Fr Broom
On one occasion the great mystic, prayer-warrior, penitent, as well as woman Doctor of the Church Saint Catherine of Siena was granted a vision into the state of one soul imbued with sanctifying grace. Upon contemplating the beauty of this one soul in God’s grace she fell to her knees. Enthralled and totally captivated by its beauty she thought it was God Himself!
GOD’S GRACE: THE GREATEST TREASURE ON EARTH! Of all of the gifts that we can receive on earth, as pilgrims travelling towards our eternal home which is heaven, the grace of God is by far the greatest treasure. It is the pearl of infinite price!
WORLDLY AND SENSUAL. Whereas the worldly and sensual pursue money, fame, power, and pleasure as their ultimate source of happiness (which really is a lie and illusion), God’s true friends pursue ardently and constantly to grow in grace. Another rather simple way to understand the life of grace is simply this: friendship with God. God desires ardently to be our Friend, the best of Friends; however, He respects our time and freedom to accept Him as our best Friend!
BAPTISM. The life of grace all starts in the moment that we receive the Sacrament of Baptism. The graces that flow from Baptism are extraordinary, almost mind-boggling—how good God really is!!! Once the water is poured on the head and the words: “I baptize you X_____________name, “In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit”, invisible but real miracles occur: an intimate relationship with the Blessed Trinity, the infusion of the theological virtues, moral virtues, and gifts of the Holy Spirit. Still of paramount importance is the reality of GRACE that permeates and imbues the soul in the moment of Baptism!
GRACE: GOD’S FRIENDSHIP. With the waters of Baptism we enter into a deep and intimate friendship with the Triune God and we become partakers of His divine nature—we become sons of God and have as inheritance—if we persevere in grace—heaven forever! For that reason the saints teach us: grace is the seed of eternal life.
GRACE IN OUR SOULS. Given that grace in our souls is the greatest gift and presence, we should do all in our power to preserve grace, grow in grace, so as to die in the state of grace.