Do you fear that you may go to Hell?

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Simon,
It is for everyone…
When we speak of something being temporary (like purgatory) we mortals really HAVE to associate it with time and space. We cannot grasp it otherwise.
The Church has indeed used this measure to help us grasp these ideas. One example of this is a rosary that I have. It was blessed by my great great uncle, a Franciscan priest, many years ago. Using a rosary with this Franciscan blessing has the benefit of reducing one’s time in purgatory by something like “600 days” with each use.
Just what that truly means - - Who knows - - but it certainly sounds like a lot of benefit - a good thing. Yes?

Peace
James
I used to try and pray.I can’t anymore,even though i have around 9 Rosaries now.

Anway, You writing about your great uncle reminded me…i bought this really good book about St. Francis quite a while ago called “Francis:The Journey And The Dream” by Murray Bodo. It was such a departure to the types of books i used to read…usually the goriest horror.
 
I keep worrying that although I want to go to heaven, I committed many sins when I was younger and still worry there were some I didn’t confess. That and Jesus saying we will pay for every little thing we did scares me. I know that Jesus is merciful and loving, but can’t help fearing his anger more.
 
I keep worrying that although I want to go to heaven, I committed many sins when I was younger and still worry there were some I didn’t confess. That and Jesus saying we will pay for every little thing we did scares me. I know that Jesus is merciful and loving, but can’t help fearing his anger more.
I have trouble believing.

He will show you mercy if He is there.
 
this Franciscan blessing has the benefit of reducing one’s time in purgatory by something like “600 days” with each use.
Just what that truly means - - Who knows - - but it certainly sounds like a lot of benefit - a good thing. Yes?

Peace
James
I would like to raise that 600 to 6,000,000,000 then…hehe
 
It really depends on how you define fear.
I trust in God’s love and mercy and saving power. He doesn’t want any of us to go to hell and we are safe if we cling to him. But we always have the freedom to let go, walk away and reject him and I need to be aware of that too.
 
Simon,
It is for everyone…
When we speak of something being temporary (like purgatory) we mortals really HAVE to associate it with time and space. We cannot grasp it otherwise.
The Church has indeed used this measure to help us grasp these ideas. One example of this is a rosary that I have. It was blessed by my great great uncle, a Franciscan priest, many years ago. Using a rosary with this Franciscan blessing has the benefit of reducing one’s time in purgatory by something like “600 days” with each use.
Just what that truly means - - Who knows - - but it certainly sounds like a lot of benefit - a good thing. Yes?

Peace
James
As far as I understand, indulgences such as the six hundred days you describe were originally introduced as reductions in the severity of penances imposed on the living; only later were they extended to the dead on the basis of the mediaeval Church’s understanding of the treasury of merit.
 
I’m interested in opinions from all Religions.

Do you ever think that you may not make it to Heaven based on the tenants of your Religion, or are you sure that you will go to Heaven?
I do not fear hell - I do, tho, have doubts now and then about my salvation based on my sinful nature. That said, tho, I live daily in my Hope of the saving grace that Jesus died for on the cross. I feel so little in comparison of the greatness that He showed us in His work on Earth and all that He did from creation until the end of life.

I do nothing and did nothing to have earned this…my baptism, weekly ability to share in His body and blood, and my daily walk with my Lord assures me that I will be there in Heaven once I pass thru death.

This assurance is how I make it thru this life. I live with chronic pain and knowing my body and soul will be healed gladdens my heart and fills me with joy. Only thru the sacrifice He made for us can I have this confidence and no one can or will ever take this joy away from me.

God bless, all!
 
If you have doubts about your salvation then how can you not fear hell? 🤷
Maybe he or she feels as i do, in that i do not really know what hell will truly be like until i go there, which i expect i will, if it is all true.

It’s like some people who smoke. They don’t really know, or wanna know the harm they are doing to themselves when they can’t see the damage…Until it is too late.
 
Maybe he or she feels as i do, in that i do not really know what hell will truly be like until i go there, which i expect i will, if it is all true.

