a unity with God as the Divine Purpose and prompts the search, the process of spiritual growth. And the Actual Grace, present in day-to-day life, that one can draw on. 'Quantum luck', if you may.
In Catholic theology, the Holy Spirit plays a crucial role in dispensing Grace. By cooperating with the prompts of the Holy Spirit through prayer as dialogue (with intuitions as the return channel), individuals can become more receptive to God's guiding hand. I'm in agreement with this too. Those moments of intuition, inspiration, and indeed guidance, are all extremely helpful in navigating the journey.
I feel that I am in receipt of the grace of God, and for that I am deeply grateful for it! I feel that I can tap into it at will, and that it can indeed affect physical, as well as metaphysical outcomes. Grace is the mechanism through which prayer works; however, petitioning the Lord with prayer must first align with Divine Purpose.
This has been a useful exercise in seeking commonality between how I see metaphysical phenomena and Catholic theology; Grace as a highest common factor, is a worthy bridge. Seeking such bridges across all faiths in an ecumenical reach-out is sorely needed by mankind.
My father asked rhetorically, several times, shortly before he died at the age of 96: "Why was I so lucky?" I think he knew the answer: God's Grace.
[Pop the word 'grace' into Google Translate, and it'll give the Polish as 'łaska'; but pop in 'łaska', and Google will give the English as 'mercy'. But then divine mercy it renders as miłosierdzie boże.]
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