We learnt yesterday that Christopher Hitchens has died. Our Catholic response is in charity to pray for the repose of his soul. We believe that he has gone to meet his maker. He did not believe in Christianity or in religion in general. We are not to judge him; we may allow that he was not culpable for his lack of faith. Only God can judge him, and we believe that God is infinitely merciful. Therefore we pray that the Father will allow him to be purified and to enter the kingdom of heaven - perhaps after a few sessions with St Thomas Aquinas and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta who will show him the love that they had for the truth.
Requiescat in pace.
8 comments:
Amen.
Thank you for this post, Father.
My first reaction on hearing of Mr. Hitchens' death was to say a short prayer for him.
We cannot discern the state of any soul at the time of death, but Christian charity urges us to wish that all souls be ultimately saved.
Requiescat in pace.
Great post Father, thank you.
I will pray for the repose of his soul, and entrust all to the love and mercy of God.
Jack Regan
There is no salvation outside of Holy Mother Church.
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You are quite right, that is the defined doctrine of the Church. The magisterium has elaborated on this doctrine through the ages; a good recent document on thr subject is Dominus Iesus.
The Council of Trent teaches us that we cannot be certain of our own salvation. Neither can we be certain of another's damnation. Hence we pray for Christopher Hitchens and commend him to the mercy of God. That is the Catholic thing to do.
"...That is the Catholic thing to do..."
I understood your post in the context in which you stated it.
That was for the benefit of Protestants and other heretics that read your good blog and think in their error, there might be some last minute hope.
I have a favorite youtube video by an Englishman that posted about Bishops being in Hell.
It is most excellent.
I do however, pray God have to seal Hell for lack of business.
We shall continue to pray for those that do not know, love or serve God.
With the assurance of my Holy Rosary prayers for all your good work in the vineyard of the Divine Master, I remain yours truly in Jesus and Mary Immaculate.
Santa María de Guadalupe Esperanza nuestra, salva nuestra patria y conserva nuestra Fe.
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Should we be heartened, Father, by Richard Dawkins' reaction? He claimed that Hitchens had opposed tyrants, "including God". This would seem to indicate that Dawkins is no longer the 'Dixit insipiens' atheist but is now a blaspheming heretic: progress?
Progress indeed, tempus putationis. If Dawkins is openly railing against God, it means he is taking God very seriously. That is a big step above those of us who lurch from pub to television, never really thinking what a living, sovereign God implies for us.
Perhaps the hound of heaven is already at Dawkins' door; perhaps already in the room with him. I pray that it is so.
I also hope and pray that Christopher Hitchens will, by the mercy of God, come into the presence of the Truth whom he sought so assiduously, even without knowing his name.
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