Justification an event and Process in Catholicism?

[Vinny213]

Is it true that in Catholicism justification is also an event in? In baptism we are instantly infused with sanctifying grace and instantly justified, like Aquinas says. This is the event part. Then comes the progressive part were we preserve and increase in the righteousness which we have received. So there is no either or in justification in Catholicism, Justification includes both the event and process. This what I have been told by quite a few apologists out there.

 

[Chesster]

Sounds correct to me.

 

[Vinny213]

So in Roman Catholicism justification is an event and a process right? So if this is true then its baseless for Protestants to accuse Catholics for only holding to a progressive understanding of justification since the event/instantaneous aspect is also retained in catholic teaching, it happens in baptism where we are instantly infused with divine grace.

 

[po18guy]

From the catechism:

654 The Paschal mystery has two aspects: by his death, Christ liberates us from sin; by his Resurrection, he opens for us the way to a new life. This new life is above all justification that reinstates us in God’s grace, "so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life."526 Justification consists in both victory over the death caused by sin and a new participation in grace.527 It brings about filial adoption so that men become Christ’s brethren, as Jesus himself called his disciples after his Resurrection: "Go and tell my brethren."528 We are brethren not by nature, but by the gift of grace, because that adoptive filiation gains us a real share in the life of the only Son, which was fully revealed in his Resurrection.

1266 The Most Holy Trinity gives the baptized sanctifying grace, the grace of justification:

• enabling them to believe in God, to hope in him, and to love him through the theological virtues;
• giving them the power to live and act under the prompting of the Holy Spirit through the gifts of the Holy Spirit;
• allowing them to grow in goodness through the moral virtues.
  Thus the whole organism of the Christian’s supernatural life has its roots in Baptism.

1446 Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as “the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace.”

I. JUSTIFICATION

1987 The grace of the Holy Spirit has the power to justify us, that is, to cleanse us from our sins and to communicate to us “the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ” and through Baptism:34

But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. The death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves as dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.35

1989 The first work of the grace of the Holy Spirit is conversion, effecting justification in accordance with Jesus’ proclamation at the beginning of the Gospel: "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."38 Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, thus accepting forgiveness and righteousness from on high. "Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.39

1990 Justification detaches man from sin which contradicts the love of God, and purifies his heart of sin. Justification follows upon God’s merciful initiative of offering forgiveness. It reconciles man with God. It frees from the enslavement to sin, and it heals.

1991 Justification is at the same time the acceptance of God’s righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness (or “justice”) here means the rectitude of divine love. With justification, faith, hope, and charity are poured into our hearts, and obedience to the divine will is granted us.

1992 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ who offered himself on the cross as a living victim, holy and pleasing to God, and whose blood has become the instrument of atonement for the sins of all men. Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who makes us inwardly just by the power of his mercy. Its purpose is the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life:40

But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from law, although the law and the prophets bear witness to it, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: since all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, they are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as an expiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins; it was to prove at the present time that he himself is righteous and that he justifies him who has faith in Jesus.41

1993 Justification establishes cooperation between God’s grace and man’s freedom. On man’s part it is expressed by the assent of faith to the Word of God, which invites him to conversion, and in the cooperation of charity with the prompting of the Holy Spirit who precedes and preserves his assent:

When God touches man’s heart through the illumination of the Holy Spirit, man himself is not inactive while receiving that inspiration, since he could reject it; and yet, without God’s grace, he cannot by his own free will move himself toward justice in God’s sight.42

1994 Justification is the most excellent work of God’s love made manifest in Christ Jesus and granted by the Holy Spirit. It is the opinion of St. Augustine that “the justification of the wicked is a greater work than the creation of heaven and earth,” because "heaven and earth will pass away but the salvation and justification of the elect . . . will not pass away."43 He holds also that the justification of sinners surpasses the creation of the angels in justice, in that it bears witness to a greater mercy.

(cont.)

 

[po18guy]

(cont.)

