I've been working on some Biblical projects lately. One of these has made me look up some of the ways the word "grace" is used in the New Testament epistles. Specifically, I was looking for instances which jive with the Catholic notion of a "habitual grace".
The Catechism (CCC 2000) defines "Habitual grace" as a permanent disposition to live and act in keeping with God's call. As with all things called "grace", this is a gift from God. It inheres within you, and enables you to live out your vocation.
Let's take a look.
The first group of examples come from Peter and Paul's letters. They both say that different grace(s) are given to people to fulfill the various vocations God has given them:
"Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ." - 1Peter 4:10-11
"We have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us: prophecy, in proportion to faith; ministry, in ministering; the teacher, in teaching; the exhorter, in exhortation; the giver, in generosity; the leader, in diligence; the compassionate, in cheerfulness." - Romans 12:6-8
"But each of us was given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift. [] The gifts He gave were that some would be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ." - Ephesians 4:7-13
Likewise, Paul talks about the power fulfill his own unique calling in this way:
"According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building on it." - 1 Corinthians 3:10
"Although I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given to me to bring to the Gentiles the news of the boundless riches of Christ." - Ephesians 3:8
These next five passages talk about grace as a source of strength for one's heart as we live out daily walk:
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.' So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9
"Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings; for it is well for the heart to be strengthened by grace, not by regulations about food, which have not benefited those who observe them." - Hebrews 13:9
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me has not been in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them—though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me." - 1Corinthians 15:10
"You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." - 2Timothy 2:1
"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." - Titus 2:11-13
Next, Saint Peter says grace is something you can "grow in". Does that mean you can become more filled more of it, thus making you stronger? Or perhaps its like how Superman grows stronger when exposed to the light of the sun?
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - 2 Peter 3:18
Lastly, Saint Paul says that our words can confer grace onto others:
"Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that your words may give grace to those who hear." - Ephesians 4:29
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