Pat Arensberg: God desires to be the father of all

“Since Christ died for all, and since all men are in fact called to one and the same destiny, which is divine, we must hold that the Holy Spirit offers to all the possibility of being made partakers, in a way known to God, of the Paschal mystery.”  -CCC #1260

Since, as we discussed in yesterday’s blog, God is eternally Father he is continually seeking to invite all men and women to be his adopted sons and daughters.  That is why Jesus commanded that the Church should go forth, “and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”  (Matthew 28:19-20)  He wishes to extend his familial invitation to all.  That’s how he rolls.

Now, we believe that Baptism is necessary for salvation, because Jesus said so in John chapter 3.  But the Catechism reminds us that, “God has bound salvation to the sacrament of Baptism, but he himself is not bound by his sacraments.” (CCC #1257)  We believe that the desire for Baptism can bring about the fruits of Baptism without being a sacrament.  (see CCC #1258 and see Luke 23:42-43 and the Good Thief receiving the promise of salvation without being sacramentally baptized).

But what about those who do not know Christ, or the Gospel, or know anything about the Church?  And what about babies who die without baptism?  You really should read the Cathechism #’s 1260-1261 and Lumen Gentium #16, but in summary:  one can be saved by the power of Christ even if they do not know Christ.  This can be only if the ignorance is through no fault of their own and that they would have desired Baptism explicitly if they had known.  Only God can make that judgment.  We entrust them to the mercy of God, and do all in our power to bring people to the saving waters of Baptism.

About Pat Arensberg Patrick Arensberg is the Director of Religious Education for the Archdiocese of Mobile. Previously, he taught for 17 years at McGill-Toolen Catholic High School, where he served as Chairman of the Theology Department. He attended the Gregorian University in Rome and holds an M.A. in Theology from Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. He is married to Connie and they live in Mobile with their 5 children.