Grace of Final Perseverance: Difference between revisions
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; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm#2742 CCC #2742-2745] | ; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a2.htm#2742 CCC #2742-2745] | ||
: "Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father." | : "Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father."<ref>1 Thess 5:17; Eph 5:20.</ref> St. Paul adds, "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints."<ref>Eph 6:18.</ref> For "we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing."<ref>Evagrius Ponticus, Pract. 49:PG 40,1245C.</ref> This tireless fervor can come only from love. Against our dullness and laziness, the battle of prayer is that of humble, trusting, and persevering love. This love opens our hearts to three enlightening and life-giving facts of faith about prayer. | ||
:* It is always possible to pray: The time of the Christian is that of the risen Christ who is with us always, no matter what tempests may arise. | :* ''It is always possible to pray'': The time of the Christian is that of the risen Christ who is with us always, no matter what tempests may arise.<ref>Cf. Mt 28:20; Lk 8:24.</ref> Our time is in the hands of God: | ||
::::It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . . while buying or selling, . . . or even while cooking. | ::::It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . . while buying or selling, . . . or even while cooking.<ref>St. John Chrysostom, Ecloga de oratione 2:PG 63,585.</ref> | ||
:* Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin. | :* ''Prayer is a vital necessity.'' Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin.<ref>Cf. Gal 5:16-25.</ref> How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him? | ||
: | :::: Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy. . . . For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin.<ref>St. John Chrysostom, De Anna 4,5:PG 54,666.</ref> | ||
:::: Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned. | :::: Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned.<ref>St. Alphonsus Liguori, Del gran Mezzo della preghiera.</ref> | ||
:* ''Prayer and Christian life are inseparable,'' for they concern the same love and the same renunciation, proceeding from love; the same filial and loving conformity with the Father's plan of love; the same transforming union in the Holy Spirit who conforms us more and more to Christ Jesus; the same love for all men, the love with which Jesus has loved us. "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he [will] give it to you. This I command you, to love one another."<ref>Jn 15:16-17.</ref> | |||
:::: He "prays without ceasing" who unites prayer to works and good works to prayer. Only in this way can we consider as realizable the principle of praying without ceasing.<ref>Origen, De orat. 12:PG 11,452c.</ref> | |||
; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a3.htm#2753 CCC#2753] | ; [http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p4s1c3a3.htm#2753 CCC#2753] | ||
Revision as of 19:56, 30 January 2012
"Once saved, always saved"
Calvinist doctrine that those who have been predestined for Heaven cannot be lost.
Scripture
Ezekiel: man who renounces goodness vs. man who renounces sin.
- Fear and trembling
- 1 Cor 9:27 "I discipline my body ..."
- Phil 3:13-14
Catechism of the Catholic Church
- The children of our holy mother the Church rightly hope for the grace of final perseverance and the recompense of God their Father for the good works accomplished with his grace in communion with Jesus.[1] Keeping the same rule of life, believers share the "blessed hope" of those whom the divine mercy gathers into the "holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband."[2]
- The prayer of Abraham and Jacob is presented as a battle of faith marked by trust in God's faithfulness and by certitude in the victory promised to perseverance.
- "Pray constantly . . . always and for everything giving thanks in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father."[3] St. Paul adds, "Pray at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance making supplication for all the saints."[4] For "we have not been commanded to work, to keep watch and to fast constantly, but it has been laid down that we are to pray without ceasing."[5] This tireless fervor can come only from love. Against our dullness and laziness, the battle of prayer is that of humble, trusting, and persevering love. This love opens our hearts to three enlightening and life-giving facts of faith about prayer.
- It is always possible to pray: The time of the Christian is that of the risen Christ who is with us always, no matter what tempests may arise.[6] Our time is in the hands of God:
- It is possible to offer fervent prayer even while walking in public or strolling alone, or seated in your shop, . . . while buying or selling, . . . or even while cooking.[7]
- Prayer is a vital necessity. Proof from the contrary is no less convincing: if we do not allow the Spirit to lead us, we fall back into the slavery of sin.[8] How can the Holy Spirit be our life if our heart is far from him?
- Nothing is equal to prayer; for what is impossible it makes possible, what is difficult, easy. . . . For it is impossible, utterly impossible, for the man who prays eagerly and invokes God ceaselessly ever to sin.[9]
- Those who pray are certainly saved; those who do not pray are certainly damned.[10]
- Prayer and Christian life are inseparable, for they concern the same love and the same renunciation, proceeding from love; the same filial and loving conformity with the Father's plan of love; the same transforming union in the Holy Spirit who conforms us more and more to Christ Jesus; the same love for all men, the love with which Jesus has loved us. "Whatever you ask the Father in my name, he [will] give it to you. This I command you, to love one another."[11]
- He "prays without ceasing" who unites prayer to works and good works to prayer. Only in this way can we consider as realizable the principle of praying without ceasing.[12]
- In the battle of prayer we must confront erroneous conceptions of prayer, various currents of thought, and our own experience of failure. We must respond with humility, trust, and perseverance to these temptations which cast doubt on the usefulness or even the possibility of prayer.
Fortitude
Fortitude is a natural, cardinal virtue. Without fortitude (enduring patience or patient endurance), we will not continue to be just, temperate, or wise (prudent).
Catechism
- Human virtues acquired by education, by deliberate acts and by a perseverance ever-renewed in repeated efforts are purified and elevated by divine grace. With God's help, they forge character and give facility in the practice of the good. The virtuous man is happy to practice them.
- It is not easy for man, wounded by sin, to maintain moral balance. Christ's gift of salvation offers us the grace necessary to persevere in the pursuit of the virtues. Everyone should always ask for this grace of light and strength, frequent the sacraments, cooperate with the Holy Spirit, and follow his calls to love what is good and shun evil.
- The moral virtues grow through education, deliberate acts, and perseverance in struggle. Divine grace purifies and elevates them.
References
- ↑ Cf. Council of Trent (1547): DS 1576.
- ↑ Rev 21:2.
- ↑ 1 Thess 5:17; Eph 5:20.
- ↑ Eph 6:18.
- ↑ Evagrius Ponticus, Pract. 49:PG 40,1245C.
- ↑ Cf. Mt 28:20; Lk 8:24.
- ↑ St. John Chrysostom, Ecloga de oratione 2:PG 63,585.
- ↑ Cf. Gal 5:16-25.
- ↑ St. John Chrysostom, De Anna 4,5:PG 54,666.
- ↑ St. Alphonsus Liguori, Del gran Mezzo della preghiera.
- ↑ Jn 15:16-17.
- ↑ Origen, De orat. 12:PG 11,452c.