Animals in heaven?

[elt1956]

“Houses, cars etc also get blessed but that does not mean they will be with us in Heaven.”

You’re right but I was reminded today of an event in Christ’s life where after He wept when a bird died in His hands, He decided to resurrect the bird. No, this passage isn’t in the Bible, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

Hello. Yes, I remember this story too. When I was in third Grade, Catholic school, our teacher ( Notre Dame Nun) told us the story of Jesus bringing a little dead bird back to life. Recently, I was reading a book of the stories tossed out by the church and not in the Bible and read the same story. It is a nice and gentle one. Peace.

 

[mary_bobo]

I like the saying my Irish grandmother had. When asked if our pets would be in Heaven, she said, “if you need your pets there to be happy, they will be there.” That’s enough for me.

 

[JKsoren]

There are no pets in heaven and it is very sad that priests. TORs, or anyone else has ever told you otherwise.

I feel your sorrow, I lost a dog once that I grew up with (had him like 17 years) and I was very sad. However, I do not hope that I will see him in heaven (though I loved him) because he has no immortal soul. Animals are not created in the image and likeness of God (they have no intellect/will though they do have a lower order soul that all living things are naturally inseparable from…a principle of life and stability.)

Heaven is being in the presence of God, to behold his Divine Face, and to be in an communion of love with him and all other sanctified souls… be they angelic or human. Communion such as this presupposes the power of the intellect (which IS necessary for immortality) that only rational beings are endowed with. Because an animal cannot reason as a human/angel it cannot LOVE or intentionally seek union with the Divine by an act of the will…in fact animals do not have a free-will either…which again means they cannot LOVE properly speaking.

Animals have instincts, affections, and respond to stimulus in sometimes highly complex ways…but an animal cannot ponder his own existence, he cannot reflect upon himself, distinguish the essences of things…and critically, he cannot give of himself in a self donative manner in the way that Christians are called to in an act of the will called LOVE.

Animals were created by God for us, out of love for us, and we in turn were created for God. To love God and one another. While it is certainly a good thing to find a lesser kind of love or goodness in animals, or any other lower ordered creature, as a good created by God, we must never lose sight of the larger reality of that which Jesus calls the only GOOD…God. Our entire existence is ordered to this one end and purpose, interpersonal communion with God, and this communion is beyond our full comprehension. But we shouldl desire nothing else as God is the sole thing that can fulfill us. (Jesus alone gives us water which will forever quench our thirst)…So enjoy your pets! God made them for you! But don’t lament their loss because you are meant for something greater…they are temporal but your fellow man, the angels, and God are not.

The Catechism has a teaching on heaven in CCC 1023-1029
Pets are not mentioned but this is in fact the Churches constant teaching for hundreds of years.

 

[elt1956]

There are no pets in heaven and it is very sad that priests. TORs, or anyone else has ever told you otherwise.

I feel your sorrow, I lost a dog once that I grew up with (had him like 17 years) and I was very sad. However, I do not hope that I will see him in heaven (though I loved him) because he has no immortal soul. Animals are not created in the image and likeness of God (they have no intellect/will though they do have a lower order soul that all living things are naturally inseparable from…a principle of life and stability.)

Heaven is being in the presence of God, to behold his Divine Face, and to be in an communion of love with him and all other sanctified souls… be they angelic or human. Communion such as this presupposes the power of the intellect (which IS necessary for immortality) that only rational beings are endowed with. Because an animal cannot reason as a human/angel it cannot LOVE or intentionally seek union with the Divine by an act of the will…in fact animals do not have a free-will either…which again means they cannot LOVE properly speaking.

Animals have instincts, affections, and respond to stimulus in sometimes highly complex ways…but an animal cannot ponder his own existence, he cannot reflect upon himself, distinguish the essences of things…and critically, he cannot give of himself in a self donative manner in the way that Christians are called to in an act of the will called LOVE.

Animals were created by God for us, out of love for us, and we in turn were created for God. To love God and one another. While it is certainly a good thing to find a lesser kind of love or goodness in animals, or any other lower ordered creature, as a good created by God, we must never lose sight of the larger reality of that which Jesus calls the only GOOD…God. Our entire existence is ordered to this one end and purpose, interpersonal communion with God, and this communion is beyond our full comprehension. But we shouldl desire nothing else as God is the sole thing that can fulfill us. (Jesus alone gives us water which will forever quench our thirst)…So enjoy your pets! God made them for you! But don’t lament their loss because you are meant for something greater…they are temporal but your fellow man, the angels, and God are not.

