A question on hell or heaven

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The_John_1

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Our Catholic Christian faith teaches us that those who die in the state of mortal sin - surely go to hell…

But what happens in the case of a baptized person - who perhaps walked away from our Catholic faith, through his upbringing was not catechized properly and so forth…

So what happens to a person who may have not committed a mortal sin through its strict sense - but not truly actively engaged in his/her catholic faith or even christian faith?

Likewise it seems we understand that even if one is not catholic - can be saved through the grace Christ…

Yet time after time I read theological opinions on how very few are saved and many find themselves in hell.
 
The_John said:
So what happens to a person who may have not committed a mortal sin through its strict sense - but not truly actively engaged in his/her catholic faith or even christian faith?

Likewise it seems we understand that even if one is not catholic - can be saved through the grace Christ…
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There’s always the possibility of Purgatory.
 
I understand - purgatory

But I am hoping for a better answer than that
 
Your question is a valid one. 🙂
Whatever beliefs anyone has regarding the fate of any other persons, God alone judges souls. God alone knows who is in heaven, not we on earth. God alone knows who accepts the final grace that God offers for repentance.
According to the bible, Matthew 25 verses 31-46, Jesus is Judge of souls.
In those texts He describes His criteria.

americancatholic.org/Newsletters/CU/ac0494.asp Fr. Thomas Richstatter, O.F.M.

"And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, “Who then can be saved?”
But Jesus looked at them and said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.” Mark 10:26-27
 
It’s quite impossible to know if most are saved or if most are lost. My take on it is that since the path to salvation has been laid out by God, and God supplies his grace for us to find and remain on that path, then the most people possible will of course be saved. But free will rules over all, and we have no way to put a percentage on that.
 
“Catechism of the Catholic Church” Imprimi Potest. Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger (Pope Benedict) vatican.va/archive/ENG0015/__P29.HTM

"816 “Those who through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know.”

Regarding the Church and non-Christians, continue to read from the same page in the Catechism of the Catholic Church

Regarding non-Catholic Christians

from the Dogmatic Constitution of the Catholic, LUMEN GENTIUM, solemnly promulgated by his holiness Pope Paul v1 on November 21,
1964
  1. The Church recognizes that in many ways she is linked with those who, being baptized, are honored with the name of Christian, though they do not profess the faith in its entirety or do not preserve unity of communion with the successor of Peter. (14*) For there are many who honor Sacred Scripture, taking it as a norm of belief and a pattern of life, and who show a sincere zeal. They lovingly believe in God the Father Almighty and in Christ, the Son of God and Saviour. (15*) They are consecrated by baptism, in which they are united with Christ. They also recognize and accept other sacraments within their own Churches or ecclesiastical communities. Many of them rejoice in the episcopate, celebrate the Holy Eucharist and cultivate devotion toward the Virgin Mother of God.(16*) They also share with us in prayer and other spiritual benefits.
Likewise we can say that in some real way they are joined with us in the Holy Spirit, for to them too He gives His gifts and graces whereby He is operative among them with His sanctifying power. Some indeed He has strengthened to the extent of the shedding of their blood. In all of Christ’s disciples the Spirit arouses the desire to be peacefully united, in the manner determined by Christ, as one flock under one shepherd, and He prompts them to pursue this end. (17*) Mother Church never ceases to pray, hope and work that this may come about. She exhorts her children to purification and renewal so that the sign of Christ may shine more brightly over the face of the earth.

vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html

I hope this helps to answer your question satisfactorily.
May God bless you:)
 
I appreciate all the responses thus far but I have not read anything yet - that I was looking for.

So let me re ask my question

If a baptized person - falls away from the teachings of our church or if a particular baptized person was never part of our Catholic Church yet falls away from his own practice i.e no longer goes to church… yet at the time of his death has not actually committed any mortal sin then - what does the church teach in this situation…

it seems that baptism makes salvation possible and the lack of mortal sin at his death makes hell impossible - or am I missing something?
 
Welcome to the Forums. I hope you find good advice to help think more clearly. While I cannot provide specific bible references to confirm the following, here is how I see it.

We are powerless to gain eternal salvation on our own. God will judge each person’s heart. He knows our personal capacity and whether or not we used our abilities as best we could.

God is BOTH Merciful and Just. A Merciful God will forgive us our weaknesses, but a Just God will deal with any who choose to NOT make sincere efforts to respond to His Love. We live in danger if we think Mercy is all there is and ignore Justice.

The best we can do is to follow Christ as best we can. That takes personal effort and we do need God’s Good Grace to follow Christ as best we can. Hence, constant prayer is very important. I personally pray for an increase in Wisdom and Understanding and the Strength to KNOW and DO God’s Will. Not my will, but HIS WILL be done by me. It is hard to think that God’s Will is that we live in ignorance when we have access to His Teachings through the Catholic Church, especially the “Catholics Come Home” and RCIA Programs.

Wisdom and Understanding come best from an honest study of what the Catholic Church teaches. We cannot skip class saying we were not taught as a kid so we are excused from learning as an adult. If I excuse myself from trying to honestly learn more about God then, in effect, I have to worry if I am rejecting God. Rejecting God is a sure path to Hell.

As for mortal sin, it is dangerous to think one has not commited a mortal sin in his life. To be mortal, a sin has to be 1) serious matter, 2) we have to know it, and 3) we have to will to do it.

Remember to keep holy the Sabbath is a Commandment. That is serious matter. We cannot avoid learning about God, when we have the ability to learn, and then try to live on that ignorance to skate by 2) above. If we willfully do not go to Mass when we should and can, can we honestly say we did not will to miss Mass?

So, in theory, it is possible to be Baptised and fail to develop our relationship with God any further THROUGH NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. However, in the developed world, can we say it was not our fault we failed to learn more about God?

Step One: Pray constantly for an increase in Wisdom and Understanding that leads to a better Faith Relationship with God.

Step Two: Inquire about the “Catholics Come Home” Program.

Step Three: Go for it.
 
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