How Could I get Preventative Grace?

[Metaron]

I was wondering, about something. After about a year of going through my Anglican period, I was going through a lot of problems. I admit, I had drank alcohol and smoked pot on and off for about a year, as well as alot of other unsavory things of which I am greatly ashamed . This period was a “dark night of the Soul” to me, in the words of St.John of the Cross. I knew I had to change. One day, an Anglican nun at my church told me about the rosary. I was interested; I already knew what it was, and how to use it, but I never had before. I promptly bought one at a local Gospel Shoppe, and prayed it every night. The results, were no less than amazing! I found that, whenever I prayed the rosary, the following day I could say no to my previous temptations so easily, it was like a wieght off my shoulders! A rosary a day keeps the devil away!, I like to say.
Anyway, I was wondering, is there any specific teaching of the Church on preventative grace? And, if so, is there any other way it can be abtained?

If you pray the rosary, IN AN AUDIBLE VOICE, and truly MEDITATE ON THE EVENTS of the rosary, I tell you, may graces will come; I found it particularly true with preventative grace.

 

[Adam41]

I was wondering, is there any specific teaching of the Church on preventative grace? And, if so, is there any other way it can be abtained?

God bless you … so wonderful to hear of your spiritual conversion.

Not real sure what the term “preventative grace” means… don’t think I’ve heard that one before… but I think this might be what you are looking for:

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
1393 Holy Communion separates us from sin. The body of Christ we receive in Holy Communion is “given up for us,” and the blood we drink “shed for the many for the forgiveness of sins.” For this reason the Eucharist cannot unite us to Christ without at the same time cleansing us from past sins **and preserving us from future sins… **(emphasis mine)

Hope that helps… keep praying the Rosary.

John Paul pray for us,
Scott

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Great joy to read of the help you have received through The Rosary.
I think you may be thinking of Actual Grace (what you call - Preventative Grace):

secondexodus.com/html/catholicdefinitions/actualgrace.htm

Although this article is somewhat lengthy (not too bad!) it is written with simplicity of expression, hence easy to understand:
catholic.com/library/Grace_What_It_Is.asp

As well as The Mass and reception of The Blessed Eucharist and prayer in general, The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a wondrous source of Actual Grace - we humbly and with simplicity confess our sins and failings, large and small, even those from our past to renew our sorrow and contrition to God. This Sacrament is also, of course, a source of Santifying Grace.

Barb

 

[Dempsey1919]

I have also received many graces through the recitation of the Rosary. It is a very powerful prayer. I know that Our Lord and his Blessed Mother help me on a daily basis through the aid of the Rosary.

Many Saints have called the Rosary a spiritual weapon and St Padre Pio was known to say the Rosary constantly throughout the day.

What the OP has described is a common experience to all who pray the Rosary regularly. This prayer breaks sin and temptation in an amazing way. I have personally broken a habitual sin through saying the Rosary.

In fact, were it not for graces that I recieved through the recitation of the Rosary, I doubt that I would have ever returned to the Church. During my period of return, I used to pray the Rosary on a daily basis and ask for graces to understand problematic doctrines etc. The Rosary is responsible for my return to the Church.

I encourage all to say the Rosary. Read this Apostolic Letter of John Paul II on the Rosary for more information on this great prayer:

Rosarium Virginis Mariae
vatican.va/holy_father/john_paul_ii/apost_letters/documents/hf_jp-ii_apl_20021016_rosarium-virginis-mariae_en.html

Here is a quote from the above letter that I particularly like:

The Rosary, though clearly Marian in character, is at heart a Christocentric prayer. In the sobriety of its elements, it has all the depth of the Gospel message in its entirety, of which it can be said to be a compendium. It is an echo of the prayer of Mary, her perennial Magnificat for the work of the redemptive Incarnation which began in her virginal womb. With the Rosary, the Christian people sits at the school of Mary and is led to contemplate the beauty on the face of Christ and to experience the depths of his love.

 

[scriabin]

All the replies thus far are great; but I would like to mention a little misunderstanding in the term “dark night of the soul.”

“Dark night of the soul” doesn’t refer to any dark sins or misbehavior of any kind. In fact, it is something God does to faithful Christians in a state of grace.

God takes away from the individual the good feelings and consolations that typically come from prayer, spiritual reading, works of mercy, etc.

He does this to have the soul do good works and have faith for the sheer love of God and not for the love of any consolations that the soul might get attached to.

The soul can’t “see” or “feel” any consolations, hence it is “blind” and in a “dark” groping state. That’s the “dark night of the soul” which can last for years.

In your particular case, one of the rosary’s consolations is the power to resist temptation. When you’re spiritually able, the Holy Spirit might take away this consolation. Will you still pray the rosary for the sheer love of the Blessed Mother and God?

It sounds as if you’re making great strides in the spiritual life. God Bless.

