Invincible ignorance neither saves nor condemns. So, what is it?

…a person who wants to go east, but, by an innocent mistake, gets on a train going west, will, as soon as he finds out his mistake, get off at the next station, and take a train that goes east.

In like manner, a person who walked on a road that he, in his inculpable ignorance, believed was the true road to Heaven, must leave that road, as soon as he finds out his mistake, and inquire for the true road to Heaven. God, in His infinite mercy, will not fail to make him find out, in due time, the true road to Heaven, if he corresponds to His grace.

Hence we asked the following question in our Familiar Explanation: 

“What are we to think of the salvation of those who are out of the pale of the Church without any fault of theirs, and who never had any opportunity to know better?”

To this question we give the following answer:

“Their inculpable (invincible) ignorance will not save them; but if they fear God and live up to their conscience, God, in His infinite mercy, will furnish them with the necessary means of salvation, even so as to send, if needed, an angel to instruct them in the Catholic Faith, rather than let them perish through inculpable ignorance.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)

“Jesus in the corner” – “Angel Encounters” – and other interesting life experiences

One night I was away flying a mission with the Air Force. When I got back she told me what had happened to her while I was gone.  Her room became as bright as daylight, and she looked up to see an angel standing at her bedside.  She was so startled that she closed her eyes and when she opened them he was gone…

Read more

A woman is trapped in the wreckage of a horrific car crash. Then a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him, arrived.

“He came up and approached the patient, and offered a prayer,” New London Fire Chief Raymond Reed told KHQA-TV. “It was a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him. A sense of calmness came over her, and it did us as well.”

Considering how many people were at the scene and interacting with the mystery faith leader, the story is a fascinating one.

“I can’t be for certain how it was said, but myself and another firefighter, we very plainly heard that we should remain calm, that our tools would now work and that we would get her out of that vehicle,” the firefighter added.

Now here’s where things get weird.

Read more

Editor’s note: These things happen way more often than most people think. Here’s another short, illustrated, real-life, personal story.

God loves you. God will provide – and that often means answering frantic prayers with just the right person, for the job. All we can do in the mean time, is try not to mess things up too badly – and/or too often – since God’s ways are not our ways – and it’s never wise to act recklessly or presumptuously.

It’s also always a good idea to say a quick prayer for anyone who you might notice, happens to be in distress, may have been injured, may be very near death, or has recently died.

One more thing … thank God for priests. The vast majority of priests are nice guys who are just trying to do God’s work, under what usually turns out to be very difficult circumstances. Priests are at their best – and are most appreciated  – when they are attending to the souls of those who are literally, staring death in the face. Those who have been there will, I am sure, agree.

James 5:14-15 Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Additional related links:

A last chance for lost souls

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

What Are “Last Rites”?

Priest’s Heroic Battle Action

Priests Prevented From Anointing Boston Marathon Bombing Victims

Three kinds of holy oil/chrism

Saint Padre Pio and the Angels

Don’t play with the devil, because you will lose!

A GENERAL RULE: Don’t play with the Devil.

As soon as one knows that it comes from the devil, it must be rejected without any discussion. Check to see if God would suggest the thought, if not, it’s from the devil! Don’t entertain it.

“Playing with the devil” is tarrying with a thought that one knows to be not good, and thus from the devil. Woe to him who consents to dialogue with the devil (who is much stronger than we). Eve succumbed because she “played” with the devil. Instead of cutting him short, she started to discuss the temptation with him. The devil finished by making her fall.

Saint Bernard wrote: “Nobody becomes suddenly bad.” Know that it has not happened all of a sudden. For a long time, they have played with the devil.

If you play with the devil, you will lose. Don’t entertain “what if” bad thoughts. Reject it as soon as you perceive it’s a bad thought or you will fall little by little. He proposes little sins first.

The devil tries to put our minds at ease when we are in sin or are about to sin. The good angels do the opposite. We must not help the devil but must help disturb the conscience of those living in sin. Don’t put them at ease. We must not help the devil give them a false peace.

