- What did you discover in the Catechism that is most helpful to you?
- Can you say confidently that you would go to heaven if you died right now (even if your salvation includes purgatory before heaven — which we’ll discuss in Week Two), and if so, why?
- What does your love for God now indicate about your future salvation?
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June 25th, 2007 at 5:26 pm
I have never posted anywhere before so hope this works. I have just finished Lesson 1 and would like to post my reflections on the questions.
1. What did I discover that was most helpful? I was reminded that “God’s Plan is one of benevolent Love”. I have a slightly new perspective about God from the O.T. — by giving up His Son, He reveals Himself to be rich in mercy. I usually think of mercy related to Jesus - even though I really do know that there is one God - so He would have to be merciful also. The other parts that struck me were Paragr. 1058 which says that the Church prays that no one should be lost and that God “desires all men to be saved”. I have many family members who have left the Faith and I tend to worry, especially about my children. Also, the insights in the section on mortal sin were helpful, too - specially, regarding the gravity of sin and “consent sufficiently deliberate to be personal choice” and the promptings of feelings can diminish the voluntary & free character…as can external pressures or pathological disorders.” It reminds me not to judge others as I can only see what’s on the surface and also reminds to entrust my children and family members to God’s love and mercy.
2. Can I say confidently that I would go to Heaven if I died right now? Relying on God’s mercy, and that I believe I am in a state of grace, I would say yes - with definitely time in Purgatory. But it makes me feel presumptuous and “un-humble” to say a definite yes. Also, lately my sins of omission weigh heavily on me and I can hear my Mother’s voice saying, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions”.
3. What does my love for God now indicate about my salvation? I am reminded of the very first part that said, “In this is Love - not that we loved God, but that HE loved us.” He also said, “If you love me, keep my Commandments” and I am trying hard to do more than the basics - keeping the Spirit of the Law and not just the Letter of the Law.
June 26th, 2007 at 2:40 pm
Pat, remember this: If you’ve been to the Sacrament of Confession for your sins of omission, then they are not interfering with getting to heaven. You have been reconciled with God. Forgive yourself. God has forgiven you, and if you hold your confessed sins against yourself, it’s like telling God that he should not have forgiven you, that you know better than he does about it and that he should not be merciful to the you, even though it is his very nature to be merciful to you.
Also, rest assured that it is not un-humble (i.e., prideful) to believe and profess that you are going to heaven someday. It is because of Jesus that you are going to heaven, and therefore you are boasting about Jesus, not yourself.
November 30th, 2007 at 5:03 am
1) What did I discover in the Catechism that helped me the most?
-I really enjoyed the introduction to the Catechism. It taught me the history and helped in answering questions about how to use the Catechism in my daily walk with Christ. I was raised baptist until I took R.C.I.A. classes when I was 25 yrs. old. I even attended a baptist university in North Carolina and was very active in campus organizations that were geared toward inspiring my Christian growth.
-Also I feel more equipped in terms of my ability to learn the deeper history and meaning of the Catholic church with new knowledge of how to use the Catechism.
-The thought of losing my salvation is a new school of thought in that I was never confronted with the idea of such growing up in the baptist faith. Paragraph 837 shed light on these ideas and have intrigued me to study deeper.
2) Can I say confidently that I would go to heaven if I died right now?
-Well before I would say without a doubt…YES! However, after studying the catechism a little bit in this lesson, I am not sure. You see in the 15 years of being a Catholic I have never received the sacrament of reconciliation. I never have felt the need to confess my sins to a priest. I guess my baptist upbringing taught me that I confess my sins to God and seek His forgiveness through confession and prayer to Him alone. Now that I am more open to the teachings of the Catholic faith, I feel more of a “need” to delve deeper into this sacrament due to concerns regarding my mortal sins which seem to bring separation between God and I.
3) What does my love for God now indicate about my future salvation?
-My growing love for the Lord makes me want to seek a deeper, intimate relationship with Him through the teachings of the Catechism. I really feel like I am embarking on a new journey of discovery through the election to take this course. (Which I am so grateful to have the opportunity to participate in) I have always felt like there was “something more” to learn and know about my relationship with the Lord. I always felt like there was something missing. As if I hadn’t turned over enough stones toward discovery of God’s true will for me in my life. I now see that the “void” I have felt is being fulfilled through a better understanding of the Catechism and it’s lessons of the church.
