Did Mary have Salvation Assurance ? /// Do we?

[R_C]

And, Paul DIRECTED the 1st Century Christians to IMITATE him !! Now, if Paul were such a weak, Baby Christian, …would he of told them to follow his lead ?

Actually…he would Because (as we can see from the biographies of many canonized saints) the more their holiness, the greater their awareness of their weakness. In fact, it was Paul who said: “I only boast in my weakness”

Neither Peter nor Paul nor any saint presumed salvation. In fact, I have read in several places that a major difference between Peter and Judas is that Peter ultimately trusted in the mercy of Christ, and it took one look from Him to make him repent and break down in tears.

I always (but especially during the harshest trials that can make one truly despair) keep in mind the words of the great Doctor of the Church Therese of Lisieux - which in fact echo the words of Our Lord:

I do not need to grow; on the contrary, I must necessarily remain small, become smaller and smaller.

Extraordinarily enough, the more we are aware of our intrinsic weakness and propensity to fall at the smallest temptation, the stronger the grace of Christ makes us, while the more we think we can face the spiritual combat through our own strength, the more (and more gravely) we fall.

This is what the Holy Spirit spoke, can you identify who speaks each part?

I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

Do not be afraid, O worm Jacob, O little Israel, for I myself will help you …] Behold, I have made you a new, sharp threshing sledge with double edges; You will thresh the mountains and pulverize them

How great the humbleness of these words, and how great the strength that God granted to the Speaker as a reward! Yet how hard it is for such words not to be reason of scandal to us, who live in the time of pride and vanity.

After all - and I stop, because I am diverging - leading in the Kingdom is very different from leading in the world of darkness: Christ, the Lord, said: “I did not come to be served, but to serve”.

 

[R_C]

SA? What is SA?

Salvation assurance. And no, he did not. Which is why he lived a life of penance and mortification, and yet Christ said: “the smallest in the Kingdom is greater than him”.

Nobody is assured salvation, and yet all are.

 

[Nimzovik]

Hmmmmmmm… Indeed. Seems a bit of circle…

 

[Mintaka]

The Catholic way is the middle way. You “trust the Force, Luke,” but also remember, “Don’t get cocky, kid.” (So to speak!)

As long as we are trying to love and serve God, God will meet us a lot more than halfway to save us from our sins.

If we get lazy and never bother to try again when we sin, God will let us sit on our butts all the way to Hell.

 

[Nimzovik]

Put in an understandable way, that was- yes?

 

[Bookcat]

As to Mary – we know she is in Heaven (indeed assumed body and soul). As to what she knew on earth --such is not told us --though she would have had the certitude of hope …and she knew well Jesus her son and the Lord.

As to “do we?”

I seek to live looking forward to the Resurrection! In the Joy of Knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Rejoicing in already beginning to know true life in him.

(Now could I turn away from Christ before I die…rejecting in effect the life he gave me in Faith and Baptism (and all the other ways) and die in choice? --yes such is a possibility. May I remain living in Christ always!)

By the grace of God I intend to remain in Christ…a branch on his vine …to “abide in him” …to not be “cut off” (by my own choice)…(John 15:5-6, and Romans 11:22).

And if in this life I should unhappily commit a mortal sin…I intend to call out to the Good Shepherd and go to those whom he has given the authority to forgive me…to be forgiven and returned to life (John 20:22-23). I pray that I may always remain in him and thus leave this life remaining in life.

We walk by Faith not by sight (2 Cor 5:7)

and are saved in hope (see Romans 8:24)…and thus I have the great “certitude of hope”!

A real kind of assurance I have. A very real confidence. I do not though have “infallible” certitude. For example I do not know that I will in fact remain living in Christ and not betray him and die separated from him. And even now I could commit a mortal sin (Lord preserve me from this!). Indeed Jesus even said that not everyone who says to him “Lord Lord” will enter the kingdom of Heaven. (Matt 7:21)

But I have a great confidence in Christ my hope!

*I know in whom I have believed *(2 Tim 1:12)

My Faith and my hope and trust is in the Lord Jesus Christ! The Good Shepherd!