 

[TOP]

Metaron, It is great to hear you are praying the rosary and are benefiting from it. My Priest once explained “the dark night” as one who is inside during a snowstorm and goes outside in the fresh white snow. It is so bright, your eyes can’t adjust to the light and you are blinded until your eyes can adjust. You are so close to the Lord during the dark night you are blinded and can’t see, but obedience and faith keep you going. I’m on a rollercoaster of dryness and consolations for short periods, sometimes just hours, but deeply felt. Sometimes I can barely pray and other times I pray with heartfelt tears. It is very tiring. The fact that you are praying the rosary daily is something you will need to continue if you find yourself without consolations. To presevere in prayer despite the lack of benefits felt from it. Reconciliation, Mass, the Eucharist, prayer, staying in communion with the body of Christ is a great souce of grace. I personally have found protection in Mary through the St. deMontfort’s consecration to Jesus through Mary. He has a book called “True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin” that explains it and there is a 33 day preparation of prayer. mostly to the Holy Spirit, preceeding it. This is something to talk to a spiritual director or Priest about and usually done in a group in the parish. Though I often fall short in my daily devotions and prayers, I am still a child of Mary , who she watches and intercede’s with prayer to her son Jesus for me. It seems He has granted some protection to me from spiritual attacks as they have subsided greatly. Doing a daily rosary, you sound like you are ready for the disipline of this devotion. It is not a magic fix all, but a way of acknowledging your failures, merits, everything you can offer in humility and letting Mary offer them to Jesus for you in accord to the will of God as she always does His will. The offering is perfected through her hands and is pleasing to God despite our shortcomings in virtue. Something for you to look into if you like. Hope you have been helped in some way. Tim

 

[Metaron]

Thank you all so much for your responses! There is alot of insight in all of them. Thank you for explaining the “dark night” to me. At any rate, I will keep praying the rosary, and, as soon as I get my hands on one, I will pray the chotki as well. I also say “Immaculate Heat of Mary, pray for us, now and at the hour of our death. Amen” for each family member I give a green scapular too, for their conversion to the Catholic faith. (My father, being a fundamentalist, refused to recieve one, so I took it, and, while he was not looking, snuck it under the matress of his bed! I ckeck up on it every now and then, when I visit them.) But, since I an still technically Anglican Catholic, going through RCIA, and not Roman Catholic, I cannot recieve the Sacrament of Confession or the most Sublime Gift of the Eucharist . Are there any more especially effective ways to abtain actual grace?

 

[TOP]

Metaron, This is taken from the Catholic encyclopedia.

“For, according to the express teaching of the Apostle Paul and of the Fathers of the Church, the gratuity of grace is rooted solely in the supreme freedom of the Divine will, and the nature of man possesses not even the slightest claim to grace. As a consequence, the relapse into Semipelagianism is unavoidable as soon as we seek in the positive disposition or preparation a cause for the bestowal of grace. It should be remembered, moreover, that nature is never found in its pure form, but that, from the beginning, mankind is defiled by original sin. This consideration still more forcibly puts before us the necessity of denying to sinful nature the power to draw down upon itself, like an arid region, the effusion of Divine grace, either by its natural constitution or its own endeavours.”

This may confuse you some but is the backbone of asking for intervention from Mary the Immaculate Conception.

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, and sought thy intercession was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother, to thee I come, before thee I stand sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate! despise not my petitions, but, in thy mercy, hear and answer me. Amen

Give thanks and seek God’s will in your life with the talents you have already received. Tim

 

[Adam41]

Are there any more especially effective ways to abtain actual grace?

As a convert myself (2004) I can relate to what for me was torment in not being able to receive the Eucharist… but going to Mass and being present with the Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity of Jesus Christ I’m sure will help you in your daily walk of conversion.

The Catechism (which I hope you are reading) teaches that “Grace is a participation in the life of God…The grace of Christ is the gratuitous gift that God makes to us of his own life, infused by the Holy Spirit into our soul to heal it of sin and to sanctify it. It is the sanctifying or deifying grace received in Baptism. It is in us the source of the work of sanctification…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.” (cf. #1997-2000)

May God bless you!
Scott

ps Looking for a free rosary? Check out the Rosary Army and get a free one!

 

[water]

As a Catholic, confession has been the great mean for me to receive graces from God.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

As a Catholic, confession has been the great mean for me to receive graces from God.

… …

 

[Metaron]

As a Catholic, confession has been the great mean for me to receive graces from God.

That’s great, but, unfortunately, I am going through RCIA right now and cannot recieve confession or the Most Sublime Eucharist. I was wondering what sort of sacramentals I could use to gain actual grace, or preventative grace, to combat temptations, because this is my first period in a while where I cannot recieve the Sublime Eucharist, as I used to in the Anglican Catholic Church. (With apostolic succession, by the way) In that church, we had general confession every sunday and personal confession twice a year, once at Christmas and again in Lent. But now, in RCIA, I cannot go to confession or partake of the Sublime Gift. I can only watch the Mass. So I was wondering what kind of sacramentals could help fight temptation during this period (and all eras of my life).

 

[4loveofJesus]

May God’s peace, love and mercy be with you and to all!

Try to go to holy mass on weekdays aside from weekends. Adore Our Good Lord Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. You can do this by coming early or leaving later after holy mass and spend some time with Him from 5 to 30 min. or even longer depending on how the Holy Spirit moves you. You can also do this by dropping by anytime at any Catholic Church or by going to a perpetual adoration chapel where he is exposed in the monstrance 24 hrs. a day.

