deathbed confession?

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Yes a person can convert and be absolved in their last moments…

The Mercy and love of God desires the salvation of all…

those walking this earth and living a gravely sinful life though should not presume they will be doing so in those last moments…
 
fons_vitae said:
Something else to ponder: Even if someone has repulsive as Hitler goes through a bajillion years of purgatory, they would be entirely altered to be suitable for heaven. Again, assuming he had a change of heart before committing suicide.
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Yes, if he sincerely repented and done his time in Purgatory (not forever but until Judgement Day, only Heaven and Hell are eternal, Purgatory is only temporary), the change would have occurred during his life and the necessary punishment in the next. However given the fact that he committed suicide, such a “change of heart” would have been extremely short lived and it is clear he subsequently relapsed into mortal sin… and died in it.
 
We are all sinners in need of his grace and mercy. None of us stand before God on our own merits. Heaven isn’t something we earn or any of us deserve.

That get out of jail free card? It’s called GRACE.

But since none of our know when or how we will die, it’s very foolish to bank on a deathbed confession… besides, who wants to live a life separated from God? I can’t even imagine how empty that would be?
 
I believe that even at the last minute, true repentence and salvation is possible, regardless of how one may lived their life. The thief at the cross was already mentioned. As well, the following passage comes to mind…

“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.” Luke 15:7

I take it that the one who converts at their deathbed creates more celebrations in heaven that those who were “always in the fold.”
 
meltzerboy said:
That’s pretty strict, isn’t it? Doesn’t Catholic teaching say that mortal sins can be forgiven, and even right before one’s death? However, my own belief is that certain sins–due to their gravity and number–may not be pardonable; the example usually given is the sins committed by Hitler. I doubt that even a sincere deathbed confession would help him. Still, that’s up to G-d to decide, not me.
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Yes. Yes. And I agree. And Agree it is not up to me. Thankfully in that case.
 
Was that life of sin really that happy to live for the person? My guess is probably not and I would further guess that this sinner was downright miserable for most of his or her life.

Are any of us happy when we sin? Even those that don’t believe that they are sinning through certain actions either appear unhappy or end up unhappy due to the consequences of those actions.

So I don’t think this long time sinner is gettting a free pass at Heaven living such a miserable life. If there is a Purgatory then the person will probably end up there for a while, but still, one should be happy that this long time sinner finally realized the wrong in his or her ways.
 
I think as God is all merciful, if they were truly sorry for their sins then they would go to heaven, but spend a very long time in purgatory.
 
helpme93 said:
If you have lived all of your life in complete sin, and while on your deathbed you have a change of heart and get a priest to give you confession, will you go to heaven?

I want to say no. Just because you are scared enough about your eternal soul to ask for confession while facing death doesnt give you a free pass. Even if you go to judgement with a clean soul, will we be judged about how we generally lived our life?

thoughts?
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If you preform the sacrament of reconciliation, and if you are sincere when you do it, then ALL of your sins are forgiven. If someone does this shortly before death, then they go strait to Heaven.

Jesus explains this in the parable of the lost sheep:
Luke 15:1-7:
"15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all gathering around to hear Jesus. 2 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 Then Jesus told them this parable: 4 “Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5 And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6 and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."
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So from our perspective it looks someone confessing on his deathbed is “cheating” or degrading Heaven by forcing righteous folk to share it with him, look at it from God’s perspective. We refer to God as “the Father” and “our Heavenly Father” because he created us and loves us as a parent loves his children.
So when someone makes a confession, it is the equivalent of an estranged son returning home to make amends with a father he wronged.

There will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
 
helpme93 said:
If you have lived all of your life in complete sin, and while on your deathbed you have a change of heart and get a priest to give you confession, will you go to heaven?

I want to say no. Just because you are scared enough about your eternal soul to ask for confession while facing death doesnt give you a free pass. Even if you go to judgement with a clean soul, will we be judged about how we generally lived our life?

thoughts?
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Look at the penitent thief or the parable of the laborers in the vineyard. God’s mercy is so vast. Heaven will delight in a late conversion. We mustn’t resent that God’s mercy is extended under such circumstances and to people who barely deserve it. We should be awed and grateful and filled with hope at His boundless love for all humanity. We must also be aware that we, too, are always in need of God’s grace and mercy and assistance and never begrudge anyone who receives these great gifts. What a wonderful God we have!!
 
This is a 5 year dormant thread. We are not to resurrect old threads.
 
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