T
tabsie3210
Guest
Hi all. This is a little bit of a rant, but mostly an essay, directed at other Catholics. I’m concerned about their feelings toward the body of this essay. As such, I’d really like if all replies had to do with exactly what is said, and not with the argument of who is saved and not saved. Please respect that request, and thank you very much!
Now then:
Excuse my presumptiveness, but I think Catholics need to be reminded that, “outside the Church,” is not a call to despair or anger. And it certainly is NOT a call to cast out the belief in Hell. I speak as a cradle Catholic with a Jewish mama and a pagan best friend - we who are Catholic are called to BE the Church for everyone who is not. This is a blessing, not a curse.
If I may vent my frustration, I find that Catholics who sit and piddle about, “can my atheist grandfather still get into Heaven?” or, “what qualifies as ‘invincible ignorance?’” are totally missing the point! The point is, ANYBODY can get into Heaven, provided he is a Catholic. People will not be Catholic if there is no Church to lead them on the right way. And God will not fail to give everyone ample opportunity, even on their death beds, to become Catholic, particularly if other faithful Catholics are praying for and working for their salvation.
Instead of rejoicing that God is merciful enough to give Catholics tools like the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Christ, and the intercession of the saints and the martyrs, we sit around and complain that hell is “unfair,” or that people who suggest others might go to hell are either being “judgmental” or “uncharitable.” Uncharitable!
It’s uncharitable to deny the reality of Hell! It’s uncharitable to avoid praying like crazy for someone, especially someone you love. It’s uncharitable to fail to trust in God’s Mercy, and it’s VERY uncharitable to assume that God’s mercy is a “get out of Hell free” card.
If one doesn’t have the talent for apologetics or theological discussion, that doesn’t excuse one from his duties to preach the Gospel. I’m not an apologist - I have tried to instruct my pagan best friend, and failed. Therefore, my duties to her include constant prayer, frequent Penance, and living as close to a perfectly Catholic life as I can. It means being in FULL communion with the Holy Catholic Church. It means trusting Christ to give me and my friend the Grace we need to accept His forgiveness and His Crucifixion. It also means that I never stop trying to bring her around.
Catholics are afraid that if we suggest that Hell is real, we’ll look bad - we’ll look like we’re being bullies, trying to force people to accept a religion that they don’t want. We’re afraid that we’ll look judgmental, like we’re hateful to anybody who is unlike us. And, I think, we’re afraid that our friends might not get into Heaven - or that WE might not!
These fears are unfounded, but most importantly, they betray our lack of trust in God. Didn’t the angel Michael teach the children at Fatima prayers for the salvation of the world? Didn’t Christ Himself give the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to St. Faustina, with the promise that now is His hour of Mercy? Why don’t we pray more? Why don’t we worry less about legalities concerning invincible ignorance and trust in God as a child does, with thankfulness and fearlessness? Why don’t we try to live better, more Catholic lives, now?
To tell you the truth, nothing has made me want to be a better Catholic so much as wanting to work for the salvation of others. Yes, if I’m in communion with the Church and believe in Her Dogma, and strive to never commit mortal sin, I may be saved. Yet, more than for myself, I want to be a good Catholic so I can make others good Catholics. Even if I don’t see the results of my actions until after my death, I will be content to know that I brought at least one person to God.
Now then:
Excuse my presumptiveness, but I think Catholics need to be reminded that, “outside the Church,” is not a call to despair or anger. And it certainly is NOT a call to cast out the belief in Hell. I speak as a cradle Catholic with a Jewish mama and a pagan best friend - we who are Catholic are called to BE the Church for everyone who is not. This is a blessing, not a curse.
If I may vent my frustration, I find that Catholics who sit and piddle about, “can my atheist grandfather still get into Heaven?” or, “what qualifies as ‘invincible ignorance?’” are totally missing the point! The point is, ANYBODY can get into Heaven, provided he is a Catholic. People will not be Catholic if there is no Church to lead them on the right way. And God will not fail to give everyone ample opportunity, even on their death beds, to become Catholic, particularly if other faithful Catholics are praying for and working for their salvation.
Instead of rejoicing that God is merciful enough to give Catholics tools like the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, the Prayer to the Shoulder Wound of Christ, and the intercession of the saints and the martyrs, we sit around and complain that hell is “unfair,” or that people who suggest others might go to hell are either being “judgmental” or “uncharitable.” Uncharitable!
It’s uncharitable to deny the reality of Hell! It’s uncharitable to avoid praying like crazy for someone, especially someone you love. It’s uncharitable to fail to trust in God’s Mercy, and it’s VERY uncharitable to assume that God’s mercy is a “get out of Hell free” card.
If one doesn’t have the talent for apologetics or theological discussion, that doesn’t excuse one from his duties to preach the Gospel. I’m not an apologist - I have tried to instruct my pagan best friend, and failed. Therefore, my duties to her include constant prayer, frequent Penance, and living as close to a perfectly Catholic life as I can. It means being in FULL communion with the Holy Catholic Church. It means trusting Christ to give me and my friend the Grace we need to accept His forgiveness and His Crucifixion. It also means that I never stop trying to bring her around.
Catholics are afraid that if we suggest that Hell is real, we’ll look bad - we’ll look like we’re being bullies, trying to force people to accept a religion that they don’t want. We’re afraid that we’ll look judgmental, like we’re hateful to anybody who is unlike us. And, I think, we’re afraid that our friends might not get into Heaven - or that WE might not!
These fears are unfounded, but most importantly, they betray our lack of trust in God. Didn’t the angel Michael teach the children at Fatima prayers for the salvation of the world? Didn’t Christ Himself give the Chaplet of Divine Mercy to St. Faustina, with the promise that now is His hour of Mercy? Why don’t we pray more? Why don’t we worry less about legalities concerning invincible ignorance and trust in God as a child does, with thankfulness and fearlessness? Why don’t we try to live better, more Catholic lives, now?
To tell you the truth, nothing has made me want to be a better Catholic so much as wanting to work for the salvation of others. Yes, if I’m in communion with the Church and believe in Her Dogma, and strive to never commit mortal sin, I may be saved. Yet, more than for myself, I want to be a good Catholic so I can make others good Catholics. Even if I don’t see the results of my actions until after my death, I will be content to know that I brought at least one person to God.
