Amen! I agree here. What I am saying is that Christ calls us even prior to Baptism. Some Marriages are arranged. Others, you meet first and get to know one another prior to entering into the Covenant.
The parable of the workers in the vineyard, found in Matthew 20, comes to mind. Where some were hired later in the day, but all got paid the same. Whether we were Baptized as a baby (thanks be to God) or later Baptized, Christ died for all the same. We still have to show up to work in His vineyard. We still have to persevere to receive our reward. And if we harbor anger towards others who worked less than we did, then this bitterness is something we must purge prior to entering Heaven.
If you are confused by the concept of Covenant, I recommend anyone read a great book by Dr. Scott Hahn titled, âA Father Who Keeps His Promisesâ. He walks the reader through the narrative books of Sacred Scripture, illustrating Godâs covenant throughout Salvation History.
Baptism replaced circumcision. Whereas circumcision was how Jewish males entered into the old Covenant (Genesis 17:10â14), Baptism is how one enters into the new Covenant with God, through Christ Jesus, our Lord, our Savior.
Fun fact: As circumcision was administered when young males were eight days old (verse 12), Catholic, Orthodox, and Lutheran Christians Baptize babies into the New Covenant, just as the Apostles Baptized entire households (Acts 16:15; 33; 1 Corinthians 1:16), which more than likely included infant children. After all, Jesus said, âLet the children come to Me, and do not prevent them; for the kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.â : )
Various Early Church Fathers also talk about infant Baptism, but I do not have time to look these up at the moment.
Catholics do also Baptize Adults. Some Catholic Churches even do full immersion, in case anyone was wondering. Leading up to Easter is when you will commonly see Adults, sometimes entire families being Baptized. It is a beautiful witness.
I invite anyone to attend an Easter Vigil Mass. The Gospels comes alive. It is long, but so worth it.
@Cath I do wish you the best. I think this quote might be helpful to you: âit is the man whom God accredits, not the man who takes credit to himself, that proves himself to be true metalâ (2 Corinthians 10:18) I can tell you, when a person is able to show sound reasoning, God has already commended that person, hence the sound reasoning has âfallenâ into his mind from God. When a person is only able to assert his own âgoodnessâ but cannot defend it with rational argument, then that person is commending himself.
I have listened to Catholics who say that the repentant thief was in Paradise that day, but that that was not necessarily (same as saying) Heaven. You could sayâcouldnât you?âthat Purgatory is Paradise (just thinking here⌠not certain you can really say that) because Jesus is with you there in Purgatory. And guess what is NOT there with you (the world, the flesh and the devil). . Voilaâ⌠Paradise.
Actually, who knows, maybe the devil or his demons are there to taunt you⌠(?) but anyhowâŚ
In The Other Side of Christ, which I am rereading for Lent, the author, Father Robert D. Smith, said that heaven is a greater mystery than hell. Eternal punishment for deadly sin that people wonât repent of can seem hard to swallow, but eternal paradise for repentance and giving ourselves to God can seem even more incredible. Which brings me to purgatory: in heaven we have to behave perfectly with no attachment to sin, and how many of us are at that point when we die? I am better than I used to be, but I am not perfect. When I die, will I be transformed into a perfect person as I cross the threshold? I donât know, but I suspect that I will need to willingly leave some things behindâbe purged of them.
Welcome to the forum. Perhaps this is not the forum that will bring you joy. You sound like a joyless person and I feel sorry for you. Unbelieving is one thing, but what you have found has not brought you joy from what I can tell, based on the few comments you have made since coming here.
Iâd love to hear your story if you would like to private message me. I am always fascinated by what others believe (or donât believe) and why they believe it.
Purgatory exists in fulfilled undefiled intelligence logic for all whom have not harmed their fellow man or maid servant but have not become to know the Christ becoming again in all, I believe.
Choice becomes to love or not to love becoming to love and to love with only the most love becoming again in all One Holy Spirit Family One God in beiong, to me, I believe.
Logically, We will be leaving behind any chance of failure by not loving and not loving will be a choice no longer in all generalizations.
On October 17th, 1943, in a transcript dictated to Maria Valtorta by Jesus, He explained what Purgatory is and what it consists of, which you can read in The Notebooks: 1943 (pp. 392-395).
On October 21st, 1943, in a transcript dictated to Maria Valtorta by Jesus, He gave the reasons for the following system of expiation in Purgatory: suffering only because of love and expiating with love, which you can read in The Notebooks: 1943 (pp. 405-415)