A list of condign merits?

[JurisPrudens]

So, as I understand, some actions produce condign merits, in that their reward is expected on the basis of God’s promise and commutative justice.

So, can a uniform list of God’s promises be discerned from the Scriptures, as to produce condign merits?

Obviously, taking communion would be one of them (John 6:54-56).

Beatitudes (Mathew 5:3-12) is another obvious example of God’s promises.

What else?

 

[recentrevert]

Every good act of the will performed in a state of grace merits supernatural, eternal reward. The purer our intentions the greater our reward. I think the act of attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion is the greatest act we can perform, in itself, as far as I know. After that receiving the other Sacraments and then Eucharistic adoration and then I believe praying the Rosary. Obviously, God often wants us to do other things rather than these and then we will be rewarded for our intention of doing them if it was possible. We must simply discern the will of God in all things at all times and then do it as best we can.

The best intention we can have is to do something for the glory of God because God deserves all glory because He is infinitely good. I have read that small acts performed with a pure intention are more pleasing to God than much greater acts performed with a good but imperfect intention.

 

[JurisPrudens]

Every good act of the will performed in a state of grace merits supernatural, eternal reward. The purer our intentions the greater our reward. I think the act of attending Mass and receiving Holy Communion is the greatest act we can perform, in itself, as far as I know. After that receiving the other Sacraments and then Eucharistic adoration and then I believe praying the Rosary. Obviously, God often wants us to do other things rather than these and then we will be rewarded for our intention of doing them if it was possible. We must simply discern the will of God in all things at all times and then do it as best we can.

The best intention we can have is to do something for the glory of God because God deserves all glory because He is infinitely good. I have read that small acts performed with a pure intention are more pleasing to God than much greater acts performed with a good but imperfect intention.

Thanks. :thankyou: Still, I don’t think that any good act with good intention may qualify as condign merit. A condign merit in some sense “obliges” God to reward us. It is only possible when God promised smth to us for this in advance. Other merits are “congruent” - so, we expect the Lord to accept our gift and reward us, because He is so just. But He might still have different plans and reject our gifts.

 

[recentrevert]

Thanks. :thankyou: Still, I don’t think that any good act with good intention may qualify as condign merit. A condign merit in some sense “obliges” God to reward us. It is only possible when God promised smth to us for this in advance. Other merits are “congruent” - so, we expect the Lord to accept our gift and reward us, because He is so just. But He might still have different plans and reject our gifts.

I am no theologian, but surely all good acts done in a state of grace merit eternal reward because they are united with Jesus’s merits and God has promised us a reward for everything we do for Him. If we did something for God believing it was acceptable when it truly wasn’t God would reward us for our intention.

Acts done outside of the state of grace merit a natural reward but cannot merit forgiveness. However, if we correspond to God’s actual graces He will forgive us and so we will obtain a reward through mercy, although as a result (in part) of our own actions. God will reward the act of repentance through attrition and confession with an eternal reward and forgiveness of eternal punishment although the action itself does not really ‘deserve’ that in justice.

 

[JurisPrudens]

I am no theologian, but surely all good acts done in a state of grace merit eternal reward because they are united with Jesus’s merits and God has promised us a reward for everything we do for Him. If we did something for God believing it was acceptable when it truly wasn’t God would reward us for our intention.

Obviously not. There are multiple conditions for metittong. newadvent.org/cathen/10202b.htm

Acts done outside of the state of grace merit a natural reward but cannot merit forgiveness. However, if we correspond to God’s actual graces He will forgive us and so we will obtain a reward through mercy, although as a result (in part) of our own actions. God will reward the act of repentance through attrition and confession with an eternal reward and forgiveness of eternal punishment although the action itself does not really ‘deserve’ that in justice.