Holy Quiz

[Shin]

Hurrah! 

But you've still got me really curious as to St. Peter's fish! 

[odhiambo]

St. Peter's fish.. .

If you asked about Jonah's fish I think I'dve gotten it! 

Saint Peter’s fish gets its name from the incident described in Mathew 17:24-27 where Peter did what the Lord told him and found a shekel inside a fish which he used to pay his own as well as Jesus’ tax.
I read that of the many species of fish in the Sea of Galilee, only a few could have been the type that Peter caught and “those who study such things”, agree that it was most likely the tilapia.
So if you are planning on visiting the Holy Land, especially round the Sea of Galilee, do not be surprised to find “Saint Peter’s fish” on the menu . Bon appetit 

[odhiambo]

And then there is this word: "Grace" 
What exactly is it?
How many kinds of grace are there?

[Shin]

Uh-oh! What a question! 

Well, I think there are a lot!

[Brigid]

Well, there is movement and there is God's Grace.

[Shin]

Let's see, there's actual grace, efficacious grace, sanctifying grace. . .

But I would have to look up the others. I think I will cheat!

Oh dear there some of them are.. I am losing count. I remember I once wanted to make a list and understand them practically, and I thought I had started on one, but I don't see it only a short extract or two.

I think even looking things up this is a toughie!

Efficacious grace & sufficient grace, sanctifying grace, actual grace, graces of the intellect, of the will, of the sensitive faculties, preventing grace & cooperating grace.. and all these, "no arbitrarily invented entities but actually existing realities."

The illuminating grace of the intellect, gratia illuminationis... "It is that grace which in the work of salvation suggests good thoughts to the intellect. This may happen in a twofold manner, either mediately or immediately."

The strengthening grace of the will, gratia inspirationis.. "for no works of salvation are even thinkable without operations of the will."

Well, that's from an encyclopedia article.. I feel a little overwhelmed!

May the Holy Spirit enlighten our minds and hearts, and strengthen our wills..

[odhiambo]

It is not cheating because I want to learn from  others. I only know  about two kinds of grace, sanctifying grace and actual grace and I do not really understand the difference between them seeing that they are both supernatural gifts, given by God and necessary for our salvation.

[odhiambo]

Please check them out and explain for us so that I too may understand.

[Shin]

Oh if I had said actual grace and sanctifying grace it would've been the answer? 

Oops!

Oh well, at least I am now looking up again all these wonderful ways God is at work with actual grace! Thanks odhiambo!

 

I still can't define grace! 

[odhiambo]

Join the club, beats me too.

[George]

The  Websters dictionary definition of grace is - 1. Unmerited help given to people by God (as in overcoming temptation) 2. freedom from sin through divine grace
3. A virtue coming from God.

The  Catholic catechism states on page 538- 1996 Grace is favor, 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 of eternal life.
1997 Grace is a participation in the life of God.
There is sanctifying or deifying grace in baptism
Sanctifying grace is an habitual gift, a stable and supernatural disposition that perfects the soul itself to enable it to live with God, to act by his love. Habitual grace, the permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call, is distinguished from actual graces which refer to God's interventions, whether at the beginning of conversion or in the course of the work of sanctification.

There are other graces as well.
There are Sacramental graces, gifts proper to the different Sacraments.
There are Special graces also called Charisms.
There are the graces of State, that accompany the exercise of the responsibilities of the Christian life and the ministries within the Church.

There is a good quote fro Joan of Arc on page 540
The reply of Joan of Arc to a question posed as a trap by her ecclesiastical judges: "Asked if she knew that she was in God's grace, she replied: 'If I am not, may it please God to put me in it; if I am, may it please God to keep me there.' "

Hope this helps.

[odhiambo]

 Thank you George.

[odhiambo]

When is the birthday of the Church?

[Poche]

When is the birthday of the Church?

Pentecost.

[odhiambo]

Pentecost.

Correct !

[Shin]

Congratulations poche!