A question about those in isolation

[just_one_man]

This is my first question. I hope you don’t think it’s a silly one.
Suppose that someone living in a remote area has access to the internet. Suppose this person stumbles onto a Catholic website and, never having heard about Catholicism before, learns about the faith and wishes to become a Catholic.
However, there are no churches nearby. So this person can never be formally received into the Catholic Church.
So this person prays everyday, and does all the other things they can do, like the Rosary etc. They read the Bible and the Catechism online. Obviously they cannot receive the Eucharist, nor go to confession. But maybe they can watch Mass on EWTN.
Do you think that God would look favourably on this person?
Do you think this person would have a ‘good chance’ of getting into heaven?

Also, I want to add one thing. I’m sorry if this is not the appropriate forum for asking this quesion.

 

[LilyM]

The only really silly question is the one you have but don’t ask.

There is such a thing as baptism of desire - for example the Good thief who was never formally baptised or received by Christ as a follower but expressed repentance and a desire to follow and be with Christ.

If the person is doing as much as they can to live the life of a good, faithful Catholic they’ll be fine. They can’t receive confession, but certainly they’re able to repent their sins and make a sincere Act of Perfect Contrition.

 

[teachccd]

This is my first question. I hope you don’t think it’s a silly one.
Suppose that someone living in a remote area has access to the internet. Suppose this person stumbles onto a Catholic website and, never having heard about Catholicism before, learns about the faith and wishes to become a Catholic.
However, there are no churches nearby. So this person can never be formally received into the Catholic Church.
So this person prays everyday, and does all the other things they can do, like the Rosary etc. They read the Bible and the Catechism online. Obviously they cannot receive the Eucharist, nor go to confession. But maybe they can watch Mass on EWTN.
Do you think that God would look favourably on this person?
Do you think this person would have a ‘good chance’ of getting into heaven?

Also, I want to add one thing. I’m sorry if this is not the appropriate forum for asking this quesion.

Is this hypothetical or do you know this person?

Obviously God judges the heart and the intention of one’s action. This sounds like a person with more fervency than most Catholics who live within walking distance from their Church. Pretty slam dunk from our human perspective but God only knows… God Bless

 

[just_one_man]

Is this hypothetical or do you know this person?

Well, OK I’ll come clean.
It’s about me really. Although I have a lot to learn about the faith.
I have social phobia (or social anxiety) and find it quite difficult to be around people. (I like the relative anonimity of the ineternet).
Actually there is a Catholic Church about 10 minutes walking from where I live (and several more within a bus journey). I’m just too scared to go there.
I know it may sound ‘silly’, but for me it’s a real problem.

Obviously God judges the heart and the intention of one’s action. This sounds like a person with more fervency than most Catholics who live within walking distance from their Church. Pretty slam dunk from our human perspective but God only knows… God Bless

That’s what I was hoping to hear.
But I know that I really must do everything I can to become Catholic, no matter how ‘scary’ or difficult it seems to me. If I think about it, my ‘concerns’ seem irrelevant when compared to what Jesus knew lie ahead. I should gain strength from that thought.

Also, please don’t think I was being sly, dishonest or underhand in putting my question the way I did. If anything I was, maybe, just giving myself a bit of ‘protection’.

 

[teachccd]

Also, please don’t think I was being sly, dishonest or underhand in putting my question the way I did. If anything I was, maybe, just giving myself a bit of ‘protection’.

No.Your question was presented just fine. See if you can find a priest to talk to one on one. I suffer with generalized anxiety and it is difficult to deal with certain things. God surely understands. He created you and knows your heart. To be Catholic means to know the Church of Christ and to follow His teachings. We all fail in degrees only known to us and God. No one is perfect. That is why Jesus came and He knows you.

Take it slowly and continue on your journey. We are all on a journey, you know. I will keep you in my prayers and God will keep you in the palm of His hand…God Bless

 

[Catholic_Dude]

This is my first question. I hope you don’t think it’s a silly one.
Suppose that someone living in a remote area has access to the internet. Suppose this person stumbles onto a Catholic website and, never having heard about Catholicism before, learns about the faith and wishes to become a Catholic.
However, there are no churches nearby. So this person can never be formally received into the Catholic Church.
So this person prays everyday, and does all the other things they can do, like the Rosary etc. They read the Bible and the Catechism online. Obviously they cannot receive the Eucharist, nor go to confession. But maybe they can watch Mass on EWTN.
Do you think that God would look favourably on this person?
Do you think this person would have a ‘good chance’ of getting into heaven?

Also, I want to add one thing. I’m sorry if this is not the appropriate forum for asking this quesion.

Your profile says England, is your post a code for how you feel where you live?

 

[just_one_man]

Your profile says England, is your post a code for how you feel where you live?

LOL!

No, not at all.
Actually I’m surrounded by Catholic churches.

 

[LilyM]

Well, OK I’ll come clean.
It’s about me really. Although I have a lot to learn about the faith.
I have social phobia (or social anxiety) and find it quite difficult to be around people. (I like the relative anonimity of the ineternet).
Actually there is a Catholic Church about 10 minutes walking from where I live (and several more within a bus journey). I’m just too scared to go there.
I know it may sound ‘silly’, but for me it’s a real problem.

That’s what I was hoping to hear.
But I know that I really must do everything I can to become Catholic, no matter how ‘scary’ or difficult it seems to me. If I think about it, my ‘concerns’ seem irrelevant when compared to what Jesus knew lie ahead. I should gain strength from that thought.

Also, please don’t think I was being sly, dishonest or underhand in putting my question the way I did. If anything I was, maybe, just giving myself a bit of ‘protection’.

Not silly at all - I’m sure a lot of us in internetland have similar problems. They’re real and God understands them to be sure.

Perhaps call up your local church(es) and explain that you have an anxiety disorder - the priest(s) may be willing to visit you in your home if that would help.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

LOL!

No, not at all.
Actually I’m surrounded by Catholic churches.

The truth is I dont know much about the condition of Catholicism in England. How are they doing over there, are there some nice orthodox churches you know of?
I know there is the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales but Id bet they are a small minority.
latin-mass-society.org/

 

[just_one_man]

The truth is I dont know much about the condition of Catholicism in England. How are they doing over there, are there some nice orthodox churches you know of?
I know there is the Latin Mass Society of England and Wales but Id bet they are a small minority.
latin-mass-society.org/

Well I really don’t know about the Mass.
Here is the ‘official’ UK website
catholic-ew.org.uk/
The statistics are here
catholic-ew.org.uk/cathstats/population.htm

There is a SSPX church close by. They may do the Latin Mass (but I don’t know much about them other than the ‘schism’ with Rome).

My ‘local’ Catholic Church website is
saintgerards.org.uk/
Complete with Vietnamese priest!