Grace Thompson
The Catholic Church's teachings on merit are often misunderstood, with some believing that good works will bring them closer to God. However, the Church teaches that we cannot earn our way to God through merit, but that merit comes from God's grace. Merit, in the context of salvation, refers to the reward for cooperating with God's grace and fulfilling our purpose. The more we cooperate with grace, the more grace we receive, and the closer our relationship with God becomes. This cycle of merit and grace begins with God's initiative, followed by our cooperation, which opens us up to receive more grace. While the term merit has different interpretations in Catholic and Protestant theology, the idea of merit in Catholicism is about reflecting God's love and goodness through our actions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition of merit | "Merit" is a synonym for the Greek word for "reward" |
| Who can merit? | Only God can merit |
| What is congruous merit? | Works of congruous merit are good works that make up for sinful actions |
| Can humans perform works of congruous merit? | No, humans cannot perform works of condign merit |
| What is the Catholic Church's teaching on merit? | The Catholic Church teaches that merit is cooperating with the grace of God |
| What is the relationship between merit and grace? | Merit is a reward for cooperating with grace to function as God made us |
| What is the relationship between merit and reward? | Merit is the property of a good work that entitles the doer to receive a reward |
| What is the relationship between merit and works? | Works of merit are good works that are done by God's grace and that he has promised to reward |
| What is the relationship between merit and righteousness? | Catholics and Protestants use the term "merit" differently, leading to confusion and hostility |
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What You'll Learn
The Catholic Church's teachings on merit
However, the Church does teach that we can perform works of "congruous merit", which are good works that are appropriate for God to reward. This does not mean that we earn these rewards, but rather that they are given by God's grace and because He has freely promised to reward them. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, we can merit for ourselves and others "the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life".
The concept of merit in Catholicism is closely tied to the idea of justification. The Church teaches that we are justified by God's grace, and as a result, we are able to do good works. This is the opposite of what some Protestants believe, which is that Catholics must do good works to be justified. The Council of Trent stressed that "none of those things which precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification; for if it is by grace, it is not now by works; otherwise, as the Apostle [Paul] says, grace is no more grace".
The term "merit" itself has a specific theological meaning in Catholicism. In the theological sense, merit refers to a supernatural merit, which is a salutary act to which God, in consequence of His infallible promise, owes a supernatural reward, ultimately consisting of eternal life in heaven. This understanding of merit is based on the teachings of the Church Fathers, such as St. Cyprian, St. Ambrose, and St. Augustine, who took the Catholic doctrine on merit as a guide in their teaching.
In summary, the Catholic Church's teachings on merit emphasize that we cannot earn our salvation or put God in our debt through our works. However, we can perform good works that are appropriate for God to reward, not because we have earned them but because of His grace and promise to reward us. This cycle of meriting and growing in grace involves cooperating with God's grace and allowing it to transform us and deepen our relationship with Him.
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Misunderstandings of the term 'merit'
The term "merit" in Catholicism is commonly misunderstood by non-Catholics, including Protestants. Many non-Catholics believe that Catholics think they must do good works to merit salvation or eternal life, similar to how a worker must work to earn their wages. However, this is not what the Catholic Church teaches.
The Catholic Church stresses that "none of those things which precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification". In other words, we cannot earn our place before God through good works. Everything we receive from God is due to his grace. After our initial justification by God's grace, we are led to do good works, which God rewards. However, these good works do not give us a "strict right" to merit before God, as we have received everything from him.
The misunderstanding of the term "merit" may stem from the different ways in which the word is used by different religious communities. For example, the term “righteousness” can have varying meanings for Catholics and Protestants, leading to confusion and misinterpretation.
The Latin term "meritum" was introduced in the second century as a translation of the Greek word for "reward". The term was chosen over "merces" to avoid legalistic connotations. However, the use of "meritum" or "merit" has been a point of contention, with some arguing that it should be viewed in connection with the biblical term "wage" or "reward", as used by Jesus himself.
In summary, the Catholic understanding of "merit" does not refer to earning salvation through good works, but rather to the reward given by God for good works done by his grace and by his promise.
