De gratia et De sacramentis in genere

Description

Pohle vol. 7 on grace (ref:1.121) cites Perrone's classic scientific (∵ it lists all its causes) definition of grace (p. 6, §13 // PDF p. 16):

“Gratia actualis est gratuitum illud auxilium, [Causa formalis.] quod Deus [Causa efficiens.] per Christi merita [Causa meritoria.] homini lapso [Causa materialis.] largitur, tum ut eius infirmitati consulat, [Causalitas moralis.] … tum ut eum erigat ad statum supernaturalem atque idoneum faciat ad actus supernaturales eliciendos, [Causalitas physica.] ut iustificationem possit adipisci [Causalitas physica.] in eaque iam consecuta perseverare, donec perveniat ad vitam aeternam. [Causa finalis adaequata.]

Actual grace is that unmerited interior assistance which God, by virtue of the merits of Christ, confers upon fallen man, in order, on the one hand, to remedy his infirmity resulting from sin and, on the other, to raise him to the supernatural order and thereby to render him capable of performing supernatural acts, so that he may attain justification, persevere in it to the end, and thus enter into everlasting life.