Joseph Hollcraft MA
Theological Foundations CCP 210
Week 4: September 27, 2007

V. The Supernatural Life: The goal above our nature is the beatific vision—the seeing that causes our bliss (Sheed). Paul writes, “Eye has not seen nor has ear heard, nor has it entered in to the heart of man what God has prepared for them…Here we see through a glass in a dark manner, but then face to face.” Seeing is more than believing, consider the analogy of friends, by seeing them you come to know them--You do not believe in the existence of your friends, you see your friends. It is the nature of the faculty of the intellect “to know things by means of the ideas it forms of them (Sheed, 66). In the beatific vision, our intellect will reach the totality of God and be free from “forming ideas.” Ultimately, the natural needs the supernatural (another plant—new breathing powers). So how do we achieve this participation in the supernatural?—Gratis (cf. Word of the Week on grace).

1. Sanctifying (cf. Word of the Week on sanctify) Grace.

A. By Sanctifying grace we are called sons of God a share in the life of God—the only investment share that is worth losing sleep over. Through this grace, our intellect receives the power to know in a new more radical way; our will to love in a new more radical way (Sheed). The supernatural life in our soul is as real as the air we breathe…more than just passing emotions—objective.

1. The life of the Trinity now dwells within the soul, “acting upon it and energizing it with it life-giving, light-giving, and love-giving energy. This is the process of Sanctifying grace” (Sheed, 70). These three winds of grace equal the theological virtues which have in them God as both their means and their end: “Faith, supremely truthful, hope, supremely desirable; charity, supremely good” (Sheed, 71) …analogy of the baker.

a. Faith (cf. Word of the Week)…What is the eschatological application.

1. Peter’s confession: faith is ecclesial!

b. Hope (cf. Word of the Week)… What is the eschatological application…consider Crossing the Threshold of Hope.

c. Charity: The love of every image and reflection of God is created good. The primary use of love is to love the measure of God that is in it…in this way we are mirrors or reflections of God.

1. The Rich Man and Lazarus: The measure in which we distance ourselves from the poor will be the measure we distant ourselves from God come judgment day.

a. Consult the Catechism on poverty of heart (CCC 2544-2547),

d. The Theological virtues are supernatural habits (consider the meaning of habit). Natural habits are carried out over a period and gradually they become apart of us (to the point that we cease to think about them)--Change takes place over a period on the natural level. The supernatural habits are given to us immediately and they are within us to make immediate change…

1. Here is where the tension of habit begins. As Christians, natural habit can either lead us into the misery of sin and the loss of life in the supernatural habit or it can encourage the divine likeness of faith, hope, and charity!

Homework Assignment: Reflecting upon Sheed, pages 75-105, what is intended by Paul’s words: “Work out you salvation in fear and trembling” (Phil.2.12)? Consider the Incarnation and Paschal Mystery.