Saints on the Fewness of the Saved

[TraditionalCatholic]

'Behold how many there are who are called, and how few who are chosen! And behold, if you have no care for yourself, your perdition is more certain than your amendment, especially since the way that leads to eternal life is so narrow.'

St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church​

'The saved are few, but we must live with the few if we would be saved with the few. O God, too few indeed they are: yet amongst those few I wish to be!'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church​

'If you would be quite sure of your salvation, strive to be among the fewest of the few. Do not follow the majority of mankind, but follow those who renounce the world and never relax their efforts day or night so that they may attain everlasting blessedness.'

St. Anselm, Doctor of the Church​

'A multitude of souls fall into the depths of Hell, and it is of the faith that all who die in mortal sin are condemned for ever and ever. According to statistics, approximately 80,000 persons die every day. How many of these will die in mortal sin, and how many will be condemned! For, as their lives have been, so also will be their end.'

St. Anthony Mary Claret​

'Not all, nor even a majority, are saved. . . They are indeed many, if regarded by themselves, but they are few in comparison with the far larger number of those who shall be punished with the devil.'

St. Augustine, Doctor and Father of the Church​

'The number of the elect is so small - so small - that were we to know how small it is, we should faint away with grief. The number of the elect is so small that were God to assemble them together, He would cry to them, as He did of old, by the mouth of His prophet, "Gather yourselves together, one by one" - one from this province, one from that kingdom.'​

St. Louis Marie de Montfort​

'Our chronicles relate an even more dreadful happening. One of our brothers, well-known for his doctrine and holiness, was preaching in Germany. He represented the ugliness of the sin of impurity so forceful that a woman fell dead of sorrow in front of everyone. Then, coming back to life, she said, "When I was presented before the Tribunal of God, sixty thousand people arrived at the same time from all parts of the world; out of that number, three were saved by going to Purgatory, and all the rest were damned.'​

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

Saints' Quotes - Selections - Fewness of the Saved​

 

[concretecamper]

'Behold how many there are who are called, and how few who are chosen! And behold, if you have no care for yourself, your perdition is more certain than your amendment, especially since the way that leads to eternal life is so narrow.'

St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church​

'The saved are few, but we must live with the few if we would be saved with the few. O God, too few indeed they are: yet amongst those few I wish to be!'

St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Doctor of the Church​

'If you would be quite sure of your salvation, strive to be among the fewest of the few. Do not follow the majority of mankind, but follow those who renounce the world and never relax their efforts day or night so that they may attain everlasting blessedness.'

St. Anselm, Doctor of the Church​

'A multitude of souls fall into the depths of Hell, and it is of the faith that all who die in mortal sin are condemned for ever and ever. According to statistics, approximately 80,000 persons die every day. How many of these will die in mortal sin, and how many will be condemned! For, as their lives have been, so also will be their end.'

St. Anthony Mary Claret​

'Not all, nor even a majority, are saved. . . They are indeed many, if regarded by themselves, but they are few in comparison with the far larger number of those who shall be punished with the devil.'

St. Augustine, Doctor and Father of the Church​

'The number of the elect is so small - so small - that were we to know how small it is, we should faint away with grief. The number of the elect is so small that were God to assemble them together, He would cry to them, as He did of old, by the mouth of His prophet, "Gather yourselves together, one by one" - one from this province, one from that kingdom.'​

St. Louis Marie de Montfort​

'Our chronicles relate an even more dreadful happening. One of our brothers, well-known for his doctrine and holiness, was preaching in Germany. He represented the ugliness of the sin of impurity so forceful that a woman fell dead of sorrow in front of everyone. Then, coming back to life, she said, "When I was presented before the Tribunal of God, sixty thousand people arrived at the same time from all parts of the world; out of that number, three were saved by going to Purgatory, and all the rest were damned.'​

St. Leonard of Port Maurice

Saints' Quotes - Selections - Fewness of the Saved​

Send these quotes to Fr. Barron.

 

[StevenMerten]

Hello TC,

Jesus tells us to obey God's Commandments if we wish to enter into heaven through Him. To love God is to obey God. We do not have to obey God, in order to love God, perfectly, but we do have to love God through obedience to God, with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our strength and with all our soul. Jesus clearly teaches us that He will judge us into heaven or hell based on our conduct. It is the false prophets, both Protestant and Catholic, who are deceiving us away from this teaching of Jesus. This is what is making the path to heaven so constricted and hard to find.

Jesus, What Must I Do To Share In Everlasting Life?

NAB MAT 7:13

How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few. "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but underneath are ravenous wolves. By their fruits you will know them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Just so, every good tree bears good fruit, and a rotten tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a rotten tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire. So by their fruits you will know them. "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.


NAB2 1JO 5:3

For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,

NAB2 JOH 14:15

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.


