The Fewness of Those Catholics Saved

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Matthew 19:26 And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.
 
Get to Confession, go to Mass on Sundays, pray your Rosary, wear a scapular, stay out of serious trouble. What is so hard about that? You can do this.

God doesn’t ask for the sun, the moon, and the stars. He is so generous. :):)🙂
 
This is very frightening, yet I have to say that I believe every word.
 
Lamafacaja said:
Get to Confession, go to Mass on Sundays, pray your Rosary, wear a scapular, stay out of serious trouble. What is so hard about that? You can do this.

God doesn’t ask for the sun, the moon, and the stars. He is so generous. :):)🙂
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Did you further read how most Christians do these things out of habit, or without proper disposition?

No, God doesn’t as for the sun and the moon and the stars, and most of us who many would consider “good Catholics” do these thing, yet how many of us “good Catholics/Christians” go to confession because “It’s about time we should”, or go right back to our sins without a second thought or proper contrition or do the very least that we THINK God wants of us?
 
ronh4 said:
Reading one of my favorite sites this afternoon I came across the below article.
It may be worth a few minutes of your time to read and contemplate what this saint says about being saved.

wallmell.webs.com/FewSavedStLeonard.htm
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I really cannot say that only few can be saved. If you are saying by their own merits then this can be true. However I do not believe we go to Heaven alone. We will be taking a large amount with us. The same can be said of those who go to Hell. You do not go there alone. You will be taking some with you. However the sermon or witing does not mention the cure for this travesty. The way the writings were going it seem to me you are alone in this. Salvation can come in many ways. One cure for those who may be entering Hell for all eternity is to pray for them now before they die. Did not the Holy Mother request prayers at Fatima because " there is no one to pray for them." The cure is in our own hands. If the Gospels and the Saints say that few are saved it may be that few are praying and even deeper than that there are fewer praying for others. I honestly believe that Charity can cover a multitude of sins and since we are living in the age where " sin abounds Grace abounds more " let us do something about it and give to God the ammunition He needs to save them. Salvation is not for Islanders. We need to express to God for the salvation of those who do not express it for themselves. The Saint may be right on certain points but he cannot be right on all points. We need to pray more for each other so that those who do not pray may receive salvation because we were praying for them. The Graces are there but we seemingly are stuck on ourselves, I mean the chosen and faithful ones. We need to extend our good fortune towards those who are in desperate need of it and when we pray we can think of them as ourselves and ask God to replenish them with His Grace. By doing this we help God to save them and in doing so we receive back those Graces He gives to them. It is the lack of prayer the Saint can tell us that makes salvation so few and the increase of prayer that can correct it. However I do not see that in his writings. We can as faithful Catholics and Orthodox incoperate this willingness to pray for others. I have prayed much using the Divine Mercy devotions Jesus gave to St.Maria Faustina. I have adopted many others in my prayer life using the expression " adopt a sinner for 10 weeks " where I will be praying constantly for 10 weeks for a particular sinner using the Divine Mercy as the Devotion.
 
But the tree depends on its sap for it to live. If you knew of a tree that has been cut down so that it cannot draw from its own sap will you not help it by giving some of your own sap.
 
Romans 11? Ecclesiastes 3. Mk. 11:12-14; 20-21.

‘But that which brings forth thorns and briers is reprobate, and very near unto a curse, whose end is to be burnt.’

Hebrews 6:8

‘And they …] shall be so few that they shall easily be counted, and a child shall write them down.’

Isaias 10:19

‘To obtain salvation we must tremble at the thought of being lost, and tremble not so much at the thought of hell, as of sin, which alone can send us thither. He who dreads sin avoids dangerous occasions, frequently recommends himself to God, and has recourse to the means of keeping himself in the state of grace. He who acts thus will be saved; but for him who lives not in this manner it is morally impossible to be saved.’

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church

‘What do you think? How many of the inhabitants of this city may perhaps be saved? What I am about to tell you is very terrible, yet I will not conceal it from you. Out of this thickly populated city with its thousands of inhabitants not one hundred people will be saved. I even doubt whether there will be as many as that!’

