Ave Maria Meditations
Merit is the right to a reward because of the works we do, and literally all of our works can be meritorious, enabling us to turn our whole life into a time of merit. Theology teaches us that merit in the proper sense is that by which a recompense is owed in justice, or at least by virtue of a promise. Thus in the natural order, the worker merits his salary…
In the supernatural order we seek merit, a recompense which far exceeds all the honor and glory which the world can offer. By fulfilling his duties in his ordinary life the Christian in the state of grace gains more grace in his soul and merits eternal life. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us and eternal wait of glory beyond all comparison.(cf Lk 6: 20-26)
The works we do each day are meritorious if we do them well and with an upright intention, if we offer them to God at the beginning of the day and in the holy mass, when we with the right intention start some task as well as when we finish it. Our works will be especially meritorious if we unite them to the merits of Christ and to those of our Lady. In this way we gain possession of those graces infinite value which our Lord won for us, principally on the cross, and which our Lady also won for us, co-redeeming with her Son in an exceptional manner. God our Father then sees our works invested with a new and infinite character, for we have become shares in the merits of Christ.
Conscious of the supernatural reality, should we not ask ourselves whether we are trying to offer everything to our Lord, the ordinary things of each day and the exceptional or difficult ones too, such as sickness, persecution, or slander? It is especially in these most difficult times that we should remember the words of the gospel; and to rejoice in that day, and leap for joy for behold your reward is great in heaven.(Pet 3:17).
There is yet another thing that can help us carry out our tasks more perfectly. This is the realization that through them we can merit, relying on our friendship with our Lord, the conversion of a son, a brother or a friend, so long as we ourselves are in the state of grace and seek perfectly to carry out our work for God’s glory alone. This is the way of the Saints.
Let us therefore take full advantage of every opportunity to help others along the path to heaven. And let us act in this way with even greater fervor and tenacity in the cause of those whom God has placed near to us and of those who are seem to be in the greatest need of spiritual help.
Fr. Francis Fernandez
