TY--ITS EFFECTS--MANNER
OF BAPTIZING.

The grace of God is that supernatural assistance which He imparts to us,
through the merits of Jesus Christ, for our salvation. It is called
_supernatural_, because no one by his own natural ability can acquire it.

Without Divine grace we can neither conceive nor accomplish anything for
the sanctification of our souls. "Not that we are sufficient," says the
Apostle, "to think anything of ourselves, as of ourselves; but our
sufficiency is from God."(325) "For it is God who worketh in you, both to
will and to accomplish"(326) anything conducive to your salvation.
"Without Me," says our Lord, "you can do nothing."(327) But in order that
Divine grace may effectually aid us we must co-operate with it, or at
least we must not resist it.

The grace of God is obtained chiefly by prayer and the Sacraments.

A Sacrament is a visible sign instituted by Christ by which grace is
conveyed to our souls. Three things are necessary to constitute a
Sacrament, viz.--a visible sign, invisible grace and the institution by our
Lord Jesus Christ.

Thus, in the Sacrament of Baptism, there is the outward sign, which
consists in the pouring of water and in the formula of words which are
then pronounced; the interior grace or sanctification which is imparted to
the soul: "Be baptized, ... and you shall receive the gift of the Holy
Ghost;"(328) and the ordinance of Jesus Christ, who said: "Teach all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of
the Holy Ghost."(329)

Our Savior instituted seven Sacraments, namely, Baptism, Confirmation,
Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders and Matrimony, which I shall
explain separately.

According to the teachings of Holy Writ, man was created in a state of
innocence and holiness, and after having spent on this earth his allotted
terms of years he was destined, without tasting death, to be translated to
the perpetual society of God in heaven.(330) But in consequence of his
disobedience he fell from his high estate of righteousness; his soul was
defiled by sin; he became subject to death and to various ills of body and
soul and forfeited his heavenly inheritance.

Adam's transgression was not confined to himself, but was transmitted,
with its long train of dire consequences, to all his posterity. It is
called _original_ sin because it is derived from our original progenitor.
"Wherefore," says St. Paul, "as by one man sin entered