Saturday, November 12, 2016
Youcat commented through CCC – Question n. 199 - Part I.
(Youcat
answer) For all those who have received the Gospel and have heard that Christ
is “the way, and the truth, and the life” (Jn 14:6), Baptism is the only way to
God and salvation. At the same time, however, it is true that Christ died for
all mankind. Therefore all men who have had no opportunity to learn about
Christ and the faith but seek God sincerely and live according to their
conscience also find salvation (the so-called Baptism of desire).
A deepening through CCC
(CCC
1257) The Lord himself
affirms that Baptism is necessary for salvation (Cf. Jn 3:5). He also commands
his disciples to proclaim the Gospel to all nations and to baptize them (Cf. Mt
28:19-20; cf. Council of Trent (1547) DS 1618; LG 14; AG 5). Baptism is
necessary for salvation for those to whom the Gospel has been proclaimed and
who have had the possibility of asking for this sacrament (Cf. Mk 16:16). The
Church does not know of any means other than Baptism that assures entry into
eternal beatitude; this is why she takes care not to neglect the mission she
has received from the Lord to see that all who can be baptized are "reborn
of water and the Spirit." God has
bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his
sacraments.
Reflecting and meditating
(Youcat comment) God has made salvation
dependent on the sacraments. Therefore the Church must tirelessly offer them to
mankind. To give up her missionary work would be a betrayal of God’s
commission. God himself, however, is not dependent on his sacraments. In places
where the Church does not exist or has had no success—whether by her own fault
or for other reasons—God himself paves another way to salvation for the people.
(CCC Comment)
(CCC
1258) The Church has
always held the firm conviction that those who suffer death for the sake of the
faith without having received Baptism are baptized by their death for and with
Christ. This Baptism of blood, like
the desire for Baptism, brings about
the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.
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