Fear about others' salvation

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Monica4316

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I just wanted to say first, I don’t see myself more likely to be saved than anyone else :o I worry a lot about my own salvation too… and I know it’s very important to keep on trying to follow God and repent of all sin…

but sometimes when I think of my family members or friends who don’t go to church, or aren’t practicing, or don’t want to talk about God - I realize that I don’t know their hearts, but I get soo afraid that they might potentially not go to heaven. I just saw that thread “5 out of 33,000 saved” - and even if the story is not true, it’s still true that many souls go to hell… we know this from Our Lady of Fatima, and of course from the Bible, where Jesus said that the way to eternal life is narrow.

I pray for my family every day and I want to pray for my unbelieving friends every day too… but is it wrong for me to feel so scared? Would God answer these prayers? Should I just trust Him?

I read in St Faustina’s book that most souls that go to hell didn’t believe hell exists… which makes sense, because if a person believes this, they will try to repent of sin… but then other private revelations really confuse me; there are some that seem to indicate that many go to heaven, and others suggest that only a few do… which ones are true, lol? If we look at the Gospels, it seems that anyone who is repentant has the hope of salvation, but in our society today so many have lost the fear of sin… I think it’s very important that we pray for others’ salvation, but since a person’s conversion is dependent on their free will, do these prayers always get answered? (I don’t know)… I just get really afraid for some of my family and friends, not because I think they’re worse sinners than me, but because many of them aren’t practicing Christians 😦

what do you think?

thanks 🙂
 
Saint Pio is quoted as saying, “Pray, and don’t worry”. Wonderful advice, however difficult it is to do. We humans seem to be infected with “say something” disease. We just “have to” say something to these others, as though we are the sole repository of wisdom - as if our rhapsodical voice will somehow cause instant conversion! A little anecdote: I was unbaptized, uncatechized, a non-churched and vague believer for the first 35 years of my life. Many souls had spoken to me about faith, and I uncomfortably heard each one. I did not act on it, but stored it away. Had you known me then, you would have had the same fears and concerns that you are experiencing now. God, being omniscient and omnipresent, has a plan for each of us. He does not allow us to see it, because we would act against it if we knew what it was. It covers our lifetime and can take a lifetime to unfold. Each soul’s conversion is a process - I certainly do not feel ready for judgment, even after the progress I have made. So, we offer our example which they can see, and our prayers, which they cannot. God works through all of the others in their lives, as well, so it is not entirely up to us. We plant while another waters, or we water what another has planted. The soil and the germination process are all God’s. Show them your faith, pray for them and allow God’s plan to unfold.
 
There is nothing we can do that is more powerful than to live a good Christian life and to put God first in our lives. Everyone we com e in contact with is then exposed to the Gospel in the very best way - immersion in God’s Love through us.
It is the fulfillment of St Francis instruction to "preach the Gospel always, when necessary use words.

If we do this, we can leave the rest up to God. If those around us are to heed the call, they will. If not, well, “vocal preaching” won’t help.

Peace
James
 
I think your concerns are shared by most adult Catholics. Whenever we talk to each other, whenever we pray together, or offer mass intentions, the conversion of children, our relatives, lapsed Catholics, and non-believers always feature prominently.
 
I think it is very good of you to pray for other’s to see God’s will and follow it in their life. However… I also want to caution about ‘caring too much’. God has given everyone free will. And the amount of concern you feel for non-catholics is minimal to the sadness God feels when they won’t follow him. God can do anything He wants, yet he allows these people to stray. By being over concerned, be careful about falling in the trap of ‘playing God’. If He lets them be, you need to as well. Keep praying and 99% of your job is done

CM
 
Hey there. I feel the same exact way you do. I think it’s natural for us to feel this way, we are human afterall. I can’t help but worrying about salvation of the people around me, even if I know that I don’t know if I will be saved at the end yet. (I’m being saved) But still, I want people to feel the joy that I feel when I think of God and pray their souls will turn around.

So as po18guy said, pray. But pray fervently and don’t give up. Let God see your patience, no matter if it takes a week or 20 years. Trust in God’s plan, as he said, and your faith will be rewarded.
 
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