Here’s a summary of Grace by Fr. Garrigou-Lagrange, focusing on my favourite theological insight from each chapter and presenting them in a way that ties into contemporary theological interests:
Chapter 1: Definition and Nature of Grace
Garrigou-Lagrange begins by clarifying the traditional meanings of grace—benevolence, gift, and gratitude—both in human and divine contexts. A key insight is his explanation that God’s benevolence “infuses and creates goodness in things,” whereas human benevolence responds to existing goodness (Ia, q.20, a.2). This distinction sets the stage for understanding grace as God’s proactive work in us, emphasizing that all human goodness flows from divine initiative.
Chapter 2: The Necessity of Grace for Salvation
This chapter delves into the necessity of grace for salvation, asserting that due to humanity’s fallen state, grace is essential for the intellect to know supernatural truths and for the will to choose supernatural goods. His key insight – “acts leading to an end must be proportionate to the end” (75) – explains why human nature alone cannot merit eternal life, which is a supernatural end. This reinforces the necessity of grace in our salvation and addresses contemporary theological debates on whether humans can merit heaven without divine help.
Chapter 3: The Transformative Role of Habitual Grace
This chapter makes a vital distinction between actual grace, which aids specific actions, and habitual (sanctifying) grace, which permanently inheres in the soul. Garrigou-Lagrange presents Aquinas definition of habitual grace as “a supernatural gift of God inhering in the soul,” enabling humans to participate in divine nature itself. This insight underscores the transformative nature of habitual grace and clarifies that true sanctification is a stable, enduring transformation, resonating with modern discussions on personal holiness and spiritual growth.
Chapter 4: Traditional Divisions of Grace
Clarifying the distinction between sanctifying grace and gratia gratis data (charismatic gifts), Garrigou-Lagrange emphasizes the superiority of sanctifying grace, which “unites man immediately to God, his final supernatural end” (158). This theological distinction underscores the primacy of personal union with God over the pursuit of charismatic expressions, answering modern questions about the place of extraordinary gifts in the Church. His insight places the emphasis on holiness as the true sign of God’s presence within us, rather than outward displays alone.
Chapters 5–8: Sufficient and Efficacious Grace
In these core chapters, Garrigou-Lagrange addresses the long-standing controversy between sufficient and efficacious grace, clarifying that “sufficient grace confers the power of doing good,” while “efficacious grace causes us to do it” (211). This distinction reveals the depth of divine action in human salvation, where God’s grace is ultimately decisive. For contemporary readers, this insight challenges views that overemphasize human autonomy in salvation, offering a balanced view of free will that honors God’s active role in securing the good for those He elects.
Chapter 9: The Cause of Grace and Human Cooperation
In this chapter, Garrigou-Lagrange maintains Aquinas’ position that “only God Himself can be the principal, efficient, physical cause of grace” (a.1, 306), thus highlighting that grace originates solely from divine action. He differentiates actual grace, which can be received without prior preparation, from habitual grace, which requires preparation due to its permanent nature. This chapter clarifies how grace both initiates and sustains human action, contributing to today’s theological discussions on divine causality and the necessary but secondary role of human cooperation in God’s plan.
Chapters 10–11: Justification and Merit
Garrigou-Lagrange explores how grace transforms the believer through justification, which he describes as a work “greater than creation” (359). He distinguishes between merit de condigno (justice-based merit) and merit de congruo (merit based on God’s generosity), a distinction that remains foundational for understanding salvation as both a gift and a response. This chapter provides a clear basis for reconciling faith and works in salvation, an ongoing discussion in both ecumenical dialogues and Catholic theology.
Chapter 12: Habitual Grace and the Beatific Vision
Concluding with a synthesis of habitual grace as participation in the divine essence, Garrigou-Lagrange emphasizes that grace prepares the soul for the beatific vision, the ultimate purpose of human life. This “participation in God begins now, through grace,” reaching its fullness in eternal union with God (410–411). This insight offers a profound view of deification that speaks to contemporary theological interests in humanity’s final purpose and the transformative goal of divine union.
Conclusion
Garrigou-Lagrange’s Grace is a rigorous theological exploration that remains highly relevant to modern discussions on grace, free will, and divine sovereignty. His distinctions, especially between sufficient and efficacious grace, clarify key issues in the interplay between God’s will and human freedom, while his emphasis on divine initiative corrects tendencies to overvalue human autonomy. For anyone exploring the nature of grace, this work offers a clear, Thomistic foundation for understanding how divine and human actions intersect to fulfill God’s purpose in each soul.
Prodigal Catholic 
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