Faith of Our Fathers

New Zealand Tablet, 1 December 1921, Page 33

Faith of Our Fathers

[A Weekly Instruction FOR Young and Old.]

Fourth. Article: Merit.

Vll. Merit is the fruit of grace, in this sense, that grace renders us capable of producing works that are meritorious in the sight -of " God. Man, when in the state of grace, according to the words of Our Lord, is like a branch' pf the vine-tree united to the vine itself. This branch bears abundant fruit, because it draws its life-giving sap, which is "the principle of its productiveness, from the parent stem. Grace is this- Spiritual sap, 'the principle of merit. .-'- . it: ■•' '.';/'■••. • ' 12. (1) What is meant by merit? (2) What is the object of merit ? (3) What conditions are required for gaining merit? ' (1) What we here mean by a meritorious work is a good work done by tho help of grace, with reference to God, and worthy in His eyes of an eternal reward. . There is a distinction to be made between the merit of right, fie condigno, and the merit of fitness, dc eonghio. The former signifies a strict right to reward;, the latter, a certain suitableness worthy of consideration, but not a claim of strict justice. It might be designated merit of mercy, because it is founded chiefly on the mercy of God. We distinguish also the merit of frhe just man, who is in the; state of grace, and that of the sinner, who is in the state of mortal sin. The former can merit in strict justice, as a servant working for his master merits; the latter can only merit as being a suitable object for the exercise of God's mercy, in the same way as a poor man humbly begging alms may 'deserve to receive them. (2) The just man, by his works, merits an increase of sanctifying grace, and at the same time an increase of glory for eternity. These two rewards are linked together: every degree of grace in this life has a corresponding degree of glory for the next. The sinner, by his prayers, penances, and good works, can merit the grace to break away from sin and return/ to God by a sincere conversion. All can merit from the divine mercy actual grace, and all the helps necessary to avoid sin, to advance in good, and to persevere to the blessed consummation of a happy death. Besides merit, properly so called, of which we have spoken, there are satisfaction and impetration, which often accompany merit or the meritorious value in the one work. Satisfaction is a penal work, which God accepts in place of '; heavier penalties due to sin. Impetration is the constraining power of prayer before God; a most mighty power, because of the promise of Jesus Christ, saying to all, "Ask, and you shall receive." (3) For all merit there must be the help of actual grace; but this condition, which depends on God, is never wanting. For this reason we only Speak here of" the conditions on the part of man. Now, (1) for the merit of fitness, it is sufficient to do any good work with an intention of —that is, with reference to God and our own salvation. (2) For merit, properly so called, or the merit of right —that is to say, in order to merit an increase of grace and of eternal glorywe must be in the state of grace, and offer our good works to God with a holy intention. c A work so offered, be it only a draught of water given to a <p.oor man, is accepted by God as if bestowed on Himself, and receives a divine reward. The greatness of merit depends (1) on the person or on the dignity and holiness of him who acts. Thus the merit of Jesus Christ is infinite, because the dignity of His person is infinite.- The merit of the just man is beyond comparison greater than that of the sinner, because he is adorned with sanctifying grace, which gives him the dignity of the child and friend of God., . ;(2) It depends on the excellence or the difficulty of the work. Thus a large alms is more meritorious than a small one given by the same person; but the widow's mite is of more value in the sight of our Lord than gold offered by the rich. So, again, an act of charity is more meritorious 7 than an act of faith or hope. (3) It defends on the'perfection, the purity of intention, the fervor, and above all, . on the charity of the person

who acts. Fervor/and charity give such a. value to good works that they change'them,' as it were; into "gold and precious stones for the kingdom of heaven. , .: The time destined for merit is the present life, during which the sinner can merit his salvation, and the just man can" grow in merit, rising higher and higher in holiness and glory, ■ according to that saying of our Saviour, "Lay up to yourselves treasures in heaven."