Grace, Actual and Habitual: A Dogmatic Treatise

"Grace, Actual and Habitual: A Dogmatic Treatise" by Joseph Pohle is a theological work written in the early 20th century. This treatise explores the concepts of actual and habitual grace as understood within the Catholic tradition, with a focus on their definitions, properties, and implications for free will in relation to salvation. The author, a noted professor of dogmatic theology, aims to elucidate the nature of divine grace and its critical role in the justification and sanctification of individuals. The opening of this treatise introduces fundamental distinctions between two types of grace: actual grace, which is a transient supernatural help that enables a person to perform good works, and habitual grace, or sanctifying grace, which is an enduring state that renders individuals pleasing to God. Pohle outlines the necessity of grace for salvation, emphasizing its gratuitous nature, the universality of God's grace, and its relationship to human free will. He presents his argument within the framework of dogmatic theology, referencing early Church Fathers and theological systems to clarify the importance and effects of grace in human salvation and spiritual growth.