Msg Base: AREA 3 - ASK FATHER (AMDG)
Msg No: 368. Thu 5-27-93 23:08 (NO KILL)
From: Father Mateo
To: Larry B
Subject: your message
³ I suffer greatly from a mental Illness and cannot rationalize
³ why I suffer so much pain. I don't believe I have hurt anyone
³ or sinned so greatly that I should spend life this way. I feel
³ that I must have either already lost my soul or am living in limbo
³ condemmed to suffer due to an unclean life. I have thought this over and
³ cannot get handle on it .I beleive that I will never be at peace even in
³ death. Please respond
Dear Larry,
I apologize for the unavoidable delay in getting this response to
you. I hope to answer more promptly from now on, now that the school
year is over.
No, Larry, it is not possible to be condemned to hell before one
dies. You are not condemned now, no matter how much you are
suffering. You are neither in purgatory (which is an after-death
state of the soul), nor are you in limbo (which does not exist at
all). You are living on this earth, a vale of tears. There is
not nor ever was, in all of Scripture and Church teaching, any
equation between one's sufferings and the sins of one's past life.
Innocent people suffer -- Jesus Christ is the prime example.
I will tell you a truth, and I pray you will hold still for it: your
sufferings are a great gift from Almighty God, an invitation to
forget yourself and share the sufferings of Jesus Christ for the
salvation of the whole world. In 2nd Corinthians 1:3-7, the Holy
Spirit speaking through St. Paul teaches us the purpose of innocent
suffering. It is an overflow to us of Christ's sufferings, which we
offer to God in union with the offering of Christ on the Cross for
the salvation of the world.
Colossians 1:24, Paul again writing, says "I REJOICE in my sufferings
for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in
the afflictions of Christ, on behalf of His Body, which is the
Church."
I beg you to pray for the strength and grace to forget self and self-
pity and begin to offer with Christ what you are suffering. This
prayer in suffering creates a great closeness to Christ and enables
the sufferer to grow greatly in holiness and to save many souls. How
many people die every day in sin and go to hell. But if you suffer
for them, God will grant many the grace to repent. "The fervent
prayer of a righteous man is very powerful" (James 5:16).
Be sure to confess your sins, receive Communion frequently, and pray
always. Spend considerable time, according to your situation with Our
Lord, and with His Mother. Please also buy and read Pope John Paul's
letter "On the Christian Meaning of Human Suffering" (75 cents plus
P/H from Daughters of St. Paul - 1570 5th Avenue, San Diego, CA
92101. The order # is EP 0145).
Sincerely in Christ
Father Mateo
Let me repeat that
There is not nor ever was, in all of Scripture and Church teaching, any equation between one's sufferings and the sins of one's past life`
Thanks for Fr. Mateo's quote.
He agrees with me, not you.