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 ...
No need for a hell to even exitst, if no one ever went there. And we know that hell does exist so, therefor there must be atleast one soul in hell if not many.
2 Peter 1:9-10 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.
Is there something in particular you disagree with in the essay? Something that goes against the teachings of the Church?
A person engaged in habitual contraception is (objectively) engaged in an unrepented habit of Mortal Sin.
Unrepented Mortal Sin is what puts people in Hell.
Warning someone that he is on a highway to Hell is an act of great Charity.
Enjoy it. It's sleeting in NoVa.
Ah, so then you have no excuse for denying the plain teaching that most Catholics go to hell.
A saint's sermon carries a whole lot more weight with me than someone on the internet presuming to judge the state of another's soul. So I admit nothing
But there was never a question of judging the state of any individual's soul. It was always a question of the eventual destiny of the vast majority of Catholics -- precisely the question addressed by St. Leonard. Since you knew his sermon, then you knew the answer. So what's the point of pretending otherwise?
The snow is pretty but you just get SICK OF IT by March.
Yes:
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.
He has no way of knowing this. No way at all.
I don't get trying to scare people into heaven.
How do you know?
BigMack
That's even in the regular Sunday Gospel reading sequence. I'm sure it's familiar to you.
It is not a teaching.
You still haven't shown us the infallible teaching of the Church that the vast majority of souls go to hell.
You can't even show me the infallible teaching that there is ONE soul in hell.
Repentance ... How appropriate to this thread.
Not fair. I was going to post something but I had sworn by Billy Graham to lay off the KFC comments.
BTW, did you bring popcorn?
He has no way of knowing this. No way at all.
sink, this is straight from Matthew 13:24-30.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.