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Were our Hearts Not Burning? (Lk 24:32)
Reply to a question
Q: Hi […] I was wondering about something you said yesterday. I think you said that someone found out that on a particular day 33,000 people died and out of those 33,000 only 2 went to Heaven and 3 went to Purgatory. Is that really true? That means that 32,995 people went to hell on that day? Where did you hear that? That many people actually go to hell? I always thought that most people went to Purgatory. […]A person goes to hell if he has a mortal sin on his soul, but don’t people who just have venial sins go to Purgatory, which I thought was most people? Please clarify this because it's really disturbing.
A: N., in Christ, I apologize if I disturbed you; my intention wasn't to disturb, but to warn. The question you raise here is very important. Allow me to expand a little, and if any of your friends have questions about what I said regarding this, please share this note with them. The story comes from a vision St. Vincent Ferrer had; the apparition was from a holy, deceased archdeacon of Lyon, and the other saved soul that day was St. Bernard. I found the story first as narrated in a homily of St. Leonard of Port Maurice; I found this homily just now on line, you can read it here: http://olrl.org/snt_docs/fewness.shtml. Just prepare yourself, an don't read it when you're not in a good mood. And promise you'll read it all the way to the end, word for word, for there are also many words of consolation and encouragement towards the end of the piece. This doesn’t mean that every day the stats are so distressing, either. The first question is whether the majority of souls are saved or lost. The second is, where do I want to be? The third is, what am I going to do to help as many as possible save their souls? 1. As to the first, St. Leonard's article is very clear. The Lord's words, the common opinion of the few saints that have written on the topic, and an honest assessment of the moral situation of humanity all point to the words of Jesus: "Many are called, few are chosen." (Mt. 22:14). Then there's this passage: "Then Jesus went through the towns and villages, teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, 'Lord, are only a few people going to be saved?' He said to them, 'Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.'" (Lk 13:22-24). All this should not make us despair, for salvation is within the grasp of all. Jesus Christ did not come to condemn the world, but to save it (Jn 13:7). But "God, who created you without you, will not save you without you" (St Augustine, "Sermon" 169, 13). In other words, his salvation needs our collaboration. He won it, but it's there for us to embrace or reject. And this is the bottom line of life: get to heaven by living and dying in grace, or suffer in hell by living and dying in unrepentant mortal sin. 2. So this is now the second question: what are you going to choose? The path to heaven is a hard road, the road of the cross, of difficulties and trials. It means sufferings, humiliations, failures, hard work, few consolations, total self-giving. It also means total happiness, in this life and in the life to come. The path to hell is the easy road, of abandonment, of irresponsibility, of perversity and sexual license, of thievery, of hatred, of gossip. It's the road of comfort, of conceited arrogance, of greed. It's the road of false promises, the empty promises of the devil, the flesh and the world. It brings with it sadness, frustration, violence, despair and hatred in this life, and the cold, isolating incapacity of happiness and love in the life to come. If you want to be happy, there's a price. Is the price too much to pay? "My yoke is easy, my burden light" (Mt 11:30). It's too much for anyone of us alone to carry. So we need to fall on our knees, and attain glory by humbling ourselves before God, much as Jesus humbled himself unto death on the cross to attain his glory. The prayer of such a soul goes something like, "Lord, I can't do this, but you can. I can't be humble, you can. I can't be pure, you can. I can't be selfless, you can. I can't love my enemy, but you can, and you loved me when I was your enemy by my sins (cf. Rom 5:10). Help me, my Lord and my true Love." Are you willing to take up the cross? Something tells me that a young lady with such a tender and loving heart as yours really can't resist the boundless love of God. Say yes to him, and it will be the happiest, if hardest, decision of your life. 3. So now that we've decided to embrace the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, and never let it go for the rest of our lives, let's ask the next question: What are you going to do to help others save their souls? The Catholic Church is apostolic. First, because it was founded on the apostles; second, because it is "sent forth" (apo-stellein = Greek for "to send out, to send forth"). Our mission came with our baptism. We are to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mt 28:19-20). The specific gift of Confirmation, widely misunderstood in our age to be some "coming of age" in Catholicism - which it is not - is the faculty to SPREAD and DEFEND the faith. Sometimes this is done in words, sometimes in deeds, but always by both. Contemplate the hunger, the violence, the sickness, the poverty of the world we live in. Can we sit still and fail to serve those that need our help? Yet the spiritual distress of our world is the real hunger, the spiritual violence, the sickness of the soul and the poverty of grace. Catholics are called to love others in body and soul; to serve the poor and needy on the one hand, and to spread the Gospel and the riches of Catholic life on the other. Where do you fit into this scene? How are you going to help others save their souls? And if love is the procuring of the good for another person, then the answer to these questions is the same as the answer to this one: how are you going to attain love in your life? Don't NOT answer this question. For the answer to it is really your vocation in life. 4. Some means I will recommend: study the faith. Take up some apostolic work. Have holy friendships, and if your friends are leading you to sin and you can't bring them to God with you, have the courage to cut those friendships. Read the writings of Popes and saints. Spend time in prayer, conversation and silent contemplation of God (essential!). Receive the sacraments frequently, especially the holy Eucharist, and then reconciliation lest any sin continue to fester in your soul. Do penance. Get a spiritual director. Once these means are in place, the rest of the path of the spiritual life will open up to you. I hope that these words have dispelled discouragement and poured forth zeal and enthusiasm on your eager soul. God has not abandoned us, even if many of us has abandoned him. Give yourself to God, and see the wonders he can do with you. If you have any more questions, please write. In Christ, Fr. Paul Ward
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