contemplative""Eternal life," as the Council of Trent teaches, "is to be offered, both as a grace mercifully promised to the sons of God through Christ Jesus, and as a reward promised by God Himself, to be faithfully given to their good works and merits. For this is the crown of justice which after his fight and course the Apostle declared was laid up for him, to be rendered to him by the just Judge, and not only to him, but also to all that love His coming." As St. Augustine says, "He who created thee without thyself, will not save thee without thyself."
We are, then obliged to cooperate in our justification and sanctification because God wishes to reward our merits by crowning His own grace, that is, the power which He communicates to us to perform good works. When we receive the divine grace of His Son, we receive it as a most precious seed of life which we must foster and not let perish. We began the life of grace in the status of new-born babes who crave pure spiritual milk, that by it they may grow to salvation, which is the statue of perfect manhood. We must grow and develop in total conformity with Jesus Christ, and that to such an extent that He Himself is formed anew in us. If, on the other hand, we do not strive to grow, we shall perish, because we shall be contradicting the plans of divine Providence." pg. 196,197
Fr. Arintero sets forth a understanding of salvation that is not found in the New Testament/the Letters of the Apostle Paul. I could write pages refuting the above Catholic doctrine of grace, but I am too tired. Plus no one is going to read what I write anyway.
I recommend reading "The Mystical Evolution" by Fr. John G. Arintero along with a work titled, "John Calvin: Institutes of the Christian Religion" Two Volumes/Volume One BOOK Three The Way in Which We Receive the Grace of Christ: What Benefits Come to Us from It, and What Effects Follow.
Also read for example a modern book on Pauline Theology like, "Paul Apostle Of God's Glory In Christ: A Pauline Theology" by Thomas R. Schreiner.
I will close to wait for night to fall.