People today are very external and active. They don’t know how to be quiet, how to think about life. Beware of too much activity that keeps the mind from thinking, keeps us from internal thoughts. True peace of mind does not come from the devil.

The good angel will give reasons why an idea is bad.

The devil uses our situation against us. Are we tired, sick, have evil friends, etc. Beware of “if” or “maybe” proposals and thoughts.

God also uses good friends and sends us lights. Pay attention to influences. Distinguish between good influences and bad or evil influences. Keep the good and reject the evil.

The devil moves the passions since he cannot move the will. He however wants our will. So he moves our passions: sadness, anxiety, etc. Don’t play with it. Say no to sadness. God always gives peace of mind when good is selected.

Read more

The Tremendous Value of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

At the hour of death the Holy, Masses you have heard devoutly,
will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you
to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins,
more or less, according to your fervor.

By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage
possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. Through the Holy Sacrifice,
Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of our negligences and omissions.

He forgives you all the venial sins which you are
determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins
which you never confessed.
The power of Satan over you is diminished.

By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the souls in
purgatory the greatest possible relief; One Holy Mass heard during your life
will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.

Through the Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers
and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you.
You shorten your purgatory by every Mass.

During the Holy Mass you kneel amid a multitude of holy
angels, who are present at the Adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

When you hear Holy Mass devoutly offering it to Almighty God
in honor of a particular saint or an angel thanking God for the favors
bestowed; you afford that saint or that angel a new degree of honor,
joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection upon yourself.

Every time you assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it
in honor of the saint of the day.

When the Priest offers the Host
I place upon the paten my heart:
the hearts of all those near and dear to me,
especially the hearts of my relatives:
the hearts of all those for whom
I have promised to pray:
the hearts of all those who have injured me:
the hearts of all those whom I may have injured:
the hearts of all the agonizing.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest the bread and wine
into Thy Precious Body and Blood, change our hearts
into hearts pleasing to Thee.

When the Priest offers the Chalice.
I place within the chalice the souls of all my relatives
for whom I should pray: the souls of those for whom
I may have forgotten to pray,
the souls most devout to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the souls of the most abandoned.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest
the wine into Thy Precious Blood change these poor souls
from their place of suffering unto eternal happiness.

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord
and let the perpetual light shine upon them.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel! Fruitful vine!
Splendor of Heaven! Blessed Mother of the Son of God!
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity!
O Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart,
to succor me in this necessity there are none
that can withstand thy power.

O show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)
Sweet Mother I place this cause in thy hands. (3 times)

Askmeaboutgod.org is the new “home” of The Catholic Treasure Chest website

I’ve lost touch with my old friend Bob Stanley,
of The Catholic Treasure Chest
and the original domain name is no longer available.

Bob’s site has been (for the last 20 years or so) one of the finest, most complete, truly Catholic websites on the planet.

According to the informal plan that Bob and I worked up together, many years ago: Should such an event occur, I was to restore the site from a comprehensive backup and get things up and running again, ASAP.

The Catholic Treasure Chest is once again, up and running
and may be accessed through available links
on this (www.AskMeAboutGod.org) site.

Click here to view

Update: Bob Stanley has passed away

“Jesus in the corner” – “Angel Encounters” – and other interesting life experiences

One night I was away flying a mission with the Air Force. When I got back she told me what had happened to her while I was gone.  Her room became as bright as daylight, and she looked up to see an angel standing at her bedside.  She was so startled that she closed her eyes and when she opened them he was gone…

Read more

Invincible ignorance neither saves nor condemns. So, what is it?