NAB MAT 19:16

"Teacher, what good must I do to possess everlasting life?" He answered, "Why do you question me about what is good? There is One who is good. If you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments." "Which ones?" he asked. Jesus replied "You shall not kill"; 'You shall not commit adultery'; 'You shall not steal'; 'You shall not bear false witness'; 'Honor your father and mother'; and 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'"

NAB LUK 10:25

On one occasion a lawyer stood up to pose him this problem: "Teacher, what must I do to inherit everlasting life?" Jesus answered him: "What is written in the law? How do you read it?" He replied:
"You shall love the Lord your God
with all your heart,
with all your soul,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind;
and your neighbor as yourself."
Jesus said, "You have answered correctly. Do this and you shall live."

NAB JOH 5:27

"The Father has given over to him power to pass judgment because he is Son of Man; no need for you to be surprised at this, for an hour is coming in which all those in their tombs shall hear his voice and come forth. Those who have done right shall rise to live; the evildoers shall rise to be damned."​

 

[Tomm]

Thank you for the post, TC.
It's something we need to remind ourselves regularly.

 

[Fantine]

Respectfully, I believe it's better to be motivated by love for God than fear.

And you can't be motivated by love for God if you are so paralyzed by and obsessed with fear of eternal punishment--it takes away the purity and beauty of your love; it damages your relationship.

There is so much to love about God that if we focus on gratitude and praise and goodness we will be better naturally. Negativity keeps us from fulfilling our purpose on earth.

 

[Needing_Grace]

Smacks of Calvinism.

 

[StevenMerten]

Respectfully, I believe it's better to be motivated by love for God than fear.

And you can't be motivated by love for God if you are so paralyzed by and obsessed with fear of eternal punishment--it takes away the purity and beauty of your love; it damages your relationship.

There is so much to love about God that if we focus on gratitude and praise and goodness we will be better naturally. Negativity keeps us from fulfilling our purpose on earth.

Hello Fantine,

First, Do we agree that love for God is accomplished through obedience to God. If we do, then yes to love God with all our hearts, strength mind and soul, through obedience to God, is our purpose in free willed life on earth.

Do you agree that Moses and Old Testament do not speak of hell. There is Spiritual life and Spiritual death talked about but not the hell and damnation picture that Jesus brings us. Do you agree that Jesus warned us constantly of hell, damnation and those He would not forgive.

It is good to Love God through obedience to God without thinking of all Christ's many warnings on hell and damnation. Still I think you will agree that because Jesus did warn of hell and damnation so tremendously much, it is a really good idea not to hide ourselves from all these many, many teachings of Jesus. Jesus preaches of hell and damnation for our own good. To say other wise would be detracting from Jesus many, many teachings on eternal damnation. Don't you think?

Warning! Jesus Does Not Forgive All

NAB2 1JO 5:3

For the love of God is this, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,

NAB2 JOH 14:15

If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

NAB MAT 25:41

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."​

 

[Rhamiel]

Smacks of Calvinism.

how so?

Calvinism talks about how people are saved, it does not really say how many are saved

the saints do not talk about Free Will or Irresistible Grace or any Calvinist doctrine

they just point out that most die in a state of sin

 

[Needing_Grace]

how so?

Calvinism talks about how people are saved, it does not really say how many are saved

the saints do not talk about Free Will or Irresistible Grace or any Calvinist doctrine

they just point out that most die in a state of sin

In my view Calvinism is more about those God condemns than who He saves. Calvinism says that God actively damns people to hell.

This pessimistic view of a merciless God damning people to Hell seems similar to me.

 

[Rhamiel]

In my view Calvinism is more about those God condemns than who He saves. Calvinism says that God actively damns people to hell.

This pessimistic view of a merciless God damning people to Hell seems similar to me.

God is full of Mercy

but if people do not seek out His mercy and keep sinning then they will go to hell

so few people repent of their sins

 

[TraditionalCatholic]

Send these quotes to Fr. Barron.

If Fr. Barron simply read Scripture, he would know that there are souls in hell.

"But if the Lord do a new thing, and the earth opening her mouth swallow them down, and all things that belong to them, and they go down alive into hell, you shall know that they have blasphemed the Lord." (Numbers 16:30)

"As Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbouring cities, in like manner, having given themselves to fornication, and going after other flesh, were made an example, suffering the punishment of eternal fire." (Jude 1:7)

The Catechism of the Council of Trent

"The cross itself, was a tribunal. In the centre was the judge. To the one side a man who believed and was set free, to the other side a scoffer and he was condemned." - Pope St. Leo the Great

"Three sects take their origin from Valentine. . . The second sect were called Cainites : These venerated as saints all those who the Scripture tells us were damned -- as Cain, Core, the inhabitants of Sodom, and especially Judas Iscariot."

