God's essence and attributes - need help

[Monica4316]

I’m trying to understand the difference between the Catholic and Orthodox views of God’s Essence and “Energies” (the Eastern term is Energies and the Western would be attributes). I’m just wondering if someone could let me know if my understanding is correct about the Catholic view to clarify, I’m using the Thomistic understanding.

In my understanding…

• God is one, and undivided, so His essence is not actually distinct from His attributes*
• we can participate in God’s nature, but this is not done by a change of our essence.
• There is a difference between comprehending and knowing, we can know His essence but not fully comprehend it
• grace is uncreated but our participation in it is created (like the occasion of our sharing in it is created)
• Our union with God’s essence does not make us God, because: a) we remain creatures and our essence does not change, b) we are united to God through His attributes and not with a full comprehension of His essence

The specific part I’m uncertain about is the one in bold… is that how we are united to God, through His attributes? what does that mean, if His essence and attributes are not totally distinct?

Maybe I’m wrong about something or missing something… would appreciate any help I’m looking up Fr Garrigou Lagrange to help me with this. I’m looking for the Thomist understanding… thank you!

• Fr Garrigou Lagrange describes the distinction as follows:

"The common opinion of the theologians mediates, so to speak, between nominalism and exaggerated realism, and towers above them. This opinion, the source of which is the moderate realism of St. Thomas, is commonly formulated by the Thomists and a great number of theologians as follows: There is a minor virtual distinction between the divine attributes and God’s essence, between the divine attributes, and likewise between the divine persons and the essence.

St. Thomas uses simpler terminology, saying that God’s essence is distinct from the attributes and the divine Persons “not really but logically.” (41) He is speaking of the logical distinction that is founded on reality, which subsequently is commonly called virtual; and this calls for an explanation." thesumma.info/one/one37.php