Bible Question:
Glad to have found you on the internet Ed. You seem to be very knowledgeable and I very much appreciate your answer to my question. I have another question that I have posted on this site, but since you seem so knowledgeable I would be very interested in hearing your response to my question. I have already searched this site for this subject matter and came up with nothing helpful. My question is "What is my role in my own sanctification?" Blessings. Pam |
Bible Answer: Pam, In addition to what EdB and his "assistant" have offered may I add what follows. The quote that EdB gave about Catholic belief regarding sanctification being wrapped up in intial justification through baptism into Christ is accurate. But there is also this followup which, you may notice, in many ways dovetails with what they had to offer. "THE INCREASE OF THE JUSTIFICATION RECEIVED Having, therefore, been thus justified and made the friends and domestics of God,[49] advancing from virtue to virtue,[50] they are renewed, as the Apostle says, day by day,[51] that is, mortifying the members[52] of their flesh, and presenting them as instruments of justice unto sanctification,[53] they, through the observance of the commandments of God and of the Church, faith cooperating with good works, increase in that justice received through the grace of Christ and are further justified, as it is written: He that is just, let him be justified still;[54] and, Be not afraid to be justified even to death;[55] and again, Do you see that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only?[56] This increase of justice holy Church asks for when she prays: "Give unto us, O Lord, an increase of faith, hope and charity."[57] 50. Ps. 83:8. 51. See 2 Cor. 4:16. 52. Col. 3:5. 53. Rom. 6:13, 19. 54. Apoc. 22:11. 55. Ecclus. 18:22. 56. James 2:24. 57. Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost. The Council of Trent Emmaus |