Q. 467. {109} What is Charity? A. Charity is a Divine virtue by which we love God above all things for His own sake, and our neighbor as ourselves for the love of God. Q. 468. Why are Faith, Hope and Charity called virtues? A. Faith, Hope and Charity are called virtues because they are not mere acts, but habits by which we always and in all things believe God, hope in Him, and love Him. Q. 469. What kind of virtues are Faith, Hope and Charity? A. Faith, Hope and Charity are called infused theological virtues to distinguish them from the four moral virtues--Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance. Q. 470. Why do we say the three theological virtues are infused and the four moral virtues acquired? A. We say the three theological virtues are infused; that is, poured into our souls, because they are strictly gifts of God and do not depend upon our efforts to obtain them, while the four moral virtues--Prudence, Justice, Fortitude and Temperance--though also gifts of God, may, as natural virtues, be acquired by our own efforts. Q. 471. Why do we believe God, hope in Him, and love Him? A. We believe God and hope in Him because He is infinitely true and cannot deceive us. We love Him because He is infinitely good and beautiful and worthy of all love. Q. 472. What mortal sins are opposed to Faith? A. Atheism, which is a denial of all revealed truths, and heresy, which is a denial of some revealed truths, and superstition, which is a misuse of religion, are opposed to Faith. Q. 473. Who is our neighbor? A. Every human being capable of salvation of every age, country, race or condition, especially if he needs our help, is our neighbor in the sense of the Catechism. Q. 474. Why should we love our neighbor? A. We should love our neighbor because he is a child of God, redeemed by Jesus Christ, and because he is our brother created to dwell in heaven with us. Q. 475. {110} What is actual grace? A. Actual grace is that help of God which enlightens our mind and moves our will to shun evil and do good. Q. 476. {111} Is grace necessary to salvation? A. Grace is necessary to salvation, because without grace we can do nothing to merit heaven. Q. 477. {112} Can we resist the grace of God? A. We can, and unfortunately often do, resist the grace of God. Q. 478. Is it a sin knowingly to resist the grace of God? A. It is a sin, knowingly, to resist the grace of God, because we thereby insult Him and reject His gifts without which we cannot be saved. Q. 479. Does God give His grace to every one? A. God gives to everyone He creates sufficient grace to save his soul; and if persons do not save their souls, it is because they have not used the grace given. Q. 480. {113} What is the grace of perseverance? A. The grace of perseverance is a particular gift of God which enables us to continue in the state of grace till death.