Limbo???

[ROBERT_CHARBEL]

First and foremost, Pope Benedict would say that Limbo had never been a definitive truth of the Catholic faith. Limbo has always traditionally held to be a place where the souls of Abraham,Moses,and all the holy souls that lived a good life before Jesus,and all unbaptized children would go after death.

Pope Benedict XVI stated that after meeting with a Vatican international commission of Theologians, which has been examining Limbo, it has finished it’s final deliberations. It has concluded that all children who die ,do so with the expectation of “the universal salvation of God”,through the mediation of Jesus,whether baptized or not.

Since it has only been a theological hypothesis,the Pope following his will,and the will of the late Pope John Paul II, says to trust in the mercy and love of God. We must remember that the old testament refers to the “Bosom of Abraham”,a place which is neither Heaven or hell,where “the righteous dead” await entry to Paradise. Didn’t Jesus tell the unbaptized good thief,today you will be with me in Paradise?

So when I hear folks disagreeing with our Church,over things that no one can answer,I ask myself,where is there thanksgiving for the True Church bringing and holding on, to the faith for all these two thousand years,and still going strong with there charity giving to the poor,only second to the U.S. Government. Dear Lord,please forgive our hardness of hearts!-- Robert Charbel

 

[Br.Rich_SFO]

First and foremost, Pope Benedict would say that Limbo had never been a definitive truth of the Catholic faith. Limbo has always traditionally held to be a place where the souls of Abraham,Moses,and all the holy souls that lived a good life before Jesus,and all unbaptized children would go after death.

Pope Benedict XVI stated that after meeting with a Vatican international commission of Theologians, which has been examining Limbo, it has finished it’s final deliberations. It has concluded that all children who die ,do so with the expectation of “the universal salvation of God”,through the mediation of Jesus,whether baptized or not.

Since it has only been a theological hypothesis,the Pope following his will,and the will of the late Pope John Paul II, says to trust in the mercy and love of God. We must remember that the old testament refers to the “Bosom of Abraham”,a place which is neither Heaven or hell,where “the righteous dead” await entry to Paradise. Didn’t Jesus tell the unbaptized good thief,today you will be with me in Paradise?

So when I hear folks disagreeing with our Church,over things that no one can answer,I ask myself,where is there thanksgiving for the True Church bringing and holding on, to the faith for all these two thousand years,and still going strong with there charity giving to the poor,only second to the U.S. Government. Dear Lord,please forgive our hardness of hearts!-- Robert Charbel

Unfortunately you and many others have read more into the Popes words and the Commissions report then they actually said. You are following along the same lines as the news media did when they proclaimed in headlines. “Pope does away with Limbo”.

 

[Seatuck]

First and foremost, Pope Benedict would say that Limbo had never been a definitive truth of the Catholic faith. Limbo has always traditionally held to be a place where the souls of Abraham,Moses,and all the holy souls that lived a good life before Jesus,and all unbaptized children would go after death.

Pope Benedict XVI stated that after meeting with a Vatican international commission of Theologians, which has been examining Limbo, it has finished it’s final deliberations. It has concluded that all children who die ,do so with the expectation of “the universal salvation of God”,through the mediation of Jesus,whether baptized or not.

Since it has only been a theological hypothesis,the Pope following his will,and the will of the late Pope John Paul II, says to trust in the mercy and love of God. We must remember that the old testament refers to the “Bosom of Abraham”,a place which is neither Heaven or hell,where “the righteous dead” await entry to Paradise. Didn’t Jesus tell the unbaptized good thief,today you will be with me in Paradise?

So when I hear folks disagreeing with our Church,over things that no one can answer,I ask myself,where is there thanksgiving for the True Church bringing and holding on, to the faith for all these two thousand years,and still going strong with there charity giving to the poor,only second to the U.S. Government. Dear Lord,please forgive our hardness of hearts!-- Robert Charbel

Robert ,I always think it is a good idea that when you claim someone said something that you actually provide the quote and source for it. I’ll give you a head start . I’ll give you the link to the Vatican Document and you show us the quote that matches up with your statement. ok?

vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/cti_documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_20070419_un-baptised-infants_en.html

In particular I’d like to see the Commission quote for what you have said here-

all children who die ,do so with the expectation of “the universal salvation of God”,through the mediation of Jesus,whether baptized or not.

