The Pope - The Chair of Peter the Apostle

The following is from "The Pope" [pages 73-76]– Source: “The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge: A Comprehensive Statement of All the Truths of Holy Religion” copyright by Office of Catholic Publications, 1900. 

As I stated yesterday, one of the things I am doing for Lent is re-reading from my collection of 100+ year old Catholic books and my plan to share these writings on my blog. Today being "The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle" I thought this was appropriate. 

I really love this writing, and in particular the part about Peter answering Our Lord three times that he loves Him (this is one of my favorite Bible verses). So reading this and reflecting on it in light of our current situation with Pope Francis, a few things really stood out to me, I have underlined them in the text below. 

I'd really like to hear what your thoughts are on this book passage about the pope and our current situation. 

"The first Pope, the first Vicar of Jesus Christ, was the Apostle St. Peter.

   Who cannot recall the memorable passages of the Gospel in which Jesus Christ first promised and afterward conferred upon him the sovereignty of the universe? Our Lord was in Judea, in the country bordering upon the town of Cesarea. To try the faith of His disciples, He asked what men thought concerning Him. They answered, “Some believe that Thou art John the Baptist, other Elias, and other Jeremias, or one of the prophets risen from the dead.” Jesus said to them, “But whom do you say that I am?” And immediately St. Peter, falling on his knees, exclaimed, “Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God.” Then it was that the Saviour allowed too fall from His lips the words which have travelled down the centuries with such marvellous fertility, and which still shine resplendently at Rome, graven in gigantic characters above the tomb of the Apostle-“Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-Jona, because flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father who is in heaven. And I say to thee, That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt bind upon earth, it shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth, it shall be loosed also in heaven.”

   You have doubtless often heard this passage of the Gospel read, but have you ever fully fathomed the depth and the strength of its meaning?

First of all, we see that it was God Himself who had inspired St. Peter, and had made known to him the truth of the faith.

“Flesh and blood hath not revealed it to thee, but My Father who is in heaven.” St. Peter was already the elect of God the Father, and for this reason he became the elect of God the Son. “And I”- the Son of God made man, the Christ, the Messiah, to whom thou hast just rendered witness-“I say to thee.” Jesus Christ to St. Pete! the Master to His disciple! God to His Pontiff! the Head of the Church, who has reigned in heaven since His ascension, to him whom He had chosen to be, in His name, and by His authority, the visible head of the Church upon earth. I say to thee, “That thou art Peter.” I change they natural name of Simon into a new and symbolic name. “Upon this rock,” this living rock, as upon an immovable foundation. “I will build My Church,” and the very strength and firmness of the foundation shall give to it so perfect a stability, and so mighty a power, that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Thou shalt teach the truth to My Church, and for this reason it shall be infallible in faith: thou shalt guide it in the path which leads to a glorious eternity, and for this reason it shall be holy. I intrust My Church to thee; I have but one true Church, as a husband has but one lawful wife. And by what clear and evident sigh shall men recognize this one true Church, among the innumerable religious societies which lay claim to her glorious title? By one certain and distinctive mark; if she rest on and centre of unity-her father, pastor, doctor, and pontiff. “Upon this rock I will build My Church.” My kingdom shall be that in which thou shalt reign. My law shall be that which thou shalt teach. Whoever shall be with thee, shall be, for that reason alone, with Me, and whoever shall separate himself from thee, shall separate himself from Me, and from life eternal.

The powers of hell shall not be able to prevail against the Church, since they shall be powerless against thee. Persecutions shall come, heresies, and revolutions. Fear not, I am with thee, and upon thee ever rests My Church, which shall endure unto the end of the world. Those who desire to break thee shall be broken against thee, since thou art the corner of attraction to the whole moral world.

And the power that I will give thee shall be proportioned to the glory conferred upon thee, and to the vast requirements of thy ministry: “Whatsoever thou shalt bind or loose upon earth, shall be found or loosed in heaven;” and thus thy voice shall be as the voice of heaven, and thy infallible dictums shall precede the dictums of the eternal truth. That which though shalt bless, I will bless; that which thou shalt curse, I will curse… Blessed is the man who is obedient to the voice of Peter!

Such is the true meaning of those scriptural words which have ever confounded, and shall eternally confound, the irrational rebellion of Protestants against the Catholic Apostolic Roman Church, which is governed by the Pope, the legitimate successor of St. Peter.

