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Nguyen 2
assent to the gift of faith, freely given by God and unmerited by each of us. And it is by works of
charity and human works that increase our habits of living in freedom that allow for a more
complete assent to that faith, which alone saves us. It is we, who are being saved, who, when
more fully ourselves by good works animated by faith, are thereby more fully God's.
Indulgences as Catholics now understand them, are analogously an expression of God's
mercy, that He would accept acts of piety or charity as satisfaction for temporal punishment. The
role of the Church (specifically, her hierarchy) in such works is to recognize their efficacy in
obtaining for the person, often in his nature, sufficient discipline to more fully repent and to
demonstrate, as a fruit of the graces received, further readiness to enter fully into the Kingdom of
God.
Luther had a great many things right, and had he remained within the Church to bring
about the reforms he desired and that the Church needed, he would be a hero and the Church on
earth so much stronger. It is beautiful today when Christians of diverse traditions stretching back
to Martin Luther's day can unite in these works of love and mercy, and it will be even more
beautiful when the perspectives that divide us finally join in the truth!