In him is* true life*.

Pope Benedict XVI:

Moreover, our radical belonging to Christ and the fact that “we are in him” must imbue in us an attitude of total trust and immense joy. In short, we must indeed exclaim with St Paul: “If God is for us, who is against us?” (Rom 8: 31). And the reply is that nothing and no one “will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 8: 39). Our Christian life, therefore, stands on the soundest and safest rock one can imagine. And from it we draw all our energy, precisely as the Apostle wrote: “I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Phil 4: 13).

Therefore, let us face our life with its joys and sorrows supported by these great sentiments that Paul offers to us. By having an experience of them we will realize how true are the words the Apostle himself wrote: “I know whom I have believed, and I am sure that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me”; in other words, until the Day (II Tm 1: 12) of our definitive meeting with Christ the Judge, Saviour of the world and our Saviour.

(From: vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2006/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20061108_en.html)

 

[Philthy]

Excellent post !!!
I think U have encapsulated the heart of SA for us in the above. I wish Catholics would start standing up to Protestants on this topic, use ur quotes/ comments … and quit fighting to disprove SA !!
Like St. Paul taught, “finish the race” !!! Be eternal optimists & WINNERS … like Paul & Mary !!

I’m not sure precisely what you mean by the term “Salvation Assurance” and neither is anyone else. By SA do you mean:

• knowing that you **will **go to Heaven when you die?
• knowing that you are in a state of grace?
• Having a high degree of confidence that you are in a state of grace ?
• Having a high degree of confidence that you will go to Heaven when you die?

All four are possible. The first two, in Catholic theology, require private revelation - such as was received by Lucy at Fatima. The last two do not require the same revelation but, IMHO, are something we should all experience.

 

[R_C]

I have a hard time thinking that any human being can *know *that they *will *go to heaven after death That there is a special predestination? Maybe. Such was f. ex. the case of the little shepherds of Fatima, and I recall St. Faustina Kowalska who in private revelation was even told she’d be eventually canonized

I was reading this answer by Fr. Serpa, OP, and I found it most interesting in discussing the sin of presumption in that is shows that it’s not a sin of presumption to hope for salvation, but “to hope for salvation without doing anything to deserve it, or for pardon of his sins without repenting of them”.

This article of C.E. is also very interesting, in comparing this with the theological virtue of hope.

 

[victorbuhagiar]

Much has been written here. But if we squeezed all in simple terms, all be have to bear in mind is that God will give us all the graces necessary to save our souls and Jesus gave us his directions: Repent and do good. St Paul made this clear too: Faith Hope and Charity and the greatest is charity. Let us not think that we can pass our lives in sin and expect to save ourselves at the last moment. Not that it cannot be done, but it is a risky business. Now that Christmas is approaching we should make a promise to do our best not to sin any more. It is our choice.

 

[pdmillington]

I believe that the salvation that Mary is speaking about is temporal rather than her eternal. I could be mistaken though.

 

[Simka]

If St. Paul was ‘working out his salvation with fear and trembling …’

God is merciful to those who seek forgiveness …

Would it not be presumptuous of us to believe that we sinful humans have an assurance of salvation because Christ died for us --and nothing else?

Yet I should go around proclaiming that as a Christian I have 'salvation assurance" because I say that Christ is my savior? Knowing that I have not only done evil (repented yes, but I still did it) but that I could still go ON doing it?

I don’t think so. And I certainly don’t think it’s a teaching of the Catholic OR the Orthodox Faith, both of which have been around 2000 years and would be expected to know the truth.

The death penalty – which we deserve because of our sin – has been paid. Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sin – past, present and future.

Paul was “working out” his salvation … demonstrating it, manifesting it in his life … not working for it, not earning it, not still developing it. In Philippians 1 he declares his own assurance of his salvation. In Romans 3, he makes a radical claim that, with the death and resurrection of Jesus, there has been made known a God-given righteousness APART FROM the law. This was a hard lesson for Jews who lived and died by the Law!! Then in Chapter 4 he presents Abraham as a test case for this doctrine. It’s actually not new, or radical.
Paul’s message is that, just like Abraham, you are saved by God’s grace, through your faith. That is God’s promise. Every one of us can have this assurance.

