The Crescat Has Faith

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The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

The keys to the Kingdom of Heaven

At Patheos the Crescat is one of many who responded to the Anchoress’s call when she asked people why they stay Catholic.

… The question of why we remain Catholic has been asked of the Patheos writers, in response to Pew Report stating our numbers are dwindling.

I’m not much for big word-y words, preferring to keep it straightforward.

I’m Catholic and plan to remain so until I die and my big fat Catholic soul flies off to Catholic Heaven – the part of Heaven where the alcohol and fireworks are kept in ample supply. The existence of Catholic Heaven has been well documented.

If I didn’t leave the Church amidst scandal or liturgical abuse it stands to reason that there’s not much that would make me go. Not even other Catholics.

On the other side of the coin, I don’t stay simply because I love my priests and think they are awesome guys. I don’t stay for the art, the architecture, the traditions, or even the awesome nuns.

You can’t base decisions like that on such superficial reasons.

As awesome as I think the Catholic Church is; with Her brains, beauty and generous nature, that is not why I choose to remain a Catholic. It’s not the beer nor the bacon.

I remain Catholic because the Church is Truth.

I’ve seen the Truth. I’ve experienced it firsthand. I’ve been baptized in the Truth. Confirmed in it. I’ve tasted and drank the Truth. I’ve Adored it and received graces and forgiveness from the Truth.

I have looked plainly and unflinchingly at the Truth and to leave the Church would be to turn my back on all that I know, believe, and have experienced.

To leave the Church is to embrace Hell.

Amen. The end.

This is a good answer.  It reminds me of St. Peter.  The Church has unity in itself.  The truth is complete.  It has a life of its own.  Partial truth is just false and morbid.

How long must we endure all this blather about being part in and part out of the Church, about an ‘ecumenism of blood’ in the name of Jesus, and how the Devil knows all Christians are one?  It doesn’t stand to reason.  It is killing souls.

Let the heretics pray Our Lord will have mercy above and beyond the truth He has revealed. Let them try to make sense out of confusion, and integrate sins using false faith.  If our own voice doesn’t ring clear how will they hear it and be saved?

Katrina Fernandez makes the sacrifices and pays the price to be united to the Church.  She’s no fool and sees the difference between black and white.  You have to take the long view and see the ends of things to understand.

 

 

 

 

Go To Hell if You Don’t Help the Poor!

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Fire and Brimstone for Poverty Policy?

Fire and Brimstone for Poverty Policy?

At Aleteia Tom Hoopes reveals Philly Abp. Chaput’s assertion that neglecting the poor is a mortal sin which will condemn us to Hell.

What about the Jubilee Year of Mercy?

“I’ve said many times over many years that if we ignore the poor, we will go to hell: literally,” Archbishop Charles Chaput said, most recently, here.

I love that. I am well aware that, just as perfect contrition is better than imperfect contrition, it is better to serve the poor out of love for God and neighbor than out of fear of reprisal.

But I also know that, to get over spiritual and moral inertia, sometimes we need a little push.

So if you are like me, and avoiding hell is a motivator for you, remember that is how we will be judged, and take the steps you need to get right with God.

Hoopes cites Jesus’ story of Lazarus and the Rich Man.

For Jesus, it is impossible to love him and not serve the poor. It is there in the Last Judgement in Matthew 25:31-46; it is there in the story of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16:19-31. Anyone who thinks they are doing so is fooling themselves.

Certainly it is good to love the poor and to help them.  The story of Lazarus condemns sloth, greed, and lack of charity; sins of omission which can be temptations to those leading cushy lives.  When I hear this story I think of limousine liberals; Hollywood stars who advocate for trendy causes and government programs, but do little good.

But this new mantra emerging in the Time of Mercy, where it doesn’t matter how much faith you have, how many Masses or Sacraments you seek, if you don’t help the poor then you’re damned; is ugly.

The Mass and Sacraments should never been posed against good works as if they are only both good together.  The Mass is always good and beneficial and lack of charity is never good.  Why this dichotomy?  Are we supposed to think that the Sacraments don’t work in our hearts and souls?  Where is your faith?

Next are we going to learn again how climate change is racist and hurts the poor, and how we’re going to Hell if we don’t think like Al Gore?  If Lazarus is lying full of sores in the street, you won’t get to Heaven giving him Obamacare.