On The Number Of Sins Beyond Which God Pardons No More

[Catholictothecore]

I think this is an example of the Spirit inspiring, but letting the word choice up the author. It's been known to happen. I like what Didacus said, all we can do is trust and remember the fact that God wants to be merciful.

[Bennn]

When I read the mystical writings of Saint Faustina, I came to the understanding that our Lord is so merciful that He even begs us to accept His graces. "My Heart" He says "is being burnt by the flames of mercy, clamoring to be spent." This is a very comforting truth to acknowledge. Yet, the main problem today is that people do no longer feel a need for this mercy, because they do not believe that they are sinners. This is what drives God to punish His prodigal children. He will never punish unless we drive the sword into His hand, forcing Him to use it against us.

Liberalism has poisoned the human mind with false promises of unlimited 'freedom'. Yet, their 'freedoms' have become their chains. Our God calls out to them, day and night, through the voice of the Church and the pains of their violated conscience. Every soul that will give the smallest glimpse of repentance will immediately be aided from above in their conversion. This is called the grace of conversion, and I have experienced this grace vividly when I converted to Christ in Who's Name I was baptised as an infant.

"Even though your sins be like scarlet, I will make them whiter than snow." says the Lord through the sacred writings of the prophet Isaiah. Let no soul be afraid to approach the incomprehensible fount of His endless mercy.

[aalpha1989]

I think this wonderful prayer by St. Augustine is relevant.

In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.

Before Thine eyes, O Lord, we bring our sins, and we compare them with the stripes we have received.
If we examine the evil we have wrought, what we suffer is little, what we deserve is great.
What we have committed is very grievous, what we have suffered is very slight.
We feel the punishment of sin, yet withdraw not from the obstinacy of sinning.
Under Thy lash our inconstancy is visited, but our sinfulness is not changed.
Our suffering soul is tormented, but our neck is not bent.
Our life groans under sorrow, yet amends not in deed.
If Thou spare us, we correct not our ways: if Thou punish, we cannot endure it.
In time of correction we confess our wrongdoing: after Thy visitation we forget that we have wept.
If Thou stretchest forth Thy hand, we promise amendment; if Thou withholdest the sword, we keep not our promise.
If Thou strikest, we cry out for mercy: if Thou sparest, we again provoke Thee to strike.
Here we are before Thee, O Lord, confessedly guilty: we know that unless Thou pardon we shall deservedly perish.
Grant then, O almighty Father, without our deserving it, the pardon we ask; Thou who madest out of nothing those who ask Thee. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

V. Deal not with us, O Lord, according to our sins.
R. Neither reward us according to our iniquities.

Let us pray.- O God, who by sin art offended and by penance pacified, mercifully regard the prayers of Thy suppliant people, and turn away the scourges of Thy wrath, which we deserve for our sins. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.

[abrideofChrist]

I think St. Alphonsus and Cardinal Newman were touching upon the mystery of predestination when they spoke of sin as quoted above. The early Church Father St. Augustine was the most clear in his teachings about sin & grace among the Fathers. Since then, several schools of thought have arisen on how a person makes it to Heaven or goes to Hell. This is a highly complex issue, and probably too broad to tackle in a forum post. Predestination, sufficient grace, efficacious grace, Divine omniscience, and Divine will is all tied up in how a person will get to the point of final unrepentance or final perseverance.

[Vincent Vega]

Predestination is a heretical doctrine, is it not?

[abrideofChrist]

[quote name='USAirwaysIHS' date='12 May 2010 - 11:44 PM' timestamp='1273725850' post='2109762']
Predestination is a heretical doctrine, is it not?
[/quote]

Depends on the meaning you attach to the word "predestination" [there are several possible theological connotations of that word]... Like I said earlier, this is a highly complex and thorny issue because it is rooted in the fundamental mystery of salvation and damnation, of grace and of sin http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/12378a.htm .

[XIX]

[quote name='goldenchild17' date='03 April 2010 - 06:11 PM' timestamp='1270329097' post='2086280']
The Bible also doesn't call for a universal crusade/extermination of the bunchies. Yet we all know that this is God's will for mankind.
[/quote]
SHUN!

[Guest]

Great thread.

[Tab'le De'Bah-Rye]

[quote name='Innocent' timestamp='1268578657' post='2072881']
Today I found this sermon by St. Alphonsus Liguori.

[url="http://vanitasvanitatum94.blogspot.com/2009/08/on-number-of-sins-beyond-which-god.html"]On the Number of Sins Beyond Which God Pardons No More - by St. Alphonsus de Liguori[/url]

(To read more sermons by St. Alphonsus, download this ebook: [url="http://www.archive.org/details/sermonsforallsun00liguuoft"]Sermons for all the Sundays in the year[/url])

The gist of this sermon is expressed in [url="http://paramedicgoldengirl.blogspot.com/2009/08/numbering-your-sins.html"]this blog post[/url]:



This is the first time that I learn this. Is this the common consensus of Tradition or is it only St. Alphonsus Liguori who teaches this?
[/quote]

Dominus Pax,
Greeting, may the peace of our lord and saviour christ jesus rest in your heart in that the holy spirit may descend upon you and renew your mind always.....
In accordance with the catechism the only unforgiveable sin(the sin against the holy spirit) is total rejection of gods saving grace(that he desires to save all),upon ourselves and others. But in that I truely believe all good things are possible to GOD in accordance with the scripture where jesus says"It is harder for a rich man to get into heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of the needle" than pretty soon after that he says"but all things are possible to GOD". The reason i say this i assume is we have our whole life to come to true repentance in that one may in this state of rejection of the holy spirit for many years and still come to full repentance eventually,as long as we don't take it to the grave i feel the catechism is leaning at.
God Bless
P.S. also you say this was in a sermon,does it have the imprimateur or the nihil obstant,and also I'm sure even the pope does not claim infalibilty in his sermons,correct me somone please if i am wrong,lest i fall into hell.