very very few are saved, most of us are going to hell

[Monica4316]

Should I talk about those statements I made about if I could damn a million to save myself and also wanting to traumatize others, esp. children, with the fear and Scrupulosity that gets to me? Or is that all covered under anger/hatred/lack of love for neighbor?

As one who deals with Scrupulosity, I always worry about how much detail to go into.

I’m kind of scrupulous too so I know what you mean… I never quite know the amount of detail either. But lately it’s been getting better… I think what you said originally, “anger and hatred and rebellion towards God and towards others and, at times, wanting to spread the same fear and Scrupulosity that I deal with onto others” - that should be alright… but try to say it in a way that you feel comfortable with (if you feel you should give detail, then give detail).

 

[aspirant]

As one who deals with Scrupulosity, I always worry about how much detail to go into.

Confess your sins very simply. Your confessor will ask for details if they are needed.

Remember, what’s required is a confession of your sins in kind (e.g. “I spoke uncharitably to my brother,” “I lied to my boss,” “I deliberately entertained impure thoughts”) and number (how many times you did this, e.g. “I spoke uncharitably to my brother on two occasions since my last confession”) to the best of your ability/recollection (God does not expect us to have perfect recall, only to be honest about what we do remember).

No further detail is needed, unless the confessor must ask something for the sake of clarity (e.g. “Are you married, or single?”), and in many cases detail would actually be unwelcome (e.g. providing details of an adulterous encounter could become an occasion of sin for the confessor).

If you’re really in doubt after confessing your sins simply, just ask “Do you need more detail, father?” If he says no, don’t provide more.

Mention the scrupulosity. It is not a sin, but it is a significant factor in your behavior that you need help with.

Please, please, take questions like this to a spiritual director. An internet forum is often a bad place to get advice on subjects like these. Even when we mean well.

 

[Luke_K]

Considering that faithful, practicing Catholics have always been in the minority, those quotes aren’t too surprising. But we must remember to approach our faith with trust in Jesus’ power to make a saint out of anyone.

 

[theotikos]

I came accross this blog with many quotes about how few will be saved.
should I despair now, and prepare myself for the flames of hell??

This is the most terrifying thing I have ever read!!!

catholicquotations.blogspot.com/2008/07/greater-part-of-men-choose-to-be-damned.html

are these quotes real? these are the Church fathers, popes, the great saints…what a terror!

“The greater number of Christians today are damned. The destiny of those dying on one day is that very few - not as many as ten - went strait to Heaven; many remained in Purgatory; and those cast into Hell were as numerous as snowflakes in mid-winter.”
-Blessed Anna Maria Taigi

**You sound terrified! So am I. Looks like we need to be doers and not just hearers and fly to the intercession of our Mother Mary. See the link below. I belonged to a very special Marian prayer group. I will try to go in the future but problems have arisen. I miss it so much it was a piece of Heaven. Mary protects her children. So trust in her intercession for you. I second to that. **

mmp-usa.net/commit_laity.html

Take the content in

 

[aspirant]

we must remember to approach our faith with trust in Jesus’ power to make a saint out of anyone.

 

[Lief_Erikson]

But how can one not hate God when it seems all He does is threaten us with Hell? I find it very hard to love God when I feel like He is just waiting to cast me into Hell.

I would too, if I thought that was what He wants. But if I thought that was what He wanted, I would be calling Him a liar, for this is what His Word says:

2 Peter 3:8-9

8But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. 9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. **He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. **

1 Timothy 2:3-4

This is good and pleasing to God our savior, who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

If God wanted to damn us, He would NEVER have sent His Son to die on the Cross, bearing the worst agonies of the entire world, the sins of all the world on His shoulders! He would never have bled for us, suffered torture after torture and prayed, “Father, forgive them.”

nsper7:

I am sorry for getting so angry and everything, but how do I overcome this ‘fear of Hell’ motivation?

I urge you to read the Gospels! Especially spend time focusing on the Passion of Jesus Christ as you read it. There you will see the true God, the God of Love. You cannot read the Gospels and miss the God of Love if you’re prayerfully meditating on what you’re reading rather than just rushing through it. Let God’s Word soak into you. Immerse yourself in it.

