We will all be up there in Heaven together
Despite the indifferentism of our days, it often happens that the same question, which someone — perhaps afflicted with the perspective of eternal condemnation — had posed long ago to the Redeemer keeps coming back: ‘Lord, will only a few people be saved?’ (Lk 13:23). And although hardly anyone might want to recognize the fact, we know that the question of eternal happiness is related to fulfilling the commandments, persevering in the state of grace, and firm adhesion to the one true Church.
Today, some tend to put the question in simplified terms: contaminated by false ideas, they erroneously try to show the way to Heaven as though it were as spacious as that leading to eternal condemnation (cf. Mt 7:13). But truth will always wield on the upright of heart the same power of attraction and strength of conversion that it always has…These are the ones who discern that while the Lord’s ‘yoke is easy and His burden light’ (cf. Mt 11:30), yet ‘the kingdom of Heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force’ (cf. Mt 11:12).
Francis
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Teachings of the Magisterium
Table of contents
Sacred Scripture
Council of Trent– Christ died for all, yet not all receive the benefit of His death
Synod of Constantinople (543 AD)– He who denies eternal chastisement, is anathema
Quicumque or ‘Athanasian Creed’– Catholic faith is necessary in order to be saved
Innocent III– We believe in one Church; not of the heretics, but the Catholic Church
Clement VI– No one may be saved outside of obedience to the Popes
Council of Florence– Those who are not united to the Church will go to everlasting fire
Saint Augustine– To reach heaven it is necessary to live in a saintly manner
– Obeying the commandments is the condition for salvation
Saint Thomas Aquinas– Those who work evil do not deserve the future life
– It is not unjust for God to inflict eternal punishment to an obstinate sinner – Graver punishment is due for offense to a greater person – God is infinite, offense to Him merits infinite punishment
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of Sacraments– Salvation is not brought in a mechanistic way without one’s participation
Gregory XVI– Those who seek eternal life in any other religion are not with Christ
Pius IX– Catholic faith is necessary in order to reach eternal life
– A very grave error of some Catholics: to believe that men living in error can attain eternal life – No one will be chastised if not guilty of deliberate faults – The condemnation of obstinate sinners is an act of justice – An impious idea to be removed from the minds of all: eternal salvation can be found in any religion
Pius XII– Those who do not belong to the visible Body of the Catholic Church cannot be sure of salvation
Vatican Council II– Those that refuse to enter the Church cannot be saved
– Constant vigilance is necessary so as not to be ordered to go into eternal fire
John Paul II– Man is condemned to eternal damnation for the misuse of his liberty
– The words of Christ are clear: there are those who will go to eternal punishment
Benedict XVI– ‘God will be good to all’: a beautiful hope, but murderers cannot suddenly sit down at God’s table together with their victims
Catechism of the Catholic Church– To die in mortal sin is to separate oneself from God forever by free choice
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