Before ascending into heaven the Son of God solemnly confirmed His promise, of which some might have imagined that St. Peter by his sin had forfeited the fulfillment. “Simon, lovest thou Me?” Jesus asked three times of his Apostle. “Yea, Lord,” St. Peter three times answered; “yea, Thou knowest that I love Thee!” thus effacing by a triple protestation of love and devotion the triple denial of which he had been guilty. Then said Our Lord to him, “Feed My lambs-feed My sheep!” The lambs of Jesus Christ are Christians who are obedient to the voice of this good Shepherd; His sheep are the bishops and priests by whose God-given power and spiritual fatherhood all Christians must be born again-born to the life eternal, by means of baptism, the sacraments, and the teaching of the one true faith.

And thus St. Peter was solemnly appointed pastor of the universal Church by Jesus Christ before His ascension into heaven.

The Pope, Bishop of the city of Rome, of which St. Peter was the first bishop, is the successor of this great and holy Apostle.

Leo XIII., the present Bishop of Rome, descends by an uninterrupted line of pontiffs from the prince of the Apostles. St. Peter commands, teaches, and governs the Christian world by means of Leo XIII., or rather it is Jesus Christ; it is Jesus Christ Himself who dwells within him, in order to be in Him and by Him,  the divine Head of his own Church. It is not the man whom Catholics revere in Leo XIII.; it is the Vicar of Jesus Christ; it is Jesus Christ Himself who covers him with His shadow, and endows him with a royal supremacy over His disciples.

The man in the Pope should be, and generally is, by the providence of God, worthy of esteem, by reason of his virtues; but even were he an utterly bad man, the divine majesty of his authority would remain uninjured; just as a father, who has a claim upon the honor and obedience of his children because he is their father, although they may know that, as a man, he has been guilty of many blamable actions. There are two persons in the Pope: the Pope and the man-as a man, he is more or less estimable, according to the virtues that he possesses; as a Pope, he is always worthy of all our reverence, and has a right to our entire and unquestioning obedience. It is not the man, it is the Pope who is always guided by the Holy Ghost.

There have been two hundred and fifty-nine popes, from St. Peter to the time of our Holy Father Leo XIII. now reigning. Of this number more than eighty have either borne the palm of martyrdom, or have led lives of such eminent holiness that they are numbered among the saints. Scarcely two or three have soiled the chair of St. Peter by notorious vice. The greater part have been men eminent either for their capacity, their piety, or their benevolence. But it may safely be affirmed that not one among them has possessed more charm of virtue than our present Pontiff, Leo XIII.

The peace of God shines from his face. The well known characteristics of his calm and equable nature are goodness and benevolence-a clear intellect, and a constant cheerfulness. His regular features, his eyes of an undefinable expression, and the calm dignity of his manner, are in him the visible signs and outward revelations of the beauty of holiness. He is at once the sovereign Pontiff and the good Father. It is a great happiness to receive the blessing of the Pope, and especially of such a Pope. It is a great happiness to be able to make a pilgrimage to Rome, and to see the successor of St. Peter celebrating the Holy Sacrifice upon the very tomb of the Apostle, and offering to the adoration of the faithful the hidden God of whom he is the Pontiff and the Vicar." 

Thoughts? 

In Christ, 

Julie

Source: The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge, A Comprehensive Statement of All the Truths of the Holy Religion Together With Notable Presentations of the Glorious Truth Triumphant – Office of Catholic Publications, 1900.  

Pope Francis changes Catholic catechism

Glad I tuned in to Raymond Arroyo's The World Over on EWTN last night.  

I've read several articles on what the pope has done, and I found one that really stands out to me. 

If you haven't yet read any articles on what Pope Francis has done, I highly recommend The Remnant's article: Killing Capital Punishment: Francis vs. the Catholic Church
Written by Christopher A. Ferrara

From Twitter...

I can see where some Catholics would come to this conclusion. 


I've got nothing to add to this, except God help us. 🙏


In Christ, 


Julie 



https://remnantnewspaper.com/web/index.php/articles/item/4000-killing-capital-punishment-francis-vs-the-catholic-church


https://twitter.com/mange513/status/1025403309606227968

What faith is Father James Martin talking about?

So I see Fr. James Martin retweet this...

and of course I have issues with him saying..."The question of whether or not LGBT people can be people of faith is a funny one, because they are people of faith. So it's like saying: can the grass be green?"

