The Church also teaches that “all is grace”.

jeremiah October 18, 2011 at 11:43 AM

Mr. Richard,

I am glad you raised that point. All Christians believe that salvation is by grace ALONE. To say anything else, would be to fall into the heresies of Pelgianism or Semi-Pelagianism. Simply put, we can not save ourselves. However, as Catholics we would not say that this constitutes faith alone because Scripture and tradition both say so. Rather, we are saved by our Christian life that is constituted by the theological virtues of faith, hope and love. Of course such a life begins and is rooted in faith. Faith and works is true but so is grace ALONE.
God bless.

De Maria September 1, 2012 at 7:45 PM

Hi Jeremiah and Richard,

Although I think I understand both sides, I fall on Richard’s side in that question of whether the Church teaches that salvation is by grace or by grace alone.

As far as I know, the Protestant doctrine of grace alone was used to discount everything from the authority of the Church to the validity of the priesthood. In the case of Calvinism, it is even used to discredit the human will. So, although many of our Catholic brethren, converts from Protestantism, use the phrase liberally, I’ve yet to see it officially taught by the Catholic Church.

The Catholic Church teaches that God created the world ALONE but did not choose to save us ALONE, that is, without our effort. I believe St. Augustine said something to that effect.

CCC 1847 “God created us without us: but he did not will to save us without us.”116 To receive his mercy, we must admit our faults. “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”117

Although that does not explicitly refer to salvation by grace, I believe it applies.

The Church teaches salvation by grace (not alone) through faith. The Church also teaches that “all is grace”. In other words, all which we do in response to the grace of God is itself by the grace of God. Therefore, “all” is grace.

Sincerely,

De Maria