Grace initiates and sustains our response
Grace is God's free help enabling our response and participation in his life. Even preparation to receive grace is already his work (CCC 1996–2001). No one earns the initial grace of forgiveness and justification. The believer's cooperation and good works depend first on God's grace and the charity of Christ; Catholic teaching about merit begins with these gifts (CCC 2008–2011).
Scripture
- John 15:5 — Christ is the source of fruitful life.
- Philippians 2:12-13 — God works within believers' willing and acting; this illustrates grace-enabled cooperation.
Primary sources
The Catechism explains grace’s priority:
CCC 2001 makes even preparation to receive grace a work of grace.
The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace.
Passage context and translation
Even preparation for grace depends on grace in this Catholic formulation. The excerpt does not erase distinctions among subsequent confessional accounts.
Before the excerpt
Context summary: The preceding paragraphs describe sanctifying and actual grace.
After the excerpt
Context summary: The paragraph describes grace sustaining collaboration in justification and sanctification.