Hell

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Not particularly in the sense that it preoccupies me. Certainly Hell is a fearful thing, but I dwell more on God’s love and His promises. I imagine there is some warranted trepidation about Purgatory, but we need to remember that it is purifying so that we can see God. And if the Biblical injuncture “Be not afraid” was good enough for JPII, it’s good enough for me. 🙂
 
Only vaguely, all the more reason to try to avoid both, by Prayer, good works and avoiding sin.
 
zorrox said:
Do you fear hell and the flames of purgatory?
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Hell, yes; purgatory, no.

Hell is permanent punishment, purgatory is a cleansing.

Note, since I am still an RCIA candidate only, I am not sure what would happen if I die before the Easter Vigil. Nor have I any idea if my Act Of Love for the souls in Purgatory has been accepted or would be implemented. As we say in AA, sometimes all you can do is the footwork, leaving the results up to God
😦
 
The flames of Hell don’t seem to enter into my decision process very often. Maybe if I were to suddenly contemplate murder, then hopefully the spectre of Hell might deter me. But usually if a sinful course of action presents itself I just think, “Oh, that would be wrong so it is not an option.” My thought process doesn’t get as far as thinking about Hell.

Historically (and ironically), I have been far more likely to think about Hell when I am obsessing about having stolen $5 in my childhood. Or just when I contemplate my overall life. Yes, I know, but I am not scrupulous anymore. <<whew!>>
 
Andruschak said:
=ote, since I am still an RCIA candidate only, I am not sure what would happen if I die before the Easter Vigil.
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You may find the CCC at 1259 reassuring (emphasis in original):
For *catechumens *who die before their Baptism, their explicit desire to receive it, together with repentance for their sins, and charity, assures them the salvation that they were not able to receive through the sacrament.
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Andruschak said:
Hmmmm…the word used was catechumans. I hope that extends to us Candidates as well.😦
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Here is an excerpt from the diary of St. Faustina, recording words Jesus spoke to her (it’s approved by the Church as legit, but as private revelation it’s not binding on the faithful):
If souls would put themselves completely in My care, I Myself would undertake the task of sanctifying them, and I would lavish even greater graces on them. There are souls who thwart My efforts, but I have not given up on them; as often as they turn to Me, I hurry to their aid, shielding them with My mercy, and I give them the first place in My compassionate Heart…Entrust everything to Me and do nothing on your own, and you will always have great freedom of spirit. No circumstances of events will be able to upset you. Source
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Pug said:
Andruschak is already baptized. Could you explain what you meant?
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How do you know he is already baptised? His post doesn’t say that or do you know that from elsewhere?

A catechumen is a candidate for baptism and admission to the Church, or an already validly baptised person to be admitted to the Church, in both cases going through the RCIA program.
The program of instruction is the same for both except at Easter the unbaptised person is baptised and admitted to the Church whereas the already baptised person is formally admitted to the Church.

In both cases before becoming Catholics they are called catechumens and candidates.
 
Pug said:
Andruschak is already baptized. Could you explain what you meant?
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Well, if the RCIA programs were run as the US Council of Bishops wanted it to be, Candidates (those with a previous valid baptism in a Christian Church) would be in a seperate program from Catechumans (those who have never been baptised by the Trinitarian formula, or no baptism at all). Candidates would be individually evaluated to determine what, if any, further training was needed

In the “real” world, RCIA resources are stretched, and most Candidates will have to attend the same RCIA classes as the Catechumans. In my case, the two RCIA instructors realized that I knew more then enough to qualify, and could have been and should have been Confirmed any Sunday in October as part of the Mass.

But they have asked me to stay with the Catechumans and other candidates as a sort of unofficial third instructor. I have consented, for a variety of reasons.
 
Yes I fear hell very much. It is not very nice to be so affraid 😦
The hopeless
 
thistle said:
How do you know he is already baptised? His post doesn’t say that or do you know that from elsewhere?
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There is a large thread out there, combined together from several. It is Andruschak’s thread all about his RCIA journey. So, he has said he is baptized already (but they had this issue with that…see thread).
A catechumen is a candidate for baptism and admission to the Church, or an already validly baptised person to be admitted to the Church, in both cases going through the RCIA program.
The program of instruction is the same for both except…[cut]
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I agree that those two groups are grouped together in many RCIA programs. So, I understand where you are coming from on that. 🙂 I was wondering because I think Victorious’ quote from the CCC about catechumens probably doesn’t directly apply to Andruschak as he is already baptized. But perhaps a similar line of reasoning could be produced. You meant that the two groups are often treated similarly.

I would like to post some info from the National Statutes for the Catechumenate (from the NCCB):
  1. The term “catechumen” should be strictly reserved for the unbaptized who have been admitted into the order of catechumens; the term “convert” should be reserved strictly for those converted from unbelief to Christian belief and never used of those baptized Christians who are received into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
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  1. This holds true even if elements of catechumenal formation are appropriate for those who are not catechumens, namely, (a) baptized Catholic Christians who have not received catechetical instruction and whose Christian initiation has not been completed by confirmation and eucharist and (b) baptized Christians who have been members of another Church or ecclesial community and seek to be received into the full communion of the Catholic Church.
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ARG! I just realized you might mean that a candidate is a candidate for baptism! Ah ha! In my neck of the woods, a candidate usually means a candidate for confirmation. That may be the confusion here. Sorry. I figured this out after posting, so I just edited this in.
 
Andruschak said:
Well, if the RCIA programs were run as the US Council of Bishops wanted it to be, Candidates (those with a previous valid baptism in a Christian Church) would be in a seperate program from Catechumans
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You are still who you are, even if they lump you together.🙂 Our program here is too small to keep them separate, so we try to make a verbal distinction when talking to them in class.
 
zorrox said:
Do you fear hell and the flames of purgatory?
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We should all fear Hell but not Purgatory.

I will be very happy if I find myself in Purgatory because it means I am saved and definitely going to Heaven after purification (however long it takes).
 
I fear Hell not so much for myself since I trust in the mercy of the Lord and I believe and follow the advice of the Church. But I fear that some friends or loved ones may not be so attentive.

What we all need to remember is that Jesus promises us, anyone who call upon His Divine Mercy will not be punished. My goal is always Heaven first, I hope to to skip Purgatory if at all possible, but If I should fall short at least I will have Purgatory to save me from damnation.

Although Heaven is not guaranteed to anyone, we need not be terrified by the prospect of eternal damnation. Remember the Divine Mercy promise and the promise of Christ at the last Supper, that anyone who eats His Body or drinks His Blood will have life everlasting. We do that at every mass.
 
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