Comments on: the people you meet in heaven http://anunslife.org/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/ Catholic Sisters and Nuns in Today's World Sat, 21 Nov 2009 00:32:01 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: nuns2day http://anunslife.org/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-609 nuns2day Fri, 15 Dec 2006 15:37:11 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-609 Hi Caitie ... Thanks for your comment. For those who aren't too familiar with Pelagianism (creeping or otherwise), Pelagius was a monk in the early 5th century. He and his disciples rejected the doctrine of original sin and believed that humans were completely free and did not need God's grace. Saint Augustine was one of the major opponents of Pelagianism. The Church condemned Pelagianism as heresy in the 5th century and again at the Council of Trent. Regarding "heaven on earth" ... If we stop after the statement that the Kingdom of Heaven is found on earth then we are missing a major part of what the Gospels mean by the Kingdom of Heaven (or Kingdom of God). It always has to be the "both/and". Because Jesus has come to earth and become human, God's redemption is already present and active among us. Yet we live in hope for the fullness of being in relationship with God and which we can only experience in heaven. But, if we say that redemption therefore is only found here on earth by the work of our own hands without God's grace, then we are definitely entering a Pelagian zone. Yes, it can be a bit slippery, but our Church has the wisdom of holding the "both/and" ... the "already/not yet" in a dynamic balance instead of saying it's one way or another. Let me know what your thinking is on this. Hi Caitie … Thanks for your comment. For those who aren’t too familiar with Pelagianism (creeping or otherwise), Pelagius was a monk in the early 5th century. He and his disciples rejected the doctrine of original sin and believed that humans were completely free and did not need God’s grace. Saint Augustine was one of the major opponents of Pelagianism. The Church condemned Pelagianism as heresy in the 5th century and again at the Council of Trent.

Regarding “heaven on earth” … If we stop after the statement that the Kingdom of Heaven is found on earth then we are missing a major part of what the Gospels mean by the Kingdom of Heaven (or Kingdom of God). It always has to be the “both/and”. Because Jesus has come to earth and become human, God’s redemption is already present and active among us. Yet we live in hope for the fullness of being in relationship with God and which we can only experience in heaven. But, if we say that redemption therefore is only found here on earth by the work of our own hands without God’s grace, then we are definitely entering a Pelagian zone. Yes, it can be a bit slippery, but our Church has the wisdom of holding the “both/and” … the “already/not yet” in a dynamic balance instead of saying it’s one way or another.

Let me know what your thinking is on this.

]]> By: nuns2day http://anunslife.org/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-608 nuns2day Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:25:05 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-608 The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council affirm that the "Church's bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race" (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 842) The Catechism quotes <em>Nostra Aetate</em>, the Vatican II document on other religions. <blockquote>"All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness and truth found in these religions as "a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life." (Nostra Aetate 1). The Catechism of the Catholic Church and the documents of the Second Vatican Council affirm that the “Church’s bond with non-Christian religions is in the first place the common origin and end of the human race” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 842) The Catechism quotes Nostra Aetate, the Vatican II document on other religions.

“All nations form but one community. This is so because all stem from the one stock which God created to people the entire earth, and also because all share a common destiny, namely God. His providence, evident goodness and truth found in these religions as “a preparation for the Gospel and given by him who enlightens all men that they may at length have life.” (Nostra Aetate 1).

]]> By: nuns2day http://anunslife.org/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-606 nuns2day Fri, 15 Dec 2006 13:00:55 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-606 Yes, there is much violence in this world today. It's difficult to watch the news on most days. I am amazed (in a disturbing way) at our human capacity for violence ... not just in the major acts of violence but in the "small" acts of hostility, pettiness, slander, passive agressiveness, etc. that seep into how we relate with one another. Peace is ever elusive when we fail to act with kindness and justice in our own lives. Yes, there is much violence in this world today. It’s difficult to watch the news on most days. I am amazed (in a disturbing way) at our human capacity for violence … not just in the major acts of violence but in the “small” acts of hostility, pettiness, slander, passive agressiveness, etc. that seep into how we relate with one another. Peace is ever elusive when we fail to act with kindness and justice in our own lives.

]]> By: Jo http://anunslife.org/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-607 Jo Fri, 15 Dec 2006 04:07:00 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-607 I believe that we will be in heaven or hell and i believe in Purgatory too...The worst of people can be seen on tv news everyday and God sees it too, and though He is merciful He is just too. I would never take the Ten Commandments casually. I believe that God wil call you home to heaven when you die but you must answer. Sometimes I cant wait and then I dont want to leave home until my husband and sons come back to the Catholic Faith. I think I might haunt them until they do if I die too soon...so that is my mission on earth to pray them back in to the Church...and just one thing more...I believe we will not have peace in IraQ until we stop abortions for any reason..God does not like us to try to be Him.. I believe that we will be in heaven or hell and
i believe in Purgatory too…The worst of people
can be seen on tv news everyday and God sees it
too, and though He is merciful He is just too.
I would never take the Ten Commandments casually.
I believe that God wil call you home to heaven
when you die but you must answer. Sometimes I cant
wait and then I dont want to leave home until my
husband and sons come back to the Catholic Faith.
I think I might haunt them until they do if I die
too soon…so that is my mission on earth to pray
them back in to the Church…and just one thing
more…I believe we will not have peace in IraQ
until we stop abortions for any reason..God does
not like us to try to be Him..

]]> By: Caitie http://anunslife.org/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-605 Caitie Thu, 14 Dec 2006 18:40:14 +0000 http://nuns2day.wordpress.com/2006/12/10/the-people-you-meet-in-heaven/#comment-605 Hello Sister, I've forgotten just how it was I stumbled across your blog, but, as I've been following along with you for a few months now, I'm very glad I did. I understand and agree with you that "the Kingdom of God is here and now AND it has not yet come to fullness," but I was wondering if, as Kelly said, "if we follow the example of Jesus and treat each other as he taught us to treat one another, that will be Heaven on Earth," would be an example of 'creeping Pelagianism', or the 'Promethean Pelagian'? And isn't it dangerous to put too much emphasis on the Kingdom of heaven on earth? I'm just a student (Providence College) and anything you could say on this would be helpful. Merry Christmas! Hello Sister,
I’ve forgotten just how it was I stumbled across your blog, but, as I’ve been following along with you for a few months now, I’m very glad I did.

I understand and agree with you that “the Kingdom of God is here and now AND it has not yet come to fullness,” but I was wondering if, as Kelly said, “if we follow the example of Jesus and treat each other as he taught us to treat one another, that will be Heaven on Earth,” would be an example of ‘creeping Pelagianism’, or the ‘Promethean Pelagian’? And isn’t it dangerous to put too much emphasis on the Kingdom of heaven on earth? I’m just a student (Providence College) and anything you could say on this would be helpful.
Merry Christmas!

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