1 Corinthians 9:24
Douay-Rheims
24 Know you not that they that run in the race, all run indeed, but one receiveth the prize? So run that you may obtain.
Those who follow this blog know I like to read Suarez. The Catholic Encyclopedia online uses him to explain the sin of presumption.
Suarez ("De spe", disp. 2a, sect. 3, n. 2) enumerates five ways in which one may be guilty o fpresumption, as follows:
- by hoping to obtain by one's natural powers, unaided, what is definitely supernatural, viz. eternal bliss or the recovery of God's friendship after grievous sin (this would involve a Pelagian frame of mind);
- a person might look to have his sins forgiven without adequate penance (this, likewise, if it were based on a seriously entertained conviction, would seem to carry with it the taint of heresy);
- a man might expect some special assistance from Almighty God for the perpetration of crime (this would be blasphemous as well as presumptuous);
- one might aspire to certain extraordinary supernatural excellencies, but without any conformity to the determinations of God's providence. Thus one might aspire to equal in blessedness the Mother of God;
- finally, there is the transgression of those who, whilst they continue to lead a life of sin, are as confident of a happy issue as if they had not lost their baptismal innocence.
We cannot take for granted out salvation. We cannot presume to enter repeatedly into areas of serious sin without this affecting us. Are your friends and families in serious moral sin, living in darkness and not repenting even after you have tried to help them see the truth of their souls?
Do not presume.
We have become lax in our attitudes towards friends and families. I do not know why this has happened. Sometimes, families and friends become idols.
Sometimes people are in unhealthy relationships of deception.
I shall quote St. Paul from two out of several epistles which include this subject:
1 Corinthians 5:11-13
Douay-Rheims
11 But now I have written to you, not to keep company, if any man that is named a brother, be a fornicator, or covetous, or a server of idols, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner: with such a one, not so much as to eat.
12 For what have I to do to judge them that are without? Do not you judge them that are within?
13 For them that are without, God will judge. Put away the evil one from among yourselves
Philippians 4:8
Douay-Rheims
8 For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever modest, whatsoever just, whatsoever holy, whatsoever lovely, whatsoever of good fame, if there be any virtue, if any praise of discipline, think on these things.
And, Christ said this:
Matthew 10:35-36
Douay-Rheims
35 For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's enemies shall be they of his own household.
35 For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's enemies shall be they of his own household.
Jesus said this for a reason. Some families are full of practicing Catholics and some are not. Until we are healed and free enough not to be affected by the sins of the families, we may have to stay away from serious sin; we must be careful not to lose our own souls.
I have been pushing Christian and Catholic communities on this blog for a long time for many reasons. One is that one needs "friendships in the Lord" to stay strong in this world. Without support, we shall go under.
The early Catholic communities understood the necessity of daily support in the face of a pagan society.
What is the difference now?
Many Catholics do not understand that this persecution is not merely the type of pain which involves being taken to court for being a Catholic, but it could be being dragged down by the sins in families. We must not place ourselves in positions of being severely tempted until we are purified enough to stand against familial sins.
For example, some people continue in unhealthy and even, sinful relationships with parents and even siblings. Of what do some of these sins consist? I can make a list of things which drag people down.
The first ones can be cooperation with evil regarding gluttony and drunkenness, eating too much and drinking too much. Catholics need to pay attention to these family sins. If this is the norm in a family, one might have to avoid family members who insist on gluttony and drunkenness, especially on days of certain sport events.
The second area is the toleration of adulterous and relationships based on fornication. Catholics must not ignore these sins, but address these. If you cannot see the damage this does your own soul, think of your children. Do not pretend that people that live in mortal sin act the same way as those in sanctifying grace. They cannot until they repent and come to God and His Church.
The third area is the not attending Sunday Mass and tolerating this when visiting. Why do Catholics allow those in mortal sin to affect their children and give bad example? One grandmother I spoke with was unhappy when the grandchild said plainly, "I do not have to go to church because.....does not." And, if the grandparents do not go to weekly church, and you keep visiting them on Sundays so that your children see this bad example, what they see could affect the children.
Parents are responsible for the mortal sins of children who are young and not protected by such temptations or confusions.
If you are in sanctifying grace, and are not strong enough to keep your immediate families from the sins of relatives, you must choose not to put your children in danger.
The fourth area may be such things as deep deception regarding manipulation of souls in families. One must be free of the sins which others inflict on one's souls. Freedom means freedom from other people's sins and many sins, such as incest, are passed down in families.
Especially if we have children, we are obligated to protect those in our own households.
I have other quotation which may help some:
I have been pushing Christian and Catholic communities on this blog for a long time for many reasons. One is that one needs "friendships in the Lord" to stay strong in this world. Without support, we shall go under.
The early Catholic communities understood the necessity of daily support in the face of a pagan society.
What is the difference now?
Many Catholics do not understand that this persecution is not merely the type of pain which involves being taken to court for being a Catholic, but it could be being dragged down by the sins in families. We must not place ourselves in positions of being severely tempted until we are purified enough to stand against familial sins.