1995 The Holy Spirit is the master of the interior life. By giving birth to the "inner man,"44 justification entails the sanctification of his whole being:

Just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. . . . But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.

2018 Like conversion, justification has two aspects. Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, and so accepts forgiveness and righteousness from on high.

2019 Justification includes the remission of sins, sanctification, and the renewal of the inner man.

2020 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God’s mercy.

 

[Bookcat]

Benedict XVI on Paul and justification

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20081119_en.html

vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20081126_en.html (begins second paragraph)

and earlier one vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20061108_en.html

 

[Vinny213]

(cont.)

1995 The Holy Spirit is the master of the interior life. By giving birth to the "inner man,"44 justification entails the sanctification of his whole being:

Just as you once yielded your members to impurity and to greater and greater iniquity, so now yield your members to righteousness for sanctification. . . . But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life.

2018 Like conversion, justification has two aspects. Moved by grace, man turns toward God and away from sin, and so accepts forgiveness and righteousness from on high.

2019 Justification includes the remission of sins, sanctification, and the renewal of the inner man.

2020 Justification has been merited for us by the Passion of Christ. It is granted us through Baptism. It conforms us to the righteousness of God, who justifies us. It has for its goal the glory of God and of Christ, and the gift of eternal life. It is the most excellent work of God’s mercy.

I don’t know if these catechism quotes answer my question. Is justification also an event that happens instantaneously at baptism? I just want to make sure that justification can be considered also an event in Catholicism.

 

[Womanoffaith10]

Maybe I’m reading this wrong, but by justification do you mean salvation? I’m asking this because Protestants(especially those of the Fundamental church) talk about “being saved.”

 

[Vinny213]

I mean initial justification that which happens at baptism, because I know in Catholicism justification is split up into two parts one initial and the other progressive. My point is that initial justification is an event that happens in an instant.

 

[Womanoffaith10]

Oh…then I’m lost. lol

 

[Bookcat]

Is justification also an event that happens instantaneously at baptism? I just want to make sure that justification can be considered also an event in Catholicism.

*Yes. *

(if not begun before…just to add more to your thought).

One believes…repents and is baptized…

Or in the case of one who is an infant --one is Baptized…

 

[po18guy]

I don’t know if these catechism quotes answer my question. Is justification also an event that happens instantaneously at baptism? I just want to make sure that justification can be considered also an event in Catholicism.

Justification occurs completely at Baptism. Yet, once we leave the Baptismal font, our sinful nature leads us to fall from grace anew. We must be justified once again. It is like breathing. We must be continuously justified, as we lose it through our sin. This is why Jesus said “He who perseveres to the end will be saved” We recover our lost justification through repentance and the Sacrament of Penance. This phony idea of a one time event is man-made and runs counter to scripture. One must disregard an awful lot of scripture to believe in one-time salvation or one-time justification. While breathing is certainly an event, we do not stop after breathing once. Our first breath gave us life. Our continued breathing sustains our life. On-going justification, as with breathing, gives life.

 

[Vinny213]

I understand what you are saying but initial justification is an event not a process. When God infuses us with sanctifying grace he does it instantly not progressively.

 

[Vinny213]

I understand what you are saying but initial justification is an event not a process. When God infuses us with sanctifying grace he does it instantly not progressively.

 

[po18guy]

I understand what you are saying but initial justification is an event not a process. When God infuses us with sanctifying grace he does it instantly not progressively.

Oh. Where did the notion of progression in justification come from? We are either justified or we are not. At Baptism, we are. Upon being absolved of sin, we are. Are you thinking of righteousness? That can be progressive, since we are called to be like God.

 

[Vinny213]

Justification occurs completely at Baptism. Yet, once we leave the Baptismal font, our sinful nature leads us to fall from grace anew. We must be justified once again. It is like breathing. We must be continuously justified, as we lose it through our sin. This is why Jesus said “He who perseveres to the end will be saved” We recover our lost justification through repentance and the Sacrament of Penance. This phony idea of a one time event is man-made and runs counter to scripture. One must disregard an awful lot of scripture to believe in one-time salvation or one-time justification. While breathing is certainly an event, we do not stop after breathing once. Our first breath gave us life. Our continued breathing sustains our life. On-going justification, as with breathing, gives life.