What faith? 

What faith do they believe? 

Do they believe that homosexual relationships are mortal sin that leads to death and that all homosexuals are called to chastity? If yes, they might very well be of the Catholic faith.  

If they, like the 'Equally Blessed' website article Fr. James Martin retweeted, believe in marriage equality for homosexual couples, then the "faith" they have is not Catholic. 

We've seen this sort of thing from Fr. Martin too many times in the past... 

The "Equally Blessed" folks are yet another dissident group who falsely uses the word "Catholic" to fool people (the Church should NOT allow these people to use the term "Catholic" because it lures people into falsehoods about the authentic Catholic Faith).  

They are linked with other dissident groups which the Vatican and our Bishops have spoken against over the years like "New Ways Ministry".

New Ways Ministry is a darling of Fr. James Martin's. He's got a very long history working with them, giving his support of them and they their support of him (see my post on his book for more on this). It's a relationship made in Hell. 

The authentic teachings of the Catholic Church have been very clear on this... 

What is always muddy is Fr. James Martin's comments about Church teaching because he always leaves those truths out. He speaks of "love" and "building bridges", but he never speaks about correcting the sinner to save their souls from damnation. Nor does he seem to accept the Church's warnings to clergy about supporting dissident groups. 

Fr. Martin ignores all attempts made by numerous people, including myself, to answer questions on this subject. Instead he continues to mislead people.  

Some comments from this video show just how wrong these people are about homosexuality and the teachings of the Church. 

To see them all go here: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/2078465525518260/ 

Another thing Fr. Martin says in the video is "Jesus' message is always one of inclusion and welcome". I think Fr. Martin has been reading a different bible than me. 

The Jesus in my Bible is loving and tells sinners to "sin no more". 

He doesn't tell them to stay in their sins, that 'love' ignores sin. Rather he corrects them out of love and warns them to avoid sin because their eternity depends on it! 

Fr. James Martin never does this. He is not following Christ's example as a good priest should. Rather Martin leaves people in their sin as he walks back and forth on a bridge that leads anywhere but to Heaven for these people. 

My question for Fr. Martin is, what faith are you talking about? 

Whatever faith it is, it isn't Catholic. 

A reminder for Fr. James Martin from the Vatican...

In Christ, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 


Links:

Video source: https://www.facebook.com/NowThisPolitics/videos/2078465525518260/ 

Fr. Martin Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesMartinSJ 

My book review of Father Martin's book: http://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2017/06/walking-across-fr-james-martins-lgbt.html 

The True Church of Jesus Christ vs false churches

Which is the True Church of Jesus Christ?

"Among the religious communities which all claim to be considered the true Church, it is of the highest importance to distinguish the one which speaks truly from the rest who are deceived. 

Our Lord gives us in His Gospel an infallible means, a sure and evident sign by which we may recognize His Church.  And is it not an historical fact, clear as the day, and quite beyond the reach of contradiction, that the one Catholic Apostolic Roman Church is founded upon St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome, the first Pope? 

Therefore all other Churches, whatever they may be, are false Churches, which do not come from God, and do not lead to God, but conformity with the divine institution. 

Therefore every true-hearted and truth-loving man, who has the fear of God before his eyes, is bound by his conscience, so soon as he shall be convinced of error, to go out from that false Church, in which he has had the misfortune to be born, and enter, obedient to the voice which calls him, into the true fold of Jesus Christ, which is the Catholic Church.  And if he has the happiness to be born a Catholic, he should thank God for it every day of his life, and should be ready to suffer all things, even death, rather than fail, under any circumstances, in obedience to the Pope. 

Nothing is easier than to know if you belong to Jesus Christ and to His Church.  You only need to know which Church has the Pope for its Head, and then to enter into this Church. It is a test which requires nothing but simple reason, and which is open to the whole world." 

Source: The Fountain of Catholic Knowledge, Copyrighted by Office of Catholic Publications, 1900. [Pages 76-77] 

Pope Francis secure behind his walls

While Pope Francis declares anyone who owns guns and dares calls themselves "Christians" are in fact hypocrites ...

...and tells other nations not to build walls for security because they aren't Christians either, he sits safely behind his huge walls... 

People waiting outside Vatican City Wall

 ...while his personal well armed Swiss Guard protects him. 

We all pray the day never comes when any of our popes are attacked or killed, but the fact is, more likely than not an attack will come. As long as the demonic theology of Islam continues, Christians will be under threat. 

