Okay kiddo, imagine you have a toy box filled with all sorts of toys. Your mom and dad tell you that if you clean your room, you will earn a reward, like a piece of candy or extra playtime. This reward is called "merit", and it means that you did something good and you earned a prize for it.
In Catholicism, merit is similar. The Catholic Church believes that when people do good things, like being kind to others or helping those in need, they earn merit in the eyes of God. This merit is like a reward from God for doing good things, just like your candy or extra playtime.
But in Catholicism, the idea of merit goes beyond just earning rewards. It's also about working towards salvation, which means being saved from sin and going to heaven. Catholics believe that doing good things and earning merit can help them get closer to God and earn a place in heaven.
So, just like earning rewards for doing good things at home, Catholics believe that earning merit through good deeds can lead to a greater reward in the afterlife.