Can you help me to be saved?

[mo282]

Hi, my name is Iain and I’m 17 and I’m a protestant, I’ve posted once here before.

For about a year now I have been considering the Catholic Church and have been reaing lots of material in search of answers. But of late I have only felt disillusioned and frightened. I am extremely interested in protestant apologetics and am knowledgable about most issues but I find the web of history about Christianity so complex and open to different interpretation I have just ended up confused and unable to make an decision. This has stopped me doing my daily devotionals and I’m even afraid to travel or do my favourite (more extreme) sports in case I should be killed and end up in Hell for not becoming a Catholic. Lately I’ve had my first ever panick attacks and just had a total breakdown. It’s just hopeless right now. If it was just about me I would be not so bad, but I worry I may have to become a Catholic and then face the fear of knowing my family aren’t saved and will be very unlikely to join me.
Can anyone reccommend what do to so I can begin to live life again?

(Sorry this is so long) Also I really want to know that if I suddenly was to face death and I hadn’t had a chance to receive the Eucharist, Confession etc. and all the things needed to become Catholic, if I then told God from my heart I was sorry and wanted to be a Catholic right there and then would I be saved?

 

[Fr.Vincent_Serpa]

Hi Iain,

First of all, Jesus did not suffer such torture and then die for you to be lost as easily as you fear you may be. He……loves……you. He really does! Following Jesus is challenging, but not that challenging! The choice between heaven and hell is just that: a choice. No one goes to hell without deliberately turning his back on God. And that is the last thing that you want to do—from what you have written.

God may be calling you to become a Catholic. But He doesn’t scare people into Catholicism. You must see the logic of it and have a deep desire to join. If you should suddenly die, so long as you are repentant for your sins and truly love God, He will not turn His back on one He loves so much. Take it easy. Take some time. There is no rush. You are in the palm of His hand at all times.

Feel free to write again here or to me privately.

Fr. Vincent Serpa, O.P.