If saved must we enter Heaven?

  • Thread starter Thread starter TerryPaul
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
T

TerryPaul

Guest
I say in advance that I don;t expect that anyone “knows” the answer to the following question but it occurred to me last night …

If we have free will and we get to Heaven by God’s grace etc., can we choose not to go in … say we have family in purgatory or the other place, can a person seek to be with them? Weird huh? But I wonder?

I find that pondering things like this gives one insight to unraveling or understanding others mysteries in the Bible …

Please no rebukes just answers from people who have an out of the box answer or conjecture …

Thanks,
Terry
 
40.png
TerryPaul:
I say in advance that I don;t expect that anyone “knows” the answer to the following question but it occurred to me last night …

If we have free will and we get to Heaven by God’s grace etc., can we choose not to go in … say we have family in purgatory or the other place, can a person seek to be with them? Weird huh? But I wonder?

I find that pondering things like this gives one insight to unraveling or understanding others mysteries in the Bible …

Please no rebukes just answers from people who have an out of the box answer or conjecture …

Thanks,
Terry
Click to expand...
Terry:

We are made for Heaven, and that is why Jesus made us.

Of course, because of the Communion of the Saints, whenever we OBTAIN Graces or Indulgences, God allows us to apply them to people we love so they can get through with their purification as quickly as possible.

Please understand, although painful (it’s painful to come to grips with how we’ve lived our lives and not used our talents for God), Purgatory is also JOYFUL, because those who are there are already experiencing the purifying fire of God’s Love, and they know where they will be spending eternity and why they are doing what they are doing.

I hope this makes sense to you.

Please be at peace and pray for your relatives here.

In Christ, Michael
 
40.png
TerryPaul:
I say in advance that I don;t expect that anyone “knows” the answer to the following question but it occurred to me last night …

If we have free will and we get to Heaven by God’s grace etc., can we choose not to go in … say we have family in purgatory or the other place, can a person seek to be with them? Weird huh? But I wonder?

I find that pondering things like this gives one insight to unraveling or understanding others mysteries in the Bible …

Please no rebukes just answers from people who have an out of the box answer or conjecture …

Thanks,
Terry
Click to expand...
I’m sure more learned posters will give you a good answer, but in my opinion if you die and you are judged by God to be saved then you are saved forever (whether you spend time in Purgatory first or go straight to Heaven) and you cannot refuse. The type of free will you have while alive to accept or reject God’s love ceases upon judgement.
 
thank you … both … very interesting …

you know I have been a catholic since my infant baptism and even taught the faith at the high school level but now with my father dying last Sunday I feel like I have to reevaluate everything … was he saved?

I know he was raised Methodist but was married in the catholic church and my mum and him went to church … I guess he was Christened - that’s British for Baptized - and I know he sought God but was it enough?

When my sister called me last Sunday from England to tell me, I sent out prayer requests and some of my Priest friends are going to have masses said for Dad … people on the boards have prayed too!

but I never needed to know and understand it before like I need to know and understand it now!

help anybody?
 
Interesting question…I started pondering it myself.

If we take the definition of heaven from the catechism 1024: The perfect life with the Most Holy Trinity (The Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit)-this communion of life and love with the Trinity, with the Virgin Mary, the angels and all the blessed.

So heaven is to be in perfect communion with Jesus.
Now in heaven we love the Lord with all our hearts, mind and strength and love Him above anything else and/or anyone else. To love anyone/thing more than God is idolatry.

So if one wanted to go to purgatory to be with a family member over going to heaven (which would be perfect communion with Jesus) maybe one could argue if that person loved the family member more than God. If that were the case that might negate that they were suppossed to go to heaven right after death and/or judgment in the first place.

Although of course I am speculating. I hope my reasoning made sense.

Also just to clarify all those in purgatory will eventually be in heaven. So if one were to go to heaven and another were to go to purgatory. Both will at some point be in heaven together. 😃

God Bless, Praying for you.
 
Oh and I am praying for you dad. I wouldn’t fret God is merciful and I think He offers His mercy to us all, it’s just a matter of taking it.
 
thank you, you are a kind soul to me and I greatly appreciate it …

I downloaded some articled from EWTN as someone on these boards suggested and I’m reading about salvation in and out of the church. And it all seems to come down to a merciful God.

As far as desiring family more than God, I thought about it and Moses came to mind, when he preferred to be blotted out of the “book of life” for the sake of his people … that’s ‘somewhat’ how I feel …I want heaven but I think how can I be happy without my dad or granddad, grandma, auntie ? you know … so yes if in purgatory then I will see them again …

is there any mystic in our faith that talks about heaven, hell, and purgatory with much insight and authority?

Lots of love,
Terry
 
Two thoughts on this, one is IF you go to Heaven first, you would have the opportunity to pray for your loved ones in Purgatory, thus shortening their stay and suffering.

Second, time to God and Heaven have no meaning, and it could very well be that even though some loved ones die and go to Purgatory first you may all be united in Heaven upon your entry.
 
40.png
TerryPaul:
thank you, you are a kind soul to me and I greatly appreciate it …

I downloaded some articled from EWTN as someone on these boards suggested and I’m reading about salvation in and out of the church. And it all seems to come down to a merciful God.

As far as desiring family more than God, I thought about it and Moses came to mind, when he preferred to be blotted out of the “book of life” for the sake of his people … that’s ‘somewhat’ how I feel …I want heaven but I think how can I be happy without my dad or granddad, grandma, auntie ? you know … so yes if in purgatory then I will see them again …

is there any mystic in our faith that talks about heaven, hell, and purgatory with much insight and authority?

Lots of love,
Terry
Click to expand...
Terry, I’m so sorry for your loss; may your father know now the joy of the Lord.

This will take you to the Treatise on Purgatory, by St. Catherine of Genoa, which I think you will find helpful:

ewtn.com/library/SPIRIT/CATPUR.TXT
 
40.png
TerryPaul:
but I never needed to know and understand it before like I need to know and understand it now!

help anybody?
Click to expand...
Greetings,

As Catholic Christians, we are taught to hope for the salvation of all. God, our Father, loves us all and wishes us all to be with Him. Without a doubt, it would be wrong of us to presume on His mercy. But how can we even move without relying on His mercy and grace?

Sometimes I wonder if faith and love are easy, and hope is somehow forgotten. Have faith in our Risen Lord and in His perfect mercy. Be charitable in your daily living. And hold fast to hope. And I will try to do the same.

May the peace of our Lord, Jesus Christ, settle in your heart.

-Jim
 
From Zig Zigler:

You + God = Enough.

But what? Let us go cross gathering and lay the ones we can find at the feet of our Precious Lord.

Please feel the love of your fellow Christians, but even more, please feel the love of God dwelling within you. Be at peace.

Lay your burden on the shoulders of our Wonderful Saviour.

May you receive a visitor this week, this Holy Week (Heilige Woche) that brings you joy and peace. Amen.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top