Thuan
Nguyen
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
Since we are taught that nothing is impossible
for God, theoretically, can God:
- change a dogma like:
- Hell would be temporal,
instead of an eternal (state|place) or
- change the teachings of the Church on
Judgment Day?
At Fatima, Mary said, of a vision the children
had of those in Hell, to save them,
instead of
to avoid others falling to the same plight
as they did.
Thanks,
Thuan
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{
Since
nothing is impossible for God, theoretically,
can God change a dogma or Church teaching? }
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Paul
replied:
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Dear Thuan,
I would say that God cannot contradict
Himself. Dogmas are formulations
of the Word of God promulgated by
Christ's infallible instrument on
Earth, the Church. God's Word is
unchangeable. Hence, Church doctrine
can grow in the clarity of our understanding
of it, but it can never essentially
change.
I don't think the seer's vision of
Hell in the Fatima apparitions was
in order to save those that are already
in Hell, but rather to pray for those
alive on Earth who might be heading
there — so that they may repent
before it's too late. The never-ending
nature of Hell is a dogma just as
the
never-ending nature of Heaven is.
God gives us a lifetime to choose
Him over self. That is very merciful
if you think about it.
Peace,
Paul
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Thuan,
Mary was speaking of those souls
shown falling into Hell,
that is, those souls on the way to
Hell, which was visually represented
as falling into it. We can save those
on their way to Hell, but not those
already in Hell.
Strictly speaking, God cannot change
Hell, because by definition it is
permanent. However,
God could certainly have mercy on
every person who might die deserving
of Hell, and we pray for that. The
Church does not teach that Hell contains
anyone other than the evil spirits.
Mary Ann
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Thuan
replied:
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Hi, guys —
Thank you for the replies.
Mary Ann,
You said:
Mary was speaking of those souls
shown falling into Hell,
that is, those souls on the way to
Hell, which was visually represented
as falling into it.
- Could you please let me know where
you read or heard this on Fatima?
Thanks!
Thuan
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Thuan,
In the children's descriptions of
the vision of Hell, they said that
there were many souls falling into
Hell.
Any vision is a visual representation
of a reality.
Mary Ann
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Eric
replied:
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Thuan —
No, God cannot change a dogma. He
would then be contradicting Himself.
When it says, nothing is impossible
with God (Luke 1:37, Matthew 19:26) we're not talking
about logical impossibilities like
creating a square circle or moving
an immovable object. Either a dogma
is a revealed truth,
or it isn't a revealed truth. If
it is not true or can change, it
is not a dogma by definition.
In reference to what Mary said, I
think this is what you're referring
to:
| "You have seen Hell where
the souls of poor sinners go.
To save them, God wishes to establish
in the world devotion to My Immaculate
Heart. If what I say to you is
done, many souls will be saved
and there will be peace." |
Those in Hell are beyond being saved.
The antecedent of them in
the second sentence is
poor sinners. It's not
referring to people in Hell but people
who are on the path to Hell.
Think of it this way:
Poor
sinners go to Hell. To save them
[from going to Hell], God wishes . . .
Eric
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Thuan
replied:
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Thanks Eric!
That helps.
Thuan
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