Today’s post begins a three-part series (see the bullet list, below). Visit again for parts two and three.
Many of us, whose pilgrimage began outside the Catholic Church, remember times we may have been concerned about our salvation. Specifically, when thinking of our own conversion—when we “walked the aisle” or responded to an invitation to accept Christ—we later find ourselves wondering, “Did I know enough?” ”Was I sincere enough?” “Was I old enough?”
By God’s grace, in the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church, these questions are answered. The answer has three parts:
- No forced feelings
- No forced faith
- No false starts
No forced feelings: In the Church, God meets us as what we are—men and women composed of matter. That is not to say we are incapable of thinking or feeling. But are created by God with physical bodies and senses.
Hence, each Sacrament includes a “sensible sign” (some element that can be detected by the human senses) through which grace is conveyed. For example, you feel the water of Baptism; the chrism oil of Confirmation. You taste the bread of the Eucharist. You aren’t left to wonder, “Did I?” Instead, you can have the confidence that “God did, just as He promised!”
Let us pray in the words of today’s Morning Prayer (12/02/09) from The Liturgy of the Hours:
Lord, You are the source of unfailing light. Give us true knowledge of Your mercy so that we may renounce our pride [belief that salvation is something that depends on anything but grace] and be filled with the riches of Your house.
That is Christianity Richly!