April 3rd, 2008 at 9:39 pm
1)What did I discover in the Catechism that is most helpful to me?
That God wants all of us to be saved. I am realizing that God the Father has an active interest in me, not just as an observer of the workings of Jesus and me. God wants really does want to show his love for all of us, and by sending his Son, Jesus, He sent someone who has experienced every human emotion possible and can identify with whatever we are going through. That alone makes it easier to ask for understanding of whatever trials I am undergoing.
2)Can I confidently say I am going to Heaven if I die right now?
Not with confidence, because I know my salvation is not assured forever, if I do not follow the way Jesus taught. Purgatory is probably a stopping point along the way for me, on the way to Heaven.
I try to live with as little sinning as possible and am going to Confession more than I did as a child. It has been only 15 years that I am actively involved in my faith. I grew up in a family that went to church every Sunday and holy day and we went to Confession every few months. That was the norm in my society before Vatican II. I regret the lost years of opportunity to teach my children about Catholicism while they were still at home. All I can do now is pray for their return to the faith, and hope their turning their backs on Jesus is not going to be a hindrance to my getting into Heaven.
3)What does my love for God indicate about my future salvation?
That God is more merciful than I can imagine and I must intensify my love for Him. I still need the grace of God for my salvation, but this class is helping me realize He will “work” with me towards this end, and is eager to do so! (Thank you, especially to the Holy Spirit and Jesus!)
April 8th, 2008 at 11:52 am
TRAYMAR SAYS: SALVATON TO ME MEANS EVERYTHING,JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE BY BEING CRUSIFIED ON A CROSS FOR AND THE WHOLE WORLD.THEREFORE I BELONG TO JESUS ALL THAT I AM ALL THAT I WILL BE IS HIS . I DO NOT BELONG TO MYSELF BUT TO HIM WHO DIED FOR ME.
April 8th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
what happens at the moment of our death:we are united with christ acording to scripture, to live is christ to die is gain, by dying we are really entering life to meet christ face to face .
April 10th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
do catholics in being ” born again”:when you truly understand the truth about baptism, then you really grasp thee meaning of being born again.so, do catholics believe in being again not all believe.
April 21st, 2008 at 8:14 pm
I am reminded of God’s love and mercy. That it is so important to focus on our treasures above(heaven)instead of placing our importance on the things of this world. At times this is so very hard to do. We live in an age where we are always rushing, keeping schedules, committments of one sort or another. The busy-ness of the world can consume us to the point of putting our thoughts and actions of the eternal life, with our Lord in His glory, on the bottom of our lists. The readings in the catechism helped me to be more focused on our eternal life. As a critical care nurse I am very often caring for the dying, I am faced with my mortality almost daily. It is so important to me that I live a life worthy of being accepted into Heaven. If I were to die this moment I only pray that through His mercy I would not be condemned to hell, I do not know of any mortal sins on my soul but I also do not feel I devote enough of my time to prayer,giving more of myself to others and to silence as I desire to do for Him. My love for God is but a drop in the ocean compared to the love He has for me, and for us all. I pray for the eternal salvation of my children(who do not practice the faith), family, friends, all those in the world and for my eternal salvation. I pray that through the prayers and intercession of our Blessed Mother and all the saints that we may all receive the gift of eternal salvation.
May 16th, 2008 at 2:33 am
1. I find the Catholic Catechism a goldmine. There is so much to learn about it. I believe that it has a high level for Christians to follow and obey just like Scripture. In this lesson, I find the words about baptism most interesting. Through baptism and the sinner’s prayer, I can have eternal life.
2. I know for certain that I would go to heaven if I died today. I have asked Jesus to come into my heart, and asked Jesus to wash me with His precious blood. Also I have been immersed in water for baptism to bury the old man who was spiritually dead.
3. My love for God keeps me in the vine (John 15). I know if I remain in the vine, I will inherit eternal life. My love for God motivates me to give my time and prayers for others so that they will become Christians and bear spiritual fruit for eternity.
