I have no problem with that at all.
Would you have the guts to run into a burning building to rescue another human being knowing you may not come out again?
What do you think the Faith is anyway? How can you die for a God you do not see if you are not willing to die for a human being you can see?
Perhaps you should check out the Gospel of Matthew and the criterion Jesus says The Judge will use. He never mentions how many times we go to Mass, or even what Mass we attend.
No, all He discusses is "As long as you did it for one of these, the least of my brethren, you did it for me."
Mother Teresa didn't live her life for "The Faith." She lived it for the poor, and is in heaven because of it.
I was referring to martyrdom not sainthood. Do you understand the difference?
Sinkspur: I have no problem with that at all.
GGII: Fits with your belief that Hell is empty.
If Mother Theresa - or anyone - is a saint in heaven, it is not because of what they did for the poor, it is because of their faith in Christ, and obedience to His law, and the example of their lives for others.
If Mother Theresa did not live her life "for the faith" then all she did was labor in vain. For if it is not done for Christ, all labor is in vain.
"What do you think the Faith is anyway? How can you die for a God you do not see if you are not willing to die for a human being you can see?"
By this statement you tread on very dangerous ground. Dying to save another human being is a good & noble act, but it is not worthy of sainthood. One must die for Christ......for the faith. That is martydom, which merits sainthood. It is the total, complete, trusting and blind faith in this God whom I cannot see which is my salvation - and the salvation of one who would die for Christ.
That is faith. That is the key to salvation. To beleive beyond the point of belief.
As to the criteria which Christ himself will use on Judgement day - it will be every thought, word, and deed of ours. Nothing is kept secret - all is exposed. Indeed - every time you failed to go to mass through your own fault (i.e. laziness) will be brought up. Every impure thought. Every unjustified thought of anger. Every lie. All of it.
All sin must be paid for. Your sins will be weighed against your faith, your prayers, your sacrifices, your penance, contrition, and compunction for your sins. Your love for Jesus.
Maximillian Kolbe is a saint because of his faith. Because of the herioc example of his life - in bring the faith to thousands upon thousand via his Knights of the Immaculata. The fact that he willingly offered to die in place of a man with a family was his sacrifice to God in reperation for his sins, and the sins of others.
He did not die for the faith; he was not put to death because he was Catholic - or a priest. Rather he chose to live his last days in a starvation bunker as a living testament to Christ and for Christ, helping to the last to prepare the other poor dying men with him for death and judgement.
That is what made hium a saint.
"Mother Teresa didn't live her life for "The Faith." She lived it for the poor, and is in heaven because of it."
Aside from her promotion of Hinduism, your theory is that the Church is no longer necessary so long as we 'be nice' to the poor. You are convincing me that today so many priests and nuns are merely social workers apart from those who want an easy life or who just like the vestments!