If you have reached that point in your life where in faith you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and your Saviour, you have eternal life, right now. You are saved. Not “might be…”, not “will be …” but ARE saved – present tense.

John wrote his gospel with one purpose in mind: that we might believe, and in believing, have life in Jesus’ name. (John 20:31)

In his first epistle he goes even further. He tells us we have this testimony from God, that He has given us eternal life in His Son. He who has the Son, has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

How much more assurance can one have?

 

[Philthy]

The death penalty – which we deserve because of our sin – has been paid. Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sin – past, present and future.

And yet, not everyone will go to Heaven. Conclusion: despite the “penalty for all our sin - past, present and future” having been paid, there is still something left undone in order for us to go Heaven.

Paul’s message is that, just like Abraham, you are saved by God’s grace, through your faith. That is God’s promise. Every one of us can have this assurance.

Fair enough: IF you have saving faith, THEN you are saved. Is that really all that AOS claims, though? I think most who hold to AOS think it “assures” much more.

If you have reached that point in your life where in faith you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and your Saviour, you have eternal life, right now.

Agreed.

You are saved. Not “might be…”,

Agreed

not “will be …” but ARE saved – present tense.

Exactly - it guarantees nothing regarding the future - it only speaks to the present. Is that really what you meant to say?

How much more assurance can one have?

The assurance that we will go to Heaven when we die would be a far greater assurance. Some have received this special form of private revelation (I believe St Paul did, which is why he changed his tune later in his life and seemed to contradict himself). You seem to equate being “saved” with “guaranteed to go to Heaven”, but there is no such statement in Scripture, and there are many things in Scripture which clearly tell us we can lose our salvation.

 

[jcrichton]

The death penalty – which we deserve because of our sin – has been paid. Jesus’ death was sufficient to pay the penalty for all our sin – past, present and future.

Paul was “working out” his salvation … demonstrating it, manifesting it in his life … not working for it, not earning it, not still developing it. In Philippians 1 he declares his own assurance of his salvation. In Romans 3, he makes a radical claim that, with the death and resurrection of Jesus, there has been made known a God-given righteousness APART FROM the law. This was a hard lesson for Jews who lived and died by the Law!! Then in Chapter 4 he presents Abraham as a test case for this doctrine. It’s actually not new, or radical.
Paul’s message is that, just like Abraham, you are saved by God’s grace, through your faith. That is God’s promise. Every one of us can have this assurance.

If you have reached that point in your life where in faith you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and your Saviour, you have eternal life, right now. You are saved. Not “might be…”, not “will be …” but ARE saved – present tense.

John wrote his gospel with one purpose in mind: that we might believe, and in believing, have life in Jesus’ name. (John 20:31)

In his first epistle he goes even further. He tells us we have this testimony from God, that He has given us eternal life in His Son. He who has the Son, has the life. He who does not have the Son of God does not have the life.

How much more assurance can one have?

…the question is not: is there Eternal Salvation for man?

…rather, the question is: can man stand firm on God’s Promise?

St. Peter, more than any, was able to live this assurance… he once even stepped onto water and walked on it… yet, the second he turned from Christ to the power of nature he began to submerge… as he feared death he cried out to Christ for help–Christ had never abandoned Peter… but the reality of going it alone was quite clear to Cephas!

Scriptures do not Teach that we are Eternally Saved because we read Scriptures that tells us that there’s assurance of Salvation… Scriptures Teach that in Christ we are Saved!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[brb3]

Fair enough: IF you have saving faith, THEN you are saved. Is that really all that AOS claims, though? I think most who hold to AOS think it “assures” much more.

Well, they don’t see ongoing gracious works as essential to salvation. They feel one can fall back into sinful lifestyle…yet still be saved on their last day on basis of their earlier profession of faith and Christian living…which verifies to them that they were adopted by God, and can never be ultimately rejected by him, ever thereafter.

