CCC 2009

Filial adoption, in making us partakers by grace in the divine nature, can bestow true merit on us as a result of God's gratuitous justice. This is our right by grace, the full right of love, making us "co-heirs" with Christ and worthy of obtaining "the promised inheritance of eternal life."⁶⁰ Council of Trent (1547): DS 1546DS — Denzinger–Schönmetzer (Enchiridion Symbolorum). The merits of our good works are gifts of the divine goodness.⁶¹ Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1548DS — Denzinger–Schönmetzer (Enchiridion Symbolorum). "Grace has gone before us; now we are given what is due.... Our merits are God's gifts."⁶² St. Augustine, Sermo 298, 4-5: PL 38, 1367PL — Patrologia Latina (Migne).