The biggest difference in the understanding of justification between the Catholic and the Protestant is that the Catholic takes the word to mean the lifelong process which the Christian undergoes - a process that starts with faith and is lived out. The Protestant, on the other hand, takes justification to be God's external pronouncement that the sinner is regarded as righteous in His sight, thus marking the beginning of the Christian life. It is faith that sustains the Protestant after this beginning. If, therefore, faith entreats and receives justification, according as God has apportioned to each in the measure of his faith, nothing of human merit precedes the grace of God, but grace itself merits increase, and the increase merits perfection, with the will accompanying but not leading, following along but not going in advance. The first effect of justification is peace.
Reconciliation replaces estrangement.
Through the Eucharist, the resurrected Body, Blood, Soul and Divinity of Christ, we join in the family meal and share in the resurrection. Notice that to this point we have been addressing the first theological virtue, faith. The second effect of our justification is hope, the second theological virtue. The gift of the Holy Spirit is not only the proof but also the medium of the outpouring. The setting is at the Last Supper in the upper room.