What exactly does the Church teach about freewill

[YehoiakhinEx232]

Before my reversion to the Catholic Faith, I used to believe that Catholics in complete libertarian view of free will. Now I realize that, that’s not the case at all, that God’s grace plays a huge, HUGE, part in human lives. But I’m still not sure exactly what the Church teaches in regards to free will, so now I’m asking everyone here, what exactly does the Church teach? Would the Catholic view of free will be classified as “libertarian” or “compatiblist?” How would one explain the Catholic view of free will to a secular philosopher?

 

[Vico]

Before my reversion to the Catholic Faith, I used to believe that Catholics in complete libertarian view of free will. Now I realize that, that’s not the case at all, that God’s grace plays a huge, HUGE, part in human lives. But I’m still not sure exactly what the Church teaches in regards to free will, so now I’m asking everyone here, what exactly does the Church teach? Would the Catholic view of free will be classified as “libertarian” or “compatiblist?” How would one explain the Catholic view of free will to a secular philosopher?

Catechism

1730 God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. …

1732 As long as freedom has not bound itself definitively to its ultimate good which is God, there is the possibility of choosing between good and evil, and thus of growing in perfection or of failing and sinning. This freedom characterizes properly human acts. It is the basis of praise or blame, merit or reproach.

1733 The more one does what is good, the freer one becomes. There is no true freedom except in the service of what is good and just. The choice to disobey and do evil is an abuse of freedom and leads to "the slavery of sin."28

1739 Freedom and sin. Man’s freedom is limited and fallible. In fact, man failed. He freely sinned. By refusing God’s plan of love, he deceived himself and became a slave to sin. This first alienation engendered a multitude of others. From its outset, human history attests the wretchedness and oppression born of the human heart in consequence of the abuse of freedom.

1742 … By the working of grace the Holy Spirit educates us in spiritual freedom in order to make us free collaborators in his work in the Church and in the world …

 

[YehoiakhinEx232]

And how exactly does grace, and God’s will pay into this?

 

[Vico]

And how exactly does grace, and God’s will pay into this?

There are three periods to consider:

1. Before conversion (baptism).
2. After conversion (baptism) in a state of sanctifying grace.
3. After conversion but fallen - not in a state of sanctifying grace (which is a loss of charity).

In the first God give actual graces that a person may be converted.
In the second God strengthens (precedes the free act of the will) every good act of the person such that is it possible remain without mortal sin.
In the third the person must first repent and confess to regain the state of sanctifying grace.
Christ merited all supernatural graces received by fallen mankind.

 

[YehoiakhinEx232]

Okay, so it’s people are most free when they are in a state of grace?