The Essence of Grace

The grace of God is a gift bestowed on man’s soulto enlighten and strengthen it above the measure of its naturallight and strength.

Grace is received into the soul as a quality of thesoul. It is a supernatural quality which disposes the soul tosupernatural well-being and supernatural well-doing.

Grace is not identical with supernatural virtue; it isprior to such virtue, and is its root. Supernatural virtue is ahabit which works by, through, and with grace.

Grace is not, as virtue is, primarily in the powers ofthe soul; it is received into the essence of the soul, and flowsfrom the soul’s essence into the soul’s powers.