Judgement at the End of Our Lives: Merit or Love?

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LovePatience

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“At the summit of our lives, we will be judged on how much we loved…”

What if we do something that is commendable to earn merit, but not out of love, for example some sort of ascetic behavior that is recommended by the Church such as keeping a fast that is now optional or consecrated virginity. Will we gain anything?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I command languages both human and angelic – if I speak without love, I am no more than a gong booming or a cymbal clashing.
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2 And though I have the power of prophecy, to penetrate all mysteries and knowledge, and though I have all the faith necessary to move mountains – if I am without love, I am nothing.
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3 Though I should give away to the poor all that I possess, and even give up my body to be burned – if I am without love, it will do me no good whatever.
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LovePatience said:
“At the summit of our lives, we will be judged on how much we loved…”

What if we do something that is commendable to earn merit, but not out of love, for example some sort of ascetic behavior that is recommended by the Church such as keeping a fast that is now optional or consecrated virginity. Will we gain anything?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
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How are these practices not performed out of love? By tending to the soul, isn’t that an act of love?
 
If done out of obedience to the Church then I would say that has merit. When we show obedience to the Church we show obedience to the Jesus. That is an act of love in my opinion. If done for selfish reasons then yes I would agree that it would be essentially worthless.

From the Catechism:
For example, a service done with the end of helping one’s neighbor can at the same time be inspired by the love of God as the ultimate end of all our actions. One and the same action can also be inspired by several intentions, such as performing a service in order to obtain a favor or to boast about it.
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1753 A good intention (for example, that of helping one’s neighbor) does not make behavior that is intrinsically disordered, such as lying and calumny, good or just. The end does not justify the means. Thus the condemnation of an innocent person cannot be justified as a legitimate means of saving the nation. On the other hand, an added bad intention (such as vainglory) makes an act evil that, in and of itself, can be good (such as almsgiving).39
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Nate13 said:
If done out of obedience to the Church then I would say that has merit. When we show obedience to the Church we show obedience to the Jesus. That is an act of love in my opinion. If done for selfish reasons then yes I would agree that it would be essentially worthless.

From the Catechism:
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What is the difference between vainglory and appropriate pride?
 
LovePatience said:
How do these things tend to the soul?
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Fasting disciplines the will in order that the promptings of the soul take precedence over the body.

Consecrated virginity is a rejection of carnal pleasure and reserves more attention to building a spiritual marriage between the soul and God.
 
LovePatience said:
What is the difference between vainglory and appropriate pride?
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I would describe it as making pride the object of the action we are committing, in this case almsgiving. If you give alms just for the sake of your image and your own pride that is vain glory. Your making pumping up your pride the object of an action that would otherwise be an act of charity or love. You can have some pride in giving alms but it shouldn’t be the reason you give alms if that makes sense.
 
Nate13 said:
I would describe it as making pride the object of the action we are committing, in this case almsgiving. If you give alms just for the sake of your image and your own pride that is vain glory. Your making pumping up your pride the object of an action that would otherwise be an act of charity or love. You can have some pride in giving alms but it shouldn’t be the reason you give alms if that makes sense.
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What about merit in Heaven, to secure a greater reward?
 
LovePatience said:
What about merit in Heaven, to secure a greater reward?
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Ah I see what your saying. Your asking whether giving to the poor purely in the interest of racking up points to get into Heaven would be wrong. Looking at it this way would definitely be disordered for sure although it would not be considered vainglory. I would consider that to be a selfish motive that would probably devoid all meaning from the action. The corporal works of mercy help the person who does them in that it works to change the heart of that person and bring them more in line with God’s will. That is how these acts have merit the person who does them for another. Doing acts of charity in the name of racking up points would be as you said pointless though. The good would still be done for the other person, but the inner changing of the heart that goes along with it would not be occurring in ourselves.

Side note: definition of vainglory is seeking the praise of others. I was slightly mistaken in what I said before.
 
LovePatience said:
“At the summit of our lives, we will be judged on how much we loved…”

What if we do something that is commendable to earn merit, but not out of love, for example some sort of ascetic behavior that is recommended by the Church such as keeping a fast that is now optional or consecrated virginity. Will we gain anything?

1 Corinthians 13:1-3
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Let us begin with a simple question…

Why are you Catholic?

Peace
James
 
LovePatience said:
I try. 🙂
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If you try - with all your strength to Love God and your neighbor as yourself, then everything you do stems from that love…

This is what Paul is trying to get across. That Love is at the very core of our faith. It is the root of all of the Law, all of the prophets, it is the One command that Jesus gave us…that We Love one another as he has loved us…

No true Christian - disciple of Christ, can really do anything meritorious that does not stem from Love.

Peace
James
 
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