It’s like some people who smoke. They don’t really know, or wanna know the harm they are doing to themselves when they can’t see the damage…Until it is too late.
You mention you were baptized Catholic. Have you considered returning to your Catholic faith?
Reconciliation is a beautiful Sacrament,given to us by Christ.This can facilitate a renewed relationship with Christ,placing you on the right path to salvation.🙂
 
You mention you were baptized Catholic. Have you considered returning to your Catholic faith?
Reconciliation is a beautiful Sacrament,given to us by Christ.This can facilitate a renewed relationship with Christ,placing you on the right path to salvation.🙂
I have, but i fear i would not be a good enough Catholic to agree with everything. And fear it’s congregation due to the sins i committed

I have had the Catechism book on my shelf for months but i have not read it…
 
I have, but i fear i would not be a good enough Catholic to agree with everything. And fear it’s congregation due to the sins i committed

I have had the Catechism book on my shelf for months but i have not read it…
This is my suggestion.If you have a desire to return to your Catholic faith,don’t worry about all the details ,God will help you work those out.Maybe just take that first step?
Re the Catechism,good for you ,that you are considering studying it.Just a suggestion,check your diocese to see if there are any classes ,studying the Catechism,I participated in such a study a few years back.It was amazing!I have such a better understanding of our faith.Actually as a cradle Catholic,product of Catholic. schools,I now realized just how little I actually understood our faith. 🙂
 
I don’t have enought belief and besides, the priest i was meant to see once, did not see me. I wrote to him my sins aftert that in email and he alerted his diocese and then the authorities.

If that is Chrsitian love, then you can keep it…sorry…i better not say more now,bye
 
If you have doubts about your salvation then how can you not fear hell? 🤷
Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”

Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

These are just 3 of the many promises we are given.

I am honest in saying that I sometimes have doubts…but when I turn to the Word, He reminds me by encompassing me with His love. I am daily, hourly, minute by minute, experiencing a conversion of faith in my Jesus and His promises that I am saved!
 
I don’t fear pitchforks and demons. I fear separation from God. But He gives us the answer to staying close to Him, so I have hope.
What a great sense of loss that would be to be separated from God…The closest I can even think of what this might be like would be when I suffered with a very serious depression…so dark, so lonely…

I look back now, though and do see that He was right there with me…

You are right, though, it would not be the fires and demons but definitely that great chasm of separation from Him.
 
Acts 16:31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.”

Mark 16:16
Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.

Romans 10:9
If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

These are just 3 of the many promises we are given.

I am honest in saying that I sometimes have doubts…but when I turn to the Word, He reminds me by encompassing me with His love. I am daily, hourly, minute by minute, experiencing a conversion of faith in my Jesus and His promises that I am saved!
Even the demons believe, and they shudder. I was not aware that Lutherans believed in OSAS, but my comment had to do with the fact that you doubted your salvation at times. In that case, I would think fear of hell would be appropriate. I too have great confidence (not certainty) that I will be saved, but I still fear hell. It helps keep me honest. 🙂
 
Even the demons believe, and they shudder. I was not aware that Lutherans believed in OSAS, but my comment had to do with the fact that you doubted your salvation at times. In that case, I would think fear of hell would be appropriate. I too have great confidence (not certainty) that I will be saved, but I still fear hell. It helps keep me honest. 🙂
Exactly!The OSAS concept just doesn’t make sense to me.We are sinful beings,will will continue to be sinful.It is through the humility of coming before Our Lord,through the Sacrament of Reconciliation,that we receive the grace to persevere in overcoming our sinful habit.If we can just go through life ,with confidence that no mater what ,if we just accept Jesus,our salvation is guaranteed what is to keep us from behaving with impunity?🤷
 
I’m interested in opinions from all Religions.

Do you ever think that you may not make it to Heaven based on the tenants of your Religion, or are you sure that you will go to Heaven?
The mercy of the LORD is greater than any sin. That said, if I fall into what we Catholics call “Mortal” sin and convince myself that there is no reason to confess my wrongdoing, then guess what? I chose hell. I chose to say “I am better than God, I don’t need God” and because of that, I would spend an eternity without God, which is what hell is. Hope that helps.
 
I did some soul searching for the last few months and realized that my greatest fear is grieving God.
 
I’m interested in opinions from all Religions.

Do you ever think that you may not make it to Heaven based on the tenants of your Religion, or are you sure that you will go to Heaven?
Rather or not I go to hell has everything to do with how God judges me on my works, faith, and life here on earth.

We all deep down have to believe that we may not make it, Because as St Paul teaches us, we do not have the mind of Christ.
 
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