The Catechism has a teaching on heaven in CCC 1023-1029
Pets are not mentioned but this is in fact the Churches constant teaching for hundreds of years.

Much has been written about the glories of heaven. I think if we need our pets to be with us in heaven for us to be happy, they will be there. All will be provided. Peace.

 

[JKsoren]

Much has been written about the glories of heaven. I think if we need our pets to be with us in heaven for us to be happy, they will be there. All will be provided. Peace.

But to which writings do you refer? No where in scripture, the Catechism, the writings of the Church Fathers, nor the Doctors of the Church have I ever read anything even remote to what you are suggesting…we do not NEED anything other than GOD. God is the one NECESSARY BEING… the great I AM and there is nothing that can ever compare to Him. To say that we might need a dog, a pizza, a game boy, or any other material thing/creature we find subjectively satisfying in this lifetime in order “to make us happy”, when we are in the presence of GOD, is absurd and actually implicitly insulting of His Divine Glory.

I don’t want to come off harsh, but this is why we have a teaching church…this is why we seek understanding through theology. It seems harmless enough to allow “free” and spontaneous/creative interpretations of religion for the sake of personal expression, but the truth is, we have to always remain grounded in the Churches teaching authority and in the exercise of developed reason because wrong beliefs about these matters will lead our actions and how we influence others…lead us away from Christ who is TRUTH. Thus, we must never flippantly dismiss the mysteries of the Church or the Church’s Tradition on any matter, and we must never pretend that any theological question is a mere frivolity which permits any answer that comes to our head, as if we are all playing some kind of guessing game…but this is no guessing game! One should NEVER give anyone opinions regarding faith or morals if one is not doing so in the service of Christ and with proper qualification. Matters of the faith are too important.

 

[masondoggy]

There are no pets in heaven and it is very sad that priests. TORs, or anyone else has ever told you otherwise.

Nowhere does the Church make such a statement as this. In fact, the Church is pretty much silent on it.

So where does your authority come from to make such a determination?

 

[elt1956]

But to which writings do you refer? No where in scripture, the Catechism, the writings of the Church Fathers, nor the Doctors of the Church have I ever read anything even remote to what you are suggesting…we do not NEED anything other than GOD. God is the one NECESSARY BEING… the great I AM and there is nothing that can ever compare to Him. To say that we might need a dog, a pizza, a game boy, or any other material thing/creature we find subjectively satisfying in this lifetime in order “to make us happy”, when we are in the presence of GOD, is absurd and actually implicitly insulting of His Divine Glory.

I don’t want to come off harsh, but this is why we have a teaching church…this is why we seek understanding through theology. It seems harmless enough to allow “free” and spontaneous/creative interpretations of religion for the sake of personal expression, but the truth is, we have to always remain grounded in the Churches teaching authority and in the exercise of developed reason because wrong beliefs about these matters will lead our actions and how we influence others…lead us away from Christ who is TRUTH. Thus, we must never flippantly dismiss the mysteries of the Church or the Church’s Tradition on any matter, and we must never pretend that any theological question is a mere frivolity which permits any answer that comes to our head, as if we are all playing some kind of guessing game…but this is no guessing game! One should NEVER give anyone opinions regarding faith or morals if one is not doing so in the service of Christ and with proper qualification. Matters of the faith are too important.

There is such a word as HOPE. I said IF we need our pets in heaven, and right now I would need mine, God would provide ALL God can do anything, even, believe it or not, change statements made by the church. We will have ALL we need in heaven for us to be happy. I believe, however, the majesty of God and just being with God will negate the necessity of our having anything, anyone we don’t truly need. Peace.

 

[CreatioNova]

I have simply no idea if there will be pets in heaven or not. I have not read anything on this fact - either way.

But I DO know that when our dog of 19 years passed away my very young daughters drew enormous comfort and peace from praying for him to God, thanking God for the enormous joy and happiness and unconditional love Mr. Fleck gave us (he was actually present at my first child’s birth ) and hoping that he was in heaven with his ‘‘girlfriend’’ Nina

This faith on their part (they were 8 and 5 years old at the time) help them to cope and brought them no small measure of comfort.

