WDTPRS: Laetare Sunday

Grant, we beseech You, almighty God: that we who are being afflicted because of the blamefulness of our acting, may revive by consolation of Your grace. Ancient Roman prayers are courtly, elegant. They turn divine characteristics, such as glory and grace, into forms of address, like “tua gratia”. In England people address Cardinals as “Your Grace”. Latin gratia concerns “favor”, the kindness extended to us or the thanks we return (gratias agere). Conceptually it also has, like meritum, an undertone of recompense. “Grace” in the Christian view is something God is in no way compelled to give: it is free gift.