Isaiah 55

10 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,

11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

12 You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands.

13 Instead of the thornbush will grow the pine tree,
and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.
This will be for the LORD’s renown,
for an everlasting sign,
which will not be destroyed."

 

[Lief_Erikson]

Considering that faithful, practicing Catholics have always been in the minority, those quotes aren’t too surprising. But we must remember to approach our faith with trust in Jesus’ power to make a saint out of anyone.

That is a very good point. Many souls are going to Hell, but that doesn’t mean it’s random or that if we seek God we will most likely fail and go to Hell because we weren’t quite good enough. It’s not a PHD exam but a loving relationship that grows deeper and more loving over time. It’s a unity of love. God is Love, so loving is unity with Him. But there are a lot of souls that don’t choose to seek that love and that are living in open rebellion to the Church’s teachings (which are all loving), in mortal sin without repentance. That is why so many souls are going to Hell.

The soul that seeks God devoutly, with growing love and pursuit of His kindness, will live. As Jesus says, “Ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened . . .”

Based on the above passage, I urge all members who are fearing Hell here to not be afraid but trust Jesus’ words that if you seek Him, you will find Him. So seek Him with confidence and faith. Trust in Him and just seek Him, pray to know Him better, pray for more unity with His love and He will answer you.

The reason there are so many souls going to Hell is so many people aren’t seeking God. And you know that many aren’t concerned about God; just look around you at the world we live in, or at the number of Catholics who live in obedience to the Church’s teachings. We have statistics on this. Looking at those numbers, it’s obvious that the saints were right in their severe view of man, but that does not mean we have to be part of it. Seek and you shall find. God wants everyone to receive eternal life and He has given us all the grace we need to receive it.

 

[Teneas]

Yes, you should definitely give up all hope and prepare to burn for eternity. If you require further information on the specific torments that await you, I’m sure many members of this forum (and Moral Theology as well) will be more than delighted to give you all the information you need, as this is a favorite topic.

LOL someone has a stick up their…

 

[djeter]

“As we know from the Gospels, Jesus spoke many times about hell. Throughout his preaching, he holds forth two and only two final possibilities for human existence: the one being everlasting happiness in the presence of God, the other everlasting torment in the absence of God. He describes the fate of the damned under a great variety of metaphors: everlasting fire, outer darkness, tormenting thirst, a gnawing worm, and weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
…

These are reading selections from an article Cardinal Dulles wrote in First Things back in 2003. There were references to some controversies at the time which I have removed as they seemed too topical for my wants, but I’ve kept the overall survey aspect of the Church’s teachings on hell – it is an invaluable resource and timeless overview of the topic.

Whether it be commenting on the New Testament or Paul or dealing with contemporary theologians writings on the topic, Cardinal Dulles presents his materials and interpretations with consummate skill. Reading him in this way always causes me continued pain at his absence, wondering what we have been missing.

You can find it all here:

payingattentiontothesky.com/2009/09/28/the-population-of-hell-avery-cardinal-dulles/

dj

 

[poetryforjesus]

I am sorry for getting so angry and everything, but how do I overcome this ‘fear of Hell’ motivation? Also, when I go to Confession tomorrow, how do I properly confess this anger? Should I just describe it as “anger and hatred and rebellion towards God and towards others and, at times, wanting to spread the same fear and Scrupulosity that I deal with onto others”?

Perhaps these thoughts might help with your anger against God:

1. I DESERVE to go to hell.
2. It is my sins that God hates, not me.
3. Jesus, who died for me, is able to change me from a sinner to a saint.
4. Mary, the Virgin Mother of God, my merciful Mother, will beg God’s mercy for me.

 

[maverickm17]

But how can one not hate God when it seems all He does is threaten us with Hell? I find it very hard to love God when I feel like He is just waiting to cast me into Hell.

EDIT: I also find it very hard to love others as well for truthfully, if it came down to my damnation or that millions of others, I would choose that damnation of millions of others over my own.

EDIT 2: How can anyone have any joy or peace after reading this?

