Trevor
wrote:
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Hi, guys —
I just had a quick question about lucifer
that popped into my mind while I was reading
the Scriptures for my classes.
- Can lucifer ever be forgiven by God?
I've heard many different answers from other
people I know within my parish, but all of
them have the same common answer:
That lucifer's pride was too great for
him to ask for God's forgiveness and that
he views himself as equal to God.
- Nevertheless, if lucifer did put his pride
aside and asked for God's forgiveness,
would God grant it and welcome him back
into Heaven?
Thank you,
Trevor
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{
If he
puts his pride aside, can
lucifer ever be forgiven by God; and can very evil men be forgiven? }
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Mary
Ann replied:
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Trevor,
As a pure form, lucifer defined himself
by his choice. Being immaterial,
without possibility of change, via
time and space, the angels were given
at the beginning an opportunity to
participate in their own definition
by a choice to love and serve, or
not love and serve, their source
and final end, which is God.
In making this one-time orientation
of their whole being, they fixed
themselves, much as we will be fixed
or formed by our gradual process
of decision-making over the course
of our life, in time and space.
Mary Ann
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Paul
replied:
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Trevor,
As Mary Ann mentioned, angels have
a different nature than humans, and
they can't repent.
We are able to grow, mature, see
things differently, and make a change
of mind and heart.
In contrast, angels don't have bodies
and don't live in time as we do;
they don't grow or mature, but rather
see things as they are. Their decision
is clear, conclusive, and everlasting.
Paul
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Trevor
replied:
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Mary Ann and Paul,
Thank you for answering my question.
I hadn't heard that explanation about
the angels up to now.
Another question on forgiveness:
- I know God can and will forgive
every person on Earth if they
ask for it, but would God forgive
people like:
- Adolph Hitler
- Charles Manson
- Joseph Stalin, and
- many other murderous dictators
throughout the years?
- Is there a point of no return
for people like this?
Trevor
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Mike
replied:
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Hi, Trevor —
I searched our database and found a similar question to yours. Nevertheless, let me address your specific question.
No one can know, except God and the
person, whether people along the
line of Hitler, Manson, or Stalin
had a change of heart on their deathbed
in the last instance. For this reason,
the Church has never, and will never,
declare that certain people are in
Hell. The best we can do is set down
general principles:
- if the person wanted God's forgiveness
on (his/her) deathbed, they could have been saved by the
forgiving, loving, and merciful Lord.
- if the person did not want God's
forgiveness on (his/her) deathbed, it was their choice to choose Hell
and not God. Remember, God does not
send people to Hell; people, by
their choices send themselves to
Hell. St. Theresa tells us:
'There is no love in Hell.'
Her statement tells you the type of people
there.
There are other issues, dealing with
the mental state of a person on their
deathbed, that no one, except the
Lord, would be aware of.
You said:
- Is there a point
of no return for people like this?
There is no end to God's infinite Mercy, which
I hope he has on me and my broken body at my particular
judgment : )
Mike
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