Can a loner get to heaven?

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Leftylucie

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I really don’t like joining groups etc…I go to Mass a few times a week and say a lot of prayers each and every day, but I’m not doing “good works” so to speak I babysit for my grandson a couple of days a week sometimes more…that keeps me pretty busy…I’m retired and think about death a lot…
 
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I would sure hope so, because there are a lot of loners out there, living a holy life, which is what matters first and foremost. Pray, go to mass, go to reconciliation, recieve Communion often. God bless you.
 
I’d reflect on 1 Corinthians chapter 12 (1 Corinthians, CHAPTER 12 | USCCB)

We’re all members of Christ’s body, but the foot is not the hand, etc. We all have different talents and gifts and not everyone is meant to perform the same roles. Many religious do nothing but pray for the Church all day. Others work with the poor or evangelize.

Important thing is to pray and find what God is calling you to. If you only live for yourself, then that’s probably not a path that can lead to Heaven. But just being alone or not enjoying being around lots of people doesn’t mean that there aren’t ways God may be calling you to help the Body of Christ such as spending time praying for people or donating your money to aid others that are out doing the works that you cannot do.
 
Some saints were hermits, so, presumably a loner can get to heaven.
 
I think this video from Fr. Mike Schmitz would help you 🙂


I’m an extrovert but I don’t have many friends and don’t enjoy being around a lot of people at once. That said I don’t like being alone and feel lonely when I’m not with people 🧐
 
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Leftylucie said:
Can a loner get to heaven?
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Of course. Some of the greatest saints were total and complete loners. Think of the Desert Fathers for example, or hermits and anchorites in general. The RCC considers the secluded, completely solitary life a legitimate calling from God. This is even formally provided for in Canon Law (603). As for good works, prayer is actually the greatest work there is. You say you do a lot of that, so you’re fine.
 
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Saints who were very philosophical and theological, I presume were “loners” to a certain degree. Thinking Aquinas and Therese of Lisieux?
 
My first answer posted, so bare with me Lucie 😃

I’m quite new to the Catholic faith but I see no reason why a “loner” wouldn’t get into Heaven ,just for preferring a more solitary life. I guess I could be considered a loner myself , but for health reasons I prefer to stay home a lot. I believe God knows what’s in our hearts and why we are the way we are. I’m sure he loves us solitude creatures just as much as the extrovert , social butterfly types. I hope this helps 😁
 
Our Lady at Fatima asked for prayers and sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and peace in this world. Begin each day with that intention and offer all your joys, sorrows, and sufferings. You will be a force for good in this world!
God bless you.
 
If you’re able to give alms (perhaps donations to Catholic charities that do “good works”), that is another way to “work out your salvation”.
 
JESUS …If you believe in JESUS you will go to heaven. Jesus forgives. Jesus and the 12 Apostles were Jews. And Jews teach that everybody goes to heaven whether they believe in God or not. And everybody goes to heaven whether they have sinned or not.
And because Jesus and the Apostles reformed Judaism if you follow the new testament YOU WILL GO TO HEAVEN even if you are a loner.
 
I’d like to disagree with this actually. Let us check out Matthew 7:21:

”Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter”

I don’t want to be grimm or gloomy…

Also let us look at Matthew 7:13:

"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it.”

Lastly Matthew 13:42:

”They will throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
 
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You can do a great work in the eyes of God. Praying for the living and the dead is a spiritual work of mercy- a very important one.

In this way you can love your neighbor. So don’t feel too down that you are a loner and think that will keep you out of the kingdom.
 
Sure, a loner can get to Heaven. Look at all the hermits out there who became saints.

I think there’s some mistaken perception out there that if you “only pray” that’s not enough and you should be out joining 10 groups and volunteering at the parish. I disagree with that view. Prayer is very important, sounds like you’re doing that. And you’re also tending to your family responsibilities by babysitting.

“Thinking about death a lot” can be okay if you’re just coming to grips with the idea of dying or with having lost loved ones. Or it can be not okay if you’re thinking about how much you’d like to die or becoming depressed or morbid. Maybe think about whether pondering this thought is healthy for you, or if there’s some other interest you can pursue on your own, like reading about a subject you really like, or self-study, or crafts etc.

I’m alone much/ most of the time too. I have other friends on social media who live at a distance from me and are kind of in the same boat for one reason or another - their families have died, they’re at a distance from or estranged from family they do have, they didn’t happen to get married, etc. Lots of loners out there. God likes them just as much as he likes extroverts.
 
JamalChristophr said:
You can do a great work in the eyes of God. Praying for the living and the dead is a spiritual work of mercy- a very important one.

In this way you can love your neighbor. So don’t feel too down that you are a loner and think that will keep you out of the kingdom.
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Thank you so much for saying this, Jamal.

Lately I’ve felt like there have been a lot of statements both on and off this forum putting down the idea of prayer, like we’re supposed to be doing something else such as social justice work, or self-mortification, or serving in some capacity at the parish.

I find these statements very disheartening. Prayer is not just some simple task where you rattle off a bunch of prayers in 10 minutes and you’re done for the day. At least it isn’t for me.

Society sems to accept that some religious orders make prayer the focus of their ministry, as opposed to going out and running the soup kitchen. It would be nice if those of us who focus on praying as lay people were accorded a similar respect and not subjected to dismissive or even borderline rude comments.
 
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