You can spend your time in adoration of Our Good Lord Jesus by saying any prayers that you know or just talk to Him from your heart. You can also do some spiritual reading or you can just sit there with your eyes closed or gaze at Him and just enjoy His Most Awesome Adorable Presence.

Also, try praying the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy.

ewtn.com/Devotionals/mercy/dmmap.htm

God bless!

Blessed be Jesus and Mary!

 

[water]

That’s great, but, unfortunately, I am going through RCIA right now and cannot recieve confession or the Most Sublime Eucharist. .

I believe I read somewhere on other forum “Liturgy and Sacraments” (forums.catholic-questions.org/forumdisplay.php?f=15) that you could ask the pastor if it is possible for you to go to confession; however, the priest will not give you Absolution.

4loveofJesus gave great suggestions - attend mass and Eucharistic Adoration.

 

[Adam41]

So I was wondering what kind of sacramentals could help fight temptation during this period (and all eras of my life).

Hello my friend… again, as a convert myself, I remember going through all of what you are going through now… hang in there! It is SOOOOO worth the wait as I’m sure you know.

As far as sacramentals, I think it might help you to remember that a specific sacramental is not to be used for “gaining” a specific benefit…

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches:
"Sacramentals do not confer the grace of the Holy Spirit in the way that the sacraments do, but by the Church’s prayer, they prepare us to receive grace and dispose us to cooperate with it. “For well-disposed members of the faithful, the liturgy of the sacraments and sacramentals sanctifies almost every event of their lives with the divine grace which flows from the Paschal mystery of the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of Christ. From this source all sacraments and sacramentals draw their power. There is scarcely any proper use of material things which cannot be thus directed toward the sanctification of men and the praise of God.” #1670

… and so I believe it is important to remember that the use of a sacramental prepares you to receive the help you need to fight temptation, and with** your proper disposition**, sacramentals will provide them to you in abundance.

Your friend in Christ,
A. Scott Woodill

 

[Metaron]

… and so I believe it is important to remember that the use of a sacramental prepares you to receive the help you need to fight temptation, and with** your proper disposition**, sacramentals will provide them to you in abundance.

Your friend in Christ,
A. Scott Woodill

I know, and I think I have a proper disposition because I don’t use the sacramentals superstitiously, Jesus knows I just want to do everything I can to remain free from sin and stay in a state of grace, and recieve actual grace. Is this not the proper disposition?

 

[water]

I know, and I think I have a proper disposition because I don’t use the sacramentals superstitiously, Jesus knows I just want to do everything I can to remain free from sin and stay in a state of grace, and recieve actual grace. Is this not the proper disposition?

Your desire should be everyone’s desire and it is God’s desire as well. Be patient to yourself and allow God to work and mold you into a better person as He intends you to be. We all want to be free of sins, but we are lack of many virtues which help us reach this stage.

Not long ago, I was praying to be a peace maker, but then I came to realize that I could not reach to this point yet. God has shown me my weakness and other areas where I should work on first before becoming a peace maker.

You know what He wanted me to know? - I am now a peace breaker; I need to work on my pride.

It is a good thing to know where I am at.

 

[EHRAM]

I only recently learned of the green scapular and I am confused. If sacramentals prepare the well-disposed to receive grace, why is it that the green scapular sacramental can be used to effect the conversion of someone who is not well-disposed? I realize that the scapular must be given in faith, even if the recipient has no faith.

 

[Metaron]

I only recently learned of the green scapular and I am confused. If sacramentals prepare the well-disposed to receive grace, why is it that the green scapular sacramental can be used to effect the conversion of someone who is not well-disposed? I realize that the scapular must be given in faith, even if the recipient has no faith.

Yes, this is call vicariousness. Even though the person I may give the green scapular too may be totally against God’s Church, it works because of my disposition and my faith that God may convert them, not out of there faith. This is what is meant by vicarious.

 

[Linda_Marie]

Anyway, I was wondering, is there any specific teaching of the Church on preventative grace? And, if so, is there any other way it can be abtained?

Once you have completed RCIA and been fully accepted into the church, as others have advised, frequent reception of the Sacraments - Mass, Holy Communion and Confession obtains preventative grace.

Even if you can’t go yet, you will make your First Confession before you can be Confirmed. When you are tempted now, think about all that you will be adding to that confession. Sometimes just the thought of telling someone who you want to think well of you that you have sinned is enough to make you stop and not go through with it.

You already pray the Rosary. This is a powerful sacramental from which you are already obtaining preventative grace. For me, the sacramental that works best for this is the blessed crucifix. I wear one and I have one in every room of my house. Right before me, always, is my Crucified Lord. The thought of doing something that would be displeasing to Him, that would hurt Him, who loves me so much that He went through that death for me is usually sufficient to turn me away.

Another devotion is the 15 Prayers of St. Bridget, which is an intense meditation on the Passion. As I understand it, the promises attached to them were added by someone else at a later date and are not part of the private revelation to St. Bridget. Nonetheless, the prayers are still beneficial.