They still remember him in their prayers every night.

 

[elt1956]

I have simply no idea if there will be pets in heaven or not. I have not read anything on this fact - either way.

But I DO know that when our dog of 19 years passed away my very young daughters drew enormous comfort and peace from praying for him to God, thanking God for the enormous joy and happiness and unconditional love Mr. Fleck gave us (he was actually present at my first child’s birth ) and hoping that he was in heaven with his ‘‘girlfriend’’ Nina

This faith on their part (they were 8 and 5 years old at the time) help them to cope and brought them no small measure of comfort.

They still remember him in their prayers every night.

That is so sweet. I used to teach little ones and there is a very good book called Everything about Barney, or something like that which the children found very comforting. Peace

 

[JKsoren]

Nowhere does the Church make such a statement as this. In fact, the Church is pretty much silent on it.

So where does your authority come from to make such a determination?

I’m not speaking on my own authority but rather am recounting that of the Church’s.

1. Scripture is clear, humanity alone is created in the image and likeness of God…this has tremendous theological implications, some of which I have already touched on.
2. The first four Ecumenical Councils were very clear on the Dogmatic principles regarding the nature of Jesus Christ, one such principle to keep in mind is that Jesus (who is the divine Logos) became MAN…he took on our nature so that we might have a way to the Father, so that we might be divinized and share in His grace and thus obtain salvation. Jesus became ontologically united to us, so that we might be ontologically united to Him!
3. Did we read in scripture that Jesus became “dog” or “cat” or “bird”? No. Those beautiful creatures were not created in the image and likeness of God, they were not meant to have the interpersonal communion which Christ makes possible. He shares in our human nature and not any other kind…the divine has been intrinsically linked to the human and it was foreseen/planned from all eternity.
4. So in that the Dogmas of the Incarnation and on our salvation being dependent upon that event (along with the Paschal mystery in which Christ died for our salvation, to remedy sin) and all it implies…we have to say that the Church NEED NOT say anything on this subject as it would be absurd. The Church actually doesn’t say a lot about many subjects…because it cannot possibly rule on every single question in the form of a Dogmatic definition, or even a doctrinal statement. To do so would be a monstrous undertaking…notice that the Church has no formal statement about UFO’s for instance. (There are no UFOs in heaven either). The point is that existing Dogma/doctrine is meant to be the starting principles from which we deduce/induce all subsequent theological knowledge/claims…to posit that animals go to heaven is in direct violation with all that we hold as Christians ON THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVELS.
5. If we assent to “dogs are in heaven” then we have a whole slew of absurdities and contradictions within the Faith! Like: Do we baptize our pets? Do we give our pets Christian burial? Can dogs goto confession? Ought they to receive Holy Communion? Is it permissible EVER to eat animals or use them for labor? (If Christ died for their salvation…IT WOULD SEEM NOT!..But then Jesus himself was not a vegetarian!)
   Your probably laughing at these scenarios because they are rather startling images…but you have to ask yourself, what is behind these things being so obviously ridiculous?
6. It has mainly to do with the fact that animals are not capable (and they were not designed as such by God himself) of receiving or responding to the Christian message like you and I are. Animals cannot give a moral YES to Jesus Christ, they cannot Love Jesus Christ, they cannot know Him in any significant way. If we still insist on “animals in heaven” in light of this, we then have just stripped heaven of all its significance and meaning! Think about it, animals by their very nature cannot sin! And since Jesus does not share in their nature, nor does he make such a thing possible, or even intend to as far as scripture is concerned, they cannot have GRACE. We’ve just realized salvation without grace! That is heresy! In fact, just to be consistent, we’d have to permit NOT JUST OUR FAMILY PETS…But every single ensouled being imaginable…like sharks, flies, orangoutangs, fruits bats, and breakfast cereals.
7. Anyway, this is all nonsense. If you like, St. Thomas Aquinas is a good reference for this subject…he says there are no animals in heaven (as they have no immortal soul). Now some say, “well, we don’t want to limit God’s absolute sovereignty, so you COULD have pets in heaven, but then you wouldn’t really care because that isn’t what heaven is about really.” I don’t permit this compromise because it is really tantamount to saying THERE ARE NO PETS IN HEAVEN…by definition you’ll desire NOTHING outside of God and thus God would never need to placate you with distracting kittens, not when God is right before you!
8. In summary: This teaching is in fact a Church teaching…it’s often printed in Catechisms such as the old Baltimore Catechism and is clearly laid out by Doctors of the Church such as Aquinas, it is also rooted in Scripture and Dogmatic theology and if not adhered to will lead to a great deal of goofy conversations…like this one.