For example, some people continue in unhealthy and even, sinful relationships with parents and even siblings. Of what do some of these sins consist? I can make a list of things which drag people down.
The first ones can be cooperation with evil regarding gluttony and drunkenness, eating too much and drinking too much. Catholics need to pay attention to these family sins. If this is the norm in a family, one might have to avoid family members who insist on gluttony and drunkenness, especially on days of certain sport events.
The second area is the toleration of adulterous and relationships based on fornication. Catholics must not ignore these sins, but address these. If you cannot see the damage this does your own soul, think of your children. Do not pretend that people that live in mortal sin act the same way as those in sanctifying grace. They cannot until they repent and come to God and His Church.
The third area is the not attending Sunday Mass and tolerating this when visiting. Why do Catholics allow those in mortal sin to affect their children and give bad example? One grandmother I spoke with was unhappy when the grandchild said plainly, "I do not have to go to church because.....does not." And, if the grandparents do not go to weekly church, and you keep visiting them on Sundays so that your children see this bad example, what they see could affect the children.
Parents are responsible for the mortal sins of children who are young and not protected by such temptations or confusions.
Parents are responsible for the mortal sins of children who are young and not protected by such temptations or confusions.
If you are in sanctifying grace, and are not strong enough to keep your immediate families from the sins of relatives, you must choose not to put your children in danger.
The fourth area may be such things as deep deception regarding manipulation of souls in families. One must be free of the sins which others inflict on one's souls. Freedom means freedom from other people's sins and many sins, such as incest, are passed down in families.
Especially if we have children, we are obligated to protect those in our own households.
I have other quotation which may help some:
Especially if we have children, we are obligated to protect those in our own households.
I have other quotation which may help some:
1 Corinthians 7:14
Douay-Rheims
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.
But, notice, St. Paul says nothing about the believing wife or husband saving an entire family. That is not her job or his job until his or her house is in order. He has this to say of bishops, but any father of a family should adhere to his advice.
14 For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the believing wife; and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the believing husband: otherwise your children should be unclean; but now they are holy.
But, notice, St. Paul says nothing about the believing wife or husband saving an entire family. That is not her job or his job until his or her house is in order. He has this to say of bishops, but any father of a family should adhere to his advice.
1 Timothy 3:2-7 DR
2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,
3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.
5 But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?
6 Not a neophyte: lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
So, why do men not pursue Catholic, moral Christian friends, and instead settle for the evil either in work fellows, or the evil in families?
I think there are several reasons, but I shall highlight two.
One, too many Catholic men want to be liked by their friends and families. They lack bravery to stand up to evil and call it for what it is. Perhaps they have given in to deception. They would rather be pals then brothers in Christ.
Two, too many Catholic men do not pursue Catholic male friends because they are afraid of "being found out". In other words, if they let guys get close to them, these men might find out that they yell at their wives, or ignore their children, or drink too much, or have truly bad relationships with parents. We need to be "found out" for our own salvation.
Do you think children are blind to the sins of aunts, uncles, even grandparents? Are you causing scandal to your children by making them socialize with unbelievers living in mortal sin?
What about friends or family who never give to charities and who only live for their own, even small, pleasures? These types of people will not bring you to God except through you doing prayer and penance for them. One can become cynical hanging around narcissistic and selfish people.
If you do not speak the truth to siblings or parents, who will? If you continue to have close relationships with those who have turned their backs on Christ and His Church, is it not presumption to think you are not affected as well?
They, perhaps, the family members or friends, do not want to change. Perhaps they think they have time to change. Perhaps they cannot see the knife-edge of death and life set before them to choose, now.
C. S. Lewis wrote this:
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose that you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? ... Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.
If you are not risking your faith for your families and friends, you are not living the Gospel and you may lose your soul. The early Church understood the need for communities. Without these friendships in the Lord, the Church would have died, succumbing to the pagan society of the time. But, the Church thrived., because the brethren came together and supported each other in virtue.
We know nothing of the families of SS. Joseph, Paul, and all but a few of the apostles. We know nothing of the families of many of the great saints, except for a few, like the Martins, or St. Etheldreda's family, or St. Basil's. Some saints came from holy families and some did not.
Some of the saints had to come to God without their families and friends. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's parents were atheists, and did not convert because their son was holy. The father of St. Damien of Molokai never spoke to him after he decided to become a priest. St. Barbara's father was involved in her martyrdom. Some saints had to walk away from families and friends who were living in sin, and repeated mortal sin is called "living in sin."
Do not lie about the need for Catholic friends, first. Stop making excuses for the lack of Catholic friends.
Your souls may be at stake, if you idolize those involved in evil. Love them, pray for them, do penance for them, but do not follow them.
2 It behoveth therefore a bishop to be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, of good behaviour, chaste, given to hospitality, a teacher,
3 Not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, but
4 One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all chastity.
5 But if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?
6 Not a neophyte: lest being puffed up with pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil.
7 Moreover he must have a good testimony of them who are without: lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.
