Dear Catholic Exchange:
I passed on one of your Truth Tracks to a colleague, and in reference to the track’s claim that “anyone who, in the end, refuses grace (even if he is a baptized Catholic) shall not be saved, she asked, “How does one know if one is refusing grace?” I’d love to hear your comments.
Thank you,
Gabe Restrepo
Birmingham, AL
Dear Gabe
Peace in Christ! The Catechism teaches that because man is created in the image of God, man has the power to know and love God and enter “freely into the communion of love” (no. 2002). “God’s free initiative demands man’s free response . . . (ibid., emphasis original). When the Catechism refers to God’s “free initiative,” it is speaking of God’s free gift of grace. Placed in the context of the power of man to freely enter a communion of love, it would seem that a refusal of grace would have to be a free act as well. To some degree, the person who refuses grace understands what is being offered and freely and self-consciously refuses.
The Catechism, however, also teaches that “[s]ince it belongs to the supernatural order, grace escapes our experience and cannot be known except by faith” (no. 2005; emphasis original). Therefore, the knowledge of God’s free initiative is not on the level of natural reason, but is a knowledge of faith. While one does not know the supernatural order directly, perseverance in charity (cf. Catechism, no. 837), that is, in a life of faith motivated by the love of God, is an indicator of the grace of God in one’s life. If one refuses the faith (and understands that which he refuses), it is reasonable to conclude that person also refuses grace.
In conclusion, refusing grace is something one does on purpose, not by accident. No one refuses grace without intending to do so. If someone offers a person a gift and the person does not notice, the giver doesn’t charge him with refusing the gift. In other words, only when a would-be recipient of a gift understands and acknowledges that a gift is being offered him can he truly refuse it.
I hope this answers your question. If you have further questions on this or would like more information about Catholics United for the Faith, please contact us at 1-800-MY-FAITH (693-2484). Please keep us in your prayers as we endeavor to “support, defend, and advance the efforts of the teaching Church.”
United in the Faith,
David E. Utsler
Information Specialist
Catholics United for the Faith
827 North Fourth Street
Steubenville, OH 43952
800-MY-FAITH (800-693-2484)
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