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Objection 1: It would seem that Christ's Passion did not bring
about our salvation by way of merit. For the sources of our sufferings
are not within us. But no one merits or is praised except for that
whose principle lies within him. Therefore Christ's Passion wrought
nothing by way of merit.
Objection 2: Further, from the beginning of His conception Christ
merited for Himself and for us, as stated above (Question 9,
Article 4; Question 34, Article 3). But it is superfluous to
merit over again what has been merited before. Therefore by His
Passion Christ did not merit our salvation.
Objection 3: Further, the source of merit is charity. But
Christ's charity was not made greater by the Passion than it was
before. Therefore He did not merit our salvation by suffering more
than He had already.
On the contrary, on the words of Phil. 2:9, "Therefore God
exalted Him," etc., Augustine says (Tract. civ in Joan.):
"The lowliness" of the Passion "merited glory; glory was the
reward of lowliness." But He was glorified, not merely in
Himself, but likewise in His faithful ones, as He says Himself
(Jn. 17:10). Therefore it appears that He merited the
salvation of the faithful.
I answer that, As stated above (Question 7, Articles 1,9;
Question 8, Articles 1,5), grace was bestowed upon Christ,
not only as an individual, but inasmuch as He is the Head of the
Church, so that it might overflow into His members; and therefore
Christ's works are referred to Himself and to His members in the
same way as the works of any other man in a state of grace are referred
to himself. But it is evident that whosoever suffers for justice's
sake, provided that he be in a state of grace, merits his salvation
thereby, according to Mt. 5:10: "Blessed are they that suffer
persecution for justice's sake." Consequently Christ by His
Passion merited salvation, not only for Himself, but likewise for
all His members.
Reply to Objection 1: Suffering, as such, is caused by an outward
principle: but inasmuch as one bears it willingly, it has an inward
principle.
Reply to Objection 2: From the beginning of His conception Christ
merited our eternal salvation; but on our side there were some
obstacles, whereby we were hindered from securing the effect of His
preceding merits: consequently, in order to remove such hindrances,
"it was necessary for Christ to suffer," as stated above (Question
46, Article 3).
Reply to Objection 3: Christ's Passion has a special effect,
which His preceding merits did not possess, not on account of greater
charity, but because of the nature of the work, which was suitable for
such an effect, as is clear from the arguments brought forward above
all the fittingness of Christ's Passion (Question 46,
Articles, 3,4).
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