Q U I C K S C A N

What does the Catholic Church teach?
Is salvation open to all?
Why is the Catholic Church important?

Readers reflect on Friar Jack’s musings

by Friar Jim Van Vurst, O.F.M.

Last month, I considered our Catholic theology of salvation and what it means: We have been saved (through Jesus’ redemptive death); we are being saved (through our journey living the gospel life as Jesus commanded us); and we will be saved (at the moment at death when we see God face to face).

But that still leaves an important question you may have heard more than a few times: “Well, just who is saved?” Only Catholics or Baptists? Only Christians? What about Muslims, Hindus and others? Does that mean anyone who is not baptized is not saved? The distinctions—and exclusions—go on and on. Some draw the conclusion that hell will be packed with the condemned while heaven will hold just a scattered few who were in the right church or said the right words. In fact, it is unfortunate when you hear a person say, “only a few are saved, and I’m one of them!”

What does the Catholic Church teach?

We’ve all heard the statement “no one can be saved outside the Catholic Church.” Well, you have to understand that in a very important way. If someone knew and understood that the Catholic Church was indeed established by Jesus and that it was the one true Church and, in spite of that knowledge, still rejected the grace to be baptized and to enter the Church, that person is rejecting Jesus’ command and grace (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #846). Remember, it is the person who is rejecting Jesus, not Jesus rejecting that person. Jesus died for that person too.

But the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) hastens to say that “[t]his affirmation is not aimed at those who through no fault of their own do not know Christ or his Church.” It says that those "who do not know but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart and moved by grace try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience—those too may achieve eternal salvation” (CCC, #847). That statement draws a much bigger circle of those saved than some people think there should be. Thank God it is his judgment, not ours.

This statement is very broad for two important reasons: 1) God wants everyone saved (Jn 3:17). 2) Jesus died for every person without exception. He died for sinners (1 Tim 2:4 ). So no person—and not even the Church on earth—can begin to separate those saved from those not saved without placing restrictions on God’s universal will for the salvation of all his children. That is why God alone is the judge as to eternal salvation. That is why the Church will canonize saints but will never declare any specific person to be in hell. Many people can make a list of individuals they think should be eternally damned, but no person on earth can make that judgment. We just don’t know. Only God knows.

It is important to realize that the Church is the Body of Christ and that body and all who seek God, even without the advantage of knowing the true Church, are related to that body in a special way.  God does not demand the impossible. People can only do what they are able to in the circumstances of their lives.  As important and wonderful as it is to be graced with faith in the Church established by Jesus, human circumstances often simply make this impossible for every living human. We must admit that most of us are Catholic because we were blessed with parents who passed to us their faith from the time we were infants.

Is salvation open to all?

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Jewish people are held in special regard by God and that their call to salvation is irrevocable (#840). Further, we read, “The plan of salvation also includes those who acknowledge the Creator in the first place, amongst whom the Muslims [because] together with us they adore the merciful God, mankind’s judge on the last day” (#841).

With non-Christian religions, "His providence, evident goodness, and saving design extend to all against the day when the elect are gathered into the holy city” (#842).  And finally we read that the Catholic Church "recognizes in other religions that search, among the shadows and images for the God who is unknown...thus the Church considers all goodness and truth found in these religions as a preparation for the gospel given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life” (#843).

Why is the Catholic Church important?

Now having said all this, these words are not meant in any way to lessen the importance of the Catholic Church. It is the one, holy and apostolic Church Jesus founded with Peter as the chief shepherd (Mt 16). Other churches have some of these qualities and therefore have a positive relationship to the Church Jesus founded. However, it is this Church alone which has nearly 2000 years of history and tradition. 

The Catholic Church currently has 1.2 billion members, and more than 150,000 adults in the U.S. alone were welcomed into the Church on Easter Vigil Night. The Catholic Church has missionaries in every part of the world. (It always has and always will.) Our Catholic faith and our Church given to us by Jesus has done so much for us that we should thank him by all that we say and do.  But we, graced with faith, must never forget that all people are children of God, for whom Jesus died. All can be saved by Jesus, even those who did not know him.

Friar Jack’s Inbox

Readers respond to Friar Jack’s musings on “St. Anthony of Portugal.”

Dear Friar Jack: Greetings from N.E. Wales, U.K. Your feature on Fernando, later St. Anthony, put the record straight on the real man. Yet, I'd be interested to know if you often muse, as I do, on how this Portuguese Franciscan became so loved over here in the U.K., especially in the poor, urban areas. I have a special reason for asking as my dear late Dad, who died in 1965 at the early age of 48, was born and brought up in what might be called a "slum" area of Birmingham, England, and had a great devotion to this saint. I can't remember a time in my childhood when Anthony wasn't mentioned as the intercessor, not just for lost items but for all matters, especially in times of material need. We were far from affluent as Dad had T.B. and needed many spells in the hospital, but he would take me when possible to his childhood church to light a candle to St. Anthony. I grew familiar with this lovely, smiling brown-clad man holding a book and Baby Jesus.

My Dad was one of many. Anthony had a tremendous following in other big cities. Dad died peacefully on the feast of St. Anthony with his rosary beads locked in his hands. I lapsed from the Church in my late 20's, but when I was thinking of returning (inspired by Dad), I went into our local church and nearly bumped into a statue of St. Anthony! I know you can't respond to all this, but with June 13 coming up, I felt I wanted to share this with you. With all good wishes and prayers, Sheila

Dear Sheila: Thanks for this great personal story. By the way, more personal stories about Anthony can be found on our Web site. My prayer for you, Sheila, is that St. Anthony may always help you find peace. As he said in one of his sermons, "Nothing apart from God can satisfy the human heart, which is truly in search of God." May we all find peace in the God of love! Friar Jack

Dear Friar Jack: Thank you for the wonderful column on St. Anthony of Padua! This wonderful saint was surely a blessing to our Catholic faith. He is one of my favorite saints to pray to. I lose a lot of things, and a prayer to him always brings the lost items back to me. We learned to say: "Tony, Tony turn around. [Name of item] is lost and must be found!" My grandchildren are learning about St. Anthony's finding lost items, too. They love when the item just shows up out of nowhere. We always remember to thank St. Anthony for finding the item. Thank you for writing about St. Anthony, Friar Jack! God bless you, Janet

Dear Janet: Thanks for your enthusiastic words about St. Anthony's amazing knack for finding so many of our lost items when we seek his help. St. Anthony, of course, is more than a finder of lost articles. To learn more about this saint, check our our special book offer above on Anthony of Padua (see top right). All the best, Friar Jack

Send your feedback to friarjack@americancatholic.org.

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