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The role of grace in merit
The Catholic Church's position on merit and grace is often misunderstood. The Church does not teach that we can earn our place before God. Everything we receive from God is due to His grace. When we first come to God and are justified, it is entirely by His grace. After our initial justification, God's grace leads us to do good works, which He rewards. However, with regard to God, there is no strict right to any merit on the part of man. Between God and man, there is an immeasurable inequality, as man has received everything from God, his Creator.
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. Man's merit is due to God, as his good actions proceed in Christ from the predispositions and assistance given by the Holy Spirit. The charity of Christ is the source of all our merits before God. Grace, by uniting us to Christ in active love, ensures the supernatural quality of our acts and, consequently, their merit before God and before men.
According to the Catholic understanding, good works, made possible by grace and the working of the Holy Spirit, contribute to growth in grace, so that the righteousness that comes from God is preserved and communion with Christ is deepened. When Catholics affirm the 'meritorious' character of good works, they wish to convey that, according to the biblical witness, a reward in heaven is promised to these works.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church clarifies much of the misunderstanding surrounding the relationship between merit and grace. While it is possible to perform meritorious acts by virtue of our natural powers, we must consider the cause or origin of these powers. There is a level of human initiative required for us to cooperate with God's grace. However, to cooperate with His grace, we must first be turned toward God by sanctifying grace, which properly disposes us to Him. God then moves us through actual grace, both operative and cooperative, to perform meritorious acts.
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Merit and reward
In Catholic theology, merit and reward are two sides of the same coin. The Church does not teach that humans can perform works of "condign merit", meaning that we can never put God in our debt so that He "owes" us eternal life. Instead, the Church teaches that we can perform works of ""congruous merit", which are good works that are appropriate for God to reward.
According to the Catholic understanding, good works are made possible by grace and the working of the Holy Spirit. They contribute to growth in grace, so that the righteousness that comes from God is preserved and communion with Christ is deepened. When Catholics affirm the 'meritorious' character of good works, they wish to say that, according to the biblical witness, a reward in heaven is promised to these works.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that, since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification at the beginning of conversion. However, moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life.
In the second century, the technical Latin term for "merit" was introduced as a synonym for the Greek word for "reward". This is why Protestants often misunderstand the Catholic teaching on merit, thinking that Catholics believe that one must do good works to come to God and be saved. However, the Council of Trent stressed that "none of those things which precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification; for if it is by grace, it is not now by works; otherwise, as the Apostle [Paul] says, grace is no more grace".
Paul tells us:
> "For [God] will reward every man according to his works: to those who by perseverance in working good seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. There will be [...] glory and honor and peace for every one who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. For God shows no partiality."
In summary, merit in the context of salvation means a reward for cooperating with grace to function as God made us. The more we cooperate with grace, the more grace God will give us, and the more grace we receive, the more we prepare ourselves to receive more knowledge.
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The importance of good works
The Catholic Church's teachings on merit and good works are often misunderstood. The Church does not teach that we can earn our place before God through good works. Instead, it is believed that everything we receive from God is due to his grace. In the words of St. Paul, "none of those things that precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification".
However, this does not mean that good works have no value in the Catholic faith. According to the Bible, good works are necessary for eternal life. St. Paul emphasised that "God will render to every man according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, he will give eternal life". Similarly, Hebrews 10:24 states that we should encourage one another to "love and good works", indicating that love and good works go hand in hand.
Good works are not done to earn salvation but because they are expected of those with faith in Jesus Christ. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that good works dispose us to receive God's grace. For instance, through kindness, generosity, and service to others, along with prayer, an unbaptised adult can prepare themselves to receive God's grace more easily.
In summary, while good works are essential in Catholicism, they do not earn merit or justification in themselves. Rather, they are a result of God's grace and lead to further growth in grace, deepening communion with Christ.
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Frequently asked questions
Merit in Catholicism is the property of a good work that entitles the doer to receive a reward from God.
In the second century, the technical Latin term for “merit” was introduced as a synonym for the Greek word for “reward.” Therefore, merit and reward are two sides of the same coin.
The Catholic Church teaches that humans cannot perform works of condign merit, meaning we can never put God in our debt so that He would “owe” us eternal life. However, we can perform works of congruous merit, which are good works that are appropriate for God to reward.
We merit by cooperating with the grace that God gives us while living in a state of grace. By cooperating with grace, we further dispose our souls to more grace.
