Posted on 03/17/2004 11:49:07 AM PST by johnb2004
Now let us consult the Latin Fathers. You will hear Saint Gregory saying clearly, "Many attain to faith, but few to the heavenly kingdom." Saint Anselm declares, "There are few who are saved." Saint Augustine states even more clearly, "Therefore, few are saved in comparison to those who are damned." The most terrifying, however, is Saint Jerome. At the end of his life, in the presence of his disciples, he spoke these dreadful words: "Out of one hundred thousand people whose lives have always been bad, you will find barely one who is worthy of indulgence." The Words of Holy Scripture But why seek out the opinions of the Fathers and theologians, when Holy Scripture settles the question so clearly? Look in to the Old and New Testaments, and you will find a multitude of figures, symbols and words that clearly point out this truth: very few are saved. In the time of Noah, the entire human race was submerged by the Deluge, and only eight people were saved in the Ark. Saint Peter says, "This ark was the figure of the Church," while Saint Augustine adds, "And these eight people who were saved signify that very few Christians are saved, because there are very few who sincerely renounce the world, and those who renounce it only in words do not belong to the mystery represented by that ark." The Bible also tells us that only two Hebrews out of two million entered the Promised Land after going out of Egypt, and that only four escaped the fire of Sodom and the other burning cities that perished with it. All of this means that the number of the damned who will be cast into fire like straw is far greater than that of the saved, whom the heavenly Father will one day gather into His barns like precious wheat. I would not finish if I had to point out all the figures by which Holy Scripture confirms this truth; let us content ourselves with listening to the living oracle of Incarnate Wisdom. What did Our Lord answer the curious man in the Gospel who asked Him, "Lord, is it only a few to be saved?" Did He keep silence? Did He answer haltingly? Did He conceal His thought for fear of frightening the crowd? No. Questioned by only one, He addresses all of those present. He says to them: "You ask Me if there are only few who are saved?" Here is My answer: "Strive to enter by the narrow gate; for many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able." Who is speaking here? It is the Son of God, Eternal Truth, who on another occasion says even more clearly, "Many are called, but few are chosen." He does not say that all are called and that out of all men, few are chosen, but that many are called; which means, as Saint Gregory explains, that out of all men, many are called to the True Faith, but out of them few are saved. Brothers, these are the words of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Are they clear? They are true. Tell me now if it is possible for you to have faith in your heart and not tremble.
(Excerpt) Read more at olrl.org ...
What kind of Christ do you believe in, john? One who would subject himself to ignominious death for a few people?
The ones who propagate this nonsense, of course, think it's you and me who aren't going but they've got it made.
The Church does not teach that only a handful of mankind will be saved.
And, God didn't say that either.
That's what children said she said. As you say, it's a private revelation.
Nowhere. The Church declares certain Catholics saints, after death. It speculates not at all on the fate of any other souls.
As for Christ, He never gave any numbers either.
Speculation on who goes where after death is like speculating on how many angels there are.
Because He didn't. The meaning of some of the Scripture passages referenced here, especially about the "narrow gate" is subject to interpretation.
Well, we need to do a better job of catechizing Catholics on the grace available through the Sacrament of Reconciliation. But, Catholics who learned to recite "lists of sins" when they were children found that to be a waste of time when they became adults.
Rather, Catholic adults need to be encouraged to look at the overall direction of their lives and discuss that honestly with the confessor.
We all fall, at least seven times a day. I'm not convinced that 95% of baptized Catholics are walking around in mortal sin, however.
Nor am I. It's more like 99%. Few souls have a real hope of Heaven; as cruel as that sounds, it's the truth.
Christ died "pro multis", not "pro omnibus".
He dies for those who were worthy of His death, no more. And that's not many. I certainly would not consider myself one of those. Yet we are all bound to conduct ourselves by the law, as though we did have a possibility of salvation.
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