Its my understanding that justification can only be lost to mortal sin, so it is not that once we are baptized we immediately lose our justified state even over minor sins. You make it sound like its so easy to loose our justification. I do agree that the idea of once justified always justified is nonsense. So what you are saying is that justification is an event that can be repeated or regained especially through penance, so when you see that justification is ongoing you don’t mean that its progressive or piece-meal but that the event can be repeated as often as need be, hence we can continue to be justified even till death. So in essence the justification if the ungodly happens completely through baptism and is instantaneous. Please correct me if I misunderstood you. I also would like to ask how often does a catholic believer lose his justified state in his lifetime?

 

[po18guy]

Its my understanding that justification can only be lost to mortal sin, so it is not that once we are baptized we immediately lose our justified state even over minor sins. You make it sound like its so easy to loose our justification. I do agree that the idea of once justified always justified is nonsense. So what you are saying is that justification is an event that can be repeated or regained especially through penance, so when you see that justification is ongoing you don’t mean that its progressive or piece-meal but that the event can be repeated as often as need be, hence we can continue to be justified even till death. So in essence the justification if the ungodly happens completely through baptism and is instantaneous. Please correct me if I misunderstood you. I also would like to ask how often does a catholic believer lose his justified state in his lifetime?

We are subject to losing our justification once we leave the confessional, but you are correct in that one must consciously choose to commit mortal sin. It is not something that occurs easily, as the Lord has not made attaining eternity in His presence impossible. Yet, we must die in a state of sanctifying grace with Him. This is obtained through the sacraments, especially penance. Yet, the Eucharist remits venial sins. It strengthens us against sin in the future through the grace that flows via the Sacrament. It is no guarantee, as we retain our free will at all times. It is just that we are called to conform our wills to that of the Father.

You have probably spoken with some who claim that salvation is as easy as simply reciting the sinner’s prayer - which is not in the bible! Yet Salvation, as with all things in this life worth attaining, requires sacrifice and action on our part. This “once saved always saved” nonsense reminds me of the old warning to those in the market for something: if the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is.

 

[Bookcat]

I understand what you are saying but initial justification is an event not a process. When God infuses us with sanctifying grace he does it instantly not progressively.

Basically yes.

Though again one can note there can be a “steps in the event” ie faith, repentance, baptism.

 

[MarcoPolo]

A more exhaustive treatment of Justification in Catholic thought is from the Council of Trent, session 6.

As was quoted in po18guy’s post, CCC#1989 quotes from Trent, when it reads: “Justification is not only the remission of sins, but also the sanctification and renewal of the interior man.”

However, there is some nuance in Catholic theology with regard to the term Justification. For example, from Trent, justification is described as:*a translation, from that state wherein man is born a child of the first Adam, to the state of grace, and of the adoption of the sons of God, through the second Adam, Jesus Christ, our Saviour. And this translation, since the promulgation of the Gospel, cannot be effected, without the laver of regeneration, or the desire thereof, as it is written; unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the Kingdom of God.*So there, in a certain sense, justification is effected at baptism. Such a soul is heaven-bound, which is a sense of justification. So yes, one is “justified” at baptism, mean they have been made “just,” made worthy of heaven. But that does not preclude the completion, in a sense, of that justification, the perfection of the soul without which it will not enter heaven. So you can think of it as receiving an invitation to the banquet––you’ll get in––but you’ll be cleaned up before you can enter. So it depends on what attribute of justification you’re looking at when considering when it is completed. If you’re looking for when the soul is worthy (gets the invitation), then it’s normatively baptism (btw I believe po18guy is correct that a soul at the moment of baptism is wholly sanctified). If you’re looking for the final entry of the just into heaven, then it’s after the sanctifying dimension of justification.

