Dear Friends,
Here are some comments on salvation and repentance.
SALVATION
1. The freeing of the soul from the bonds of sin and
its consequences and the attainment of the everlasting
vision of God in heaven, not merely by way of reward
but as the achievement of man's proper end.
Salvation, though ultimately depending solely upon the
love and mercy of God, is open to all by co-operation
with divine grace according to the individual's
knowledge and powers.
2. Outside the Church. "Outside the Church, no
salvation." This dogma refers to those who are outside
the Church by their own fault. There is a command to
enter the Church, which is the prescribed way to
Heaven. He who refuses to join the Church which
Christ founded, recognizing that Christ commanded
adhesion to His Church, is in the way of perdition.
But those who are in invincible ignorance will not be
condemned merely on account of their ignorance. "It
is to be held as of faith that none can be saved
outside the Apostolic Roman Church ... but
nevertheless it is equally certain that those who are
ignorant of the true religion, if that ignorance is
invincible, will not be held guilty in the matter in
the eyes of the Lord" (Pius IX, allocution of December
9, 1854). Those non-Catholics who are saved are in
life outside the visible body of the Church, but are
joined invisibly to the Church by charity and by that
implicit desire of joining the Church which is
inseparable from the explicit desire to do God's will.
REPENTANCE
As a result of sin, people are alienated from God, at
odds with one another, and inwardly divided.
Revelation therefore comes as an offer of salvation
and a promise of reconciliation, while the call to
faith--the commitment by which one accepts God's
offer--also is a call to change one's life radically.
It follows that the Church is a community of
repentance and reconciliation.
Seen in this perspective, Christian asceticism aims
at human fulfillment. Moreover, since the call to
authentic repentance is essential to the gospel, one's
responsibilities in this sphere should be gladly
accepted. Still, sins and their effects last; they are
not easy to overcome. Thus, the responsibilities to
repent and be reconciled are continuous, while one's
growth toward holiness is gradual and should be
lifelong.
Source : Welcome to the Catholic Church
Joji, MP, India.
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