Rev. Father Angelo,

I do not understand the concept of congruous or quasi-merit: if it is a merit acquired by way of friendship and familiarity, what merit is it? It is not really a merit.

What merit do I have if I am a friend of the President of the Republic, the Pope or any important man?

Thank you.

Ilario

Dear Ilario,

1. by merit de congruo (congruous merit) we mean what is not due based on strict justice or promise. A worker has the right to be paid or rewarded. He deserves the salary for justice. Theologians give to this type of merit the qualification of “de condigno”.

2. Let me explain with an example: if a worker does his job properly he certainly has the right to be paid. It deserves condigno, for justice.

But since he does his work so well it is very evident for the employer to recognize the value of the work performed and to freely decide to grant a work bonus.

The employer is not obliged to give this award nor can he be accused of injustice if he does not give it. However, it is right to show your benevolence by recognizing “the merit”. It is the merit de congruo.

3. Of course, the word merit in this second case can be misunderstood.

Because what the employer gives is not due, but it is a gift that he is in some way required to give. In fact, thanks to his employee he has gained prestige and benefit in front of his customers and also an economic return.

4. By transferring ourselves to the supernatural order, it must be said that no one can deserve to be a friend and confidant of God. This is the fruit of God’s condescension towards us. It is for this reason that God’s benevolence is called grace.

And it is for this reason that St. Thomas says that no one can deserve the first grace, that is to pass from sin to friendship with God:

“The first grace cannot be deserved by those who are not in grace: either because it surpasses the capacity of nature; and because before grace, in the state of guilt, man finds in sin an obstacle to deserving it “(Summa Theologica, I-II, 114, 5). Likewise, no one deserves to rise from sin to grace.

5. But once we have become friends of God by grace, similarly to the good worker who does beyond what is required, we procure very great benefits for the Church and humanity because the sanctification of someone goes to the advantage of all the others in some way. It is the so-called “communion of saints”.

So it is convenient to be listened to in one’s requests.

6. In this sense, the prayers and good works of a saint or a person in grace can get a look of benevolence from God for a particular help in favor of another.

So St. Thomas says that “one can merit the first grace to another with a congruous merit. In fact, since a man in grace fulfills the will of God, according to the relations of friendship, God fulfills his will by saving another: although sometimes there may be an obstacle on the part of the person whose justification is desired by a saint “(Ib., 6).

7. In conclusion: “The faith of one cannot merit the salvation of another with a merit of justice (de condigno), but can obtain it with a congruous merit (de congruo)” (Ib., 6, ad 1).

With the hope that my prayer will be useful in obtaining many benefits from the Lord, I’ll gladly remember you and I bless you.

Father Angelo

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