So, could Mary of sinned and been lost on her last day ?..or was she prevented from by special dispensation/ graces of God ?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Mary’s testimonial song, recorded in Luke Chap 1, expresses absolute certainty about her “saved status” …both in present & future-tense language.

Any good reason in scripture/tradition why the Catholic laity & clergy eversince couldn’t lay claim to their future salvation… as she ?

All of us are assured of salvation. Jesus came to redeem us all. Now it is a matter of our continous cooperation and acceptance of the Gospel to keep us saved.

 

[jcrichton]

Well, they don’t see ongoing gracious works as essential to salvation. They feel one can fall back into sinful lifestyle…yet still be saved on their last day on basis of their earlier profession of faith and Christian living…which verifies to them that they were adopted by God, and can never be ultimately rejected by him, ever thereafter.

So, could Mary of sinned and been lost on her last day ?..or was she prevented from by special dispensation/ graces of God ?

…being full of grace (kecharitōménē) would that not suggest that the Virgin Mary is Guarded from sin or would the angel’s salutation only mean ‘while you carry the unborn Child-God you are a full of Grace?’

…I’ve heard it being expressed that “kecharitōménē” means something to effect of ‘always and forever being full of Grace;’ the term is claimed to being so encompassing that it is difficult to translate into English (some substituting “favored one;” which to my pedestrian understanding is a far cry from “full of Grace”)–so God’s Grace must have been complete and not just partial… making Mary’s conception “Immaculate.” …or would God’s Grace only function till the Word Incarnate is birthed then the Virgin Mary would cease enjoying God’s Gift?

Merry Christmas!

Maran atha!

Angel

 

[QuickCat]

“In Christ”

The phrase “in Christ” is found in 77 verses in the New Testament. The breakdown is as follows:

Four Gospels 0
Acts 1
Romans – Philemon 74
Hebrews 0
James – Revelation 2

It is significant that Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles [Romans 11:13], uses the phrase more than any other writer in the New Testament.

The first use of the phrase is found in Acts 24:24. Felix and his wife listened to Paul “concerning the faith in Christ. Then we move to the writings of Paul:

Romans

Romans 3:24 – justification and redemption – in Christ.
Romans 8:1 – no condemnation – in Christ.
Romans 8:2 – the law of the spirit of life – in Christ.
Romans 8:39 – nothing can separate us from the love of God – in Christ.
Romans 9:1 – the truth – in Christ.
Romans 12:5 – one body – in Christ.
Romans 16:3,7,9,10 – helpers, approved – in Christ.

1st Corinthians

1 Corinthians 1:2 – sanctified [Saints] – in Christ
1 Corinthians 1:30 – made wisdom, righteousness – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 3:1 – even babes [carnal] are – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:10 – wise – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:15 – begotten, through the gospel – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 4:17 – Paul’s ways taught – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:18 – fallen asleep [died] – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:19 – hope – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:22 – made alive – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 15:31 – rejoicing – in Christ.
1 Corinthians 16:24 – “my love…for you” – in Christ.

2nd Corinthians

2 Corinthians – 1:21 – established – in Christ. [Note Romans 16:25]
2 Corinthians 2:14 – triumph – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 2:17 – speak we – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:14 – vail is done away – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:17 – new creature * – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:19 – reconciled – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 5:20 – ambassadors and reconciled – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 – simplicity – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:2 – a man [Paul] – in Christ.
2 Corinthians 12:19 – speak before God – in Christ.

Galatians

Galatians 1:22 – churches – in Christ.
Galatians 2:4 – liberty – in Christ.
Galatians 3:17 – covenant confirmed – in Christ.
Galatians 3:26 – children of God by faith – in Christ.
Galatians 3:28 – neither Jew, Gentile, bond, free, male, female, but one – in Christ.
Galatians 6:15 – circumcision nor uncircumcision availeth any thing – in Christ.

