Fr.John Zuhlsdorf does not respond once again

Here is another comment on What Does the Prayer Really Say and Fr.John Zuhlsdorf does not respond.

Supertradmum says:

24 April 2013 at 12:51 am

This is his best sermon yet, and I have read many including the Angelus ones.

Norah, I think you are misunderstanding the teaching of the Church. All grace for those who are not in the Catholic Church comes from the merit of the Catholic Church.

Lionel: True and this does not contradict the literal interpretation of the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus.Since these particular cases are invisible for us. If they were visible they would be relevant to the dogma. They would be exceptions.

 If we Catholics are not meriting grace, being excellent Catholics, that affects our Christian brothers and sisters in Christ.

As to finding Jesus, it is not through our own efforts that we find Christ. He finds us, through the Church. Now, those who seek Him, will find Him and those who seek Him sincerely, facing conversion from false teachings regarding the sacraments or contraception, will find Christ in the Catholic Church.

Lionel: It is not enough to find Jesus. One can find Jesus and die in mortal sin.One needs the Sacraments of the Church and the moral and faith teachings of the Catholic Church.

Sadly, even our Evangelical friends believe in many things which are contrary to the Faith, and because of this, they struggle and even finally give up the path of perfection, without which no one sees God at death.

Lionel: Without the Catholic Church our Evangelical friends will not be saved.(Ad Gentes 7).The path of perfection required formal entry into the Church, with 'faith and baptism'(AG 7).

How important it is for us Catholics not only to preach, as our Holy Father just did, but to lead others into the Church, the one, true, holy and apostolic Church.

Lionel:Outside of which there is no salvation.(AG 7)

As to the CCC, there is no contradiction, as again, the grace of conversion is from the Church as well.

Lionel: There is no contradiction between the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the literal interpretation of the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus as it was understood by the Church Councils, popes, saints and in our time Vatican Council II.

Here are some references for you.

2010 Since the initiative belongs to God in the order of grace, no one can merit the initial grace of forgiveness and justification, at the beginning of conversion. Moved by the Holy Spirit and by charity, we can then merit for ourselves and for others the graces needed for our sanctification, for the increase of grace and charity, and for the attainment of eternal life. Even temporal goods like health and friendship can be merited in accordance with God’s wisdom. These graces and goods are the object of Christian prayer. Prayer attends to the grace we need for meritorious actions.

Lionel: The Holy Spirit invites all, salvation is open to all.However one must respond.Those who do not respond , who do not enter the Church are on the path to Hell , with Original Sin and mortal sins.One cannot separate Jesus from the Church.

2011 The charity of Christ is the source in us of all our merits before God. Grace, by uniting us to Christ in active love, ensures the supernatural quality of our acts and consequently their merit before God and before men. The saints have always had a lively awareness that their merits were pure grace.

After earth’s exile, I hope to go and enjoy you in the fatherland, but I do not want to lay up merits for heaven. I want to work for your love alone. . . . In the evening of this life, I shall appear before you with empty hands, for I do not ask you, Lord, to count my works. All our justice is blemished in your eyes. I wish, then, to be clothed in your own justice and to receive from your love the eternal possession of yourself.63

IV. CHRISTIAN HOLINESS

2012 “We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him . . . For those whom he fore knew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom he predestined he also called; and those whom he called he also justified; and those whom he justified he also glorified.”64

Lionel: It is not enough just to love Jesus. We must follow him in the Catholic Church for salvation. One can never be assured of salvation outside the Catholic Church.

2013 “All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.”65 All are called to holiness: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

Lionel: This perfection is called for in the Catholic Church. They have an obligation to enter the only Church Jesus founded and to seek holiness and perfection.

In order to reach this perfection the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ’s gift, so that . . . doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the People of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.67

Lionel: It is the will of the Father that all be united in the Catholic Church (CCC 845), the Church is the only Ark of Noah that saves in the flood (CCC 845).

And, there is more in those sections. Pax.

-Lionel Andrades

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