A stock objection which Catholic apologists raise to classic Protestant theology is that justification by faith is a "legal fiction". Among other things, that's a highly ironic allegation given the Catholic alternative. For the Catholic alternative is ceremonial holiness. They imagine that sacraments like baptism "infuse" the soul with the grace of holiness. But that's something they attribute to the sacrament. The purported process of infused grace is utterly indetectable and unverifiable. So they replace the "legal fiction" of sola fide with an external rite. But why isn't that a legal fiction?
Indeed, doesn't the idea of a "treasury of merit" presume that the righteousness of others can be imputed to you?
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