So, why do men not pursue Catholic, moral Christian friends, and instead settle for the evil either in work fellows, or the evil in families?
I think there are several reasons, but I shall highlight two.
One, too many Catholic men want to be liked by their friends and families. They lack bravery to stand up to evil and call it for what it is. Perhaps they have given in to deception. They would rather be pals then brothers in Christ.
Two, too many Catholic men do not pursue Catholic male friends because they are afraid of "being found out". In other words, if they let guys get close to them, these men might find out that they yell at their wives, or ignore their children, or drink too much, or have truly bad relationships with parents. We need to be "found out" for our own salvation.
Do you think children are blind to the sins of aunts, uncles, even grandparents? Are you causing scandal to your children by making them socialize with unbelievers living in mortal sin?
What about friends or family who never give to charities and who only live for their own, even small, pleasures? These types of people will not bring you to God except through you doing prayer and penance for them. One can become cynical hanging around narcissistic and selfish people.
If you do not speak the truth to siblings or parents, who will? If you continue to have close relationships with those who have turned their backs on Christ and His Church, is it not presumption to think you are not affected as well?
They, perhaps, the family members or friends, do not want to change. Perhaps they think they have time to change. Perhaps they cannot see the knife-edge of death and life set before them to choose, now.
C. S. Lewis wrote this:
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose that you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? ... Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.
If you are not risking your faith for your families and friends, you are not living the Gospel and you may lose your soul. The early Church understood the need for communities. Without these friendships in the Lord, the Church would have died, succumbing to the pagan society of the time. But, the Church thrived., because the brethren came together and supported each other in virtue.
We know nothing of the families of SS. Joseph, Paul, and all but a few of the apostles. We know nothing of the families of many of the great saints, except for a few, like the Martins, or St. Etheldreda's family, or St. Basil's. Some saints came from holy families and some did not.
Some of the saints had to come to God without their families and friends. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's parents were atheists, and did not convert because their son was holy. The father of St. Damien of Molokai never spoke to him after he decided to become a priest. St. Barbara's father was involved in her martyrdom. Some saints had to walk away from families and friends who were living in sin, and repeated mortal sin is called "living in sin."
Do not lie about the need for Catholic friends, first. Stop making excuses for the lack of Catholic friends.
Your souls may be at stake, if you idolize those involved in evil. Love them, pray for them, do penance for them, but do not follow them.
So, why do men not pursue Catholic, moral Christian friends, and instead settle for the evil either in work fellows, or the evil in families?
I think there are several reasons, but I shall highlight two.
One, too many Catholic men want to be liked by their friends and families. They lack bravery to stand up to evil and call it for what it is. Perhaps they have given in to deception. They would rather be pals then brothers in Christ.
Two, too many Catholic men do not pursue Catholic male friends because they are afraid of "being found out". In other words, if they let guys get close to them, these men might find out that they yell at their wives, or ignore their children, or drink too much, or have truly bad relationships with parents. We need to be "found out" for our own salvation.
Do you think children are blind to the sins of aunts, uncles, even grandparents? Are you causing scandal to your children by making them socialize with unbelievers living in mortal sin?
What about friends or family who never give to charities and who only live for their own, even small, pleasures? These types of people will not bring you to God except through you doing prayer and penance for them. One can become cynical hanging around narcissistic and selfish people.
If you do not speak the truth to siblings or parents, who will? If you continue to have close relationships with those who have turned their backs on Christ and His Church, is it not presumption to think you are not affected as well?
They, perhaps, the family members or friends, do not want to change. Perhaps they think they have time to change. Perhaps they cannot see the knife-edge of death and life set before them to choose, now.
C. S. Lewis wrote this:
You never know how much you really believe anything until its truth or falsehood becomes a matter of life and death to you. It is easy to you believe a rope to be strong and sound as long as you are merely using it to cord a box. But suppose that you had to hang by that rope over a precipice. Wouldn't you then first discover how much you really trusted it? ... Only a real risk tests the reality of a belief.
If you are not risking your faith for your families and friends, you are not living the Gospel and you may lose your soul. The early Church understood the need for communities. Without these friendships in the Lord, the Church would have died, succumbing to the pagan society of the time. But, the Church thrived., because the brethren came together and supported each other in virtue.
We know nothing of the families of SS. Joseph, Paul, and all but a few of the apostles. We know nothing of the families of many of the great saints, except for a few, like the Martins, or St. Etheldreda's family, or St. Basil's. Some saints came from holy families and some did not.
Some of the saints had to come to God without their families and friends. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's parents were atheists, and did not convert because their son was holy. The father of St. Damien of Molokai never spoke to him after he decided to become a priest. St. Barbara's father was involved in her martyrdom. Some saints had to walk away from families and friends who were living in sin, and repeated mortal sin is called "living in sin."
Do not lie about the need for Catholic friends, first. Stop making excuses for the lack of Catholic friends.
Your souls may be at stake, if you idolize those involved in evil. Love them, pray for them, do penance for them, but do not follow them.