The top left is John Calvin, the theological father of modern Presbyterianism who believed in Double-Predestination (the notion that God creates some people for heaven and God creates others for hell.)   The top right is St. Francis De Sales, a Catholic saint and doctor of the Church.  Both said a lot about pre-destination. Granted, we Catholics have some Church Fathers who seemed to have flirted with Double Pre-Destination even before John Calvin did, so it's not a clear-cut topic.  But ultimately, St. Francis De Sales navigated the true way between the Fathers and Common-Sense on God's mercy.  Fr. Ludwig Ott has a book titled Fundamentals of Catholic Dogma in [...]

Last week, I got this email, and I was given permission to publish it: What does “judge the living and the dead” really mean? We face particular judgement and that is final (correct?). So what happens to the already dead at the second coming? Especially those in hell? Or, as Tom puts it, Why are You coming to judge the already judged? I feel as though I should know this at my age but alas…drawing a blank. Thank you!!! Here was my response: Yes, so Jesus will judge you at your death as worthy of heaven or hell. But at the end of time, He also comes to judge the [...]

On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.—St. John 20:19-20. Notice in the above passage about the Resurrection, Christ is able to walk through walls (hence, the doors being locked and yet He comes to the disciples.)  But the reason we know this is not a ghost passing through the walls is precisely because St. John [...]