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - It is perhaps "only a matter of time" before Rome is hit by a Barcelona-style attack but security forces are ready in case the Vatican is targeted, the head the Swiss Guard has said.
Security has been stepped up at religious sites throughout Italy, including at the Vatican, since last year, when a truck driven by a suspected Islamist militant killed 86 people in the French city of Nice.
Barriers and police and army vehicles have been placed around St. Peter's Basilica to make it harder for a vehicle to gather speed in an attack such as the one last week in Barcelona, which killed 13 people.

What Christ's Holy Catholic Church once taught about Islam...

Fifth Lateran Council 1512-17 A.D. 
SESSION 12 - 16 March 1517 
 We are suitably carrying out the duty of our office when we renew again that reform of the whole church and its affairs which we have accomplished with profit; when we plan to apply suitable remedies for the unchallenged observance of the reform and to make provision for cathedrals and metropolitan churches so that they may no longer be without their pastors; and when we supervise these remedies with ever-present attention and untiring efforts, by means of which we may be able to render the Lord's flock, which has been entrusted to our care, acceptable and submissive in the sight of the divine majesty. Our aim is also to crush the Turks and other infidels standing firm in the eastern and southern regions. They treat the way of true light and salvation with complete contempt and totally unyielding blindness; they attack the life-giving cross on which our Saviour willed to accept death so that by dying he might destroy death, and by the ineffable mystery of his most holy life he might restore life; and they make themselves hateful enemies of God and most bitter persecutors of the christian religion. Strengthened by defences not only spiritual but also temporal, we may be able, under God's guidance and favour, to oppose the bitter and frequent sallies by which, in wild rage, they move savagely amidst christian blood.

...is long gone now. Those teachings went out the window with the spirit of Vatican II. 

The lets all be friends and kiss the demonic Koran book of lies approach hasn't worked either. 

For centuries Islam has wanted to kill Christians. Nothing has changed except the Catholic Church's teaching on Islam. Hold to the old authentic Faith my friends! Kissing demonic books and trying to befriend people who are plotting how to remove your head from your body is not the way to go! Reject the spirit of Vatican II nonsense and trust in the authentic proven teachings of Christ's Holy Catholic Church. 

God help us! 

In Christ, 


Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 

***Previous post on the Catholic Church and Islam: #FlashbackFriday teachings on Islam and the Catholic Church over the centuries:  
http://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2016/07/flashbackfriday-catholic-church-then.html 


Sources: 

https://twitter.com/TheVaticanNews/status/901216636694396928

http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/18/politics/pope-francis-trump-christian-wall/

http://connecticutcatholiccorner.blogspot.com/2015/07/christians-with-guns-are-distrusting.html

http://www.thestar.com.my/news/world/2017/08/26/vatican-prepared-in-case-of-barcelonastyle-attack--swiss-guard-chief/

http://www.guns.com/2017/04/16/guns-swiss-guard/

Is Pope Francis Catholic?

Honestly, I wonder sometimes if Pope Francis is truly Catholic. I know I am certainly not the first to bring this up, and tragically, more than likely won't be the last.

Maybe it's me. Maybe I have the wrong idea of what being Catholic means. 

Has the Church changed so much that what She used to teach and ask of all the Faithful is no more?

Our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the Great Commission... 

Matthew 28 [18] "And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth. [19] Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world." 

Yet we have a pope who has stated on more than one occasion and proven on more occasions than I can count at the moment, that he has ZERO interest in converting anyone to the Catholic Faith. 

Why?  

Should not our Holy Father be like the disciples in the Bible and so many of our wonderful Saints who risked all to convert people in order to save their souls? 

What's the point in being pope if you don't save souls? 

Should not soul saving be a pope's primary duty in order to do what Christ asked of us all? 

I just don't understand this pope. 

Perhaps Francis thinks that the "spirit of dialogue and friendship which allows the followers of the world’s religions to work together to open new paths for peace in our human family" is how people become Catholic these days. 

That quote is part of a letter Pope Francis sent to Venerable Koei Morikawa, the Supreme Priest of the Tendai Buddhist Denomination recently. 

Is the "spirit of dialogue" anything like the "spirit of Vatican II"? 😕

Why would we want to "open new paths for peace in our human family" without conversion? Isn't the point of our lives here on earth to get us and all those we can to eternal life with Christ in Heaven? 