…a person who wants to go east, but, by an innocent mistake, gets on a train going west, will, as soon as he finds out his mistake, get off at the next station, and take a train that goes east. In like manner, a person who walked on a road that he, in his inculpable ignorance, believed was the true road to Heaven, must leave that road, as soon as he finds out his mistake, and inquire for the true road to Heaven. God, in His infinite mercy, will not fail to make him find out, in due time, the true road to Heaven, if he corresponds to His grace. Hence we asked the following question in our Familiar Explanation: 

“What are we to think of the salvation of those who are out of the pale of the Church without any fault of theirs, and who never had any opportunity to know better?”

To this question we give the following answer:

“Their inculpable (invincible) ignorance will not save them; but if they fear God and live up to their conscience, God, in His infinite mercy, will furnish them with the necessary means of salvation, even so as to send, if needed, an angel to instruct them in the Catholic Faith, rather than let them perish through inculpable ignorance.” (St. Thomas Aquinas)

More

Interesting pamphlets from the 1930’s and 1940’s about the Holy Bible and the Angels

Read it. Save it. Print it. (PDF File)

The Holy Angels of God (PDF)

There’s more, too! Courtesy of Lux Occulta

What may come of beating a dead horse – or a seemingly uncooperative donkey!

Read the latest from Monsignor Charles Pope 

A woman is trapped in the wreckage of a horrific car crash. Then a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him, arrived.

“He came up and approached the patient, and offered a prayer,” New London Fire Chief Raymond Reed told KHQA-TV. “It was a Catholic priest who had anointing oil with him. A sense of calmness came over her, and it did us as well.”

Considering how many people were at the scene and interacting with the mystery faith leader, the story is a fascinating one.

“I can’t be for certain how it was said, but myself and another firefighter, we very plainly heard that we should remain calm, that our tools would now work and that we would get her out of that vehicle,” the firefighter added.

Now here’s where things get weird.

Read more

Editor’s note: These things happen way more often than most people think. Here’s another short, illustrated, real-life, personal story.

God loves you. God will provide – and that often means answering frantic prayers with just the right person, for the job. All we can do in the mean time, is try not to mess things up too badly – and/or too often – since God’s ways are not our ways – and it’s never wise to act recklessly or presumptuously.

It’s also always a good idea to say a quick prayer for anyone who you might notice, happens to be in distress, may have been injured, may be very near death, or has recently died.

One more thing … thank God for priests. The vast majority of priests are nice guys who are just trying to do God’s work, under what usually turns out to be very difficult circumstances. Priests are at their best – and are most appreciated  – when they are attending to the souls of those who are literally, staring death in the face. Those who have been there will, I am sure, agree.

James 5:14-15 Is any man sick among you? Let him bring in the priests of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick man. And the Lord shall raise him up: and if he be in sins, they shall be forgiven him.

Additional related links:

A last chance for lost souls

Anointing of the Sick, Last Sacraments, and the Apostolic Pardon

What Are “Last Rites”?

Priest’s Heroic Battle Action

Priests Prevented From Anointing Boston Marathon Bombing Victims

Three kinds of holy oil/chrism

Saint Padre Pio and the Angels

Don’t play with the devil, because you will lose!

A GENERAL RULE: Don’t play with the Devil.

As soon as one knows that it comes from the devil, it must be rejected without any discussion. Check to see if God would suggest the thought, if not, it’s from the devil! Don’t entertain it.

“Playing with the devil” is tarrying with a thought that one knows to be not good, and thus from the devil. Woe to him who consents to dialogue with the devil (who is much stronger than we). Eve succumbed because she “played” with the devil. Instead of cutting him short, she started to discuss the temptation with him. The devil finished by making her fall.

Saint Bernard wrote: “Nobody becomes suddenly bad.” Know that it has not happened all of a sudden. For a long time, they have played with the devil.

If you play with the devil, you will lose. Don’t entertain “what if” bad thoughts. Reject it as soon as you perceive it’s a bad thought or you will fall little by little. He proposes little sins first.

The devil tries to put our minds at ease when we are in sin or are about to sin. The good angels do the opposite. We must not help the devil but must help disturb the conscience of those living in sin. Don’t put them at ease. We must not help the devil give them a false peace.