-St. Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, 'History of Heresies'

 

[TraditionalCatholic]

"If there is one thing the spokesmen for American Catholicism are convinced of, it is that the present state of this country is thoroughly and flagrantly hellish. And, from Cardinal Spellman to Joe Breig, they proclaim this conviction constantly, insistently, and with endless variety.

They write books on our national insanity; they launch diocesan-newspaper attacks against our filthy literature; they issue official statements deploring the condition of family life in America; they give sermons and lectures on our unrestrained selfishness and greed.

Each week Bishop Sheen speaks to fifteen million people, who presumably are in the depths of despair — if not actually contemplating suicide — and tries to persuade them that life is worth living. Even smiling Father James Keller, urging his Christophers to light candles rather than curse the darkness, manages to convey the impression that there is a lot of darkness to curse.

The most notable thing in the statements of these Catholic spokesmen, however, is not what they say; — the existence of the evils they describe is a matter of universal observation and acknowledgment — rather, it is what they leave unsaid. For there is one strange, glaring omission in all their accusations, one inescapable conclusion which they are determined to escape.

They will call the American people drunken, divorced, delinquent, debauched; but they will not say that unless the American people amend their ways they are going to lose their souls. They will denounce, deplore, reprehend, rail against the iniquity of our country; but they will not say the one thing that might shock, frighten the country out of its iniquity: they will not say that it is headed for Hell.

And not only will they not say this, but they become terribly upset if anyone else says it. “Judge not,” they snap, not bothering that they have already judged, and you are just making the necessary conclusion from their judgment."

- Fr. Feeney Point Magazine. more here Point magazine for Feb 1954 edited by Fr Leonard Feeney

 

[ebia]

Jesus preaches of hell and damnation for our own good.

Mostly to people who (a) already aware of them and (b) were convinced they were the in crowd.

 

[StevenMerten]

Mostly to people who (a) already aware of them and (b) were convinced they were the in crowd.

Hello Ebia,

Scripture tells us that, at least the Sadducees, did not even believe in the resurrection, much less eternal damnation and hell. I cannot find anything in Old Testament describing the fires of hell that Jesus taught. Hell was not known of before Jesus. If you can find hell in the Old Testament, please post it. It is Jesus, not Moses or any of the Old Testament authors who gives us the powerful images of hell. Do you have any Old Testament scripture which teaches of the fires of hell before Jesus? There are none.

Warning! Jesus Does Not Forgive All

NAB ACT 23:8

(The Sadducees, of course, maintain that there is no resurrection and that there are neither angles nor spirits, while the Pharisees believe in all these things.)(LUK 14:14)(2TI 2:18)(1CO 10:1)

NAB MAT 25:41

Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.' Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?' He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.' And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."

NAB2 LUK 16:19 The Rich Man and Lazarus

"There was a rich man who dressed in purple garments and fine linen and dined sumptuously each day. And lying at his door was a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, who would gladly have eaten his fill of the scraps that fell from the rich man's table. Dogs even used to come and lick his sores. When the poor man died, he was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried, and from the netherworld, where he was in torment, he raised his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side. And he cried out, 'Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am suffering torment in these flames.' Abraham replied, 'My child, remember that you received what was good during your lifetime while Lazarus likewise received what was bad; but now he is comforted here, whereas you are tormented. Moreover, between us and you a great chasm is established to prevent anyone from crossing who might wish to go from our side to yours or from your side to ours.'

NAB2 LUK 13:23

Someone asked him, "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" He answered them, "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, 'Lord, open the door for us.' He will say to you in reply, 'I do not know where you are from.' And you will say, 'We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.' Then he will say to you, 'I do not know where (you) are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!' And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out.


NAB2 MAT 5:20

I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter into the kingdom of heaven . "You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, 'Raqa,' will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.

NAB MAT 13:36

"He who sows good seed is the Son of Man, the field is the world, the good seed the children of the kingdom. The weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sows them is the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. Just as weeds are collected and burned (up) with fire, so will it be at the end of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will collect out of his kingdom all who cause others to sin and all evildoers. They will throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears ought to hear."

NAB2 MAT 22:1

But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment. He said to him, ‘My friend, how is it that you came in here without a wedding garment?’ But he was reduced to silence. Then the king said to his attendants, ‘Bind his hands and feet, and cast him into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.’ Many are invited, but few are chosen.”

NAB2 MAT 23:33

You serpents, you brood of vipers, how can you flee from the judgment of Gehenna?

NAB REV 22:12

"Remember, I am coming soon! I bring with me the reward that will be given to each man as his conduct deserves. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End! Happy are they who wash their robes so as to have free access to the tree of life and enter the city through its gates Outside are the dogs and sorcerers, the fornicators and murderers, the idol-worshipers and all who love falsehood."