Who gives a rats ass about our "new path for peace in our human family" on earth if we end up in Hell? 

I have to ask (and I'd love to one day hear Pope Francis' answer)... does Pope Francis believe the Catholic Church is necessary for salvation? 

If he does, he's sure got a funny way of showing it... 

I truly believe that Pope Francis doesn't want to bring anyone into the Catholic Church. I think he believes the watered down, protestantized version of "catholicism" that is being toted about these days. The "Jesus is all love, and he'd never allow anyone to go to hell- and if he did, it would only be for a short time" crowd. 

That's not Catholic, its Protestant.

Pope Francis' definition of prayer is off-kilter too. 

Quote: “[prayer]inspires and sustains our efforts for peace, because it helps to deepen our reciprocal respect for each other as persons, strengthens the bonds of love between us, and spurs us to make decisive efforts towards promoting just relations and fraternal solidarity.”

Pope Francis' definition of prayer replaces God with men! It's all about men getting along for peace with other men and the love between them. Where's God? Shouldn't interfaith prayer be about people coming together to God, rather than "just relations and fraternal solidarity" among themselves? Again, where is God in all this? What's the point without God?

How is that definition of prayer even Catholic? Heck, that's not even mainline Protestantism! It's New Age! 

Where is Our Lord's Great Commission that He entrusted to His Catholic Church? 

Shouldn't all our "dialogue" be about converting people...saving souls? If they don't want to hear it, we do what Our Lord said and "shake the dust" off our feet [Matthew 10:14] and move on to the next. Time is short and souls are being lost while we embrace "the spirit of dialogue and friendship" minus God! Pointless! 

Has the Catholic Church under Pope Francis become the Church of Dialogue for Just Relations with no Conversion? What about souls going to Hell? 

"When you see a condemned man on his way to the gallows, it moves you to pity. If you could do something to free him, you would do it. Well, brothers and sisters, when I see a person in mortal sin, I see someone drawing nearer with every step to the gallows of hell. And seeing him in this unhappy state, I happen to know the way to free him: that he be converted to God, ask God's pardon, and make a good confession. Woe betide me if he does not." - St. Anthony Mary Claret

Our pope speaks bluntly and aggressively about the woes of our planet. He writes encyclicals warning us about global warming and the need to save our planet, yet says NOTHING about converting people and saving souls from eternal damnation. Why?

I want to know why our pope works so hard to save the planet yet refuses to tell the world we must be about Our Lord's business of saving souls. 

This is how it's done: 

[1] And having called his twelve disciples together, he gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of diseases, and all manner of infirmities. [2] And the names of the twelve apostles are these: The first, Simon who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, [3] James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, Philip and Bartholomew, Thomas and Matthew the publican, and James the son of Alpheus, and Thaddeus, [4] Simon the Cananean, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. [5] These twelve Jesus sent: commanding them, saying: Go ye not into the way of the Gentiles, and into the city of the Samaritans enter ye not.
[6] But go ye rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. [7] And going, preach, saying: The kingdom of heaven is at hand. [8] Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils: freely have you received, freely give. [9] Do not possess gold, nor silver, nor money in your purses: [10] Nor scrip for your journey, nor two coats, nor shoes, nor a staff; for the workman is worthy of his meat.
[11] And into whatsoever city or town you shall enter, inquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till you go thence. [12] And when you come into the house, salute it, saying: Peace be to this house. [13] And if that house be worthy, your peace shall come upon it; but if it be not worthy, your peace shall return to you. [14] And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words: going forth out of that house or city shake off the dust from your feet. [15] Amen I say to you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.
[16] Behold I send you as sheep in the midst of wolves. Be ye therefore wise as serpents and simple as doves. [17] But beware of men. For they will deliver you up in councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues. [18] And you shall be brought before governors, and before kings for my sake, for a testimony to them and to the Gentiles: [19] But when they shall deliver you up, take no thought how or what to speak: for it shall be given you in that hour what to speak. [20] For it is not you that speak, but the Spirit of your Father that speaketh in you."-Matthew 10

That is what Our Lord taught us. Go out and save souls.

Saint John of the Cross quote: "I am also driven to preach without ceasing by the sight of the throngs of souls who are falling into hell - for it is of faith that all who die in mortal sin are damned. It is estimated that about eighty thousand die each day, and how many of them die in mortal sin and hence are damned? As the saying goes, "talis vita, finis ita" - your death will be as your life has been. Behold how many there are who are called, and how few who are chosen! And behold, if you have no care for yourself, your perdition is more certain than your amendment, especially since the way that leads to eternal life is so narrow."

