from The Teaching of the Catholic Church, Volume II, Canon George D. Smith:
First, Has Christ instituted any other positive means of regeneration besides baptism, either by way of addition to or exception from the law of baptism? Secondly, Is it not possible that, from the very nature of things which precedes all positive law and is allowed for in positive law, it might happen that a person could receive justification without the actual reception of the Sacrament of Baptism?
We answer to the first of these questions in the negative. We cannot admit any other means of salvation positively instituted by Christ, for the very good reason that his positive law has provided one means and only one. If, therefore, any theories are advanced on the question of salvation which involves the recognition of some means of salvation positively instituted by Christ, other than baptism, such theories must immediately be rejected as at least erroneous.
We answer to the second question in the affirmative. It can happen that a person receives justification without actually receiving the Sacrament of Baptism. And it can happen in one of two ways: either, 1. by Martyrdom, or 2. by Charity.
p.778-779
…. Now, an act of charity always and necessarily contains a desire for the Sacrament of Baptism, hence the expression Baptism of Desire. The reason why it must contain this desire is that an act of the love of God must contain a desire of conforming to his will in every way. Therefore, since it is God’s will that we should receive the Sacrament of Baptism, this act must contain the desire for baptism. But this desire may either be implicitly or explicitly, and each alternative requires our careful consideration.
It is implicit in anyone who makes an act of the love of God, and, through invincible ignorance, does not know of the necessity of sacrament baptism. This might happen in a country like England to people who are not baptised.
Might it not also happen to heathens who have never heard of Christ?
It might, if we suppose that these heathens have in some way obtained the necessary minimum knowledge of Revelation, and are capable of a salutary faith and hope in God. For it is very important to understand that when we speak of charity, we do not mean just any kind of love of God above all else, such as the natural love of a creature for its Creator. Charity is essentially a love of friendship (Our Blessed Lord does not call us servants, but friends), which implies an intimate communication with God, such as is only possible in a supernatural order. The existence of this supernatural order can only be known through Revelation. Charity, therefore, cannot exist without at least the knowledge of the principle truth of Revelation. p. 782-783
Tags: baptism of desire, Canon George D. Smith, law of baptism, Sacrament of Baptism, The Teaching of the Catholic Church
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
WIKIPEDIA’S ENTRY ON SALVATION MISREPRESENTS THE CATHOLIC CHURCH
According to Wikipedia the Catholic Church does not teach exclusive salvation any more and Lumen Gentium 16 (invincible ignorance) refers to the ordinary means of salvation.(See Salvation, Wikipeida).
It says “…all salvation comes through Christ.” never mentioning the dogma extra ecclesiam nulla salus and the need for all people to enter the Church.
Wikipedia says :’For Catholicism, Christ provides the Church with “the fullness of the means of salvation which [the Father] has willed: correct and complete confession of faith, full sacramental life, and ordained ministry in apostolic succession.” Then surprisingly the encyclopedia states:’To Catholic thinking, this does not mean that only Christians can enter heaven, for “By his death (Jesus, the Son of God) has conquered death, and so opened the possibility of salvation to all .”
This is false.We know that the ordinary means of salvation is Catholic Faith and the baptism of water (Ad Gentes 7,Lumen Gentium 14). If there is anyone saved in invincible ingnorance or the baptism of desire it would be known only to God so this is not the ordinary means of salvation nor even an issue. This is an error on Wikipedia. If they could make such a fundamental error here one does not know if there are similar errors on information provided on salvation in other religions.
Wikipedia states: ‘Thus, the Catholic Church clearly teaches that, although Christ is the Saviour of the human race, it is not necessary to know Him personally to be saved.’False. In general, it is necessary to know Jesus personally, to believe in Him and to be a member of the Catholic Church to be saved.
Wikipedia continues: ‘This is because Catholicism believes that the salvation, and reconciliation, of humanity took place when Christ died and rose again, and that this salvation applies to all people whether or not they realise this fact.’ This is false. Salvation is open to all people however to receive it they need to enter the Catholic Church .(Dominus Iesus 20).
Wikipedia states: ‘This in no way means that Catholicism believes that all religions are equal..’.The Church teaches not only that all religions are not equal but that other religions are not paths to salvation. Wikipedia continues,’but merely that not everyone knows of Christ and that even those who do may have had the Gospel presented in such manner as to have turned them away (e.g. by missionaries who were poor examples of the Christian life).’
We do not know of any case on earth of someone saved who has not heard the Gospel preached to them, so why does Wikipedia make this an issue.?
In its Declaration on Religious Freedom, Dignitatis humanae, the same Vatican II also stated:
”This Vatican Council declares that the human person has a right to religious freedom. This freedom means that all men are to be immune from coercion on the part of individuals or of social groups and of any human power, in such wise that no one is to be forced to act in a manner contrary to his own beliefs, whether privately or publicly, whether alone or in association with others, within due limits.
Catholics allow others their right to religious freedom and also ask for the right to affirm their own faith, the Catholic Faith.They also ask that others not represent the Catholic Faith falsely as in the case of Wikipedia. Vatican Council II (AG 7,LG 7) says all people need to enter the Catholic Church for salvation (to avoid Hell).The followers of other religions are oriented to Hell.Wikipedia also needs to mention this passage in Vatican Council II.
Also those who know about the Jesus and the Church and yet do not enter cannot be saved.(Ad Gentes 7). This would include millions of educated non Catholics including the writers on Wikipedia.This too needs to be mentioned.
Catholics have the right to affirm this teaching and not be forced to accept the politically accepted one, thrust on us via Wikipedia and other media.
Wikipedia says. ‘The council further declares that the right to religious freedom has its foundation in the very dignity of the human person as this dignity is known through the revealed word of God and by reason itself. This right of the human person to religious freedom is to be recognized in the constitutional law whereby society is governed and thus it is to become a civil right”
Catholics also need to have their dignity recognized and their religious beliefs correctly reported and not have political propaganda forced on them.
It is reported on Wikipedia that salvation comes from the Jews. This means it needs to be clarified that it comes from the Promised Jewish Messiah, Jesus.So in this sense it comes from the Jews. Catholics are now the new Chosen People of God. The people of the everlasting Covenant.Salvation was won for them, who believe in Jesus and are in the only Church Jesus founded.It was won through Jesus’ Supreme Sacrifice for those who responded and converted into the Church. This Sacrifice is continued in the Holy Mass.
Salvation is available in the Sacraments of the Catholic Church and not defacto in other Christian communities.This is the official teaching of the Catholic magisterium in magisterial texts not quoted by Wikipedia.
-Lionel Andrades
http://eucharistandmission.blogspot.com/2011/12/wikipedias-entry-on-salvation.html#links