tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571775593743039867.post1623332266096576661..comments2023-07-02T06:44:59.891-07:00Comments on Coffee Talk with Leslie: Salvation and Damnation: What Do Catholics Believe?Leslie Anne Mirandahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05402907416806204979noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571775593743039867.post-64447421938584769212011-01-21T22:13:25.444-08:002011-01-21T22:13:25.444-08:00I will add that topic to my list, Shane -- thanks ...I will add that topic to my list, Shane -- thanks for your input!Leslie Anne Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05402907416806204979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571775593743039867.post-54537357698184247932011-01-21T12:33:13.009-08:002011-01-21T12:33:13.009-08:00I think it would be a great idea for a future post...I think it would be a great idea for a future post on Salvation and the Catholic Standpoint of "Merit" and "Grace".Shanenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571775593743039867.post-51380583207005685932011-01-20T23:34:08.588-08:002011-01-20T23:34:08.588-08:00Thanks for sharing your experience and for bringin...Thanks for sharing your experience and for bringing up a good point, Shane. I think that what Balthasar and John Paul II were emphasizing here was the love by which God became man and gave his life for the salvation of all men -- and that through the grace outpoured by that salvific act, we can truly hope that all men might be saved.<br /><br />But this is very different from the modern view that so many hold which denies sin altogether, and holds that all people are assured eternal life simply because there is no real possibility of hell. On the contrary, John Paul II affirmed the reality of hell on many occasions, and Balthasar is well known for his reflections (inspired by the experiences of Adrienne von Speyr) of the Mystery of Holy Saturday -- namely, Jesus' descent into the depths of hell.<br /><br />Catholics don't hold the 'once saved, always saved' view of many Protestants - we believe that we must "work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12). But we should not do so with heavy hearts and complaining mouths; rather, we are called to "sanctify Christ as Lord in [our] hearts[,] always... ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks...a reason for [our] hope" (1 Peter 3:15).<br /><br />And while we're on the topic, let me throw one more thought out there -- for anyone who has ever wondered why Catholics seem to believe that we are saved only by works while Protestants seem to believe that we are saved only by faith, I'd like to clarify that neither case is true. We are saved by GRACE, the unmerited and free gift of God given to us in a manner far surpassing all of our deepest longings and greatest expectations.Leslie Anne Mirandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05402907416806204979noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4571775593743039867.post-50095232188180412942011-01-20T22:28:54.637-08:002011-01-20T22:28:54.637-08:00So...just from personal experience the reality of ...So...just from personal experience the reality of Hell is really what caused my conversion. Not only the idea of eternal punishment, but the idea of being completely seperated from God. <br /><br />I do believe in Hope. Hope for all. But...when jesus talks about the man who was in hell that couldn't even go to his family to tell them he was in Hell, or when he talks about striving to enter the "narrow gate" it makes me think about the reality of hell and the possibility of losing your salvation. <br />And I know you aren't completely dismissing hell But I do feel a lot of people lolly about thinking their salvation is secure. <br />So we need somehow to find a middle ground between hope in salvation and fear of damnation.Shanenoreply@blogger.com