Expert: Fr. Michael - 7/26/2009

Question
Hello Fr. Michael,

Its great to have a Vactican 1 prespective available, thankyou for your time.

My questions is about Grace and Merit. In reading the CCC about Grace and Merit, I am finding it hard to understand where the line is drawn. Can we merit grace even if it be santifying "grace" and if so doesn't the CCC say that it is only by Gods grace (unmeritted) that we can do any good works of charity for santifying grace?? I am confused..

CCC - 2001 The preparation of man for the reception of grace is already a work of grace. This latter is needed to arouse and sustain our collaboration in justification through faith, and in sanctification through charity. God brings to completion in us what he has begun, "since he who completes his work by cooperating with our will began by working so that we might will it:"

Thank you again,
Nelson

Answer
It confuses me too!  The "Catechism of the Catholic [sic] Church" is a product of the Newchurch of the New Order and often does not represent traditional Catholic theology.  It was pieced together in 1983 by a group of Newchurch bishops who admitted that they were so unqualified that they could not even read the works of the Fathers and Doctors of the Church in their original Greek and Latin!

If I were you, I would toss out that "CCC" and get a copy of the Catechism of the Council of Trent, written by St. Charles Borromeo.  It is a lot clearer -- and fully Catholic.