June 12th, 2008 at 1:30 am
1.What did you discover in the catechism that is most helpful to you?
I discovered how out of tuned i was with the faith.I grew up as catholic, i always thought of myself as good catholic i pray i believe. After reading i realized that theirs so much more for me to learn and practice in my every day life.Especially now that i have a son i want to show him the way to our fairth and be a true catholic.I don’t want to give him any wrong information.I found the whole section about baptism really intresting i always thought i knew the meaning if baptism till i read the book. I never knew the full importance.In todays world it’s easy to forget what we have and what god had given up for us. “In this is love,not that we loved god but that he loved us and sent his son to be the expiation for our sins.”
2.Can you say confidenttly that you would go to heaven if you died right now?
This is a tough question for me to answer i had always believed that i would go to heaven when i die, but now i’m mot sure.I realized that i haven’t been living the true catholic ways,i pray that it doesn’t have an affect on me getting to heaven.”at the evening of life,we shall be juged on our love.” My heart is open to jesus and will always be.I do feel his love for me and my family
3.What does your love for god now indicate about your future salvation?
I learned that theirs more than just believing in and praying to god. i know that he will always be in my heart and he will forgive me for my relationship with him the past. I found i higher love with god.Cathecism has opened a better way for me and helped save my salvation for the future.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
1.What did you discover in the Catechism that is most helpful to you? I bought my Catechism in the early 1990’s. Since then it has mostly collected dust in a bookshelf. Once in a while, I used it for a quick reference. Until now I have not use it to study a particular topic.
I have been getting your daily reflections for sometime. I don’t remember how I heard of your website. Maybe a friend forwarded the link. Anyway, each morning I use your reflections to help me understand better the scripture readings of the day. I also use Word among Us.
I enrolled on this e-course for two reasons: curiosity about E-Class (hoping there was no Chat Room) and to keep my beliefs in check and correct them if in error.
2.Can you say confidently that you would go to heaven if you died right now (even if your salvation includes purgatory before heaven — which we’ll discuss in Week Two), and if so, why? Yes, I love Jesus and I can’t imagine spending eternity without the presence of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. I believe God loved us so much that He gave His only Son to die for our sins so that we can live with Him forever. Not only he died and rose for our sins but chose to stay in the Eucharist to feed us, strengthen us and help us in this journey of life and time. Each day I thank Him for everything He has given me and everything He has taken away. And I praise Him for He is a good God! His mercy is endless. I take a day a time relying on His help I try to do my best to live a life of love. I hope everyone makes it to heaven.
3.What does your love for god now indicate about your future salvation? I pray that Jesus keep me so close to His Sacred Heart that my future salvation is in His hands and nothing can separate me from Him.
April 20th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Lession 1
1. What did you discover in the Catechism that is most helpful to you?
To me the references in the Catechism to the Scriptures, where our faith is actually connected to the Word of God, makes it that much more concrete and without a doubt, (not that there was a doubt); but gives me that definite connection to our God of love and compassion that we read about; therefore, it gives my Catholic faith that much more meaning and confirmation.
2. Can you say confidently that you would go to heaven if you died right now (even if your salvation includes purgatory before heaven — which we’ll discuss in Week Two), and if so, why? I believe I will go to heaven; not because I am so worthy, but because God has loved me; and His Son died in reparation of my sins. Therefore, how would that precious life of Jesus go in vain, if I did not believe this. 1010 Because of Christ, Christian death has a positive meaning: “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”576 “The saying is sure: if we have died with him, we will also live with him.577 What is essentially new about Christian death is this: through Baptism, the Christian has already “died with Christ” sacramentally, in order to live a new life; and if we die in Christ’s grace, physical death completes this “dying with Christ” and so completes our incorporation into him in his redeeming act:
3. What does your love for God now indicate about your future salvation? (See #2). God loves me, in spite of myself; and I know that my love for God is not even an iota of his love for me. If I know I love him as much as I believe in my heart that I love him - why wouldn’t he want me with Him? Not that I deserve it, but because of his Love and Mercy; he will take me home to him.