 

[josephdaniel29]

Unfortunately you and many others have read more into the Popes words and the Commissions report then they actually said. You are following along the same lines as the news media did when they proclaimed in headlines. “Pope does away with Limbo”.

What is the Catholic Church’s teaching on this subject. Does a place such as Limbo exist?

Yours in Christ
Joe

 

[VociMike]

What is the Catholic Church’s teaching on this subject. Does a place such as Limbo exist?

It is theological speculation, an attempt to fill in the gaps between what has been revealed by God.

I take it you are Orthodox? What does the Orthodox Church teach about e.g. babies who die without being baptized?

 

[ROBERT_CHARBEL]

Hi Seatuck, Thank you for that good advice. I see what you mean…Have A Holy Easter, Robert

 

[josephdaniel29]

It is theological speculation, an attempt to fill in the gaps between what has been revealed by God.

I take it you are Orthodox? What does the Orthodox Church teach about e.g. babies who die without being baptized?

The Church doesn’t have a definitive teaching on this but, we trust in the infinite mercy of God to outweigh any sense of divine justice. That being said most Orthodox Christians I know or I have read believe that unbaptized infants do indeed go to heaven.

As St Silouan the Athonite said “Love could not bear that.”

Yours in Christ
Joe

 

[wjp984]

It’s either one of two things. Either Limbo does not exist and with God’s mercy, unbaptized babies get to go to Heaven and live eternally happy with God. Or Limbo exists and the unbaptized babies get to live eternally happy without the presence of God since they have no idea what they are missing out on and therefore as far as they are concerned, they are in everlasting happiness. I personally do not believe in Limbo but hypothetically, while due to my knowledge I would never be eternally happy without the possibility of one day being in Heaven with God, if I did not have this knowledge and got to pick the best parts of living and have them eternally, I don’t see how this would be anything but eternal happiness.

 

[Seatuck]

Hi Seatuck, Thank you for that good advice. I see what you mean…Have A Holy Easter, Robert

You’re welcome Robert. I have learned that I need to actually read the church documents and not rely on the media to get the whole teaching. And also that I sometimes need to revise my wording for accuracy.

A Blessed Easter to you!

 

[Ron_Conte]

Unbaptised infants and prenatals can only enter Heaven through some type of non-formal Baptism. Formal Baptism is the Sacrament itself. A non-formal Baptism would include a Baptism of Desire, or a Baptism of Blood. In other words, not the formal Sacrament, but the saving grace of that Sacrament apart from its externals (water and words). Non-formal Baptism may well be more extensive than the well-accepted ideas of Baptism of desire and Baptism of blood.

There are four possible versions of Limbo (a word that means ‘fringe’).

1. Limbo as a fringe of Heaven
   This is not possible, since all who enter Heaven have the Beatific Vision of God.
2. Limbo as a fringe (or upper level) of Purgatory, also called the Limbo of the Fathers
   This is implied in the document: On the Beatific Vision of God by Pope Benedict 12th. However, it is a temporary place.
3. Limbo as a fringe of Hell
   This is mentioned by the Council of Florence (most of whose documents were never approved by the Pope). It is an upper level of Hell, a place with lesser sufferings where persons are sent who die in a state of original sin. Some theologians think that unbaptised infants are sent here, however, this assumes that there is no non-formal Baptism for them.

If an adult dies in a state of original sin, it means that they committed the mortal sin of omission of not obtaining sanctifying grace through either a formal or non-formal Baptism. So such persons deserve a place in Hell.

1. Limbo as a third final destination.
   This idea has largely fell out of favor with theologians. It was never definitively taught by the Church.