Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification and for the attainment of eternal life. Even temporal goods, suitable for us, can be merited in accordance with the plan of God. No one, however, can merit theinitial gracewhich is at the origin of conversion and justification.
Veja este tema no Catecismo
Paragraph 2006
2006. The term "merit" refers in general to the recompense owed by a community or a society for the action of one of its members, experienced either as beneficial or harmful, deserving reward or punishment. Merit is relative to the virtue of justice, in conformity with the principle of equality which governs it.
Paragraph 2007
2007. With regard to God, there is no strict right to any merit on the part of man. Between God and us there is an immeasurable inequality, for we have received everything from him, our Creator.
Paragraph 2008
2008. The merit of man before God in the Christian life arises from the fact that God has freely chosen to associate man with the work of his grace. the fatherly action of God is first on his own initiative, and then follows man's free acting through his collaboration, so that the merit of good works is to be attributed in the first place to the grace of God, then to the faithful. Man's merit, moreover, itself is due to God, for his good actions proceed in Christ, from the predispositions and assistance given by the Holy Spirit.
Paragraph 2009
2009. Filial adoption, in making us partakers by grace in the divine nature, can bestow true merit on us as a result of God's gratuitous justice. This is our right by grace, the full right of love, making us "co-heirs" with Christ and worthy of obtaining "the promised inheritance of eternal life."60The merits of our good works are gifts of the divine goodness.61"Grace has gone before us; now we are given what is due.... Our merits are God's gifts."62
Paragraph 2025
2025. We can have merit in God's sight only because of God's free plan to associate man with the work of his grace. Merit is to be ascribed in the first place to the grace of God, and secondly to man's collaboration. Man's merit is due to God.
Paragraph 2026
2026. The grace of the Holy Spirit can confer true merit on us, by virtue of our adoptive filiation, and in accordance with God's gratuitous justice. Charity is the principal source of merit in us before God.
Paragraph 2027
2027. No one can merit the initial grace which is at the origin of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit, we can merit for ourselves and for others all the graces needed to attain eternal life, as well as necessary temporal goods.
Acesse nossos estudos biblicos:
The Tower of Babel: What Does This Story Teach Us About God’s Sovereignty? (Genesis 11:1-9)
How important is the supremacy of Christ according to Colossians 1:15-20?
Joseph’s story: How did God use Joseph’s story to fulfill his purposes?
How did a woman’s faith heal her of a hemorrhage, according to Matthew 9:20-22?
What is the importance of faithfulness to God, according to the book of Tobias?
What is the responsibility of Christian leaders according to James 3:1-12?
