For those of us growing up in the Age of Mercy, especially
with all the gifts connected to the devotion and promise connected to the
Divine Mercy, as revealed to St. Faustina, the ideas in the chapter on Providence and Mercy will come as no
surprise.
A few points to summarize from Garrigou-Lagrange:
1) Mercy
is linked to Justice, but “superior”.
2) It
is giving that which is not strictly necessary.
3) It
is based on pure goodness, as is Justice.
4) Sanctifying
grace is from mercy.
5) The
Sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross is THE act of mercy.
6) “Justice
loses none of its rights, but it is mercy which prevails” because of the Cross.
7) The
Eucharist is a result of Divine Mercy.
8) Those
raised Catholic and Christian have been given mercy over and above the graces
necessary for salvation.
9) “…the
gifts of mercy go far beyond anything we have deserved.”
10) “The grace
of absolution from mortal sin is not something that can be merited, it is a
gratuitous gift. And how often has that grace been granted to us!”
More later….to be continued….