| Traditional Roman Catholicism |
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| Ignorance Has The Nature Of Mortal Sin In our time it seems it would be better not to know the truth then to know and hold onto it. So many times I am questioned about this topic, that I will visit it once again. When you look at the motive of those who expound this argument it is easy to see that they are trying to find a way for a person to be saved by being ignorant. What is shocking is the length they go to try to persuade me that somehow God has failed. That somehow He did not and cannot reach everyone. Seems logical that if Jesus cannot reach everyone then He must not be God. After all , what kind of God would impose His teaches to be believed , then failing to make sure everyone can hear and believe them? I could end this debate with one verse from Holy Scripture, " That was the true light, which enlighteneth every man that cometh into this world." (John 1:9) The testimony from John was given us to know for all time, that the excuse " I didn't know" will not be sufficient. Every man has been enlightened. Every man has enough grace to save his soul. Every man does not cooperate with this grace, hence he does not believe. "Unbelief has the character of guilt from resisting the faith rather than mere absence of the faith." ( Saint Thomas Aquinas) I have had a woman tell me that even a college professor is invincibly ignorant, meaning he cannot be taught, so therefore he is saved by being ignorant. Her lack of faith in the Savior shook me. I asked her is her friend human? She laughed and said of course. So I continued and said then he is not cooperating with grace and is, at this point, guilty of sin. If he does not believe the Divinely revealed truths of Jesus Christ he has the guilt of not cooperating with grace. He has put man made objections in front of the revealed truths. I then told her if he does not cooperate with grace and accept the truths he will die in his sin. I said do you not like your friend? She said of course. So why are you letting him die in his sin , I asked ? She went on to say that he is not a sinner he just doesn't believe. He is invincible ignorant. I am not sure her friend would agree with her. My point is not believing carries the guilt of sin. Saint Thomas Aquinas also states: " It follows that ignorance has the nature of mortal sin on account of either a preceding negligence, or the consequent result; and for this reason, ignorance is reckoned one of the greatest causes of sin. All sin proceeds from ignorance." Saint Thomas Aquinas According to Saint Thomas Aquinas if your are ignorant of the truths of salvation, you are not getting a free pass to heaven. On the contrary you are guilty of sin, which excludes you from the Kingdom of God. Is he alone in this teaching? Let us see if there are others who believe and taught the same thing: " If you are ignorant of the truths of the faith, you are obliged to learn them. Every Christian is bound to learn the Creed, the Our Father, or the Hail Mary under pain of mortal sin. Many have no idea of the Most Holy Trinity, the Incarnation, mortal sin, Judgment, Paradise, Hell, or Eternity; and this deplorable ignorance damns them. ( St. Alphonsus Maria Liguori ) "Those who keep their eyes shut cannot see. God made you without your knowledge, but He does not justify you without your willing it. Refusal to hear the truth leads to sin, and that sin itself is punishment for the preceding sin. Every sinner is inexcusable whether he knows it or not. For ignorance itself, in those who do not want to know, is without a doubt a sin; and, in those unable to know, is the penalty of sin. In neither case, then, is there a just excuse, but in both cases there is just condemnation." ( Saint Augustine ) " Reflect on the ruin of souls wrought by this single case: ignorance of truths which must be known by all men alike in order that they may attain eternal salvation. This we solemnly affirm: the majority of those condemned to eternal punishment fall into everlasting misfortune through ignorance of the Mysteries of faith, which must necessarily be known and believed by all who belong to the Elect. ( Pope Saint Pius X ) " An ignorant person is like a dying man lying unconscious: he does not know either the malice of sin or the value of his soul. He goes from sin to sin, like a rag dragged through the mire." (Saint John Vianney) So we see if a person does not know the truth he cannot be saved. In our modern age of instant communication, how is it so many are still ignorant? I say that they wish it. If they truly seek God they will find Him. If the Son of God will have all men to be saved how is it so many suffer the torments of hell? I say they wish it. God has sent His preachers to all parts of the world to proclaim His Gospel. If people are unwilling to enter on this way they perish by their own fault and not by lack of will on the part of the Redeemer. Your local protestant law professor is not ignorant, he just rejects the truth. Lets talk about the value of truth. There are certain truths of which if a person rejects, no he is not ignorant, but rejects, he will loose his soul and die in his sins. For example, the necessity of water Baptism. The necessity of confessing your sins to a priest. The necessity of being Roman Catholic, receiving Her Sacraments and dying in a state of grace . The necessity of believing in the truths of salvation given to us by Our Lord. Let us remember Our Lord suffered His Passion so that we may have the truth. " Pilate therefore said to him: Art thou a king then? Jesus answered: Thou sayest that I am a king. For this was I born, and for this came I into the world; that I should give testimony to the truth. Every one that is of the truth, heareth my voice." (John 18:37) Saint John tells us: "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." (John 8:32) and: "But when the Paraclete cometh, whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceedeth from the Father, he shall give testimony of me." (John 15:26) If a person really seeks the truth, the Spirit of Truth, the Paraclete, will aid this person in finding the truth. If a protestant for example, does not seek the truth and remains outside the Church, he is rejecting the Spirit of Truth. As Saint Thomas says, he is resisting the faith. He is not cooperating with grace. Sadly he is not of the truth and does not hear the Lord's voice. He does not know the truth and will be a slave of the devil for he will not be free. Compare the condition of this so called ignorant person to the teaching of Saint Matthew when he says: " But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved." ( Matthew 24:13) How can this ignorant person persevere to the end? Persevere in what, ignorance? Persevere in sin? We must persevere in faith and truth. We must fight the good fight as Saint Paul says: "Fight the good fight of faith: lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art called, and hast confessed a good confession before many witnesses." ( 1 Timothy 6:12 ) The so-called ignorant person cannot be saved because he will die in mortal sin, unless before he dies he comes home to the Catholic Church where he can receive forgiveness for his sins and die in the state of grace. There is no reward of heaven for this ignorant person. The so-called invincibly ignorant person is just another way of saying a person does not want to know the truth or rejects it. In either case he will not go to the Kingdom. I pray every Catholic who reads this will understand that we must give the good news to these people and pray they cooperate with grace. I pray that no one ever has to hear these words: "And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity" ( Matthew 7:23 ) Do not believe it is better not to know the truth, for Our Lord died for you and ALL men to know the truth ! |