Grace beyond the abstract

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I have wondered if catholics have an understanding of grace beyond the abstract. If catholics are unaware that they can ask our Lord for specific grace…such as the grace of increased faith, trust, sincere contrition, perseverance, patience, guarding ones tongue or humility of heart. I have come to believe I would never have been away from the church had I known that I could ask for specific graces during trials… and that our Lord would give it to me.
I recently spoke with a friend going through similar trials and I asked her if she knew to ask for specific grace. She didn’t have a conception of grace as described in the lives of the saints. She is asking for and recieving grace. I hope she will not have to go through all I went through- being chewed up and spat out by the world. Had I not failed so miserably I wouldn’t know my Lord’s great mercy, condescension and mighty power to save. But i wonder about whether other think about this.
 
I think sometimes some people forget that they can pray to God for grace.
God’s gift of patience, faith, trust and love help me get by everyday wether it is at home or at work.
God’s gifts are also why I married my husband without sincere contrition I would not have been able to marry him.
Sometimes when people have trials or are hurt or stressed they can walk away from god beacuse they feel God isn’t listening to their prayers they don’t realise sometimes they are not asking for the right thing, Or sometimes they just don’t want to ask for help

One of my favourite prayers would be the serenity prayer.
 
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It’s a good idea to pray for the graces that you need daily. God always comes through, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve asked for a specific grace before a trial and have been given everything I needed to persevere.
 
Nmc said:
I have wondered if catholics have an understanding of grace beyond the abstract.
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Good question. The Catechism describes two kinds of grace, called sanctifying grace and actual graces (CCC 1999-2000). (The word actual is here used in the perhaps obsolete sense of being active, or having the potential for action.) I believe this is the distinction you are referring to. I don’t know how many Catholics think about or pray for actual graces. I certainly do!
 
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Our Lady is the Mediatrix of All Graces. Sometimes I pray for a specific grace, but often I ask her to just please determine what graces I need and send me those. Mother Knows Best.

Also I read that when St. Catherine Laboure saw Our Lady of Grace, she saw the graces as rays of light coming from jeweled rings on Mary’s fingers, but some of the jewels stayed dark. St. Catherine asked why and Mary said those were the graces people forgot to ask for. So I often ask Mary to send me a grace that people forget to ask for, so another jewel can light up.

I think those of us who have a devotion to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal think often about requesting grace, because she appeared as “Our Lady of Grace” that time. And also those who pray the 54-day traditional Rosary Novena because you ask for a different grace each decade for all 15 decades. Our Lady can really turn one’s mind to grace and praying for grace.
 
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Thank you for posting this thread. It’s opened my eyes to something I’ve never really focused on.
God Bless!
 
I can honestly say I cannot name an instance of asking for a grace and not receiving it. I think many dont even know to ask for grace in their trials. Not finding the strength in themselves they ultimately turn from God in anger. I fear souls are lost due to this ignorance. I think we can also ask for sanctifying grace specifically. Though I cannot name an example except to say that anything good in my heart is His and put there by Him.
 
Catholics with a capital “C” (critiqued and corrected written reports for 31 years). There are many aspects of the faith which are not stressed as much as they could be. Much teaching is outside the purview and purpose of the mass. But, it is hard enough to get folks to give up a single hour per week. Asking for an additional hour for adult catechism might gain a few who were interested, but IMO would net mostly bemused expressions.
 
I kind of hoped we could just try to tell the person next to us. If they ask for it God will teach them.
 
That much is true, but the western world is far too involved with material things and the general busyness of life. Distractions.

By asking the question, you are probably stimulating some thought in this regard. That is very good.

The problem is not that we never seem to get what we ask for - it is that we do not ask.
 
I typically pray to Our Lady before I have to have a difficult conversation with a staff member. And every single time I end up tackling the conversation with excellent professionalism and articulate language. And I am not normally a direct or articulate speaker.
 
It took me a while to ask our Lady’s intercession. I ask her daily to obtain from her Son those graces for my soul that it may be pleasing to Him.
 
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