fit: "Blessed is he whom Thou hast chosen and taken to Thee; he shall dwell in Thy courts."[1] Election, therefore, may be justly called the grace of graces, since God, in His boundless liberality, bestows it upon us before we have merited it; for, while giving to each one what is necessary for his salvation, He wills, as absolute master of His gifts, to bestow them in greater abundance upon certain souls, without any injury, however, to others less favored. It is also the grace of graces not only because it is the greatest, but because it is the source of all the others. For in predestining man to glory God determines to bestow upon him all the graces necessary to attain this happiness. This He has declared by the mouth of His prophet: "I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore have I drawn thee, taking pity on thee."[2] This truth is still more clearly expressed by the Apostle "For whom He foreknew He also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn amongst many brethren. And whom He predestinated, them also He called. And whom He called, them also He justified. And whom He justified, them also He glorified."[3] A father who destines his son for a special career in life prepares and educates him from his boyhood with a view to this career. In like manner, when God has predestined a soul to eternal happiness He directs her in the path of justice, that she may attain the end for which He has chosen her.
