Justification

Below is the 14th in the August Catholic Social Teaching series: Justification

The great disorder which is sin was defeated by Christ’s resurrection.  It is only in the Resurrection that we can fully appreciate this reordering God has done.  We begin to experience it now but only in eternity will we be able to fully appreciate it.

Teresita Scully, MTS

The Catholic Dictionary defines justification as the process of a sinner becoming justified or made right with God.

In James, verses 14-18 we read are given a great example for faith and works:

₁₄. What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? ₁₅. If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, _16. and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? _17. So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. _18, Indeed someone may say, “You have faith and I have works.” Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.

Catechism of the Catholic Church

2444 "The Church's love for the poor... is a part of her constant tradition." This love is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, of the poverty of Jesus, and of his concern for the poor. Love for the poor is even one of the motives for the duty of working so as to "be able to give to those in need." It extends not only to material poverty but also to the many forms of cultural and religious poverty. 

We are also warned in 2445:

Love for the poor is incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use:

Come now, you rich, weep and howl for the miseries that are coming upon you. Your riches have rotted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver have rusted, and their rust will be evidence against you and will eat your flesh like fire. You have laid up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. You have lived on the earth in luxury and in pleasure; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter. You have condemned, you have killed the righteous man; he does not resist you. Jason 5:1-6

Read more here:

Compendium of Social Doctrine of the Catholic Church

184. … The Church's love for the poor is inspired by the Gospel of the Beatitudes, by the poverty of Jesus and by his attention to the poor. This love concerns material poverty and also the numerous forms of cultural and religious poverty….. In her teaching the Church constantly returns to this relationship between charity and justice: “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours.

In her teaching the Church constantly returns to this relationship between charity and justice: “When we attend to the needs of those in want, we give them what is theirs, not ours. More than performing works of mercy, we are paying a debt of justice”. The Council Fathers strongly recommended that this duty be fulfilled correctly, remembering that “what is already due in justice is not to be offered as a gift of charity.” Love for the poor is certainly “incompatible with immoderate love of riches or their selfish use” (cf. Jas 5:1-6).  Read more here:

I encourage you to watch the video here