We say "chief effects" to show that these are the most important but
not the only effects of the Redemption--for all the benefits of our holy
religion and of its influence upon the world are the effects of the
redemption.
Q. 455. Why did God's justice require satisfaction?
A. God's justice required satisfaction because it is infinite and
demands reparation for every fault. Man in his state of sin could not
make the necessary reparation, so Christ became man and made it for him.
Q. 456. {103} What do you mean by grace?
A. By grace I mean a supernatural gift of God bestowed on us, through
the merits of Jesus Christ, for our salvation.
Q. 457. What does "supernatural" mean?
A. Supernatural means above or greater than nature. All gifts such as
health, learning or the comforts of life, that affect our happiness
chiefly in this world, are called natural gifts, and all gifts such as
blessings that affect our happiness chiefly in the next world are called
supernatural or spiritual gifts.
Q. 458. What do you mean by "merit"?
A. Merit means the quality of deserving well or ill for our actions. In
the question above it means a right to reward for good deeds done.
Q. 459. {104} How many kinds of grace are there?
A. There are two kinds of grace, sanctifying grace and actual grace.
Q. 460. What is the difference between sanctifying grace and actual
grace?
A.
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