As this forum is going to close I would like guidance matters of Faith and Life

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RepetantCatholic

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To anyone who can reply, thank you.

When I first joined this forum, many Catholics helped me cope with the concept of Hell, which I learned to accept. Now, I come to you naked and bare with where I am currently religiously. Looking for guidance.

As I grow deeper in Faith I begin to appreciate protestants more, though again I would not leave the Church for a Protestant Church. As I look at the world with the full knowledge Heaven is not a Right or something we are entitled to, I begin to understand why Protestants emphasize the concept of the Elect.
  1. Is there such a concept in Catholicism as the Elect?
I understand why these churches have a need to be among themselves with like minded people who are choosing the path of going to Heaven. Why? I look around the community I live in and I look on the net, and many people don’t live a Christian life. Many, to my surprise, would openly admit they would rather die than be obedient to God or to even accept God, much less would they accept another Christian who is, “no better than them.” So, I begin to understand why the Protestant emphasize that there is an Elect, and the way is narrow:
  1. How narrow is the way in the Catholic Faith even for Catholics?
Then, I’m not certain where we, as a Church, stand on predestination. The conundrum I find myself is I still do believe that regardless of gift, talent, wealth, we are all equal in the eyes of God. God, judges us not on our talents but on the fundamentals of how we treat or neighbor, how we conduct ourselves…etc… The problem I find? Some people are born in such unwelcoming circumstances that from a young age the Evil done to them, they learn to do to others. So, while I see us all as having an equal chance to Heaven, if there is predestination it is a Socio-Economic one. Which is why we always have to be good role models of Christianity that we may inspire others to choose Christ.
  1. What is the Catholic concept of Predestination? (Thomistic Predestination I believe it is called)
After struggling with this, the only conclusion I draw is not to be like a rebellious Angel and instead of getting angry at God for the reality of the world, instead choose God with all my being, accept his free gift of love, and show immense gratitude. I can only testify that God has been very loving to me all my life, his teachings have guided me to a good life, his prayers have helped comfort me and keep me safe. So, I can only be grateful to him. I cannot focus on those who do not choose God and the suffering they cause, create or live in; I can only testify to His positive influence in my life.

Thanks to anyone who replies.
 
Jesus warns against sin and hell for a reason and when asked how one attains eternal life He specifically says follow the commandments.
 
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While I have read some Catholic attempts to reconcile Calvinist ideas through Aquinas, I don’t think that a focus on predestination for the few varieties of Protestantism that favor it has been particularly healthy.
 
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In Catholicism election is based on God’s foreknowledge of our choices, rather than on strict determinism as per Calvinism which is a rather absurd notion, incidentally, given the bible’s overall emphasis on man’s obligation towards God, towards using his will correctly, towards choosing good over evil from beginning to end. And given the fact that predeterminism means that all evil is attributable solely to God’s will as its direct cause. And given the fact that never did the ancient church in both east and west teach such a thing. And the Church expressly teaches against “double predestination” as well, the idea that God predestines some to hell. From the catechism:

600 To God, all moments of time are present in their immediacy. When therefore he establishes his eternal plan of “predestination”, he includes in it each person’s free response to his grace: “In this city, in fact, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.” For the sake of accomplishing his plan of salvation, God permitted the acts that flowed from their blindness."

1037 God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want “any to perish, but all to come to repentance”:

Father, accept this offering
from your whole family.
Grant us your peace in this life,
save us from final damnation,
and count us among those you have chosen.
 
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Thanks all for the replies. It was comforting to see what is written in the Catholic Catechism. God knows all actions based on a person, yet it is up to the person to deny God. A very nuanced understanding. May we not deny God over the sins of the world but instead be bound to his divine mercy; pray for the suffering that they may find solace in God and pray for the sinner that they may repent and atone.
 
Thanks Po, well, this forum is closing but I always appreciated your comments. I listen to Relevant Radio, which is a Catholic Radio Station. But do you have any other suggestions on Catholic Radio?

Also, can you explain Adoration? I pray Divine Office, Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the Rosary almost daily, but if there is anything else you would suggest that would be great.

Also, for anyone here, in general, I was praying the Midday Prayer of Divine Office on today’s day of celebration of St. Andrew. Afterward, I felt uplifted as if a piece of me experienced a little piece of Heaven. The thought then occurred to me, at my age, almost forty, I’ve seen it almost all and that nothing would surprise me on this Earth when it comes to Faith. So, I would encourage everyone out there that whatever life surprises you with, go to prayer, the Bible, Church and know that with enough reflection and prayer whatever bad surprises the world offers will become clearer to accept. By that I mean, you accept it to the extent that there is bad and evil in the world but you see it clearly as something not from God, you, or Heaven.
 
RepetantCatholic said:
As I grow deeper in Faith I begin to appreciate protestants more,
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This is one sign of a maturing faith. Seeing as many points of view as possible gives us an understanding that, almost by default, allows us to embrace humanity without condoning it at it’s worst. When we come to know what motivates certain groups or individuals we are far less likely to see them through the eyes of hostility and suspicion. And in rooting deeper down for the origins of diverse opinions, we are able to converse with an informed state of mind.
 
You are very kind. Your experience is almost certainly the consolation of the Holy Spirit - something that, if you never experience it again, you can have part of it by simply recalling it in the silence of your heart. In my case, I had no interest in adoration, the Rosary, chaplet of divine Mercy, scripture reading, etc. I had a charismatic priest lay hands on me and pray. I received the (controversial! ) baptism in the Holy Spirit. It is not a Sacrament, but an intense prayer experience. Everything changed. No looking back.

Now, as to adoration of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, it is easy - no work at all. If the candle is lit, go sit before the Tabernacle, as Christ is present to you. If it is a “holy hour”, then Christ, in the Blessed Sacrament is displayed in a monstrance atop the altar.

Just sit. Read scripture, pray, contemplate Him. Lay your worries, fears, concerns, out before Him. Tell Him of your love for Him and your need of Him. Then, be patient. When you become aware that He is there, you will be changed.

In my case, small miracles occurred - things beyond human knowledge. I would expect that far greater things will occur when you are present.
 
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