May Jesus Love you ALL (you human persons that is) and may you be ever close to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (she loves you too)

 

[elt1956]

I’m not speaking on my own authority but rather am recounting that of the Church’s.

1. Scripture is clear, humanity alone is created in the image and likeness of God…this has tremendous theological implications, some of which I have already touched on.
2. The first four Ecumenical Councils were very clear on the Dogmatic principles regarding the nature of Jesus Christ, one such principle to keep in mind is that Jesus (who is the divine Logos) became MAN…he took on our nature so that we might have a way to the Father, so that we might be divinized and share in His grace and thus obtain salvation. Jesus became ontologically united to us, so that we might be ontologically united to Him!
3. Did we read in scripture that Jesus became “dog” or “cat” or “bird”? No. Those beautiful creatures were not created in the image and likeness of God, they were not meant to have the interpersonal communion which Christ makes possible. He shares in our human nature and not any other kind…the divine has been intrinsically linked to the human and it was foreseen/planned from all eternity.
4. So in that the Dogmas of the Incarnation and on our salvation being dependent upon that event (along with the Paschal mystery in which Christ died for our salvation, to remedy sin) and all it implies…we have to say that the Church NEED NOT say anything on this subject as it would be absurd. The Church actually doesn’t say a lot about many subjects…because it cannot possibly rule on every single question in the form of a Dogmatic definition, or even a doctrinal statement. To do so would be a monstrous undertaking…notice that the Church has no formal statement about UFO’s for instance. (There are no UFOs in heaven either). The point is that existing Dogma/doctrine is meant to be the starting principles from which we deduce/induce all subsequent theological knowledge/claims…to posit that animals go to heaven is in direct violation with all that we hold as Christians ON THE MOST FUNDAMENTAL LEVELS.
5. If we assent to “dogs are in heaven” then we have a whole slew of absurdities and contradictions within the Faith! Like: Do we baptize our pets? Do we give our pets Christian burial? Can dogs goto confession? Ought they to receive Holy Communion? Is it permissible EVER to eat animals or use them for labor? (If Christ died for their salvation…IT WOULD SEEM NOT!..But then Jesus himself was not a vegetarian!)
   Your probably laughing at these scenarios because they are rather startling images…but you have to ask yourself, what is behind these things being so obviously ridiculous?
6. It has mainly to do with the fact that animals are not capable (and they were not designed as such by God himself) of receiving or responding to the Christian message like you and I are. Animals cannot give a moral YES to Jesus Christ, they cannot Love Jesus Christ, they cannot know Him in any significant way. If we still insist on “animals in heaven” in light of this, we then have just stripped heaven of all its significance and meaning! Think about it, animals by their very nature cannot sin! And since Jesus does not share in their nature, nor does he make such a thing possible, or even intend to as far as scripture is concerned, they cannot have GRACE. We’ve just realized salvation without grace! That is heresy! In fact, just to be consistent, we’d have to permit NOT JUST OUR FAMILY PETS…But every single ensouled being imaginable…like sharks, flies, orangoutangs, fruits bats, and breakfast cereals.
7. Anyway, this is all nonsense. If you like, St. Thomas Aquinas is a good reference for this subject…he says there are no animals in heaven (as they have no immortal soul). Now some say, “well, we don’t want to limit God’s absolute sovereignty, so you COULD have pets in heaven, but then you wouldn’t really care because that isn’t what heaven is about really.” I don’t permit this compromise because it is really tantamount to saying THERE ARE NO PETS IN HEAVEN…by definition you’ll desire NOTHING outside of God and thus God would never need to placate you with distracting kittens, not when God is right before you!
8. In summary: This teaching is in fact a Church teaching…it’s often printed in Catechisms such as the old Baltimore Catechism and is clearly laid out by Doctors of the Church such as Aquinas, it is also rooted in Scripture and Dogmatic theology and if not adhered to will lead to a great deal of goofy conversations…like this one.

