Salvation
The Catholic Church has always affirmed that salvation is a free gift that God freely offers to mankind. God “desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim 2:4). God is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.”(1 Tim 3:10). Human beings cannot save themselves. Nor […]
Pope Leo XIV affirms Judas excluded himself from salvation
The Catholic Herald During his General Audience on Wednesday, 13 August 2025, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the traditional understanding that Judas Iscariot, through his betrayal and lack of final repentance, excluded himself from salvation. His reflections, delivered as part of the Jubilee Year catechesis on “Jesus Christ Our Hope,” highlighted the gravity of Judas’s actions […]
Either one is on God’s side or on the side of evil:
Joshua 24:14-15, “Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in […]
Predestination
Predestination is the belief that God predestined some people to heaven and some to hell. This would go against the infinite justice of God. Every soul in this world is destined for heaven and God gives every soul sufficient grace to go to heaven if they want to. 2 Pet. 3:9 – The Lord is […]
The Fallacy of the Health and Wealth Gospel
Mt. 10:38 – no – take up cross follow me = not worthy of me. Rom. 8:16-17 – heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him. Rom. 8:18 – present suffering = nothing compared with future glory. Phil. 1:28-29 – granted to believe, also to suffer for him. Col. 1:24 – filling up what […]
Good Works
All works involved in the observance of the precepts and counsels though the term is usually reserved to the latter, and comprises all that falls under the three broad headings of prayer, fasting, alms giving. Good works are not the cause of justification. Mt. 7:21 – Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ […]
Is Faith Alone enough?
Victor R. Claveau, MJ The differences between Catholic and Protestants on Justification (God declaring and making a person just) are foundational to the split that occurred during the Protestant Reformation. Martin Luther writing about justification by faith alone said “If this article stands, the church stands; if it collapses, the church collapses”. Both Catholics and […]
What is necessary in order to enter Heaven at the moment of death?
Victor R. Claveau, MJ Answer: The perfection of the soul. The Catholic Church teaches that what happens to our soul when we die depends upon its state at that moment in time. “Nothing unclean shall enter it [heaven], nor any one who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s […]
There Is No Salvation Outside the Church!
Victor R. Claveau, MJ “I follow no leader but Christ and join in communion with none but your blessedness, that is, with the Chair of Peter. St. Jerome: Letter of Jerome to Pope Damasus. Inter AD 374/379. There is a grave obligation to seek out Divine Revelation, when there is a serious probability of its existence. […]
“Lord, is it only a few to be saved?”
Saint Leonard of Port Maurice (1676 – 1751) answers, What did Our Lord answer the curious man in the Gospel who asked Him, “Lord, is it only a few to be saved?” Did He keep silence? Did He answer haltingly? Did He conceal His thought for fear of frightening the crowd? No. Questioned by only […]