theology of grace (St Paul)

This treatise provided a thorough exploration of what grace is, where it comes from, how it reaches people, and it's existential states.

I found that last bit to be most interesting as it discusses how grace evolved alongside man's changing relationship to god from Adam to today. Journet places all of that in relation to the evolution of the church--grace before the church existed (under natural and mosaic law, in anticipation of christ and the church); grace while christ lived (in conjunction with christ and the church); and grace after christ died (mediated by the church).

The author describes the work as "discourses given in the chapel at Ecogia in August 1956. They were presented in their collected form in August 1957 and published by PJ Kennedy in 1960, all before Vatican II.

I picked up this (dense) theological treatise after developing a vague understanding of grace as "an intimate invitation from god to be better", and because I was curious to learn more. Having read it I'd say two things: first--my initial simple understanding of grace wasn't too far off, and second, the Catholic conception of grace is complex.

I found it to be a difficult work to read at points--mostly because I am ignorant of Catholic doctrine, and had to look up even simple things like what the pentecost is and the difference between venial and mortal sin. Still and all, I found it rewarded my attention and the writing itself is fairly clear. ( )