Do the merits lost due to good acts during Mortal Sin ever come back

[ineedofmercy]

I’ve been in Mortal sin while serving at Mass and making food for the poor plus other good deeds

Do the merits of grace and punishment reduction from those acts come back after confession or are they lost forever?

 

[Exsultet]

IDo the merits of grace and punishment reduction from those acts come back after confession or are they lost forever?

My understanding is that one cannot merit anything supernatural while in a state of mortal sin, with the obvious exception of cooperating with graces for conversion and repentance.

I also understand that a common position amongst theologians is that, after being restored to a state of grace, a repentant sinner does regain their “level” of sanctifying grace that they enjoyed before falling.

But I’m not a theologian, and I’m not formally trained, so I could be completely off-base here.

 

[twf]

I have heard that once we return to a state of grace, our previously “dead” works can become meritorious retroactively…but I don’t have any authority to back this. Regardless, trusting in God’s mercy, when I do go to confession I ask God to accept the offerings of money, prayer, and good works I did while in a state of sin.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

The parable about the vineyard workers seems to indicate God is not score keeping. The only graces you ‘lose’ are the ones you could have gotten if you weren’t in mortal sin. But, you can’t lose something you never had.

 

[pianistclare]

You’ve posted something similar previously.
Please speak to a priest in real life to explain sanctifying grace to you.
God bless.

 

[Pythagoras]

I also understand that a common position amongst theologians is that, after being restored to a state of grace, a repentant sinner does regain their “level” of sanctifying grace that they enjoyed before falling.

But I’m not a theologian, and I’m not formally trained, so I could be completely off-base here.

I think I posted a similar thread like this some 3 years ago. The consensus among the posters’ consultations is that they said the repentant sinner has his previous past merits completely restored.

 

[adowcday]

Your question reflects the kind of thinking that says that “beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes to the bone.”

Thinking one way, we are totally dependent upon grace, and only God’s grace helps us, sustains us, and saves us. A focus on our merits rather than on God’s love and grace is misplaced.

Another way it to look at the effects of grace on our lives: the slow growth of good habits (virtues) and the diminishment of bad habits (vices), with occasional setbacks, some serious, some less so. If you have worked hard to cooperate with God’s grace but stumble due to sin, even mortal sin, you don’t automatically revert to a person who has done nothing to turn toward God and try to live a godly life. After reconciliation with God, and relying on God’s grace, you resume the difficult task of conforming to God’s will and guidance. You don’t go back to square one: you don’t necessarily have to learn all over again to attend church, pray, serve others, frequent the sacraments, study. A setback is just that. You pick up where you left off.