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Author Topic: Saying RIP in regards to non-Catholics  (Read 1790 times)

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Offline SimpleMan

Re: Saying RIP in regards to non-Catholics
« Reply #10 on: April 19, 2021, 12:51:14 AM »
Quote from: Ladislaus on April 18, 2021, 08:36:26 PM
I disagree.  Prayers for the repose of a soul presume and clearly imply a hope for the person's salvation, but the person is presumed lost if having died outside the Church or in public sin.

To say "Rest in Peace" for a Rush Limbaugh, who finished his life with "wife" #4, implies that there's hope for the salvation of someone who lived in sin his entire life.  To say that about any non-Catholic implies that there's hope for salvation for those outside the Church.

Their salvation is not merely "in jeopardy" but, rather, presumed not to have taken place.

Prayers are useless for someone who was lost, and such as die outside the Church or in public sin, are presumed lost.  To suggest otherwise is to cause the scandal of suggesting that salvation is possible for someone in those situations.  Coming from a Catholic, furthermore, it suggests that Catholics and the Catholic Church belief that salvation is possible for such a one.
I don't make that presumption.  It is beyond any of our pay grades to know whether Our Blessed Lord, in those moments before the soul leaves the body, illuminates these souls with knowledge of the truth, and graces to accept it, if they will indeed cooperate with these graces in the last instant.  Nobody knows.

I know there are appearances that certain souls died in mortal sin, and that is deeply disturbing (to say the least).  However, I shall hold out hope.  What harm does it do?

I do agree, insofar as some way, somehow, we should avoid giving non-Catholics the impression that we are pleased with how that soul lived on this side of eternity.
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Offline 2Vermont

Re: Saying RIP in regards to non-Catholics
« Reply #11 on: April 19, 2021, 07:17:14 AM »
Quote from: trad123 on April 18, 2021, 06:18:49 PM
Saying RIP in regards to the likes of Rush Limbaugh or Prince Charles, or any non-Catholic for that matter is an implicit admission of a belief in salvation of those who die outside the Church.

As if it doesn't matter whether one professes the Catholic faith.

At the very least, express a desire that such souls converted before they died.
Agreed.  I've noticed this too.
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Offline Pax Vobis

  • Supporter
Re: Saying RIP in regards to non-Catholics
« Reply #12 on: April 19, 2021, 08:49:50 AM »
I think the real answer to all of this is that the phrase "Rest in peace" has lost all catholic meaning, because it's been stolen by our protestantized and paganized american country.  Just like "Merry Christmas" USED to be a catholic, spiritual greeting, based on the Mass.  Or "goodbye" used to mean "God be with ye".
.
Everyone uses the phrase now; it's part of american slang.  Impossible to go back in time and fix this. 
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Offline Mr G

Re: Saying RIP in regards to non-Catholics
« Reply #13 on: April 19, 2021, 09:39:06 AM »
What would be a good alternative to say to Protestants and other non-Catholics?
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Offline SimpleMan

Re: Saying RIP in regards to non-Catholics
« Reply #14 on: April 19, 2021, 10:33:08 AM »
Quote from: Mr G on April 19, 2021, 09:39:06 AM
What would be a good alternative to say to Protestants and other non-Catholics?
I actually don't get into the eternal part of it.  I just say "I am deeply sorry for your loss" or something like that.

I would, however, like to clarify something I said above.  When I said "we should avoid giving non-Catholics the impression that we are pleased with how that soul lived on this side of eternity", I was referring to what religion (if any) they professed, not to their integrity or moral character.  Many non-Catholics are thoroughly decent people --- of course, they play with a thinner rule book, and if Satan has greater power over them because they are on their way to hell anyway, perhaps he doesn't have to tempt them to commit as many sins (I had a non-Catholic relative who admitted this much about himself, I didn't ask him, he brought it up himself!) --- in other words, it would be easier to live by the Seven Commandments than the Ten Commandments --- and their integrity, at least seen through secular eyes, is beyond reproach.  Even the Freemasons thrive on exalting honor, decency, and lives of service to their fellow man.
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