Deaf and Blind

It is a mystery why so many souls are lost. Still, with our feeble intellect, we try to fathom why God does not weaken His adversaries to tip the balance more in His favor. Or we may even go so far to question why an infinitely Merciful God could send anyone to Hell. Can anyone really be that bad to deserve being tormented by grotesque creatures and burned for eternity? Such thoughts, which are commonplace in our time, demonstrate the great degree of our pride. We feel that we could be wiser or we would have more mercy than God.

Even though we do not understand all that the Catholic Church teaches, we must believe it all and that it all fits within God’s Divine Providence. Then we may claim that we are Catholic, because the Catholic Church teaches God’s Will, and we submit to Her. Nothing happens without God allowing it and we know the Will of God through the Catholic Church.

We know that because condemnation occurs, it is completely fair and just by Divine Justice. It is the perfect punishment for the damage done, as God does not error, nor does he falsely judge. Therefore when we think we are doing nothing bad, we should contemplate that since so many souls are damned, many must be offending God greatly to deserve such punishment. Since these damned souls feel that same way that we do, and since they are wrong in their perception of their salvation, what confidence should we have that we are right in ours? His Divine Plan is perfect. The mere fact that we do not understand why things must be the way that they are, does not make God’s Plan false or imperfect.

That most people do not realize that they are going to Hell does not change the fact that they are. Neither does it prevent the surprise and horror they experience when they finally grasp this truth at the moment of their death. Instead of their delusion of a glorious Heaven, they now face the reality of an excruciating Hell. This will be the price exacted from those who deceive themselves. There is no one in Hell who does not deserve to be there. These condemned souls will not be able to claim unfairness or injustice when the eternal punishment is meted out. They will then fully realize the extent and the wickedness of even their “trivial” offenses. But what of their good deeds? There are no good deeds merited by the enemies of God. They could blame their parents for their state; for not raising them better Catholics. Or blame their relatives and their priests. Or blame this Masonic society and this Modernist Church. But mostly they should blame themselves for being willfully proud and selfish, and loving the pleasures of this world more than God.

It seems to be that most times little can be said to cause a conversion of heart and soul. This tends to reinforce the truism that with belief no explanation is necessary and with unbelief no explanation is possible. Care must be taken not to imagine that due to eloquence and reason all should be converted. Nor should souls be handed over to our Blessed Mother only after our feeble attempt to convert them. We must work at all times in concert with our Blessed Mother who cares more about Her children than we do. And always we must strive to perfect the Catholic Faith within ourselves and pray to the Blessed Mother to assist us. We must bury our pride and trust the Mercy and Grace of Almighty God that our prayers and sacrifices will be heard. God can convert a sinner in extraordinary ways as he did with St. Paul, but mostly he works through us and by our devotion and invocation. Sometimes, as in St. Monica’s case, many years and many tears must be shed prior to realizing the fruit of our effort. It may indeed be that we are required to work harder and suffer longer for those we care about.

Will we be held responsible for lost souls? To what lengths would we not go to rescue a stranger from an earthly danger which pales when compared to the everlasting destruction facing so many? One reason why no one hears the message, is that the messengers are not shouting. If we felt the danger was real we would be more urgent, more insistent. But when think that everyone is OK and no one is wrong, no one is evil, and no one is a heretic, and everyone is trying to do their best, and they all have good intentions, and when our own Faith is too weak, we will just let them be. We wouldn’t want to offend anyone. And after all, God is too nice to send people to Hell. That “hellfire message” was just an old scare tactic used by the Catholic Church to get uneducated peasant people to behave.

We are smarter now and God cannot be the way the Catholic Church made Him out to be. The Modern God is a friendlier God. He lets us do our thing here on earth and when we die He whisks us off to Heaven. As long as we don’t kill any babies (after they are born of course) or eat anyone, we won’t go to Hell.

Now the great flaw in this modern rationale is that the Catholic Church has a contrary revelation concerning the expectations of God for man. Since the Catholic Church is infallible in Her teaching, then any contrary teaching is false. Satan wants everyone to believe that our lives are OK and God doesn’t punish basically good people. The truth is that nearly everyone is not OK and nearly all of these “good people” will be condemned. If you believe Satan (the father of all lies) then life is good and you don’t need to do anything but party on. If you believe the truth (the Word of God) then your life is bad and you had better amend your ways, dramatically.

The fact that so many find the Catholic Faith repugnant, difficult, or impossible, surely is a testament to the power that Satan has over them. The blindness and deafness that people impose on themselves to avoid the Grace of Almighty God cannot but be viewed with amazement from a scientific and psychological standpoint, and with deep sorrow from a spiritual one. How much do we detest doing more holy stuff during our spare time. Our weekdays or our Saturdays are planned for rest and relaxation and pleasing activities when we are not working. In reality we should contemplate the certainty of our death and the very likelihood that most of us will suffer in Hell forever. This warning in addressed to “you” who are reading this article. Do not think that you are saved, for no living person is saved. As long as you breath there is a chance that you may loose your soul. That thought alone should be sufficient enough to warrant an increase of spiritual activity throughout your week. You offend God daily and you may be in a perpetual state of mortal sin. If you do not believe that this could be so, then it is almost certain that you do not know what God expects from you and you do not know what you must do to avoid eternal fire.

What part of adoring God with your whole body, your whole spirit and you whole soul is too confusing to be understood? Absolutely nothing can come before God. Ignoring or putting off God’s expectations will not make them go away, and increases the likelihood of our failure. We are not meant for this world nor are we meant to seek pleasure until the next. Our culture has succeeded in propping up an earthly paradise and many of us are slaves to it.

Fear your Just God, for you deserve nothing and could never repay the price for the sins you have committed. It is only by your humility, your meritorious works, your penance, the prayers and intercessions of others for you, and the Infinite Mercy and Grace of God that you will have any chance of Salvation. Question everything that you do, especially that which the world presents as good and valuable. Separate yourself from the world and all of the “fun” that the world offers. Seek counsel and guidance from the Catholic Church (that would be the teachings of the Catholic Church prior to 1959). Remember that when the Catholic Church speaks, it is the same as God speaking. Pray sincerely, often, and on your knees, for a conversion of your heart and for the intercession of the Blessed Mother that your eyes will be opened. Pray for the Holy Souls and ask for their intercession. Sacrifice and offer reparation for the offenses that have been given to God. Learn how to please God and strive daily to be a constant Catholic saint.

God is pleading with you. The Blessed Mother is pleading with you. Your Guardian Angel is pleading with you. Everyone who knows you in Purgatory and Heaven is pleading with you. No one wants to see you lose your soul. If you do it will be your own fault.

Jesus therefore said to them: If God were your Father, you would indeed love me. For from God I proceeded, and came; for I came not of myself, but he that sent me: Why do you not know my speech? Because you cannot hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and he stood not in the truth; because truth is not in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof. But if I say the truth, you believe me not.

If you love me, keep my commandments.

If any one love me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him, and will make our abode with him. He that loveth me not, keepeth not my words. And the word which you have heard, is not mine; but the Father's who sent me.

He that believeth and is baptized, shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be condemned.