Welcome to the very first edition of the answer part of the question and answer blog known as The Catholic Mailbag!  We’ve gotten a lot of good questions this week but we are going to focus on two submissions, mainly because we couldn't give a short answer to them all.  

We start with Katie who submitted three questions to [email protected]:

What exactly can we merit??? I do understand that it is grace that puts our faith into motion and grace that initiates any good works that we might do and that grace is from beginning to end the reason for our justification. I also see that we have to cooperate with grace, we can lose grace by not cooperating with it and that we also have free will and that how we live our moral life does matter. But what can we ourselves earn? What is our role??

Wow, what a question to start off on.  Your question gets us into the territory that our Protestant brothers and sisters like to use to argue against Catholicism, that faith alone is the only instrument of salvation and that Catholics think we can earn our way into heaven.  Protestants often misunderstand the Catholic teaching on merit, thinking that Catholics believe that one must do good works to come to God and be saved.  For example, if your kids pick up their room and take out the trash, and just because they did that work, they are entitled to an allowance. This is exactly the opposite of what the Church teaches.  The Council of Trent stressed: "[N]one of those things which precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the grace of justification; for if it is by grace, it is not now by works; otherwise, as the Apostle [Paul] says, grace is no more grace" (Decree on Justification 8, citing Rom. 11:6).  And as Peter says in Acts 10:34-35: "Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”  Also he says in 1 Tim. 6:17-19: “As for the rich in this world, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on uncertain riches but on God who richly furnishes us with everything to enjoy. They are to do good, to be rich in good deeds, liberal and generous, thus laying up for themselves a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of the life which is life indeed.”

When Peter says that one who does good and what is right is acceptable to him, he means just that. Thus, we can merit. Paul writes that the only way that one can take hold of eternal life is he must be rich in good deeds.

The catechism teaches us only Christ is capable of meriting in the strict sense—mere man cannot (CCC 2007). The most merit humans can have is condign, meaning under the impetus of God’s grace, they perform acts which please him and which he has promised to reward (Rom. 2:6–11, Gal. 6:6–10). Thus God’s grace and his promise form the foundation for all human merit (CCC 2008).

God simply promised us that if we have faith and do good works, then He will give us eternal life.  It is this type of merit that explains our justification by Grace through faith and our works, which are a sign of our belief and life in Christ the Savior (Matthew 25).

Question #2 from Katie:

Also, I very occasionally leave my 4 and 6 year olds at home if its sub zero out or they have a cold or are just exhausted and then the other parent attends a different mass time. Does this rare choice endanger the child or me as their parent in terms of mortal sin?

The catechism says you must go to Mass “…unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor.” (CCC 2181).  You check the box on the care of an infant and they on being ill.  That said,  I would recommend that when dealing with the exhaustion that they consider attending a different Mass.  With your oldest approaching the age of 7 and nearing the sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist, that it would benefit your child greatly to attend on a regular basis, despite tiredness, cold or temperature.

…and #3:

Further, how old does one need to be before they can be in mortal sin?  

For it to be a mortal sin he or she must have full knowledge that what he or she is doing is wrong, give full consent, and it must be a grave matter (CCC 1857).  If any of these are missing then it is not a mortal sin, and there is no age limit.

And the final thought from Katie:

I also wanted to know if it was acceptable to read catholic books and or the bible during some of my hour spent in adoration?

Which leads into this question submitted from the holytrinitywci.org website:

What is recommended to do during adoration? I am finding it really hard to shut off my brain and not focus on the things going on around me from everything that the floor needs to be vacuumed to wondering who it is that just walked in. What works or where would you start? Would listening to music quietly on earbuds be ok?

Ah, the age old question of what do I do to quiet down the noise up there?  In today's world we are literally bombarded all the time with things designed to stimulate our brain.  Social media, demands of work and family, and countless advertisements telling us how our lives are incomplete because we are lacking the latest gadget.  To simply walk out of that world and straight into the sanctuary containing the presence of our Lord is difficult at best. The best way is to mentally prepare ourselves ahead of time before we get there.  Begin a rosary on the drive there, think about something you want to meditate on, or simply turn off the radio and clear your head. Once we get there, that's when I take the easy answer and say, do whatever works best for you.  Personally, I like to go armed with either something I’m currently reading, a bible or both. I’ve even seen people get moved to write their thoughts. In fact, I have started carrying my tablet, pre loaded with my books or with my browser tabs already opened to some sort of study guide or app like Laudate (which if you don’t have, I highly suggest downloading it).  Just resist the urge to check your messages, and it goes without saying to turn the sound off...which brings me to listening to music. I would discourage use of music/ear buds. We need to learn to sit in silence with God. If music is utilized, no words…. As this may distract from God speaking.

It is very normal to become distracted, most especially as one begins this practice.  We are not used to being in silence, but like the gentle whisper of the wind in 1 Kings 19 is where the voice of God will come.  Do not be hard on yourself, but gently turn the attention back to the Blessed Sacrament. Instead of looking at the floor, turn to looking at the rays coming from the monstrance, Christ’s wounds before you on the cross or utilize one of the items from the link provided below.  Reading scripture from the Bible is certainly good, once again, move slowly and listen for God’s gentle whisper.

(Here is a link to a resource of what TO DO during Adoration) https://www.stpeter.ptdiocese.org/documents/48%20Things%20To%20Do%20At%20Adoration.pdf

Well that wraps up the inaugural run of Catholic Mailbag Answers, now it's your turn.  Please send any and all questions or comments to [email protected] or under the Parish Life/Blogs tab at www.holytrinitywci.org.  Also please, please, please follow us on Twitter @ht_mailbag and like the Holy Trinity - Webster County Facebook page for sneak peaks and quick answers of upcoming entries.