August 28th, 2009 at 7:34 pm
Ans 1: To be honest this is my very first time enrolling in such courses. I bought the CCC just for the sake of it and never used it. It was from wife who had attended Salvation History that I came to know about CCC. Back to CCC, I find that it is very ‘rich’ and after going through on how to use it, I find that I have such desire to go on and on. I hope that I will never stop doing this and that this is the beginning to a truelly discovery of God. (I do not read the bible all the time).
Ans 2: I will go to heaven if God grant me his mercy. I will most likely be in purgatory until all my sins have been washed away.
Ans 3: I am doing his work on earth because I love him. He has done many wonderful things for me and yes I have thank him. I am also a sinner and am weak to temptation. I know that God forgives our sins when we are remorseful ( even though we continously sin again). We have to make an effort to pick up our cross each time we fall and He will do the rest for us.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:26 am
1.From my readings in the CCC and the corresponding Bible verses, I found out that God is not a remote power who controls the whole universe. He created the whole universe only because of his love, and continues to provide for the needs of his Children. He loved the whole world so much that that he sent his Son to save us through our baptism (Jn 3:16-17; 1Jn 3;1-2). Also form Pope John Paul II in his Encyclical Letter “Redemptoris Missio (9)”, he writes “The first beneficiary of salvation is the Church (i.e. all Christians). Christ won the Church for himself at the price of his own blood and made the Church his coworker in the salvation of the world……….”.
2. I can confidently say that through God’s mercy I will go to heaven. Human beings are prone to sinfulness but the mother Church through its teaching we need to frequently visit the Sacrament of Reconcilliation. Because when I fall into sin, I need to call to mind my sins, I be truly sorry and fully accept my sinfulness, I decide to avoid sins and the occassions of sin and to confess them well and to accept to carry the penance proposed. When the Priest tells me, “I absolve you……….,” I believe my sins are forgiven as per Jesus’ teaching of Jn 20; 22-23. If I die in the condition of venial sins, I believe I will go to Purgatory for purification before God accepts me into heaven.
3. God loves us uncondionally and so we have a duty to love him in return. We baptized Christians know that through baptism, we were made children of God and members of the Church. Through baptism, our sins were forgiven, we were reborn to new life, God will resurrect us from from death and also it is a requirement to enter heaven. I am guided by Jesus’ teaching in Mk 12:30, “And you shall love the Lord your God with all your Heart, and with all your Soul, and with all your Mind and with all your Strength.” Being guided by this my love for God is ever increasing and have to follow him in the rest of my earthly life.
April 17th, 2011 at 12:11 pm
1.It is amazing that, even though I have done some Bible studing, I have gained a new insight into the Books of the Bible. What was most helpful to me was the clarity of the lessons.
2.No, I would not go to Heaven if I died today. I would hope that the reconciliation process that I am currently going through would at least get me a ticket into Purgatory.
3. I love GOD and will strive to earn the Salvation that he has been generous enough to give me. I will no longer take for granted that no matter what, GOD will always love me. I will use the Acts of the Apostles and all of St.Paul letters to guide me the rest of my life .
May 17th, 2011 at 7:58 pm
1. What did you discover in the Catechism that was most helpful to you?
According to the passages referred to, as a consequence of origninal sin we experience bodily death. This bodily death was conqured by Jesus, the Son of God, through his death, thereby opening the gates of salvation to al men. Jesus himself was void of sin. Despite this, God established Jesus in solidarity with all sinners, sparing not his own son but rather giving him up for all of us so that we may be recociled to him through the death of his son. God so lovewd us that he sent his son to us to expiate our sins. In Jesus’ suffering and death, his humanity became the free and perfect instrument of God’s divine love which desires the salvation of men. Therefore, Jesus freely accepted his passion and death.
