I believe that not all men of good will have understood the evolution of the Church through the theological lens of the development of Doctrine as taught by Cardinal Newman. As a result, C. S. Lewis fell into the trap of viewing the structure of the Church as something sharply distinct across different eras. I honestly think that, if Lewis was saved through the prayers of the faithful, this indirectly affirms the doctrine that outside the Church there is no salvation. For the power of our prayers flows directly from the merits of the Sacrifice of Christ, which is renewed at every moment in the sacrament of the Eucharist, a distinctive mark of the Catholic Church. I would argue that the British monarchy provides a classic analogy of what does not constitute invincible ignorance. For example, the rules of succession to the throne explicitly forbid the accession of a non-Anglican. Therefore, if one of these candidates were to arrive at the conclusion that Catholicism is the true Church but refused to abdicate power and royal dignity, he would be engaging in an internal struggle against the will of the Holy Spirit and would thus seal his own condemnation. In the same way, many people may regard Catholicism as the true religion but consider its law too demanding—for example, on the issue of divorce and remarriage—and therefore seek false comfort in Protestant religions that have adopted a more liberal stance on this matter. One thing about Luther that I believe is worth mentioning is that, after his excommunication, he seems to have been motivated primarily by anger rather than by an unrelenting search for the truth through a submission of the intellect to the Holy Spirit.
St Teresa of Avila had a vision of hell one time which described it as being mud and she was kind of buried in a hole. I think that to me as the best description of hell as something that is drab , utterly boring and nothing to look forward to.
Luan, I agree with your assessment that souls may be saved through the prayers of the faithful. In the Baltimore Cathechism , an illustration depicts the Barque of Peter as having lifeboats attached to it.
One big question Catholics ask these days is, 'Are many souls going to hell?' My big answer to that would be to go to the Catechism and here we find: 2744 Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin. 38 How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him? Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy.... For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin. 39 Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned. 40 The question then is how many people are praying? Well if they are praying they would go to Church. Few are doing so. Also if you love God naturally you will talk about Him. Just as if you love Golf you well talk about gold, if you love cooking you will talk about cooking and so on . How few do so. Another sign if you love someone you will have pictures and representations of Him in your home. How very ,very few there are who do so. Another Sign is if you love God you will keep His commandments. 1 John 5:3 "For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome" How many do so? Well for instance how many Catholics use Artificial Contraception? The evidence is the vast majority do so. Only a tiny fraction do not. Not only this but being in a State of deep sin they make Sacriligious Communions. So how many Catholics are going to hell at the moment.? I would say the huge, huge majority. So if we Catholics are in such an appalling state what would be the chances of Protestants for instance getting to heaven?
People will say it is not nice talking about God and people going to Hell like this. But where is it written that God is Nice? He is Merciful Certainly but He is also just. The Fear of God is the beginning of Wisdom. We have totally, totally lost this Fear.
Reality check from the words of Christ Himself: Matthew 7:13 Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it.
Carefully and subtly introduced by the devil. I'm okay. You're okay. God understands. Etc. Saint Faustina said most of the souls in hell did not believe there was such a place. At every Mass i "place" in the chalice of the Blood of Christ all poor sinners who are dying this day and are in danger of damnation. Begging the Blood of Christ not be in vain for them. It chills me to think of it. And I could have been one except for the mercy of God.
Excellent quote. I will give you another one. Jesus said when we are invited to a party always take the lowest place, for if you take the highest place you might be asked to move lower. It is the same thing with the Heavenly Banquet. It is far better to imagine we are heading for the lowest place to encourage us to do better to earn the higher place. But at the minute it is the exact reverse. We think everyone is going to get the highest place. That we have everything coming to us. Luke 14:10 But when thou art bidden, go and sit down in the lowest place, that when he that bade thee cometh, he may say unto thee, ‘Friend, go up higher.’ Then shalt thou have honor in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee.
Fr Reehill knew Father James LaBar the exorcist in the NYC diocese and Fr La Bar recounted how at a theology symposium one of the priests calmly announced he did not believe there was a Devil. Another priest stood up and said. " I cant let this pass. This is not scriptural. I am going to pray for you that God reveals the truth of the devil to you." That night the other priests reported screams coming from the unbelieving priest's room. He had been attacked by demons.
From what the saints say the vast majority of the saints will spend time in Purgatory. However there are levels in purgatory ; the lightest is spending time in front of the Blessed Sacrament, which does not sound like the worst thing that could ever happen to you.
One time someone said to Padre Pio that they did not believe in hell to which the old saint replied, 'You will believe it when you get there'. Our Lady told a visionary that most people who wind up in hell the moment did not beleive it existed.
Jesus mentioned hell more than 70 times in the Bible. He seems to have believed in it. Very much so. https://www.facebook.com/voiceofhop...-a-moment-to-address-someth/1102924955358901/
It seems the prayers might have worked. He probably had started believing. Fear is a very useful emotion.
He descended there. I've seen some very funny paintings from the Middle Ages about it, depicting Jesus having kicked in the door into Hell and with a devil squashed beneath!
I think one story scared me a little. It was from St Margaret Mary concerning her spiritual director St Claude Colombiere SJ. Margaret Mary said he got held up in purgatory for a brief while. I have read the life of St Claude and he really was a saint. But if he got held up?
