What is grace?
Grace is what God freely gives us to believe in Him and the essential truths, to live in accordance to His divine will, to be sanctified, and to be saved.
In what way is grace communicated to us?
The way grace is communicated to us is through the sacraments.
Which sacraments has God given to His Church?
God has given His Church exactly seven sacraments through which He communicates His grace: Baptism (Christening), Confirmation (Chrismation), Eucharist, Confession (Penance), Holy Orders, Holy Matrimony, Anointing of the Sick (Extreme Unction).
Are there other forms of communicating grace?
There are other forms of communicating grace.
What other forms are there?
God communicates His grace through the sacraments, but also prayer.
Is there a difference between the grace given through the sacraments and that which is given through prayer?
There isn't a difference in essence between the grace given through the sacraments and that which is given through prayer. However, there is a difference in terms of method. [WHAT DO WE MEAN BY DIFFERENCE IN ESSENCE]
What do we mean by differences in method?
By differences in method, we mean that there is a difference in operation, intention, and reception.
What do we mean by operation?
By operation, we mean how the sacraments and prayer are effectuated.
What do we mean by intention?
By intention, we mean the objective or target good we seek to obtain, as well as the action we wish to perform.
What do we mean by reception?
By reception, we mean the way or manner in which the grace is received.
In what way do sacraments operate?
The sacraments operate ex opere operato, meaning by the work done. This is to say that the sacraments effectuate the transmission of grace to the receiver in virtue of the rite itself, regardless of the faith of the receiver.
In what way does prayer operate?
Prayer operates in virtue of supernatural faith given by God to the individual who prays.
How does the operation in the sacraments differ from that found in prayer?
The sacraments depend only on a valid rite, whilst prayer depends on the disposition of the supplicant, that is, the person who is making the prayer.
How does the intention in the sacraments differ from that found in prayer?
[ADD ACTUAL AND SANCTIFYING GRACE]
RESOURCES:
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06689a.htm
https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_three/section_one/chapter_three/article_2/ii_grace.html
https://www.traditionalcatechism.com/grace.php
https://thomism.wordpress.com/?s=grace
https://www.athomist.com/articles/tag/Grace