Grace, Actual and Habitual: A Dogmatic TreatisePohle, Joseph
Religion
Grace, Actual and Habitual: A Dogmatic Treatise
Pohle, Joseph
Grace (Theology)
(2) Besides faith, justification requires certain other preparatory or
dispositive acts. There is, for example, the fear of divine justice. Cfr.
Ecclus. I, 28: “He that is without fear cannot be justified.”(819) Also,
hope in God’s mercy. Cfr. Rom. VIII, 24: “For we are saved by hope.”(820)
Again, charity. Cfr. Luke VII, 47: “Many sins are forgiven her because she
hath loved much.”(821) Furthermore, contrition or penitence. Cfr. Luke
XIII, 3: “Unless you shall do penance, you shall all likewise
perish.”(822) Finally, good works in general. Cfr. St. James II, 17: “So
faith also, if it have not works, is dead in itself.”(823) No one who
ponders these and similar texts can maintain, as Calvin and Melanchthon
did, that the good works mentioned merely accompany justification, for
they are unmistakably described as causes which dispose and prepare the
sinner for it.
(3) It is not faith alone that justifies, but faith informed and actuated
by charity. Cfr. Gal. V, 6: “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision
availeth anything, nor uncircumcision: but faith that worketh by
charity.”(824) The Greek text shows that the word _operatur_ in the
Vulgate must be taken passively, so that a more correct translation would
be: “... but faith effected or formed by charity.” But even if ἐνεργουμένη
were used as a deponent (ἐνεργεῖσθαι=_agere_, _operari_) the meaning would
be substantially the same, _i.e._ a dead faith, without charity, avails
nothing. Cfr. St. James II, 26: “For even as the body without the spirit
is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”(825)
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