How many works of satisfaction there are.
How many works of satisfaction there are.
§ 129. Bellarmine argues (ch. 6): “There are especially three works of satisfaction: fasting, to which pertain all the things that afflict the body, such as hair cloth, ashes, flagellations, etc.; almsgiving, to which pertain all works of mercy; and prayer, to which pertain all things which are properly given to God, such as praises, thanksgivings, and acts of contrition and confession.”
We respond. This entire matter will be dealt with openly elsewhere, namely, whether our works are satisfactory and meritorious in God’s judgment and also whether it is still possible for some works of supererogation to be performed in addition to the perfect obedience owed to the Law [On Good Works (Commonplace XX), §§ 87–133; cf. On the Gospel (Commonplace XVII), §§ 82–104]. But observe the two reasons with which Bellarmine here proves that theologians are right to claim that there are especially three kinds of satisfactions. He says: “One cause is that we ought to make satisfaction to God through the good things which are ours to the extent that they can become His. We have three kinds of good things: the heart, which we give to God through prayer; the body, which we give to God through fasting; and our external goods, which we give to God through our almsgiving. The other reason is that all faults pertain to the concupiscence of the flesh, the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life. Fasting suppresses the concupiscence of the flesh; almsgiving suppresses the concupiscence of the eyes, that is, greed; and prayer suppresses the pride of life.”
We respond. But we already owe all that is ours to God beforehand since we have been ordered to serve Him with all our might [Deut. 6:5]. We are already bound to restrain and mortify our corrupt desires beforehand. How, then, can we make satisfaction for sins by bestowing goods that were granted by God or by a mortification of concupiscence? But it is a wonder that prayer and entreaties are assigned among satisfactory and meritorious works, since in these very things we bear witness of our extreme poverty and weakness! Nor does it suffice to provide examples of those who have fasted, prayed, and given alms, for who except an extremely wicked person would disapprove of these? But what should have been demonstrated was that the truly devout undertook these works for the purpose of satisfaction.