From the Friars: Culpable Unbelief
In the days of Saint Francis of Assisi, the people of Catholic Europe took seriously the words of the Gospel that we hear today. I refer to the blunt statement that those who do not believe in the Son of God are condemned. The first Franciscan martyrs were killed for boldly proclaiming the Gospel to Muslims, knowing full well that it would likely mean their death. They did it out of genuine love for those who did not believe in Our Lord. They did not want them to be condemned. The Saint himself longed to die as a martyr for the salvation of unbelievers.
The Second Vatican Council clarified that a person who believes in God, and is sincerely seeking the truth, but through no fault of their own has not come to the fullness of the Catholic Faith, could still be saved. This qualification has become so distorted as to now be a presumption of salvation for everyone except perhaps the vilest of criminals. Not believing in Jesus is hardly thought of as being wrong, let alone the cause of eternal damnation. Today even priests and bishops rarely mention that it is a mortal sin to knowingly and freely refuse to believe in the truth about Christ and His Church.
And refusing to believe is not just a matter of intellectual assent, it includes the submission of our will. This is what St. Paul calls “the obedience of faith.” (Rom 5:1-6) When I was 16, I received an extraordinary grace during my 11th grade religion class. I saw clearly the truth of the Gospel and the Catholic Faith. I had to decide to change my life, or not. Out of human respect, cowardice and selfishness I said no to God. I committed a grave sin against faith, not intellectually but morally. I refused to obey, to trust in Jesus, and I will be forever thanking Him that He gave me another chance.
Let us take to heart the reminder we hear today that believing in, and following, the Son of God is not optional. And let us be zealous and generous in doing all we can for the conversion and salvation of souls.
God bless you.
–Fr. Peter