Concept Detail

Merit

glossary_term

The reward which God promises and gives to those who love him and by his grace perform good works. One cannot "merit" justification or eternal life, which are the free gift of God; the source of any merit we have before God is due to the grace of Christ in us

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Catechism Passages

Passages ranked by relevance to Merit, from most closely related outward.

§2006 CHAPTER THREE GOD'S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE

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.

Catechism of the Catholic Church © Libreria Editrice Vaticana