​

 

[ebia]

Hello Ebia, Scripture tells us that, at least the Sadducees, did not even believe in the resurrection, much less eternal damnation and hell.

Most of the comments about hell aren't aimed at the Sadducees, but you're missing the wood for the trees - they are aimed at those who think they are God's in-crowd, not at the population.

I cannot find anything in Old Testament describing the fires of hell that Jesus taught. Hell was not known of before Jesus. If you can find hell in the Old Testament, please post it. It is Jesus, not Moses or any of the Old Testament authors who gives us the powerful images of hell. Do you have any Old Testament scripture which teaches of the fires of hell before Jesus? There are none.

Lots of ideas were around in Jewish thinking at the time that are not spelled out in the OT.

 

[StevenMerten]

Most of the comments about hell aren't aimed at the Sadducees, but you're missing the wood for the trees - they are aimed at those who think they are God's in-crowd, not at the population.

Lots of ideas were around in Jewish thinking at the time that are not spelled out in the OT.

Hello Ebia,

Thanks for confirming that hell is not something Old Testament gave us. I once heard a priest state in a homily, Moses gave us hell and damnation and now Jesus came to teach love. I said, hey, that is not true, Jesus gave us hell and damnation, not Moses and Jesus quoted Moses on love.

The Blessed Mother of Fatima showed the three shepherd children a vision of hell. The Blessed Mother first promised the three that they would all go to heaven, because otherwise it would be to terrifying for them. So who do you think the horrible vision of hell is 'aimed at'?

I say it is aimed at all the unrepentant wicked of the world. The big message of Fatima is that God is already to much offended by mankind's sins. Who do you say that the vision is intended for?

 

[TraditionalCatholic]

Hello Ebia,

Thanks for confirming that hell is not something Old Testament gave us. I once heard a priest state in a homily, Moses gave us hell and damnation and now Jesus came to teach love. I said, hey, that is not true, Jesus gave us hell and damnation, not Moses and Jesus quoted Moses on love.

The Blessed Mother of Fatima showed the three shepherd children a vision of hell. The Blessed Mother first promised the three that they would all go to heaven, because otherwise it would be to terrifying for them. So who do you think the horrible vision of hell is 'aimed at'?

I say it is aimed at all the unrepentant wicked of the world. The big message of Fatima is that God is already to much offended by mankind's sins. Who do you say that the vision is intended for?

It is clear Our Lady of Fatima showed the shepherd children hell so that we will be motivated to amend our lives and save our souls.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10)

 

[StevenMerten]

It is clear Our Lady of Fatima showed the shepherd children hell so that we will be motivated to amend our lives and save our souls.

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Proverbs 9:10)

Thanks TC

THE MESSAGE OF FATIMA

Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith​

The first part is the vision of hell.

Our Lady showed us a great sea of fire which seemed to be under the earth. Plunged in this fire were demons and souls in human form, like transparent burning embers, all blackened or burnished bronze, floating about in the conflagration, now raised into the air by the flames that issued from within themselves together with great clouds of smoke, now falling back on every side like sparks in a huge fire, without weight or equilibrium, and amid shrieks and groans of pain and despair, which horrified us and made us tremble with fear. The demons could be distinguished by their terrifying and repulsive likeness to frightful and unknown animals, all black and transparent. This vision lasted but an instant. How can we ever be grateful enough to our kind heavenly Mother, who had already prepared us by promising, in the first Apparition, to take us to heaven. Otherwise, I think we would have died of fear and terror.

We then looked up at Our Lady, who said to us so kindly and so sadly:

“You have seen hell where the souls of poor sinners go. To save them, God wishes to establish in the world devotion to my Immaculate Heart. If what I say to you is done, many souls will be saved and there will be peace. The war is going to end: but if people do not cease offending God, a worse one will break out during the Pontificate of Pius XI...

Fatima Secret - Message and Commentary

 

[ebia]

Hello Ebia, Thanks for confirming that hell is not something Old Testament gave us. I once heard a priest state in a homily, Moses gave us hell and damnation and now Jesus came to teach love. I said, hey, that is not true, Jesus gave us hell and damnation, not Moses and Jesus quoted Moses on love. The Blessed Mother of Fatima showed the three shepherd children a vision of hell. The Blessed Mother first promised the three that they would all go to heaven, because otherwise it would be to terrifying for them. So who do you think the horrible vision of hell is 'aimed at'? I say it is aimed at all the unrepentant wicked of the world. The big message of Fatima is that God is already to much offended by mankind's sins. Who do you say that the vision is intended for?

Private revelation is not something I have any interest in.

 

[Rhamiel]

Private revelation is not something I have any interest in.

good thing we have Public Revelation

Matthew 7:14
But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.