Just a reminder to rigorists

Just a reminder to rigorists November 2, 2016

This did not come in with Vatican II:

“From this it follows that we must reckon among them also all children who die in baptismal grace, as well as those adults who, after a life stained with sin, are converted on their death-beds. The same is true of the numerous predestined who, though outside the pale of the true Church of Christ, yet depart from this life in the state of grace as catechumens, Protestants in good faith, schismatics, Jews, Mahommedans, and pagans. Those fortunate Catholics who at the close of a long life are still clothed in their baptismal innocence, or who after many relapses into mortal sin persevere till the end, are not indeed predestined more firmly, but are more signally favoured than the last-named categories of persons.”

Pohle, J. (1911). Predestination. In The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. Retrieved November 2, 2016 from New Advent.

The Orthodox have a pithy saying: We know where the Church is. We do not know where it is not.

Something us to pray about in hope on this All Souls Day.


Browse Our Archives