A MAP OF LIFE natural Life is that in this life we have access to God by these three paths — faith, hope, charity — aH of them totally above the natural powers of our soul. A second result is that man is enabled to peifefm actions which will merit a supernatural reward. The life of heaven, be it remembered, is a life above our nature. Therefore we could never merit it by our own natural powers. Natural action could obviously never merit a supernatural reward. Only if we are supernaturalized and thus made capable of acting above our nature can we merit a reward above our nature. For a soul in a state of grace, this is simple enough. What of a soul which lacks the Supernatural Life, either having lost it or never having had it? Such a soul has only the natural life and as such can make no step supernaturally. If it is to be enabled so to act as to gain — or regain — the Supernatural Life, it must receive a special “impulse’’ from God. Such an “impulse” is called Actual Grace. This must be 'distinguished from the Sanctifying Grace — or Supernatural Life — we have been treating of so far. Sanctifying Grace is really a quality given to the soul, elevating it from within, abiding with the soul till it is lost by sin. Actual grace does not abide with the soul, does not sanctify it. It is God moving the soul, giving it a kind of impetus, enabling it to perform some supernatural act — of faith, or trust, or fear — which by its own nature it could not perform. If the soul responds to actual grace and makes the appropriate supernatural act, it receives Sancti126