People today are very external and active. They don’t know how to be quiet, how to think about life. Beware of too much activity that keeps the mind from thinking, keeps us from internal thoughts. True peace of mind does not come from the devil.

The good angel will give reasons why an idea is bad.

The devil uses our situation against us. Are we tired, sick, have evil friends, etc. Beware of “if” or “maybe” proposals and thoughts.

God also uses good friends and sends us lights. Pay attention to influences. Distinguish between good influences and bad or evil influences. Keep the good and reject the evil.

The devil moves the passions since he cannot move the will. He however wants our will. So he moves our passions: sadness, anxiety, etc. Don’t play with it. Say no to sadness. God always gives peace of mind when good is selected.

Read more

The Tremendous Value of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass

At the hour of death the Holy, Masses you have heard devoutly,
will be your greatest consolation. Every Mass will go with you
to Judgment and will plead for pardon for you.
By every Mass you can diminish the temporal punishment due to your sins,
more or less, according to your fervor.

By devoutly assisting at Holy Mass you render the greatest homage
possible to the Sacred Humanity of Our Lord. Through the Holy Sacrifice,
Our Lord Jesus Christ supplies for many of our negligences and omissions.

He forgives you all the venial sins which you are
determined to avoid. He forgives you all your unknown sins
which you never confessed.
The power of Satan over you is diminished.

By piously hearing Holy Mass you afford the souls in
purgatory the greatest possible relief; One Holy Mass heard during your life
will be of more benefit to you than many heard for you after your death.

Through the Holy Mass you are preserved from many dangers
and misfortunes which would otherwise have befallen you.
You shorten your purgatory by every Mass.

During the Holy Mass you kneel amid a multitude of holy
angels, who are present at the Adorable Sacrifice with reverential awe.
Through the Holy Mass you are blessed in your temporal goods and affairs.

When you hear Holy Mass devoutly offering it to Almighty God
in honor of a particular saint or an angel thanking God for the favors
bestowed; you afford that saint or that angel a new degree of honor,
joy and happiness, and draw his special love and protection upon yourself.

Every time you assist at the Holy Sacrifice of the
Mass, besides other intentions, you should offer it
in honor of the saint of the day.

When the Priest offers the Host
I place upon the paten my heart:
the hearts of all those near and dear to me,
especially the hearts of my relatives:
the hearts of all those for whom
I have promised to pray:
the hearts of all those who have injured me:
the hearts of all those whom I may have injured:
the hearts of all the agonizing.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest the bread and wine
into Thy Precious Body and Blood, change our hearts
into hearts pleasing to Thee.

When the Priest offers the Chalice.
I place within the chalice the souls of all my relatives
for whom I should pray: the souls of those for whom
I may have forgotten to pray,
the souls most devout to the Sacred Heart and the Blessed Virgin Mary,
the souls of the most abandoned.

O Lord Jesus Christ, when Thou changest
the wine into Thy Precious Blood change these poor souls
from their place of suffering unto eternal happiness.

Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord
and let the perpetual light shine upon them.

Prayer to the Blessed Virgin Mary
O most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel! Fruitful vine!
Splendor of Heaven! Blessed Mother of the Son of God!
Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity!
O Star of the Sea, help me, and show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Holy Mary Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and Earth,
I humbly beseech thee from the bottom of my heart,
to succor me in this necessity there are none
that can withstand thy power.

O show me herein thou art my Mother!
O Mary conceived without sin,
pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3 times)
Sweet Mother I place this cause in thy hands. (3 times)

Link (PDF)

What you lose when you pass up Holy Communion

‘You see, Jan, all you must do is be available and do the work.’

