Garrigou-Lagrange

Can fallen man, without the concurrence of actual grace, prepare himself for sanctifying grace? To this question the Semi-Pelagians answered Yes, saying the beginning of salvation comes from our nature and that grace comes with this initial natural movement of good will. They were condemned by the Second Council of Orange, which affirmed the necessity of actual, prevenient grace in our preparation for conversion.

- Reginald Garrigou-Lagrange, Reality: A Synthesis of Thomistic Thought. (St.Louis:Herder Book, 1950), page#.

Further insight into actual grace. I think this is interesting because I think blessings have been rejected in large part because they are seen as semi-pelagian or superstitious, but the corrective is neither Pelagian nor Lutheran. A Catholic understanding of grace, distinguished by STA help us to see that if blessings are an instrumental cause of actual grace, God's sovereignty is protected and man's duty to sanctify is fulfilled.

I've just had an epiphany. If one could elaborate the scriptural mandate to sanctify, just as once clearly can demonstrate a mandate to pray "when you pray say this: Our Father", it might give insight into the necessity of blessings in the life of grace in the soul. One immediate thought: the institution at the last supper includes the reference to our Lord "blessing" the bread and wine, and instructing his apostles to repeat the offering / blessing / Eucharist.