The State of Grace

The state of grace is the condition of a person who possesses sanctifying grace — the share in God's own life, poured into the soul at Baptism, by which the person is justified, adopted as a child of God, and oriented toward eternal life. It is the normal condition of the Christian life and the requirement for fruitful reception of the sacraments (CCC 1996, 2014).

What It Means to Be in a State of Grace

To be in the state of grace is to have one's soul animated by sanctifying grace — the divine life shared with the person through Baptism and sustained through the other sacraments, especially the Eucharist and Reconciliation. The person in the state of grace is united to God as an adopted child and friend; they participate in the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4; CCC 1999).

Losing the State of Grace

Mortal sin destroys sanctifying grace — the divine life leaves the soul. The Catechism is explicit: mortal sin "destroys charity in the heart of man by a grave violation of God's law; it turns man away from God... by preferring an inferior good to him" (CCC 1855). The state of grace is restored through the Sacrament of Reconciliation (CCC 1856).

The State of Grace and the Sacraments

Most sacraments require the state of grace for fruitful reception. The Eucharist may only be received by those not conscious of mortal sin — which is why the Church requires Confession before Communion for those conscious of grave sin. Receiving Communion in the state of mortal sin compounds the sin (CCC 1385, 1415).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you know with certainty you are in a state of grace? The Church teaches that while one cannot have absolute certainty of one's state before God (against Protestant "assurance of salvation"), a person of good conscience who is not aware of unconfessed mortal sin may approach the sacraments with confident hope (CCC 2005).