gratia actualis
Actual Grace
God's passing help for a particular moment — the nudge to pray, the strength to resist temptation, the light to see the right thing to do.
grace for an act
Where sanctifying grace is a lasting state, actual graces are God's interventions at particular moments: at the beginning of conversion or in the course of the work of sanctification, as the Catechism puts it. A sudden desire to return to Confession, courage in a hard conversation, an insight while reading Scripture — these are actual graces. God can give them even to someone not in a state of grace, moving a person in mortal sin to repent.
Not to be confused with Sanctifying Grace.
Councils
Where the Church settled or debated this. Follow a council to read our article on it, or the decrees themselves.
- 529Second Council of OrangeActs 15
- 1545–1563Council of Trentthe decrees
Sources checked 29 September 2026