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Angela77
Guest
I’ve heard this word a lot, in the context that one gets salvation through grace and works. But what exactly are works?
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Corporal Works of Mercy!
1.To feed the hungry
2.To give drink to the thirsty.
3.To shelter the homeless.
4.To clothe the naked.
5.To visit and ransom the captive, (prisoners).
6.To visit the sick.
7.To bury the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy!
1.Instruct the uninformed
2.Counsel the doubtful;
3.Admonish sinners;
4.Bear wrongs patiently;
5.Forgive offenses willingly;
6.Comfort the afflicted;
7.Pray for the living, the sick and the dead.
1.To feed the hungry
2.To give drink to the thirsty.
3.To shelter the homeless.
4.To clothe the naked.
5.To visit and ransom the captive, (prisoners).
6.To visit the sick.
7.To bury the dead.
Spiritual Works of Mercy!
1.Instruct the uninformed
2.Counsel the doubtful;
3.Admonish sinners;
4.Bear wrongs patiently;
5.Forgive offenses willingly;
6.Comfort the afflicted;
7.Pray for the living, the sick and the dead.
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Garyjohn2
Guest
In this context, it would be things we do (actions we take, words we speak) as opposed to things we believe, think, and feel on the inside.
edit: Oh yes, the works of mercy are wonderful ways to live out our faith in a real, concrete, and external manner.
edit: Oh yes, the works of mercy are wonderful ways to live out our faith in a real, concrete, and external manner.
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mdkirkbride
Guest
Doing the will of God to accept the freely offered, unmerited gift, that is God’s Grace might be one definition.
You should start with the corpal and spiritual works of mercy as good examples.
newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm
You should start with the corpal and spiritual works of mercy as good examples.
newadvent.org/cathen/10198d.htm
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markomalley
Guest
[BIBLEDRB]James 2:15-26[/BIBLEDRB]
Faith without works is dead. A living faith will result in works.
It’s been my experience that works also tend to energize the faith.
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Deo_Gratias42
Guest
The whole setting prisoners free thing doesn’t work if you’re regular Joe Blow, and that can be expanded on to include other things than just visiting prisoners. For example, given the nature of what I do every day and who I work with, I offer up everything I do during my Morning Offering, and say a Veni Sancte Spiritus for all my “clients” so that I merit good works (and so that I hopefully never see them again in my office. I mean that in a good way.)
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Angela77
Guest
Thanks everyone! This makes much more sense now! 
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CopticChristian
Guest
Works are things you do by the grace of God, so that you witness God working through you, lest any man boast…Works cannot be separated from Faith and grace…too often the charge against Catholics is that we work our way to heaven…we are rewarded for the work we do by the grace of God allowing us to do the work, so that everything is a gift from God, start to finish…
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Planty_Pall
Guest
Good. Good. Saving works and saving faith are both by grace. You saved me a post, Coptic Christian.
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CopticChristian
Guest
Council of Trent
ON JUSTIFICATION
CANON I.-If any one saith, that man may be justified before God by his own works, whether done through the teaching of human nature, or that of the law, without the grace of God through Jesus Christ; let him be anathema.
CANON II.-If any one saith, that the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, is given only for this, that man may be able more easily to live justly, and to merit eternal life, as if, by free will without grace, he were able to do both, though hardly indeed and with difficulty; let him be anathema.
CANON III.-If any one saith, that without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Ghost, and without his help, man can believe, hope, love, or be penitent as he ought, so as that the grace of Justification may be bestowed upon him; let him be anathema.
CANON XXVI.-If any one saith, that the just ought not, for their good works done in God, to expect and hope for an eternal recompense from God, through His mercy and the merit of Jesus Christ, if so be that they persevere to the end in well [Page 48] doing and in keeping the divine commandments; let him be anathema.
CANON XXXII.-If any one saith, that the good works of one that is justified are in such manner the gifts of God, as that they are not also the good merits of him that is justified; or, that the said justified, by the good works which he performs through the grace of God and the merit of Jesus Christ, whose [Page 49] living member he is, does not truly merit increase of grace, eternal life, and the attainment of that eternal life,-if so be, however, that he depart in grace,-and also an increase of glory; let him be anathema.
You may want to look at the Council of Orange as well. Much of Trent was contained in this Council as well…
Council of Orange II, 529
Can. 7. If anyone affirms that without the illumination and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,—who gives to all sweetness in consenting to and believing in the truth,—through the strength of nature he can think anything good which pertains to the salvation of eternal life, as he should, or choose, or consent to salvation, that is to the evangelical proclamation, he is deceived by the heretical spirit, not understanding the voice of God speaking in the Gospel: “Without me you can do nothing” [John 15:5]; and that of the Apostle: Not that we are fit to thinly everything by ourselves as of ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God [II Cor. 3:5; cf. St. Augustine].1
Can. 20. “That without God man can do no good. God does many good 193 things in man, which man does not do; indeed man can do no good that God does not expect that man do” [St. Prosper].2
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CopticChristian
Guest
You should also know that Protestants are taught that as it regards works Paul speaks against works…and they will cite the letter to the Romans…
interlinearbible.org/romans/3-20.htm
Know that what Paul is talking about is “works of the law”…ergon nomou…these are the works of the Mosaic Law, Deuteronomy…not the Moral Law…and are not works. This is unfortunately poor teaching by Protestant oral tradition that this notion of works is falsely understood.
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domandcarols
Guest
I love our lists. :’)
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CopticChristian
Guest
And your list is all about intention and action…
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bmullins
Guest
Remember that there are more than one type of prisoner. One of the greatest prisons on the planet is the prison of sin. Setting one free from that by leading them to Christ and his Church is an amazing work.
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