Ephesians

Ephesians 1:1 – faithful – in Christ.
Ephesians 1:3 – blessed with all spiritual blessing – in Christ.
Ephesians 1:10 – dispensation of the fullness of times – in Christ.
Ephesians 1;12 – trusted – in Christ.
Ephesians 1:20 – God’s power – in Christ.
Ephesians 2:6 – seated in heavenly places – in Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 – workmanship, created – in Christ.
Ephesians 2:13 – But now [one of 26 times used by Paul] – in Christ.
Ephesians 3:6 – joint heirs, in a joint body, with a joint promise – in Christ.
Ephesians 3:11 – eternal purposes – in Christ.

Philippians

Philippians 1:1 – saints – in Christ.
Philippians 1;13 – bonds – in Christ.
Philippians 2:1 – consolation – in Christ.
Philippians 2:5 – same mind – in Christ.
Philippians 3:3 – rejoice – in Christ.
Philippians 4:21 – saint – in Christ.

Colossians

Colossians 1:2 – saints and faithful – in Christ.
Colossians 1:4 – faith – in Christ.
Colossians 1:28 – perfect – in Christ.
Colossians 2:5 – steadfastness of faith – in Christ.

1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians 2:14 – churches of God – in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 4:16 – dead rise first [rapture] – in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – give thanks [will of God[ - in Christ.

1st Timothy

1 Timothy 1:14 – abundant faith and love – in Christ.
1 Timothy 2:7 – preacher, apostle, teacher of Gentiles – in Christ.
1 Timothy 3:13 – deacon…faith – in Christ.

2nd Timothy

2 Timothy 1:1 – promise of life – in Christ.
2 Timothy 1:9 – saved, holy calling, not according to works – in Christ.
2 Timothy 1:13 – sound words, faith and love – in Christ.
2 Timothy 2:1 – strong in grace – in Christ.
2 Timothy 2:10 – salvation – in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:12 – those that live Godly will suffer persecution – in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:15 – wise unto salvation through faith – in Christ.

Philemon

Philemon 1:6 – communicate faith – in Christ.
Philemon 1:8 – bold – in Christ.
Philemon 1:23 – fellow prisoner – in Christ.

1st Peter [Peter was an apostle to the circumcision – Matthew 10:5-6; Galatians 2:8,9]

1 Peter 3:16 – good conversation – in Christ.
1 Peter 5:14 – all that are – in Christ.*

 

[Good_Fella]

Mary’s testimonial song, recorded in Luke Chap 1, expresses absolute certainty about her “saved status” …both in present & future-tense language.

Any good reason in scripture/tradition why the Catholic laity & clergy eversince couldn’t lay claim to their future salvation… as she ?

The Catholic Church officially teaches that God alone infallibly knows who the elect are and who have been predestined to glory. And as far as I know, Mary is no exception. I doubt Mary expressed absolute certainty about having attained her salvation once and for all, but she certainly had perfect confidence in God’s promises because of her pure faith and hope in God while she was alive. What she was absolutely sure of was that God would never deny her as long as she never denied him. She must have prayed constantly for the graces she was certain would help her get to heaven, and she must have prayed in all humility knowing that without God she could do nothing to please him. What need would there be for Mary to pray if she had already been saved? God’s faithfulness was what Mary was absolutely assured of as all the faithful should be. As long as she was in the state of sanctifying grace, which her conscience would inform her of, she could be assured of being saved at the present moment only by her faith and with a conscious awareness of her dependence on God’s final judgment. If Mary had ever felt totally assured that she was saved, without infallibly knowing, it would have been at the moment of her Dormition after having lived a completely sinless life. For she knew with the certainty of faith that God could not deny her in his absolute righteousness.

Beloved, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and we receive from him whatever we ask because we obey his commandments and do what pleases him.
1 John 3, 21-22