May Jesus Love you ALL (you human persons that is) and may you be ever close to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (she loves you too)

I refuse to compartmentalize my Faith. God’s Will be done. Peace

 

[BarbaraTherese]

Who is Father John Hardon, SJ:
Father John A. Hardon, S.J. is considered one of the most prominent Roman Catholic theologians of our century. As an author, speaker, retreat master, and consultor for the Catechism of the Catholic Church, his name is well known. He, as does Pope John Paul II, advocated the laudable practice of Eucharistic Adoration. More

Ask Father Hardon
by John A. Hardon, S.J.

Q. *Is it correct to say that pets do not go to Heaven after death because animals do not have immortal souls? Are religious medals for pets wrong? Do they lead to misunderstanding about animals, souls, and Heaven? ***

​

—I.R., Michigan​

​

A. Pets, as pets, do not go to Heaven. But animals and such like beings may be said to be brought to Heaven because, after the Last Day, they can serve as part of the joys of Heaven. In other words, animals and such like creatures may be said to be brought to Heaven to serve as part of our Heavenly joys. Clearly, we do not need pets to provide happiness in Heaven.*** But pets and such like creatures will be brought to Heaven to become part of our creaturely happiness in the Heavenly kingdom. ***

Consequently, we may say that animals and such like creatures may be brought to Heaven by God to enable us to enjoy them as part of our creaturely happiness in Heavenly beatitude. Absolutely speaking, medals and such like religious articles may be part of Heavenly beatitude. Certainly, they do not serve the same purpose as other creatures do in Hea ven. However, while they do not serve the purpose which medals do on earth, they may nevertheless be part of God’s mysterious providence in our Heavenly beatitude.
Religious medals for pets are not wrong. The whole question is whether an object, like a religious medal, is used for an appropriate purpose. There is nothing per se wrong with having a religious object on an animal. Clearly a religious object is not necessary for animals. But there is nothing inherently wrong with having a religious object on or near an irrational being.
Certainly a religious medal attached to or associated with an irrational animal can be misunderstood. We cannot say that a religious object helps an animal because somehow the animal is spiritually inspired by the religious object. But there is nothing wrong with having a religious object on or near an animal. The benefit would always come through the mind of some intelligent being who is inspired by the religious object.

 

[saylo]

Aren’t there at least FIVE horses in Heaven, The Apocalypse has a red, green, pale and black horse.

Also Isn’t Jesus coming down on a white horse with all of His angels?

Also, Elias went upwards to Heaven in a horse=drawn chariot?

How about that donkey He rode upon on Palm Sunday?

Interesting.

 

[BarbaraTherese]

And there is this from the Acts of The Apostles:

11 And he saw the heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending, as it were a great linen sheet let down by the four corners from heaven to the earth: 12 Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts, and creeping things of the earth, and fowls of the air

As Catholics, we do believe that the whole of creation will be restored in Christ at the end of time.
Catholic Catechism:
***1043 ***Sacred Scripture calls this mysterious renewal, which will transform humanity and the world, “new heavens and a new earth.” It will be the definitive realization of God’s plan to bring under a single head “all things in [Christ], things in heaven and things on earth.”
***1046 ***For the cosmos, Revelation affirms the profound common destiny of the material world and man:

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God . . . in hope because the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay. . . . We know that the whole creation has been groaning in travail together until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Catholic Catechism:

2415 The seventh commandment enjoins respect for the integrity of creation. Animals, like plants and inanimate beings, are by nature destined for the common good of past, present, and future humanity.

Undoubtedly only the human soul can be gifted the Beatific Vision.*

 

[JCnMe]

… animals are teachers-they teach us to be better humans-they surround us with unconditional love …the Holy Spirit is represented as a Dove-Jesus Christ is known as the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah…if you’ve ever been around dogs- you know it is no coincidence that dog is God spelled backwards…Pope JohnPaul II’s love for animals is well known-he was the first Pope to declare “animals possess a soul and men must love and feel the solidarity with our smaller brethren”, and that animals are"fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect", and are “as near to God as men are”…

Job 12:7-10
…But ask now the beasts,and they shall teach thee:and the birds of the air and they shall tell thee.
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
Who is ignorant that the Hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
…In whose Hand is the soul of every living thing,and the spirit of all flesh of man.

