. Some people went so far as to imagine that the gentile sages and heroes were also taken from Hell in that event. Others, like Dante, supposed that there was a sort of "Elysian fields" section of Hell set up for these people, who then basked in the light of virtue and reason, but were deprived of the Beatific Vision.
There was often thought also to be a place or state saints were detained until the Resurrection of Christ, and a place or state of " natural happiness " for unbaptized babies Although never formally defined, it was a
universal Roman Catholic
belief for centuries.
A "fringe or border" place called Limbo , a place or state of natural happiness for people such as infants who die without baptism and without having sinned.
The RC Church has never made an official pronouncement about limbo, but has taught that baptism in some form is necessary for salvation. Limbo then is a theological belief. It does point to the importance of prompt baptism of the newly born. The tragedy of legalized abortion in one sense throughout the world means that the
population of limbo
is increasing.
As :
"limbo became the subject of heated theological debate when a heretical sect called Jansenists taught that all infants dying without baptism are condemned to the fires of hell. In 1794, Pope Pius VI condemned this teaching. He said, in effect, that one may believe in a limbo, a "middle state" of happiness that is not in heaven with God, and still be a Catholic (Errors of the Synod of Pistoia, No. 26).
There has never been an official statement doing away with this doctrine, but it has been disregarded by most Roman Catholics today, the majority of whom nevertheless, insist on immediate baptism for any infant in danger of death.
One suggested theological solution to the plight of unbaptized babies is to apply to them the baptism of desire since, it is argued, they would have desired baptism had they lived to maturity. ( we make it up as we go)
There has never been an official statement doing away with this doctrine, but it has been disregarded by most Roman Catholics today, the majority of whom
nevertheless-------->insist on immediate baptism for any
infant in danger of death. <g>
The reason seems to be that limbo implies some sort of two-tiered final destiny for human beings. One is eternal life with God. The other is.a "natural" happiness apart from God (limbo) where people "go" who for no fault of their own do not reach the top level.
The Catechism clearly teaches otherwise. There is only one final goal, one desire of happiness for all humanity, life with and in the God who created us. We may attain that goal or we may reject it by our own fault, but there is no half-happiness somewhere
in between.
" When God has raised us to a supernatural life, a sharing in His life far beyond our natural capacity. Then aving done that, there is, so to speak, no going back.
The desire for this happiness, says the Catechism, is part of our nature, a gift of God, a vocation addressed to every human being.
If then, the ultimate goal then of human existence, of every individual and of everything people do, is the same: to share in the very happiness of God .....Obviously, then, whatever mysteries we (Roman Catholics Only ?
...and now must negotiate in exploring answers to questions about. what happens to the unbaptized, we will need to find those answers without resorting to
something called limbo.
** Why do I get the feeling then ----> "Limbo"
exactly describes the place where they find
themselves today ?
(The world looks for answers , and it gets one huge collosal
ignorant superstition that is as great as the Pyramids
and as vague as the pagan beliefs
the empire meant to replace...
....so what is missing Neo?)
Mars |
