Merit (Catholicism)
Merit (Latin meritum), in general, is understood to be that property of a good work which entitles the doer to receive a reward (prœmium, merces) from him in whose service the work is done. By antonomastic usage, the word has come to designate also the good work itself, insofar as it deserves a reward from the person in whose service it was performed.
In Catholic theology, a supernatural merit can only be a salutary act to which God in consequence of his infallible promise may give a reward.
Read more about Merit (Catholicism): Nature of Merit, Disputes, Conditions of Merit
Famous quotes containing the word merit:
“Youth enters the world with very happy prejudices in her own favour. She imagines herself not only certain of accomplishing every adventure, but of obtaining those rewards which the accomplishment may deserve. She is not easily persuaded to believe that the force of merit can be resisted by obstinacy and avarice, or its lustre darkened by envy and malignity.”
—Samuel Johnson (1709–1784)