The Swiss theologian, Hans Urs von Balthasar, wrote a book in 1988 that expressed optimism for the salvation of many at the Final Judgment. The basis for von Balthasar’s book is a quote from St. Paul: [God our savior] wills everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4). “The question is whether God, with respect to his plan of salvation, ultimately depends, and wants to depend, upon man’s choice; or whether his freedom, which wills only salvation and is absolute, might not remain above things human, created, and therefore relative” (Dare We Hope, 15). Von Balthasar examines the tension that can sometimes seem to exist between God’s justice and His mercy. “On his earthly pilgrimage, man is . . . placed between fear and hope, simply because he is under judgment and does not know” (Ibid., 27).
While theologians have the license to debate the perceived harshness of God’s judgment (or the softness of His mercy), the official doctrine of the Catholic Church is not universal salvation. In other words, the Catholic Church does not teach that everyone is going to heaven regardless of the lives they led or the god they worshipped. “Believing in Jesus Christ and in the One who sent him for our salvation is necessary for obtaining that salvation. Since ‘without faith it is impossible to please [God]’ and to attain to the fellowship of his sons, therefore without faith no one has ever attained justification, nor will anyone obtain eternal life ‘but he who endures to the end’” (CCC 161). But what about those who have never heard the gospel of Jesus Christ? Does this mean they are damned?
The Second Vatican Council reflected on this question and formulated a response that must be understood in its proper context: “Those also can attain to salvation who through no fault of their own do not know the Gospel of Christ or His Church, yet sincerely seek God and moved by grace strive by their deeds to do His will as it is known to them through the dictates of conscience. Nor does Divine Providence deny the helps necessary for salvation to those who, without blame on their part, have not yet arrived at an explicit knowledge of God and with His grace strive to live a good life. Whatever good or truth is found amongst them is looked upon by the Church as a preparation for the Gospel. She knows that it is given by Him who enlightens all men so that they may finally have life” (Lumen Gentium, 16). Notice: Vatican II does not simply say non-Christians are going heaven; it reminds us that we still have the important task of evangelizing them. (I will write on this in the future.)
Over the last few Sundays, we have been hearing many gospel passages in which our Lord is reminding us of the need to be vigilant and to persevere (Luke 11-13). If we are all just going to go to heaven regardless of our relationship with Christ and our moral choices, it would not matter whether or not we persevere. However, Christ reminds us in the gospel this Sunday (August 25): “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough” (Luke 13:24). God does will that we all be saved and come to the knowledge of truth, but He will not force us. He gives us free will to cooperate with His saving grace. If we do not enter through the narrow gate, we have only ourselves to blame — not God. Christ is the narrow gate, and if we commit ourselves to Him, we do dare to hope that we will all be saved.
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