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Dec 18, 2022Liked by Phillip Hadden, Chantal LaFortune, Deacon Mark Mueller

Yes, I must confess that I am more preoccupied with the state of my own soul. I easily forget to pray for others’s hearts to be softened; for grace to be extended to them; to accept that grace willingly.

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Dec 18, 2022Liked by Phillip Hadden

Exactly, I totally agree! Well said!!!

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I receive the gift of faith--I don't give it. The Holy Spirit gives it. We can bear witness but not give faith and/or grace.

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I read the passages you have quoted from Aquinas and Fulton Sheen a little differently. Rather than directing them toward those to whom we are to speak, I read them as directed towards us, the ones who must speak. we must receive the gift of faith ourselves before we can speak. But we must continually receive it again, because we ourselves are often challenged in faith, especially when it comes to being willing to step out in faith to speak to others. We must be strengthened in our own faith by continual prayer in order to be able to speak to those to whom we are sent. 

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In order to have grace, we need to draw close to God (cf. James 4:5-10; 1Peter 5:5-7). This goes further than the belief faith applied to the revelation of the gospel. Luke 20:18 refers to faith in Christ. Abraham had faith in God. Drawing close to God is an act of the will. The Holy Spirit that is associated with Baptism imparts faith to us by the fruit of the Spirit when we walk in the Spirit (cf. Galatians 5:16-26). Assenting to whatever has been divinely delivered is only part of it.

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