Dear Veritas:

The Catholic Church does not teach that we are saved by faith and works. This is a common mistake people make about the Catholic Church. We are saved by GRACE through faith, lest any man should boast.

But, since the Catholic Church is a biblical church, in fact the New Testament is a Catholic document written by Catholics, vetted by Catholics, and compiled by Catholics, all doctrine of the Catholic Church is consistent with its own document -- the New Testament.

As such, I need to point out a biblical error in your post. You said that we are " justified thorough faith only". The bible disagrees with you. The only place in the bible where the words "faith alone" is mentioned in James 2:24 "You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone."

I think the book of James is Scripture and thus inerrant and thus James is speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

There is, however, no contradiction between St. Paul and St. James. St. Paul refers to the works of the law. The works of the law will not justify us, this is true. St. James is talking about the works of love that is the natural fruition of faith. Here is the James 2:24 passage in full context:

14 What does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is ill-clad and in lack of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and filled," without giving them the things needed for the body, what does it profit? 17 So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

18 But some one will say, "You have faith and I have works." Show me your faith apart from your works, and I by my works will show you my faith. 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder. 20 Do you want to be shown, you shallow man, that faith apart from works is barren? 21*  Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? 22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works, 23*  and the scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness"; and he was called the friend of God. 24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. 25*  And in the same way was not also Rahab the harlot justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? 26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead.

This is what the Catholic Church believes and teaches.

We are saved by grace THROUGH Faith lest any man may boast. But what is faith?

St. James says that faith without works is dead. He does not say that faith without works is sick or damaged or not too good. He says that faith without works is DEAD. Dead is ineffectual; dead is non-existence; it is no faith at all.

Thus if we claim we have faith, but that faith is not expressed in the works of love, then our faith is dead; it does not exist. If our faith is dead then our faith no longer, or never did exist. If our faith no longer or never did exist, then we have no justification. If we have no justification then we have no saving grace.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary