"State of Grace"

[Little_Boy_Lost]

Hi all,

How is the Latin Concept of “State of Grace” to be understood in Oriental or Eastern Christian terms. Many of my friends use it to describe being forgiven of all sins and being in God’s Grace and a disposition of receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Thanks!

 

[Sum_Fidelis]

Hi all,

How is the Latin Concept of “State of Grace” to be understood in Oriental or Eastern Christian terms. Many of my friends use it to describe being forgiven of all sins and being in God’s Grace and a disposition of receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Thanks!

Dear friend,that is how I understand it. God bless.

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

Hi all,

How is the Latin Concept of “State of Grace” to be understood in Oriental or Eastern Christian terms. Many of my friends use it to describe being forgiven of all sins and being in God’s Grace and a disposition of receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Thanks!

I’m not sure that the Byzantine East has a concept of “state of grace” since such a concept is usually bound up with the idea of venial and mortal sin (as usual I can’t speak for the Orientals). You’ll find that they Byzantine East has no concept of mortal/venial sin. Actually, since you’re Melkite, if you check out the new Publican’s Prayerbook under the section on confession you’ll find some brief comments on the East and the idea of mortal/venial sin. That being said, the East is very concerned with examining yourself and confessing your sins frequently.

 

[joeantony]

That being said, the East is very concerned with examining yourself and confessing your sins frequently.

That means Latin churches are not concerned with examining yourself and regular confessions. ?? I think its just that an average faithful in the west take it casually!

Joe

 

[Phillip_Rolfes]

That means Latin churches are not concerned with examining yourself and regular confessions. ?? I think its just that an average faithful in the west take it casually!

Joe

I didn’t really mean it that way. I know the Latin Church is also very concerned with regular confession and examination of conscience. I’m just trying to point out that although the notion of mortal/venial sin does not exist in the Byzantine East, that doesn’t mean that sin itself is not of great concern for the East.

 

[Vico]

Hi all,

How is the Latin Concept of “State of Grace” to be understood in Oriental or Eastern Christian terms. Many of my friends use it to describe being forgiven of all sins and being in God’s Grace and a disposition of receiving the Holy Mysteries.

Thanks!

The expressions “state of grace” and “indwelling of the Holy Spirit” reflect their distinct theologies. Either tradition still requires metanoia.

Openness to acceptance of the gift of salvation is needed. If we turn away from God we have no intention of keeping his commandments and we receive the Holy Eucharist, we are eating our own condemnation. When we turn away we do not “put on Christ”, as we are intended to by being made in the likeness of God.

Saint John Chrysotsom states regarding baptism (in his baptisimal document):

“that they may be given the further gifts of sanctification, justice, filial adoption, and inheritance, that they may be brothers and members of Christ, and become dwelling places of the Spirit”.

Prayer of Our Holy Father Basil the Great (exerpt)

I know, O Lord, that if I partake unworthily of your pure body and precious blood, I will be guilty! I will be eating and drinking my own condemnation, not discerning your body and blood. When I consider your loving kindness, O my Christ and my God, I dare come to you who said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” …

Prayer of Our Holy Father John Chrysostom

O God, absolve, remit, and forgive the transgressions I have committed in thought, word, and deed, voluntarily and involuntarily. Pardon all my sins, for you are a gracious and loving God. Allow me to receive your holy body and blood for the good of my soul and the healing of my body; through the prayers of your most pure Mother, of the spiritual and holy powers of heaven who serve you in holiness, and of all the saints who have please you since time began. Yours is the kingdom and yours is the glory. Amen.

In the Apostolic Constution Paenitemini of Pope Paul VI we read:
The kingdom of God announced by Christ can be entered only by a “change of heart” (“metanoia”) that is to say through that intimate and total change and renewal of the entire man—of all his opinions, judgments and decisions—which takes place in him in the light of the sanctity and charity of God, the sanctity and charity which were manifested to us in the Son and communicated fully.(34)

The invitation of the Son to “metanoia” becomes all the more inescapable inasmuch as He not only preaches it but Himself offers an example. Christ, in fact, is the supreme model for those doing penance. He willed to suffer punishment for sins which were not His but those of others.(35)

vatican.va/holy_father/paul_vi/apost_constitutions/documents/hf_p-vi_apc_19660217_paenitemini_en.html

 

[Alexander_Roman]

From the Eastern Christian perspective, “Grace” is the Holy Spirit Himself in our souls and His action to divinize us in Christ, especially through the Most Holy Eucharist, the other Sacraments, prayer, asceticism etc.

We can either be in a dynamic, ever-growing communion with God the Most Holy Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, through our communion with the Orthodox Catholic Church, or else we can be outside that communion.

So “In Communion with God” is to the East what the “State of Grace” is to the West.

Alex