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Objection 1: It would seem that deeds deadened by sin are not
revived by Penance. Because just as past sins are remitted by
subsequent Penance, so are deeds previously done in charity, deadened
by subsequent sin. But sins remitted by Penance do not return, as
stated above (Question 88, Articles 1,2). Therefore it seems
that neither are dead deeds revived by charity.
Objection 2: Further, deeds are said to be deadened by comparison
with animals who die, as stated above (Article 4). But a dead
animal cannot be revived. Therefore neither can dead works be revived
by Penance.
Objection 3: Further, deeds done in charity are deserving of glory
according to the quantity of grace or charity. But sometimes man
arises through Penance to lesser grace or charity. Therefore he does
not receive glory according to the merit of his previous works; so that
it seems that deeds deadened by sin are not revived.
On the contrary, on Joel 2:25, "I will restore to you the
years, which the locust . . . hath eaten," a gloss says: "I
will not suffer to perish the fruit which you lost when your soul was
disturbed." But this fruit is the merit of good works which was lost
through sin. Therefore meritorious deeds done before are revived by
Penance.
I answer that, Some have said that meritorious works deadened by
subsequent sin are not revived by the ensuing Penance, because they
deemed such works to have passed away, so that they could not be
revived. But that is no reason why they should not be revived:
because they are conducive to eternal life (wherein their life
consists) not only as actually existing, but also after they cease to
exist actually, and as abiding in the Divine acceptance. Now, they
abide thus, so far as they are concerned, even after they have been
deadened by sin, because those works, according as they were done,
will ever be acceptable to God and give joy to the saints, according
to Apoc. 3:11: "Hold fast that which thou hast, that no man
take thy crown." That they fail in their efficacy to bring the man,
who did them, to eternal life, is due to the impediment of the
supervening sin whereby he is become unworthy of eternal life. But
this impediment is removed by Penance, inasmuch as sins are taken away
thereby. Hence it follows that deeds previously deadened, recover,
through Penance, their efficacy in bringing him, who did them, to
eternal life, and, in other words, they are revived. It is
therefore evident that deadened works are revived by Penance.
Reply to Objection 1: The very works themselves of sin are removed
by Penance, so that, by God's mercy, no further stain or debt of
punishment is incurred on their account: on the other hand, works done
in charity are not removed by God, since they abide in His
acceptance, but they are hindered on the part of the man who does
them; wherefore if this hindrance, on the part of the man who does
those works, be removed, God on His side fulfills what those works
deserved.
Reply to Objection 2: Deeds done in charity are not in themselves
deadened, as explained above, but only with regard to a supervening
impediment on the part of the man who does them. On the other hand,
an animal dies in itself, through being deprived of the principle of
life: so that the comparison fails.
Reply to Objection 3: He who, through Penance, arises to lesser
charity, will receive the essential reward according to the degree of
charity in which he is found. Yet he will have greater joy for the
works he had done in his former charity, than for those which he did in
his subsequent charity: and this joy belongs to the accidental reward.
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