Consider, that it may be your prayer that God uses to enlighten the mind of this killer, so that he sees clearly what he has done and, in his last moment before death, repents. Would you deny God, and this killer, your prayer?
It’s not a sin for me to withhold prayer for any killer. I have prayed for the Colorado movie theater killer, who is now incarcerated–he may have a chance to transform his outlook on life and seek a true repentance. He is still living. The sandy hook killer cannot repent in the after life. And it’s a fantasy to think he felt sorrow right before he ended his life, a coward’s way out. You can freely pray that God (who is beyond time) bring that killer to repentance before his death. but the facts are what they are. He committed suicide by gunshot. If he was truly repentant before he pulled the trigger, he would have not pulled the trigger.
It’s not “universism” (whatever that is). Nor is it a free pass.
I can’t fathom why you differentiate between him and the Colorado shooter either…why is suicide your deciding factor?
Yes, he took his own life with a gunshot after the sandy hook event, but how do we know he died instantly? Maybe afterwards, he was still alive for a few seconds, minutes…who knows what could have went on during this time…maybe right before his actual death, he did recognize what he did was wrong and repent. Just because someone shoots themselves in the head, does not always mean, death is instant.
The reasoning you use to judge others will be used to judge you.
What does it cost us personally to feel mercy for another soul? While I pray with all my heart and soul never to be in that position, I believe that parents/families of some of the victims of different mass shootings have actually publicly forgiven and shown mercy to the killers. For those of us not directly affected, while we do not have to understand or accept their acts, does it hurt us to show mercy? Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ showed Mercy to each of us, undeserved as we may be. It cost Him His Life. Praying for another and showing them mercy doesn’t cost us near as much.
Upon further reflection:
Right again.
I don’t either, but I also will not presume to tell God who He can or cannot have mercy on.
Criminals who are killed and their victims are the ones we need to pray immediately for when we hear on the news of the event. If you do the rosary daily, add them as a prayer intention. The first three days after their death is very important.
One thing Maria states The greatest complaint from the souls in Purgatory - Abandonment by their loved ones. Her words are worthy of reflection in how we think.
I dont think any one here is saying that he wont be judged, I think what they are saying is you, and everyone else here, doesn’t have the right to judge him. Only God has hat right, because only God knows what is in our hearts and minds. You also seem to know little of mental illness, and mental illness does reduce culpability. Its in the Catechism. I digress though. The fact is, you or I don’t know what happened in his moment of death. Because of this, it is not pointless to pray for his soul. Because we can’t know what happened to it. Thats not subscribing to univiersalism, that having humility enough to realize I’m not God. By saying you know he went to Hell, you are in essence, playing God.
And, I believe I learned this year (correct me if I’m mistaken) that our prayers for someone are not wasted; if not applicable (the person is already in Heaven or Hell), they are applied to someone else? We can pray for ‘all souls in purgatory’, especially XXXX, XXXX, XXXX and XXXX. Or even specifically; I can pray for my uncle, but if he’s already in Heaven (which I wouldn’t be surprised; he was as close to a saint as I have ever met in my life), then those prayers carry to someone else.
Not sure I’d go that far. I’m with you that prayers are not wasted tho.
