Limbo

[TomD123]

If God stands outside of time, why did souls have to wait in limbo until Christ redeemed the world? also, if it was possible for God to give Mary sanctifying grace before the actual death of Jesus, why did he wait to give the souls in limbo sanctifying grace? any thoughts?

 

[lauraabarlow]

I myself am a little confused over this limbo status-I personally have trouble grasping the limbo concept. When I was a child, my mom miscarried a baby-a girl and I really believe with all my heart that she is in heaven, not limbo status. I was brought up catholic and am faithful in all respects to its’ teachings and doctrines yet not able to accept that my little sister, through no fault of her own along with other babies whether through natural death or abortions are in a limbo status-Jesus Himself said that we must become like a little child before we can enter God’s Kingdom-that is how much God loves children. I just cannot grasp the limbo status of the little ones. They are all precious.
:harp::takeoff::grouphug::angel1:

 

[Benadam]

Before the Incarnation departed souls did not experience time per say so they weren’t experiencing an interval of time between their death and the entrance of Jesus’ soul to their state of being. Remember when the witch of Endor summoned the soul of Samuel and how angry Samuel was to have his rest disturbed? I think it’s just like when we go to sleep at night. It seems that waiting is foreign to the state of unconsciousness we enter into when we are asleep.

As for waiting, God ordained that time would have to reach the fullness required for the Christ event. I think this was so we could get the most good out of Hisgift of self.

Limbo is a theological construct that is more for us who are landlocked and mentally time bound. It seems we have to have something to wrap around things we can’t really conceptualize. The state of limbo or the state of bing outside of time but concieved by us as within it, is best expressed with the word ‘asleep’ That is, if when we fall asleep we rest in peace. When we wake up it can be as if we just shut out eyes or it can seem like the perfect interval of time has elapsed.Their souls are entrusted to the Mercy of God. That means that whatever is their end it is good.

 

[Katholish]

Limbo is not outside of time. We also do not know to what extent the souls of the just would have been able to grow in knowledge or experience life. Certainly without bodies we know of no way that this could be, but we know it is possible that God had some other means in place for the souls of the just to exist, just as the saints in Heaven exist now without bodies.

Time is a measure of change, and anything which is created is subject to change. Only God is outside of time.

 

[chadless]

First off, we don’t even know if limbo exists, it is a theological theory started by St Augustine.

Second of all, while God may not exist within in time, we do. This has entirely to do with our wills and how they are. God is a being of unchangeable will, meaning that he is the same yesterday as he will be tomorrow. We however are beings of changeable will. I can be saved today, but not tomorrow do to my will.

Limbo was an answer to the question of unbaptized children who died. The Church has essentially buried the idea in the last Catechism of the Catholic Church. To paraphrase they say that Salvation is tied to baptism, and while we are bound to the Sacraments, God is not. We can only trust that God in his infinite wisdom will do the right thing. Note they don’t say what the right thing is, because we do not know.

Limbo was never part of revelation and was simply a guess to fill a gap.

Edited, I forgot you second question. Mary was immaculately conceived because she was to be the new ark for the new covenant essentially. Nothing impure could touch the old covenant and so it was for the new covenant, Jesus. Immaculate conception was not for other people.

 

[Katholish]

The Original Post was only about the Limbo of the Just, which the Church most certainly does definitively teach.

It would be nice if other posters would refrain from talking about the Limbo of infants, because it really doesn’t pertain to the topic and seriously seems to get people side-tracked.

 

[FaithJoy]

If God stands outside of time, why did souls have to wait in limbo until Christ redeemed the world? also, if it was possible for God to give Mary sanctifying grace before the actual death of Jesus, why did he wait to give the souls in limbo sanctifying grace? any thoughts?

There is proof there is time in this universe. In the next world, I see no proof of time existing in the next world, besides purgatory. To cleanse needs time.
I believe the souls that lived in limbo before Christ’s death, lived in limbo according to our understanding, but in God’s eyes it was all the plan He put in motion anyway, therefore no limbo in God’s eyes.