Further along, Trent says this:*Having, therefore, been thus justified, and made the friends and domestics of God, advancing from virtue to virtue, they are renewed, as the Apostle says, day by day; that is, by mortifying the members of their own flesh, and by presenting them as instruments of justice unto sanctification, they, through the observance of the commandments of God and of the Church, faith co-operating with good works, **increase in that justice *which they have received through the grace of Christ, and are still further justified, as it is written; He that is just, let him be justified still; and again, Be not afraid to be justified even to death; and also, Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. And this increase of justification holy Church begs, when she prays, “Give unto us, O Lord, increase of faith, hope, and charity.”

 

[guanophore]

 So in Roman Catholicism justification is an event and a process right?

Not just the Roman (Latin) Rite but also the other 23 rites, the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox. All the Churches founded by Apostles hold this doctrine as it has been infallibly preserved in the Church by the HS.

 So if this is true then its baseless for Protestants to accuse Catholics for only holding to a progressive understanding of justification since the event/instantaneous aspect is also retained in catholic teaching, it happens in baptism where we are instantly infused with divine grace.

It is, but many of them believe we “confuse” or “confabulate” salvation. During the Reformation, one of the things that had to be done to justify separation from the successors of the Apostles was to redefine doctrines. At that time, elements of salvation were separated out and redefined by the Reformers. “Justification” was separated from sanctification and glorification. Calvin also taught that we are not infused with grace at baptism, but only forensically justified (declared clean, as opposed to actually made clean).

I don’t know if these catechism quotes answer my question. Is justification also an event that happens instantaneously at baptism? I just want to make sure that justification can be considered also an event in Catholicism.

Absolutely!

1 Cor 6:11
But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.

I understand what you are saying but initial justification is an event not a process. When God infuses us with sanctifying grace he does it instantly not progressively.

Both things are true. We are washed and justified in baptism, then progressively sanctified throughout our lives.

Oh. Where did the notion of progression in justification come from? We are either justified or we are not. At Baptism, we are. Upon being absolved of sin, we are. Are you thinking of righteousness? That can be progressive, since we are called to be like God.

Since justification describes being in right relationship with God, and our relationship with Him can improve progressively, it can be understood that way. But most Catholics understand justification as being in a state of grace. When we are in a state of grace, we are growing in righteousness.

Rom 2:12-13
For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified.

James 2:24-25
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.

When we are in a state of grace, our works can bring about sanctity and conform our character into that of Christ.

 Its my understanding that justification can only be lost to mortal sin, so it is not that once we are baptized we immediately lose our justified state even over minor sins. You make it sound like its so easy to loose our justification.

Sin separates us from God. That is why Jesus said that the way to salvation is narrow and few find it. That is also why there are so many warnings in scripture to believers about sin.

 I do agree that the idea of once justified always justified is nonsense. So what you are saying is that justification is an event that can be repeated or regained especially through penance,

There are things that happen in initial justification (baptism) that are permanent, and cannot be undone or lost. But if we fall from grace, we can be restored to a state of grace (justification) with confession.

so when you see that justification is ongoing you don’t mean that its progressive or piece-meal but that the event can be repeated as often as need be, hence we can continue to be justified even till death.

Sanctification, or the process of becoming holy, is ongoing and progressive throughout this life. We cannot grow in holiness when we are not in right relationship with God (in a state of grace or justified), so for some people, it can be very piece meal if they fall from grace and stay out of grace for periods of time.

So in essence the justification if the ungodly happens completely through baptism and is instantaneous. Please correct me if I misunderstood you. I also would like to ask how often does a catholic believer lose his justified state in his lifetime?

Jesus said if your brother sins against you, you must forgive him 70 x 7 times. This is a figurative way of saying “infinite”. Mortal sin causes us to fall from grace. A Catholic who lives a strong sacramental life obtains the graces to remain in a state of grace constantly.