Faith and works in Scripture conclusion

In the previous article, I was continuing what I began in this article:

Still working on that mega cluster of objections offered up by Ken on the Beggars All Reformation Blog.  For those not familiar with the exercise, please see the above links.  For those who have read the previous articles, here we go again.  Ken's words are in blue and indented:

visiting saints graves,

I'm not sure to what you refer since almost everyone, Protestant or Catholic, will sometimes visit the graves of those whom they love.  If that is a reference to prayers for the dead, yes, we do pray for the dead.  That is from the book of Maccabees which is not in your Bible.  But has always been in the canonical Bible:

2 Machabees 12:46
It is therefore a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from sins.

It is also in the 66 book canon, but Protestants don't recognize because they have discarded the Traditions without which the Scriptures are a dead letter:

2 Timothy 1:15-18

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁵This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.
 ¹⁶The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain:
 ¹⁷But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.
 ¹⁸The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well.

That is St. Paul's prayer for the soul of Onesiphorus.  Whom, from the context, has obviously died in the service of God.

etc. fasting,

I'm always surprised at this one.  You would think someone who knows a little bit of Scripture would know what Christ said.  But then, it is a tradition and those who have discarded the traditions would perhaps not pay attention to this:

Matthew 9:15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁵And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

extended times of more prayer,

Luke 18

 ¹And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

meditation,

Meditation?  Really?  First time I've encountered this objection:

Psalm 63:6
When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.

Philippians 4:8

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

giving to the poor;

Really?  You don't believe in giving to the poor?  That's another first:

Proverbs 22:9

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁹He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth of his bread to the poor.

Matthew 19:21

King James Version (KJV)

 ²¹Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.

doing what the priest says as the satisfaction aspect of penance, 

 Hebrews 13:17

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

etc.) These things are contradictions to “by grace alone” (hence they contradict faith alone – Romans 4:16)

I'm glad that you understand that faith is the grace of which St. Paul speaks.  Lets go to Romans 4:16

Romans 4:16

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁶Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

That neither says faith alone, nor grace alone.  Why?  Because faith is a very important type of grace.  It is a grace which must be exercised by the volition of the person to whom it is given.  If it isn't, it is lost:

James 2:17

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁷Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.


Therefore, faith must be accompanied by works to be salvific:

Galatians 5:6

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁶For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.

and they contradict “not by our own works”.

That is simply a false assumption on your part.  For one thing, the Catholic Church teaches that Christ works through us.  Therefore, our works are not our own, but His.
2011 The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits before God. Grace, by uniting us to Christ in active love, ensures the supernatural quality of our acts and consequently their merit before God and before men. The saints have always had a lively awareness that their merits were pure grace.

After earth's exile, I hope to go and enjoy you in the fatherland, but I do not want to lay up merits for heaven. I want to work for your love alone. . . . In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is blemished in your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in your own justice and to receive from your love the eternal possession ofyourself.

You don’t get grace dispensed to you from the treasury of merit, unless you do the works; and that only comes to you after you do those things; those good works, ceremonies, communion (partaking of the Lord’s Supper), hail Marys, prayers, fastings, almsgiving, and obeying the Ten Commandments, etc.

I think you're a bit confused.  First, yes, you are correct.  We believe God is a rewarder of them who seek Him:

Hebrews 11:6

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁶But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.


We also know that God is not unjust to forget our works:

Hebrews 6:10

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁰For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.


At the same time, God also gives us grace without any merit on our part:

604 By giving up his own Son for our sins, God manifests that his plan for us is one of benevolent love, prior to any merit on our part: "In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the expiation for our sins." God "shows his love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us."

So, it seems that the Master's response is appropos here addressed to you:

Matthew 20:15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁵Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good?

Are you objecting because God gives us grace to work and then gives us grace to reward our works?

No. 2068 in the RCC Catechism says, “The Council of Trent teaches that the Ten Commandments are obligatory for Christians . . . so that all men may obtain salvation through faith, Baptism, and the observance of the Commandments.” ( p. 502, Catechism of the Catholic Church, Liberia Editrice Vatinaa, Imprimi Potest, Cardinal Ratzinger, 1994.

Absolutely correct.  The Ten Commandments are obligatory:

Revelation 22:13-15

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹³I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
 ¹⁴Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.
 ¹⁵For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.


As is Baptism:

Mark 16:16

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹⁶He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.


For those who want to be saved in this life.

 It is ironic, that you who deny the efficacy of works will be judged by how you kept the Law of God on the Last Day.  

Acts 10:33-35

King James Version (KJV)

 ³³Immediately therefore I sent to thee; and thou hast well done that thou art come. Now therefore are we all here present before God, to hear all things that are commanded thee of God.
 ³⁴Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons:
 ³⁵But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.

Yet, we who embrace the efficacy of works, will be saved not by any righteous work we do, but by the mercy of God poured out in the Sacraments of Jesus Christ:

Titus 3:5

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

This is contradictory to RC claims that it is “not by our own works” and contradictory to “by grace alone”.
Also, the Catechism says:
No. 2010 “Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life.” ( Ibid, p. 487)

Not contradictory at all.  Understood in the light of Tradition according to Catholic Teaching.


Sincerely,


De Maria