I have come to a conclusion, People condemn themselves to hell, by sinning -to sin, is to be away from God-. but of course, all sin comes from the devil for he has been sinning since the beginning. correct? do you concur? would someone like to add something?

to sin is to be in likeness to the devil, to repent is to be in likeness with God?

please correct, if im wrong.

 

[theotikos]

nevermind.

 

[StudentMI]

I’ve talked with numerous priests and theologians about this issue. The number of those saved and those damned is unknown. And hoping for the salvation of all is perfectly fine.

 

[mdgspencer]

The Church has never said how many are lost. If anyone speaks of this, this is just their opinion.
I never heard this idea, which Saint Liguori supposedly expressed, that it is the common opinion that most are lost–this is not true that this is a common opinion among Catholics or theologians.
I wonder too if they all are actually things these people said.
In any case, we should work out our salvation, which is very well in our power. It is true some people are lost, but we can certainly see to it that we are not among them.ll

 

[mike97]

Remember that only about 32. % of the world identifies as Christian, so 68% do not. Just continue to love Christ and trust in his mercy.

 

[Rosebud77]

But how can one not hate God when it seems all He does is threaten us with Hell? I find it very hard to love God when I feel like He is just waiting to cast me into Hell.

EDIT: I also find it very hard to love others as well for truthfully, if it came down to my damnation or that millions of others, I would choose that damnation of millions of others over my own.

EDIT 2: How can anyone have any joy or peace after reading this?

OP; ((((HUGS))))

If I felt as you do I would not be an octogenarian, loving Jesus, and knowing the love of God in every day and every way , loving life, happy to be and go wherever He decides whenever He chooses.

No I have not read that piece ; hate horror stories … see para above …

Seek help though? Not good to live in such darkness.

 

[Rosebud77]

Since my lived faith has always been based on fear of Hell and Scrupulosity, why should I not spread that same fear and Scrupulosity? Let people see that in the end it is fear of Hell that motivates and what a great fear it is. Oh yes, tell little children about the torments that may await them, that Jesus is waiting to kick them off the cliff-edge and into the fiery abyss where the demons and the flames will torment them.

Oh DEAR! Many of us have no fear such as you express. I have never once thought t it. no tin all the years I endured in a man-made hell here on earth.
Free now, to love and be loved .

Your post reminds me of the passage in “Alice” re the baby…“Speak roughly to your little boy and hit him when he sneezes. He only does it to annoy because he knows it teases” Only you would say HOPE not KNOW.

And a vain hope.

 

[mathematoons]

The Bible, the Fathers, and the Doctors all agree that the majority of people are damned. But that is because they prefer to burn in Hell rather than do God’s will. Even if only one person living today were to be saved, if you want to be saved no matter what the cost (and remaining in a state of grace can cost a lot–just ask a martyr), then you will be that one.

If God had not stopped me from following my own stupidity, I would have ruined my life and probably forfeited salvation many times over. But because I want to stay with Him, He makes sure not to let me even go into compromising situations that I could not overcome.

 

[JimR-OCDS]

Prayer and Conduct.

First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions, and thanksgivings be offered for everyone, for kings and for all in authority, that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity.

This is good and pleasing to God our savior,
who wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.

For there is one God. There is also one mediator between God and the human race,
Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself as ransom for all. 1 Timothy 2

God did not send Jesus into the world to suffer and die in order to change his mind about man, but rather, to change men’s minds about God.

Also, God isn’t a God who requires us to appease Him so he won’t torture us for eternity when we die.

God is Love and is merciful, and all we need to do is love God and trust in His mercy.

Jim

 

[PelagiathePenit]

I came accross this blog with many quotes about how few will be saved.
should I despair now, and prepare myself for the flames of hell??

This is the most terrifying thing I have ever read!!!

catholicquotations.blogspot.com/2008/07/greater-part-of-men-choose-to-be-damned.html

are these quotes real? these are the Church fathers, popes, the great saints…what a terror!

“The greater number of Christians today are damned. The destiny of those dying on one day is that very few - not as many as ten - went strait to Heaven; many remained in Purgatory; and those cast into Hell were as numerous as snowflakes in mid-winter.”
-Blessed Anna Maria Taigi

"I do not fear Satan half so much as I fear those who fear him.’ - St. Teresa of Avila