Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 341- Part I.

YOUCAT Question n. 341 – Part I. Can someone earn heaven by good works?

(Youcat answer) No. No man can gain heaven merely by his own efforts. The fact that we are saved is God’s grace, pure and simple, which nevertheless demands the free cooperation of the individual.

A deepening through CCC

(CCC 2006) The term "merit" refers in general to the recompense owed by a community or a society for the action of one of its members, experienced either as beneficial or harmful, deserving reward or punishment. Merit is relative to the virtue of justice, in conformity with the principle of equality which governs it. (CCC 2007) With regard to God, there is no strict right to any merit on the part of man. Between God and us there is an immeasurable inequality, for we have received everything from him, our Creator.      

Reflecting and meditating 

(Youcat comment) Although it is grace and faith through which we are saved, nevertheless, our good works ought to show the love produced by God’s action in us.

(CCC Comment)

(CCC 2025) We can have merit in God's sight only because of God's free plan to associate man with the work of his grace. Merit is to be ascribed in the first place to the grace of God, and secondly to man's collaboration. Man's merit is due to God.  

(This question: Can someone earn heaven by good works? is continued)