Works of righteousness, what are they?

Titus 3:5
Not 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;

What are these "works of righteousness" to which St. Paul refers?

In my opinion, a work of righteousness can include any good deed which is commanded by God.  That includes the Commandments, the Beautitudes, the virtues, the works of spiritual and corporal mercy, etc. etc.

You see, I tie this verse back to this one:

Exodus 20:6

King James Version (KJV)

 ⁶And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.

But we are not saved by doing the Commandments.  But by His mercy.

Do you see the relationship?  The Commandments of God are the basis of every good work which we can do.

To put it bluntly, we can't wash our own souls.  God is the only one who can do that.  And God won't do it for anyone except for those who have kept His Commandments:

Romans 2:13

King James Version (KJV)

 ¹³(For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

In order to be justified, in order to be saved, we must keep the Commandments of God:

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.

Sincerely,

De Maria