Extra Ecclesiam Nulla Salus Explanation Please

[Mr.Ex_Nihilo]

Ok, I teach 9th grade CCE so I may be able to do this.

This is my understanding and how I explain it in class.

• The ordinary way, and the only one within our power, to gain salvation is through Baptism and dying in a state of Grace.
• The ordinary way to regain a state of Grace after reaching the age of reason and committing sin is through the Sacrament of Reconcilliation.
• People of other Faiths, who live good and faithful lives to the best of their ability and circumstances share in God’s promise of Salvation. They would not be saved at all except for the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, even if they do not have faith in Jesus.
• Because people of other Faiths, even non-Christian ones have a partial measure of the Truth, we can hope that in God’s mercy they may not be entirely cut off from His mercy and will find salvation.
• We as Catholics prefer that all men find the Fullness of Truth and have access to the Sacraments which are the only sure path God had shown us.
• If not, we trust in God’s mercy but continue to work for the conversion of souls.

Does that help?

That was excellent.

I have to admit that I was rather embarrassed and almost ashamed about the discord in the debates that formed in this thread. Your post is a God-breathed spirit-led breath of fresh air.

 

[avansa]

Well, I find J P II (santo subito!) as clear as I have found anyone to be on the matter, your good post included.

It seems he wants, understandably enough, to steer between extreme formalism or legalism and the unquestionable mystery of God’s grace.

Surely now the understanding is common that those neither baptized nor raised Catholic may spend eternity with God.

I still pray for all Christians to become Catholic, because it seems clear by their words and works they are not in any obvious way in God’s grace: abortion on demand, for instance.

God bless.

I see that Palladio was banned, but I’m still compelled to respond to the erroneous statement which implies that all non catholic christians believe in “abortion on demand.” I no of no christian-catholic or otherwise-that believes such foolishness. There may be some professing christianity that believe that, but I know of none. Let us. Pray for Palladio and them.

 

[Deconi]

A man only knows what he knows! If God does not manifest His presence to that man, that is God’s business and the man’s salvation is in God’s Hand!

Catholics do not have that ‘mystery,’ and yet a man who has no religion can behave ‘morally’ better than a Catholic!

Ignorant Christians - who insist they know better than God what His business should be, in spite revelations and Scriptures, are the first subject of EENS. It applies to both Catholics and non-Catholics.