Original Sin and Grace

• Disobeying God separated Adam and Eve from God's grace.
  
  According to Catholic precepts, man is born into sin by the acts of disobedience toward God by Adam and Eve--the first people created. This disobedience is called "original sin" and it is what separates man from God. Using God's gift of free will, or freedom of choice to accept the divine love of God through the acceptance of the life and sacrifice of His son Jesus Christ, man can overcome original sin to gain grace.
  
  

What Is Grace?

• Jesus' mother Mary exemplifies the Catholic view of a person full of grace.
  
  Receiving grace from God allows man to possess the theological virtues of faith, hope and charity. Embodying these virtues, Mary mother of Jesus exemplifies perfect grace through her faith in God to bear His son, her faith in the Son and the charity she imparted during her life. Believing in Jesus Christ's life and death imputes God's gift of divine life into man's soul--the gift of grace.
  
  

Justification of Grace

• Transforming the soul through trust in Jesus justifies grace.
  
  Justification of grace for Catholics is the act of the cleansing of man's soul of original and personal sin. Transforming the soul comes through the communication by grace of the purity and truth of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
  
  

Increasing Merit of Grace

• Through Jesus the merits of grace are performed.
  
  Serving the community of God through good works toward the sick and needy, and keeping Gods commandments are merits of God's grace. The more a Catholic serves God through acts of charity through His love as well as exhibiting actions of the virtues, the more the merits of grace abound.
  
  

Seven Sacraments

• Celebrating communion exemplifies God's grace.
  
  Exemplifying the signs and instruments of God's grace are the seven Catholic sacraments. Pointing to what is sacred, important and significant ceremonies to Catholics, the sacraments are special occasions to experience God's saving presence. Honoring the sacraments makes man more like Jesus full of grace. Celebrating the first two of the sacraments in the order of Catholic doctrine includes baptism (anointing of babies by priest-blessed water to a new life) and communion (reenacting the last supper by eating bread, or body of Christ, and drinking the wine representing His blood). Reconciliation(penance of sin); confirmation (completion of baptism by avowing before the church the love of God); and marriage (assists man with a helpmate to live a godly life and bring more of Gods children into the world) are the next three of the sequential sacraments. The final two sacraments are holy orders (to serve as Christ as mediator to God as a priest or nun), and anointing the sick (preparing the sick through final confession to enter the eternal home of God).