(a) When the Apostle declares that man is justified by faith, and freely, these words are to be understood in the sense in which, by general consent, the Catholic Church has always held and expressed them; to wit, that we are said to be justified by faith because faith is the beginning of man's salvation, and the foundation and root of all justification, without which it is impossible to satisfy God and attain to the fellowship of His children. Moreover, we are said to be justified freely because none of those things which precede justification, whether faith or works, merit the actual grace of justification; for if it be grace, it does not arise from works, otherwise grace would not be grace: Sess. VI, chap. 8. (b) Although no one can be righteous except those to whom the merit of the passion of our Lord Jesus Christ is communicated, nevertheless this communication is effected in justification when, by the Merit of the same most holy passion, the love of God is infused by the Holy Ghost into the hearts of those who are justified, and abides in them. Whence, in the act of justification, man receives, together with the remission of sins, all these things infused into him at once by Jesus Christ, in Whom he is ingrafted by faith, hope and charity. For faith, unless charity be added to it, neither unites perfectly to Christ, nor constitutes man a living member of His body: Sess. VI, chap. 7, par. 3. (c) Christ is not only the Redeemer in Whom they are to have faith, but also a Lawgiver Whom they must obey: Sess. VI, chap. 16, can. 21. (d) Faith without works is dead and vain, because in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision, but faith which works by charity for faith without hope and charity cannot avail unto eternal life; wherefore they hearken at once to the word of Christ: "If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments." Thus, being reborn instantly, and receiving true Christian righteousness, they are bidden to preserve it white and unspotted, as their principal robe given them by Jesus Christ in place of that which Adam lost for himself and us by his disobedience, that they may present it before the judgment-seat of our Lord Jesus Christ and have eternal life: Sess. VI, chap. 7, par. 4. (e) There is a continual influx of power from Jesus Christ Himself into those who are justified, as from the head into the parts of the body, and from the vine into its branches. This power always precedes, accompanies and follows their good works, and without it these could not by any means be acceptable and meritorious in the sight of God. Wherefore, it is to be believed that nothing more is wanting for those who are justified than that they be adjudged to have fully deserved eternal life, which will be bestowed on them in due time, by virtue of those works which were wrought in God Sess. VI, chap. 16. (f) When we speak of our own righteousness, this is not said as though it were our own from ourselves; for that which is called our righteousness is the righteousness of God, because it is infused into us by God through Christ's merit. Far be it, therefore, from any Christian man to trust or glory in himself, and not in the Lord, Whose goodness towards us men is so great that He wills to regard those things as our deserts, which are His own gifts: Sess. VI, chap. 16. (g) For of ourselves, as from ourselves, we can do nothing; but with Him, Who strengthens us, co-operating, we can do all things. Thus man has not anything in which he may glory. All our glory is in Christ, in Whom we live, in Whom we have merit, in Whom we make satisfaction, bringing forth fruits worthy of repentance, which have their efficacy from Him, are offered unto the Father by Him, and are accepted by the Father through Him Sess. XIV, chap. 8. (h) If anyone shall say that man may be justified in the sight of God by his own works, which are done either through the powers of human nature or through the teaching of the law, without divine grace through Christ Jesus, let him be accursed Sess. VI, can. 1. (i) If anyone shall say that man may believe, hope and love (that is, have faith, hope and charity), as is necessary in order that the grace of justification may be conferred upon him without the prevenient inspiration of the Holy Spirit and His assistance, let him be accursed: Sess. VI, can. 2. (k) If anyone shall say that man is justified without the righteousness of Christ, whereby He has acquired merit for us, let him be accursed Sess. VI, can. 10. And many other passages there are which are not mentioned here, principally relating to the conjunction of faith with charity or good works, and condemning their separation.