St. John Chrysostom, Archbishop, Doctor, Father of the Church
 
Yes… adopting a sinner I think is a very good devotion. Ven. Anne de Guigne would do this as a little girl, she would adopt them one at a time, and mortify herself and pray for them until there were results. . and still even now…
 
Loboto-Me said:
Did you further read how most Christians do these things out of habit, or without proper disposition?

No, God doesn’t as for the sun and the moon and the stars, and most of us who many would consider “good Catholics” do these thing, yet how many of us “good Catholics/Christians” go to confession because “It’s about time we should”, or go right back to our sins without a second thought or proper contrition or do the very least that we THINK God wants of us?
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Imperfect contrition suffices. Imperfect, meaning I’m sorry for my sins not because I love God perfectly but because I fear hell. It’s better not to sin out of love for God, but lacking that, fear of hell is actually a very good thing. Too many Catholics don’t love God perfectly and also don’t fear hell nearly enough.

But yes, firm purpose of amendment is necessary. We need to really want not to sin again. But perfection isn’t necessary. We just keep trying to do our best, and get the graces from another Confession–which takes humility. 🙂

I don’t presume everyone gets a free pass to heaven, but don’t you despair, either.
 
Student09 said:
I think you forgot love.
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No, I didn’t. This is how we show our love for God. We put God first.

All the philanthropic efforts in the world won’t get you into Heaven. They may be very good, but they won’t get you into Heaven.
 
Lamafacaja said:
No, I didn’t. This is how we show our love for God. We put God first.

All the philanthropic efforts in the world won’t get you into Heaven. They may be very good, but they won’t get you into Heaven.
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By themselves alone definitely not. Through Jesus Christs presence in the world, may be.

The answer is theological opinion. My opinion is that His mercy is radiant, and our mercy (the philanthropic act) could be enough basis to capture this mercy, which in turn takes one to heaven.

The judgment belongs to Jesus Christ, and he said in this topic that what is not possible for men is possible for God.
 
When Our Lord died on a tree so to were the hopes of the Apostles. But His Death was not the End but the Beginning. Since we were dead in our sins Our Lord decided to help us by giving His Life for us. It is like this. We are the trees that have been cut down by our own sins and the sins of the world. The Lord in His Generous Mercy decided to be cut down to show His Solidarity with us and by doing this He is willing to give us a portion of His Sap that is His Love and Mercy. He is willing to give us His Spirit which can bring Life to all those dead wood trees. Salvation can only come from those who want it. God never forces Himself on anyone. Yet He is willing to hear the prayers of those who wish to pray for another. If the Saints say words that very few will be saved it is because they were frustrated to the point where they do not see the faithful praying for another. Really if you have some sap in your life that is the Holy Spirit then take the time to pray for another and then another and then another so that God can fill these with His Sap that is The Holy Spirit so that they can enjoy again His Mercy and Love. How can God refuse to give of Himself when you request it on behalf of sinners. The Saints need to remind themselves of God’s great Mercies and that He is more Merciful and Generous to the Sinner than He is to those who do not sin. The sinner has the right more towards His Mercy for this is why He came. Why dodge the bullit and say only few can be saved. You then are limiting God. And God is far more Generous than what you say will happen. If we all try to become like Jesus more and more each day then we will see the change that only we can give to Him. If I can recommend some readings for those who wish to know of God’s Unlimited Love and Mercy for mankind then pick up a copy of the Divine Mercy Diary written by St.Maria Faustina and start practicing the Divine Mercy devotions that Our Lord has requested through her. God is Mercy. He will not deny His Love and Mercy but places it before us. All we have to do is make a request and He will do the rest.
 
Loboto-Me said:
This is very frightening, yet I have to say that I believe every word.
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I like to think of it this way. What is THE most important thing we do in our lives? The answer of course is to save our immortal souls. How many people ACT as if this is.

And for each of us - how are we acting? Not just “saying” actually doing.
 
This article makes the rounds every year about this time. I’m tired of it. If you are even an ounce melancholy, don’t even read it. It will send you into despair.

Not everything a saint writes is infallible.

“The mercy you show is the mercy you will receive.”

If that’s the case, a lot of Mass attending, rosary praying, pious-acting people are in big trouble out there. I already am in trouble so, don’t even start on me.

(edited for charitableness of content)
 
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