I wish our Holy Father would remember that Great Commission wasn't about saving the planet, its about saving souls from eternal damnation.



In Christ, 

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner 



Catholic Catechism: 2559 "Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God." 2 But when we pray, do we speak from the height of our pride and will, or "out of the depths" of a humble and contrite heart? 3 He who humbles himself will be exalted; 4 humility is the foundation of prayer. Only when we humbly acknowledge that "we do not know how to pray as we ought," 5 are we ready to receive freely the gift of prayer. "Man is a beggar before God." 6


Links: 

http://www.news.va/en/news/pope-francis-sends-letter-to-interfaith-prayer-mee

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ccc_css/archive/catechism/p4s1.htm

http://www.drbo.org/chapter/47028.htm

http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html

Outside the Church there is no salvation...

This argument discussion comes up continually in my Catholic circles. I hear people quoting assorted Saints and who said what before and after Vatican II as a way of determining whether or not a reference is reliable. The more authentic orthodox crowd always wants the resources from at least a decade or two prior to VII and the more...how should I say it...today's-typical-Catholic want whatever is new and clear to their thinking. Each is basing their acceptance of material on how they were taught the faith and what sort of education they received and by whom. 

For new Catholics coming into the Church through RCIA you probably never heard this discussed at all. And if you were Protestant, you still might unwittingly carry along your Protestant ideas that "anyone who has Jesus in their heart" is saved. That concept is usually shattered the first time they hear a Catholic quote "Outside the Church there is no salvation". Then fear sets in because very often a convert is leaving behind a family member or friend in some other faith community. 

That is good fear. Good because it should prompt you to want to work hard to help bring as many people into the Church as possible in your lifetime. If you do that and live your Catholic life to the best of your ability following the Teachings of the Church, you have the true hope of hearing Jesus say to you one day "Well done, good and faithful servant." What joy! 

That holy fear of people losing their souls to damnation used to (and in some cases still does) make Catholics battle for the souls of their loved ones and even for complete strangers. The battles could be verbal with those outside the Church or the Catholic could grab their rosary beads and get on their knees, do penance or even offer a Mass. These Catholics were/are working for the salvation of others to bring them into the True Church Christ founded on earth. We as Catholics are all called to do this. 

It's not easy trying to turn someone towards the Church where salvation is found, but it is our Christian duty. Why wouldn't we? Unless of course we think salvation can be found outside the Church. No worries if that was the case! Easy, smooth sailing into eternal bliss. If Christ's words "Pick up your crosses and follow me" are flashing in your mind right now you've been paying attention to your catechism. Getting to heaven is not a stroll in the park and there is only One Church Christ founded to help get us to Heaven.

Face it, if any old faith community would do, then why did Christ bother founding and safeguarding only One Church through the centuries? Assorted denominations have popped up and gone down, been reformed and deformed over and over again with doctrines coming and going with the changing times. Why didn't Jesus safeguard those communities that all claimed to be followers of Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit? 

Because none of them were created by Christ with the full Truth. His Holy Catholic Church is holy because He made Her so. Through Her comes our salvation, through the Sacraments Jesus Christ endowed Her with. Precious gifts from Christ to those people of good will who seek Him in Truth and in His Church. 

I learned the Catholic Faith mostly from writings safeguarded and held by the Church since the beginning. Not through the new writings in "the spirit of Vatican II", but in the old writings, things written over the centuries. Beautiful writings I found in books more than a hundred years old published by the Holy Catholic Church. If you haven't been blessed to read such books I can't accurately describe the beauty in the honest, straight forward to the point writings the Church once gifted the Faithful with. Nowhere in these books are the opinions of men, but rather the pure holy teachings the Church held so dear for so long. These now haggard and musty old books are absolutely priceless to me.

These books published by the Church are fantastic teaching tools, that leave no questions after reading them. The priest's quotes are authentic Catholicism. Not the insane nonsense and putrid ramblings of Catholic clergy nowadays who declare "we have the hope that all men are saved" and "we have to hold to the existence of hell at least as a possibility" (this coming from Bishop Robert Barron- hell is not a sure thing, its merely a possibility at this point in time. God save us from Bishop Barron!) 

