Properly understanding prayer and merits

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EIF5A

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Coming from a Protestant background, I kind of have a difficult time understanding what “merits” are.

Like praying for someone. If we pray for someone, does it guarantee that God provides grace and help for that person, if compatible with God’s will? Does it depend on the degree of your own perfection or the fervor with which you pray? If we don’t pray for someone, does that mean help that God could have given in answer to prayer was not given?

I want to pray and give alms for special intentions, but something bugs me that I’m being presumptuous that my actions can elicit a response from God.

We’re supposed to pray with confidence, hope, and trust, but I am so sinful — it seems kind of silly for someone like me to offer prayer for others. I wonder if God kind of finds hilarity in it…😊
 
We often invoke intercession from Holy Mother and Saints knowing their prayers are effective due to their holiness and closeness to God. That does not mean we the sinners do not directly pray for other people. It is charitable to pray for others; at the same time, we should also constantly work toward purity of heart and holiness. Prayers help us get closer to God, closeness to God also helps our prayers.
 
There are three kinds of merit.
  • Strict Condign merit
  • Condign merit
  • Congruent merit
Strict condign merit—only Jesus has.
The other two types of merit, we CAN be involved in BY GRACE.

Jimmy Akin delves into this topic on a radio debate called “The Bible Answer Man Debate” (can be ordered here).

In the next couple of days I’ll try to get back here and add some more info. that may be helpful to you.

God bless.

Cathoholic
 
EIF5A said:
Coming from a Protestant background, I kind of have a difficult time understanding what “merits” are.

Like praying for someone. If we pray for someone, does it guarantee that God provides grace and help for that person, if compatible with God’s will? Does it depend on the degree of your own perfection or the fervor with which you pray? If we don’t pray for someone, does that mean help that God could have given in answer to prayer was not given?

I want to pray and give alms for special intentions, but something bugs me that I’m being presumptuous that my actions can elicit a response from God.

We’re supposed to pray with confidence, hope, and trust, but I am so sinful — it seems kind of silly for someone like me to offer prayer for others. I wonder if God kind of finds hilarity in it…😊
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Not to worry, being sinful is not the same thing as living habitually in mortal sin. Pray zealously and perseveringly for others, and know that God will answer ALL your prayers in accordance with His holy Will; however, whether others will choose to cooperate with the graces God sends them through your intercession is another matter. The more confident, zealous and preserving you are in prayer the better. Some things are not granted by God because nobody prays for them; in other words, some things MUST be prayed for in order for God to grant them. God bless you.
 
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