What does salvation mean for us? Does it mean that because Jesus died for us, we are all automatically saved whether we live a good or bad life? No, this is not the case. In a lot of ways, Jesus made the guidelines harder for us than it had been for God’s chosen people. If we look at Jesus’ teachings, we see that he completely overturned the Pharisees’ and Saducees’ vision of what salvation means. The Jewish people were expecting a leader who would establish the Promised Land of Israel for them. Instead, Jesus told them taht they would never get it, thereby indicating that a perfect world does not exist in this life but rather in the afterlife that would be granted to us should we follow in his footsteps. It is for this reason that although salvation comes from God alone, we must abide by the way of life that the Catholic Church outlined for us through their interprestation of Jesus’ minstry. Salvation means being counted among those who follow Jesus’ work in their daily life and who spread that word to others who are living their lives in the darkness. This is what is most helpful to me because at this point in time, I am seeking a way that would gide me towards a different path than that I traveled in the first third of my life.
May 18th, 2011 at 6:29 pm
2. Could you say confidently that you would go to heaven if you died right now and if so, why?
If I died right now, I will not go to heaven. In fact, I am certain that I will go to Hell. In the Catechesis book, paragraph 1696 says “The way of Christ leads to life; a contrary way leads to destruction. The gospel parable of the two ways remains ever present in the Catechisis of the Church; it shows the importance of moral decisions for our salvation: There are two ways, the one of life, the other of death; but between the two there is a great difference.”
I work in a medical malpractice law firm wherein we defend the doctors. If our salvation is measured by our actions in life, then I am definitely going to Hell. There is nothing about following in the footsteps of Christ or acting in accordance with the way the Roman Catholic Church has outlined in what I do during the day. It is a cut throat business and I find that in the morning I must leave behind everything I know as a Christian in order to function in that environment. I do go to Mass every Sunday and I am concerned for my soul but I do not know how to resolve the difference the way of life presented to us by Christ and the Church and the way of death which I find myself on now.
May 18th, 2011 at 6:36 pm
3. What does your love for God now indicate about your future salvation?
I think my love for God and Jesus now is a start in terms of resolving this difference. I think God loves all of us and does not abandon us as long as we do not abandon him. I am sure that if I work with the priest and nun in my parish, they can help me find a way to combat the difference without feeling like a hypocrit. As such, there is still hope for my future salvation.
May 20th, 2011 at 10:45 am
Emilia,
Please read the Catechism and the commentary in the web course a bit closer. I sincerely doubt you would go to hell if you died right now. It sounds like you would gladly choose purgatory to purge yourself of sin in order to spend eternity with Christ. Only those who don’t want to spend eternity with Christ choose hell.
Salvation is measured by what Jesus did for you, not what you do for Jesus. Your love for Jesus is measured by your actions. The more you love him, the more you will love others, and the more you love others, the more you will become holy. But salvation is yours even if you love just a little and desire to love more.
Why do you go to Mass? Is it because you love Jesus? Then this is enough to get you to heaven eventually, after time in purgatory.
When was the last time you went to Confession? Talk to a priest about your job and your concerns about it. Your heart is in the right place. God will guide you in figuring out how to be holy in your job. Perhaps God has put you in that job so that you can bring his love into the cut-throat environment. You have a mission there!
October 25th, 2011 at 12:01 am
I have just finished Lesson 1 and here are my reflection as I go about the lesson.
1. It has strengthen my belief that God is love. He already knew us even before we were born, he knew that the freedom that we have will lead us to commit mistakes in our life & may even result to forgetting him completely, but because he love us so much, he still choose to give life so that we could experience God’s love. And once we come to know and experience that love we would know how to respond and even if we would respond wrongly still he would guide us to be on the right track.
2. I would humbly say yes, because I know that God loves me that even if I may not be worthy of that love still he will do his very best to save me, didn’t he gave his son for me to be saved? Because he knew that if it is only with my own he knew I can’t make it. Christ has shown that the curse of death was turned into blessing. But what is the reason why men are still afraid of dying, inspite of Christ showing that we should not be afraid of death. Is it because of the lack of faith of man? Man’s lack of trust and the fear of not being able to follow him adds the fear of death. The lack of trust in oneself. Being doubtful that God really loves me even if I have sinned, have committed mistakes. Maybe its because while I was still a child I was thought the principle of reward and punishment. But all of this has change when I felt the assurance that God loves me. In death God calls man to himself.
3. My love for God now made me sure that he will not abandon me when the time comes for me to join him. Experiencing his love has fired me up to share this love to to others. It has made me do things not out of obligation but out of trust and love with my savior.