Question on Penance

[kimber1]

okay this is going to come out as kind of a morbid question but i really don't mean it that way. it's just one of those random thoughts that rattles around in your mind from time to time...
in the CCC 980 it says " Penance has rightly been called by the holy Fathers ' a laborious kind of baptism'. This sacrament of Penance is necessary for salvation for those who have fallen after Baptism, just as Baptism is necessary for salvation for those who have not yet been reborn"

okay so for one not yet in full communion with the Church, what would happen if one were to die before they could do Penance? like where i've been baptized already but just in a different denomination but have yet to be able to participate in Penance. since it's saying it's necessary for salvation what would happen to me?

 

[mathias1979]

The way I've understood it, is that if a true Catholic had a mortal sin on their soul and has every intention of attending confession because they are truely sorry, but then they end up dying before they actually get to confession, they would still be saved. So I would think this would apply in the same sense to those who were baptized in another faith but studying to become Catholic. If you have every intention of confessing when you are received into the faith, but then died before you were actually received into the faith, you'd be okay. I'm sure someone here will point you to a better source on that. That's just the way it has been explained to me.

-Matt

 

[Wolseley]

That's what Purgatory is for, Kim.

 

[KennySe]

Kimber,
The Catholic Church will not keep you out of God's graces.

 

[kimber1]

That's what Purgatory is for, Kim.

well duh, i hadn't even thought about that! sorry, i just have so much info rolling around up here i can't keep any of it straight

 

[Aaron-Aggie]

That's what Purgatory is for, Kim.

Well said

One can clean their feet on the mat outside the door or one can clean their feet on the mat inside the house. Just don't refuse to use either mat for our lord will not allow dirt in his house