Except we are to confess and repent to be reconciled with God whenever we falter by mortal sin (mortal vs venial sin). We believe that if we die with unconfessed mortal sin we will not see God, however, if we die with venial sin, we can still be purged in purgatory and still see God, however, there are those who have done God's will perfectly and at the end of their life have been fully sanctified which we call saints, the elect. I am not one of those, yet, but I can be. I read that someone asked St.Francis what it takes to become a saint and he said, "will it." You have to want to become a saint and it is possible with God although many of my friends think it's impossible to become sanctified and unnecessary and that to repent of your sins is unnecessary and unrealistic.
1 John 5:16-17 - "If you see your brother commit a sin that does not lead to death, you should pray to God, who will give him life. This applies to those WHOSE SINS DO NOT LEAD TO DEATH [venial]. But THERE IS SIN WHICH LEADS TO DEATH [mortal], and I do not say that you should pray to God about that. All wrongdoing is sin, BUT THERE IS SIN WHICH DOES NOT LEAD TO DEATH." [degrees of sin ditinguished]
"Try to be at peace with everyone, and try to live a HOLY LIFE, BECAUSE NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD WITHOUT IT." Heb 12:14
I went through a phase where everyday I would be scared that I was going to die and go to hell until I came back to Christ and now I throw myself on the font of his mercy and hope that heaven can be possible for me. That is trust in the Lord and an example of a holy 'fear of the Lord.' He can cast us into hell if in his perfect justice he thinks we deserve it but we must keep striving for the goal, which is heaven and trust in his mercy. That is why we don't see the reception of the Holy Spirit and salvation as a one shot deal. We believe that the "application of the reception of the Holy Spirit" instead of just being a good "feeling' is a call to repentence and to a life of sacrifice and to pure, undiluted love. My friend said, "he touched my head and I received the Holy Spirit and I started speaking in tongues and it was amazing, " and in my life I received and returned to Christ and the Holy Spirit and I went to the Cathedral and I bowed my head and I fell on my knees and I prayed for forgiveness, and then I went into the confessional and confessed sins that I didn't want to even speak of, and Christ speaking through the priest , absolved me of my sins and then I got up and went back to my pew and gave Christ my heart and I stayed for mass, afterwhich we prayed the rosary and I prayed like I had never prayed before and my body was speaking but my mind was present with Christ and when I was done I never wanted to leave that place because I knew that if I did, I would sin again, but I had to go out there and it was a heavy burden but I did it and I have sinned since then and I have seperated and ignored God since then and he keeps leaving the door unlocked for me to come back in because he is merciful and as long as we keep repenting and confessing with true contrition and a real desire to sin no more, then he will keep forgiving us because he does know that we are sinful creatures and I know that his mercy is infinite.
A favored prayer of mine,"O Blood and Water which gushed forth from the Heart of Jesus as a font of Mercy for us, I trust in you."
My personal opinion is that you have to either be sanctified or on the road to sactification when you die in order to see the Lord. "To whom much is given, much is expected, " in my mind says to whom much knowledge and truth and love is given, much is expected of him. You don't expect a pagan, who has no knowledge of the truth to do great things for God, but to a Christian who has knowledge of the truth, much works of mercy are expected and in my belief, will be required on Judgement Day.
Here's a quote from my favorite Saint, Saint Faustina, "Write, My daughter, that I am mercy itself for the contrite soul. A soul's greatest wrethchedness does not enkindle me with wrath; but rather, My Heart is moved towards it with great mercy.
Oh my Jesus, give me strength to endure suffering so that I may not make a wry face when I drink the cup of bitterness. Help me Yourself to make my sacrifice pleasing to You. May it not be tainted by my self-love, even though it extend over many years. May purity of intention make it pleasing to You, fresh and full of life. This life of mine is a ceaseless struggle, a constant effort to do Your holy will; but may everything that is in me, both my misery and my strength, give praise to You, O Lord." (Divine Mercy in my Soul, Saint Faustina Kowalska written approx 1933)
I just thought this would be a good glimpse into the heart of someone we consider to be a Saint.
I'm rambling again, sorry!!
Thanx, Luv
Theresa