…and another reminder- the Covenant after the flood was with every living thing…

…the innocence as children that we must aspire to-to come into the kingdom of Heaven- already exists in the animals…they are here to teach us to be better humans and love unconditionally…the latin word for soul is anima-from which the word animal comes from

keep in mind that at one time it was debatable whether women had souls…

Hope this helps give comfort to those who question God’s love for the messengers of his purr-fect love…for most-it just wouldn’t be Heaven without being reunited with the furry and feathered members of the family too…and God doesn’t disappoint…Trust that…((((hugs))))God Bless

 

[elt1956]

… animals are teachers-they teach us to be better humans-they surround us with unconditional love …the Holy Spirit is represented as a Dove-Jesus Christ is known as the Lamb of God, the Lion of Judah…if you’ve ever been around dogs- you know it is no coincidence that dog is God spelled backwards…Pope JohnPaul II’s love for animals is well known-he was the first Pope to declare “animals possess a soul and men must love and feel the solidarity with our smaller brethren”, and that animals are"fruit of the creative action of the Holy Spirit and merit respect", and are “as near to God as men are”…

Job 12:7-10
…But ask now the beasts,and they shall teach thee:and the birds of the air and they shall tell thee.
Speak to the earth, and it shall answer thee: and the fishes of the sea shall tell.
Who is ignorant that the Hand of the Lord hath made all these things?
…In whose Hand is the soul of every living thing,and the spirit of all flesh of man.

…and another reminder- the Covenant after the flood was with every living thing…

…the innocence as children that we must aspire to-to come into the kingdom of Heaven- already exists in the animals…they are here to teach us to be better humans and love unconditionally…the latin word for soul is anima-from which the word animal comes from

keep in mind that at one time it was debatable whether women had souls…

Hope this helps give comfort to those who question God’s love for the messengers of his purr-fect love…for most-it just wouldn’t be Heaven without being reunited with the furry and feathered members of the family too…and God doesn’t disappoint…Trust that…((((hugs))))God Bless

As I have read further posts, I realized that all of the animals created by God were in the Garden of Paradise with Adam and Eve. Paradise was to have been for all eternity until both Adam and Eve somehow received the punishment of death. That the animals, in their innocence, were driven out of Paradise also proves to me, God wanted us to have the consolation of our furry friends. They share the punishment humans earned through no fault of their own, surely they will receive God’s just reward for their faithfulness to us. Peace.

 

[byers]

Well Della’s story at petloss.com can surely give one pause!

Be sure to click on her picture at the bottom of the page.

petloss.com/della.htm

 

[Sir_Knight]

“Houses, cars etc also get blessed but that does not mean they will be with us in Heaven.”

You’re right but I was reminded today of an event in Christ’s life where after He wept when a bird died in His hands, He decided to resurrect the bird. No, this passage isn’t in the Bible, but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

It’s not in the bible but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen?

Well, I’m reminded of an event in Christ’s life where after seeing a man bring his pet into the temple, Jesus rebuked the man for placing an animal ahead of God. No, this passage isn’t in the Bible but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

 

[strngrnrth]

I would want to bring back my cats just to make them happy one more time to be really happy.
I would like a cat smilie or two speaking of cats

 

[elt1956]

It’s not in the bible but that doesn’t mean it didn’t happen?

Well, I’m reminded of an event in Christ’s life where after seeing a man bring his pet into the temple, Jesus rebuked the man for placing an animal ahead of God. No, this passage isn’t in the Bible but it doesn’t mean it didn’t happen.

I think this story of Christ and the birds could be written in one of the gnostic writtings. When I was in fourth grade my classroom nun told the same story. Could this mean she had been reading forbidden readings? She always was a scrapy one. Loved her to bits.

As far as “everything” Christ did or said being written down, I really doubt that. Isn’t there someplace in one of the gospels where it was written that Jesus did more works, taught more than what is written? I do believe this personally. How could all of His wealth of knowledge be contained in a few short verses in the Epistles? We have all the information we need, for the most part, for us to gain salvation through what IS written. But surely there is more for us to wonder about. Peace.