Mary had good reason to have a greater assurance of having been saved than we should by virtue of her divine maternity. God’s actual grace is a persuasive influence, a means to attract us to Him that helps move the soul towards God with our cooperation in tandem with the gifts of the Spirit which we have received. Because of the special love the Son had for the Mother, I believe he assured that she would be persuaded to never say No to God and constantly observe his will. And for his own sake Jesus made sure that his mother would not ever “want” to say No so as to be a worthy mother for him and a worthy spouse of the Holy Spirit who overshadowed her. Mary’s Canticle of Praise may not even have been said by her, but expresses what the nascent Church believed about Mary - that her salvation was infallibly ensured by God because of her predestination to her divine motherhood. The Gospel of Luke was written about eighteen years after Mary’s Dormition and Assumption into heaven. And according to tradition, the apostles did find her tomb empty. They must have believed without having to witness the event that Jesus had taken his mother body and soul into heaven. So in faith the first Christians could have professed a belief that Mary certainly was in heaven. And the evangelist could possibly have drawn on their conviction and expressed it through the voice of Mary, since it is in the imperative mood. Ask any sincere Christian today if they think Mary is saved, and he or she will probably, but fallibly, say Yes. And they might add Because she is Christ’s mother. I am assured that God ensured Mary’s salvation the moment she was conceived, that she was elected in a special way as unique as her Immaculate Conception and the redemption of her body were.

Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, power, majesty, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
***Jude 1, 24-25 ***

“We must except the Holy Virgin Mary, concerning whom I wish to raise no question when it touches the question of sins, out of honour to the Lord; for from Him we know what abundance of grace for overcoming sin in every particular was conferred upon her who had the merit to conceive and bear Him who undoubtedly had no sin.”
*St. Augustine *

PAX

 

[brb3]

she certainly had perfect confidence in God’s promises because of her pure faith and hope in God while she was alive. What she was absolutely sure of was that God would never deny her as long as she never denied him. She must have prayed constantly for the graces she was certain would help her get to heaven, and she must have prayed in all humility knowing that without God she could do nothing to please him.

Good Fella…

Good answer. I shortened your remarks to highlight several points u make.

Now, since Mary had PERFECT CONFIDENCE in God’s Promises, and had ABSOLUTE CERTAINTY he would not deny her, AS LONG AS SHE DIDN’T DENY HIM…and she prayed continually for the GRACES UNTO PERSEVERANCE to see heaven …then, we can with full confidence conclude Mary enjoyed SALVATION ASSURANCE.

Now, if we too, believe God’s Promises in scripture, have been reborn and FULLY GRACED, as was Mary, and are 4-square devoted to the Master as was Mary, and pray daily for the graces unto Salvation (via Perseverance) ----- can’t we too enjoy Salvation Assurance, like our Spiritual Mother ?

 

[tqualey]

Hi, R_C,

This is truly an excellent post!

Gkod bless

To begin with, because none of us is God’s mother, conceived free from stain of original sin and in fullness of grace. To even think that we could equal Our Lady in dignity is an intolerable sin of vanity - and it is vain indeed, for nothing could be farther from the truth. In fact, if the great John the Baptist was unworthy to untie the Lord’s sandals, and the Roman who displayed more faith than everyone else was unworthy to receive the Lord under his roof, what is it to be said of us, wretched sinners who go from sin to sin all the days of our lives?

Furthermore, Holy Church teaches infallibly that presumption of salvation if one of the seven sins against the Holy Spirit.

Can we claim that we have been redeemed by Christ and that God wants us all to reach salvation? Yes, of course we can. But to presume salvation is gravely erroneous.

Now back to Our Lady: remember that the Jewish understanding of salvation was much different from the understanding that the Holy Spirit has granted to the Church. What the Blessed Virgin spoke, she spoke through the grace of the Holy Spirit, and I invite you to find out just how many parts of the Sacred Scriptures are quoted in her beautifully spontaneous Magnificat.

Did she have the assurance of salvation? Think about it this way: in grace we fulfill the law. It is a logical conclusion that she who was full of grace would fully fulfill the law. In fact, she who was predestined to become the Mother of God and as such the rightfull queen of heaven and earth was also logically predestined to be saved. But ultimately she was still endowed with free will - she could, in theory at least, have chosen not to do God’s will. But that is of course absurd, since in her wisdom she only chose what was pleasing to God.

That is not so with us. I invite you to read the writings of the saints. The greater their holiness in this world, the greater their awareness of how easily they were mistaken and offended God. In fact, the very St. Paul, aware of this, writes, full of humbleness:

If Saint Paul said this, can any of us dare to claim more?