Is going to confession considered "good work" in the faith vs. work distinction in justification?
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Accepted answer
Specific works in going to confession are bolded:
- Examining your conscience
- Waiting in line
- Saying your sins
- Listening to advice
- Praying an "act of contrition"
- Thanking your priest
- Doing your penance
Each of these things can be done well or poorly and the penitent still receives the same measure of forgiveness (i.e. is brought back in to the same state of grace).
The infusion of grace suffices for the remission of sin;
Doing them well can form a good habit (i.e. a virtue) and thereby increase ones receptivity to grace; especially actual grace to go and do more good works.
I wish St. Thomas were around to offer a distinguo as to whether only confessing once a year was a "work of the law" because it is a precept of the Church. He does say that we're bound to go to confession once a year if only to confess venial sins.
Now, if I were to put on my dumb ox cap, I can reason out that that work would not save you because in the unlikely event that you remain in a state of grace throughout the whole year and only confess venial sins, the work would not save you - but the neglect of the work would condemn you.
Therefore, it seems rational to call the whole thing a "good work" since it fits the bill as
- Inspired by the movement of grace
- Essential for salvation of fallen human beings
- Has elements which may or may not be meritorious based on ones disposition
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Source: stackoverflow.com
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