From the “Jesus” Film Project:

Jan Schlebusch, a wonderful man of God from South Africa, is one of the tens of thousands of volunteers who have shown ‘JESUS,’ using either 16-mm or on video. Jan had taken a most risky step. He was about to show ‘Jesus’ to a small group of hardened criminals in a maximum security prison in South Africa. He was alone in a room with the ‘toughest of the tough’ – robbers, rapists and murderers. Several of them were ‘lifers.’ Jan knew that any one of the prisoners could easily slit his throat with a knife when he dimmed the lights to show ‘Jesus.’

However, despite the pressure he felt, Jan was obedient. As the story unfolded many of the prisoners mocked and swore at the screen. Their language was foul and offensive. Gradually, they quieted down and became more interested in the story. Then an astounding thing happened.

During the crucifixion, several began to weep. By the time the prayer of invitation was completed, hardened criminals — every one of them — were on their knees, sobbing, asking God to forgive them, praying to invite Christ into their lives.

Shocked and amazed, Jan wasn’t sure of what had just happened.

He turned his head to the corner of the room…startled by the sight.

Standing before him was an awesome being, ten-feet tall, robed in brilliant white…an angel.

Read more

Mystical vision explains what happens as we pray the Rosary

Father Gabriel Amorth, Chief Exorcist of the Vatican writes:

One day a colleague of mine heard the devil say during an exorcism:
“Every Hail Mary is like a blow on my head. If Christians knew how powerful
The Rosary was, it would be my end.”

The secret that makes this prayer so effective is that the Rosary is both
Prayer and meditation. It is addressed to the Father, to the Blessed
Virgin, and to the Holy Trinity, and is a meditation centered on Christ.

I write in addition to the above:
Please enunciate each word of the Rosary clearly and distinctly.
Do not trample on the heels of the words of anyone with your words.
Do not speak over the leader if you are following
Or the respondent if you are leading the Rosary.

Remember that they also are having a conversation with Mary Our
Mother and it is not polite to speak when someone else is speaking.

In the  case of the public Rosary there are only two people speaking:
The Leader and the respondents.
Each is speaking to the Blessed Mother and listening
Carefully to her response within their hearts as they meditate on the scene
Before them in their consideration of the mystery being spoken of and
Interpreted and translated into their lives.

Spread this powerful prayer of
Exorcism, the Rosary, which contains the Our Father, the Perfect Prayer,
Prayed five times in the recitation of each set of the Rosary’s Mysteries,
Backed up by the powerful prayers of Our Mother
Who prays with us as we pray 53 Hail Mary’s.

The Eternal Father described to a group of us,
Through a Visionary Friend of Mine,
What happens when we pray the Rosary,
Saying, “When you pray Holy Mary Mother of God,
Pray for us sinners now…..,
The Blessed Mother comes instantly to your side to pray with you.
And she does not come alone.

She brings angels with her.
And not just one or two for she is the Queen of Angels,
So choirs of angels come with her. And she and Jesus are joined at
The heart and cannot be separated so she brings Jesus with her.
And Jesus  Cannot be separated from the Trinity so
He brings the Father and the Holy Spirit with Him.
And where the Holy Trinity is, all of creation is,
And you are surrounded by such beauty and light
As you cannot imagine in this life. 

Your Mother comes as Our Lady of Grace with her hands outstretched.
Rays of Light emit from her hands piercing your body, healing you
And filling you with graces.

This is your inheritance which was poured out from the heart of
Jesus on the Cross, when the centurion pierced His Heart with the spear,
Into the only pure vessel ready to receive such graces at that time,
Your Mother.

Now as you pray the Rosary, or even just recite one Hail Mary,
You receive your portion of these graces.
He also said at this time, “Anyone who goes to Mary and prays the Rosary
Cannot be touched by Satan.
“Is it any wonder that anyone who prays the Rosary from the heart
Is so blessed and protected and powerful in their prayers for others?

Submitted by Jola S.

Can we see the signs of the times?

Mere coincidence? Or are angels at work?

