Posted on 09/28/2014 6:24:41 PM PDT by RoosterRedux
Spent the last week with Mom in hospital. A very close friend of Mom's (like an adopted daughter) is a wonderful help, but as a Catholic, is always fearful of her destination.
She says that assuming that she will go to Heaven is beyond her...so she is painfully afraid and spreads that fear to others.
Please help with your opinions.
What should I say to her? She is neurotically fearful of her own future and spreads that fear generously.
Sorry for the speelling error. Fingers are sometimes controlled by little demons.;-)
No one can earn their way to heaven.
No one “deserves” to be in heaven.
No one can be sure that Christ in His mercy will allow one into heaven.
All Christians are in the same boat. All we have is our faith.
This person may indeed have more of a neurotic problem than any sort of spiritual problem.
Does she read the Bible? If so, point her towards Romans, Galatians, Ephesians
She’s accepted Jesus as her savior, yes? He says of those who are His, “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:28–29) So, you either believe this or you make God out a liar.
Ask a priest to talk to her. The hospital should have a priest on call.
You can find assurance of salvation in numerous locations in the New Testament. Google the term and read. Your friend should not be spreading doubt about God’s promises. He always keeps His promises.
Catechism 2091
Despair is a sin against the Holy Spirit. Despair saying there are things that are out of God’s control.
http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p3s2c1a1.htm
When I encounter this situation, I explain that god tends to select the biggest screw ups for His most important work.
Moses killed an Egyptian and argued with God prior to becing chosen to lead the way out of Egypt.
Saul was killing Christians prior to being redeemed and he became the great evangelist for Christianity.
Peter denied Jesus three times and cut off the slave’s ear, but yet Jesus selected Him as the Father of the Church.
She has done nothing as bad as these men but yet they all made the journey.
She disagreed with me.
I asked her what was the abundant life she knew...and she said that her faith told her that she should not assume that she would go to Heaven.
I could never claim to be a pious, or even outwardly religious, person. But I know enough to know that "neurotically fearful" is the LAST thing Jesus wants His flock to be. She needs some help, methinks.
Ask her if she has ever prayed to God to forgive her of her sins, and to accept Jesus’ blood as the atonement for the penalty of her sins. Does she believe that Jesus’ blood will cleanse her of her sins? If she cannot answer that, then she needs to hear the Gospel. She is hearing a confusing word and needs to just hear the basic Truth of how one comes to faith.
She's a good Catholic girl if a bit of an idiot.
I will suggest Catechism 2091.
But tell me that her belief is not Catholic. It denies the Blood...
She is worried about her sin and spreads that message.
She fears that God lacks mercy when in fact it’s infinite.
Good post! There are so many people who believe you have to be “perfect” (a command that usually comes from preachers hoping to build a cult, not a ministry), rather than imperfect (as we all are), but loved by grace and forgiveness. Really, just look at the Muslims to see what the pursuit of religious “perfection” often leads to.
The truth is that nobody can be sure of their salvation until it happens. Anybody can get to a place where they refuse God's freely offered grace. It is a frightening thought, but I don't think God wants us to be afraid.
I cannot presume to imagine what's on her mind, but speaking for myself, I tend to only start to fear and brood when I know for a fact I've sinned. Beg God's forgiveness, hit the confessional, go forth and sin no more, and take the joy of the gospel to heart. Its all any of us can do.
It could be rooted in when she was younger and the way she was taught. May suffer from scrupulosity like me.
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