No, no and no again. No we don't have that hope. We can dream it if we want to delude ourselves for a moment or two, but we don't have that actual hope. Saint Paul said "with fear and trembling work out your salvation". How could anyone think we can hope all men are saved if most men don't work out their own salvation with fear and trembling? And no, hell is not a "possibility", Hell is a reality according to Jesus. 

So who is in Hell? All those who died outside the Church? Depending on who you ask in the Church the answers you get will more than likely differ. 

Those holding to "old school" Catholicism might quote from one of those old books the Catholic Church used to publish, like "The Catholic Manual of the Holy Catholic Church", Catholic Art and Publication Office, Chicago, Ill, copyright 1906. 

Quote [this is in a Q&A form]:  

Q: Are there any other direct proofs from scripture to show that out of the Church of Christ there is no Salvation?  

A: Yes, these two will be mentioned here: First, Christ, speaking of those who were not yet joined in the communion of his Church, but whom he foreknew would make a good use of the graces he would give them for that purpose, says, "Other sheep I have who are not of this fold, them I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd," John x.16. : where he plainly declares, that all of those sheep, who are not yet of his fold, must be brought to it, as a necessary condition of their salvation.   Second, In consequence of this settled disposition of the divine providence, no sooner did the apostles begin to preach the gospel, than immediately "the Lord added daily to the Church such as should be saved," Acts ii.47. which evidently show that all who are not added to the Church are out of the way of salvation. [end quote] 

That is the sort of books I read that led me to become Catholic. It's pure and perfectly clear - at least to me. 

Now reading some of what came out of Vatican II, this can get a bit hazy...

Lumen gentium 16 [1964]
Finally, those who have not yet received the Gospel are related in various ways to the people of God.(18*) In the first place we must recall the people to whom the testament and the promises were given and from whom Christ was born according to the flesh.(125) On account of their fathers this people remains most dear to God, for God does not repent of the gifts He makes nor of the calls He issues.(126); But the plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator. In the first place amongst these there are the Mohamedans, who, professing to hold the faith of Abraham, along with us adore the one and merciful God, who on the last day will judge mankind. Nor is God far distant from those who in shadows and images seek the unknown God, for it is He who gives to all men life and breath and all things,(127) and as Saviour wills that all men be saved.(128) Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience.(19*) Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel.(20*) She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life. But often men, deceived by the Evil One, have become vain in their reasonings and have exchanged the truth of God for a lie, serving the creature rather than the Creator.(129) Or some there are who, living and dying in this world without God, are exposed to final despair. Wherefore to promote the glory of God and procure the salvation of all of these, and mindful of the command of the Lord, "Preach the Gospel to every creature",(130) the Church fosters the missions with care and attention. [Source: http://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_const_19641121_lumen-gentium_en.html ]

Let's look at one more "oldie". 

From my book "The Catholic Instructor: An Educational Library of Ready Reference with an Encyclopedia Dictionary", The Office of Catholic Publications, New York, copyright 1910, page 153. 

Quote (again in Q&A form):  

Q: May not persons be saved in any religion?   

A: No, certainly; St. Paul tell us, Heb. xi 6, "That without faith it is impossible to please God." And St. Peter assures us, Acts iv. 12, "That there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we may be saved, but the name of Jesus." And Christ himself tell us, Mark xvi, 16, "He that believeth not, shall be condemned." So that it is manifest from the holy Scripture, that true faith is necessary for salvation. Now true faith, in order to please God and save souls, must be entire, that is to say, we must believe without exception, all such articles as by God and His Church are proposed to be believed; and he that voluntarily and obstinately disbelieves any one of these articles, is no less void of true saving faith, than he that disbelieves them all. As St. James tells us, with regard to practical duties, chap. ii. 10, "Whosoever shall keep the whole law, yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all." Hence St. Paul, Gal. v. 20, reckons heresies, that is, false religions, amongst those works of the flesh, of which he pronounces, "that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God." And God, himself, Isa. ix.12, tells His Church, "the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee, shall parish." [end quote]

How do you answer the question "Is there salvation outside the Catholic Church?" 

What do you tell your loved ones who are outside the Church? 

Do you evangelize? 

I'd love to hear your stories, leave a comment or drop me an email. 

God bless! May we all be found INSIDE the Catholic Church before our dear Lord calls us home.



In Christ,

Julie @ Connecticut Catholic Corner