First, a catastrophic flood, the biggest since 1937, forced the closing of the sanctuary of Lourdes. The place the Immaculate had transformed from garbage dump into a place of grace and incomparable beauty, was covered with mud and debris. Mary’s most visited sanctuary in Europe laid in desolation, yet Mary stood safe on the rock where she appeared to St. Bernadette, overlooking the murky waters with her hands folded in prayer. The Immaculate is also the Sorrowful Mother that comes to save her lost children.

Only 9 days later, Northeast USA is hit by Sandy, the biggest superstorm they have ever experienced. It floods populated areas including sections of NY city. In the borough of Queens, flood damage is compounded with a fire in the middle of the night. Entire blocks are leveled to the ground. Yet a statue of the Blessed Mother remains intact in her niche with her arms extended as channels of God’s grace. But no one is around to receive them.  This scene of Mary amidst the ruins appeared in the major news outlets. Everybody can see it. But do we really understand or is it just a nice photo opportunity?

On Oct 31, 10 days after the flood at Lourdes, flood waters surround the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan in Argentina. The news reports say: “They cannot explain why the water level does not go down… The river is behaving in a strange manner… there are entire fields and neighborhoods under water”.

See the photos

Bible mysteries explained: The Annunciation the Ark and the Angels

The Ark of the Covenant is, of course, an ancient archetype (no pun intended) for the Blessed Virgin. The Ark contained the tablets of the Word of God. She was the bearer of the Word Incarnate. The Ark contained the manna of the wilderness. She held in her womb the Bread of Life. The Ark held the budding staff of Aaron. Within her was the spring of new life from the stump of Jesse. That she is the Ark of the Covenant is seen in Revelation 11-12 where, in John’s vision of heaven, he sees the Ark of the Covenant, and immediately afterwards sees the sign of the woman in heaven clothed with the sun who bears the child who rules with the rod of iron.

So the angels overshadow the Ark of the Covenant. Then there is that interesting story of Ruth in the Old Testament. You may remember that the young widow Ruth was entitled to marry her kinsman Boaz, who would look after her. According to custom she presented herself to him, and as a sign of his acceptance of her he takes her under his cloak. Now, the Hebrew word for a cloak is the same as ‘angel wings’ and is the same root as the word ‘to overshadow’. As a sign of betrothal, Boaz “overshadowed” her with his cloak.

Jump forward to the Annunciation and we see that the angel says “the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” This “overshadowing” therefore alludes to the angel wings, and to Boaz’ cloak of betrothal and to the wings of the angels that overshadowed the Ark of the Covenant. Thus in one little word the full imagery of the Old Testament prophecies about the Blessed Mother are brought to fulfillment. Also, we see why that curious (and seemingly superfluous) story of Ruth was included in the Old Testament.

Read more

Loreto: The Holy House miraculously transported by angels to the place prepared for it by God.

Falling between the feasts of the Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe, is the feast of The Holy House of Loreto. Here, then, is Caravaggio’s Madonna of Loreto, an extraordinarily moving painting. Caravaggio painted it in 1604, when he was thirty-three years old.

Read more

Religious Art Critic: “Notice that both the damned and the saved have expressions of surprise on their faces.”

The damned are surprised to be going to hell because they were proud and self righteous (and didn’t think they were headed for hell) or scornful and unbelieving (and didn’t believe such a place existed.)

The saved are surprised because they were humble and didn’t think they would make it into heaven.

Read more

Kreeft: The Twelve Most Important Things to Know about Angels

1. They really exist. Not just in our minds, or our myths, or our symbols, or our culture. They are as real as your dog, or your sister, or electricity.
2. They’re present, right here, right now, right next to you, reading these words with you.
3. They’re not cute, cuddly, comfortable, chummy, or “cool”. They are fearsome and formidable. They are huge. They are warriors.
4. They are the real “extra-terrestrials”, the real “Super-men”, the ultimate aliens. Their powers are far beyond those of all fictional creatures.
5. They are more brilliant minds than Einstein.
6. They can literally move the heavens and the earth if God permits them.

Read more