Catechesis on Predestination, Creation, and Freedom, Part 3 -- By Fr. Ronald Check

I received this wonderful, but very deep question: “Since God knows the wonderful and yet, somewhat deep question, “Since God know the future, why does He create souls that he knows will spend eternity in Hell?”  This is part three of the response. I have quoted for you from a priest author who has responded to this question by building on the teaching of Saint Francis DeSales who personally struggled with this issue as a young man, and who later fought vigorously against this Calvinist heresy as a Priest and Bishop.

Father Most synthesizes Saint Francis DeSales’ teaching in the following way:

276. Synthesis of the teaching of St. Francis: St. Francis insists that God wills the salvation of all “with a genuine will”. He does this “even after the sin of Adam.” Therefore, there is no reprobation on account of original sin. Nor is there desertion before consideration of ₆ demerits, for “it would be the part of impious boldness to wish to attribute the lack of love in an ungrateful man to the lack of heavenly help and grace,” because even though “the gift of being God’s belongs to God, yet it is a gift which God denies to no one, but offers to all, and gives to those who freely consent to receive it.” But so that we may not misunderstand these words about the consent, St. Francis adds that the very consent or acceptance of grace is the effect of grace: “you have even received the acceptance . . . and the consent.” Hence: “Is it not the part of most insane impiety to think that you gave effective and holy activity to the divine inspiration because you did not take it away by resisting? We can hinder the efficacy of the inspiration, but we cannot give efficacy to it.”

Father Check’s personal observation: God intends all to be saved and gives all the possibility of salvation. He gives us the graces and the all the necessary means for salvation. But some, sadly, misuse their free will and choose that which is evil. The Good God respects the gift of our free will and continually offers us the possibility of salvation. When God creates souls, at the moment of conception, while He has foreknowledge of the future, He always creates with the intention that each soul should possess the greatest possible happiness in heaven. So creation of a soul necessarily comes with the Divine Intention for our eternal happiness in Heaven. This shows the goodness of God. But sadly, some souls are led astray by temptation and some choose to reject God and His holy will. God does not create souls to spend an eternity in hell. He creates always with the intention that we will spend an eternity in heaven. If any souls are in hell (obviously, evidence of this is difficult to discern) they have sadly chosen to be there of their own accord. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “God predestines no one to go to hell; for this, a willful turning away from God (a mortal sin) is necessary, and persistence in it until the end. In the Eucharistic liturgy and in the daily prayers of her faithful, the Church implores the mercy of God, who does not want "any to perish, but all to come to repentance". (CCC, no. 1037)

Catechesis on Predestination, Creation, and Freedom -- Part 2, by Fr. Ronald Check

The following question was submitted: “Since God knows the future, why does He create souls that he knows will spend eternity in Hell?”  This is part two of the response.  Below are exact quotes from Saint Francis DeSales.  Next week we will look at Father Most’s synthesis of the Saint’s teaching.

275. The teaching of St. Francis himself: We shall read his views from three passages of his Treatise on the Love of God, and then, collect the principal points.

1)      Treatise 3.5: St. Francis is speaking about the gift of final perseverance: 4 "First he willed, with a genuine will that even after the sin of Adam all should be saved, but in a way and with means suited to the condition of our nature; that is, He willed the salvation of all who would give consent to the graces and favours which He would prepare, offer, and distribute for this purpose.  Now among those favours, He willed that the call be first, and that it be so tempered to our freedom that we at our good pleasure could accept or reject it.  And to those whom He foresaw would accept, He willed to give the sacred movements of repentance; and to those who would follow those movements, He decreed to give holy love; and to those who would have love He planned to give the means needed to persevere; and to those who would use these divine helps, He decreed to give final perseverance and the glorious happiness of His eternal love....Without doubt, God prepared heaven only for those whom He foresaw would be His... But it is in our power to be His: for although the gift of being God’s belongs to God, yet this is a gift which God denies to no one, but offers to all, and gives to those who freely consent to receive it.”

2)   Treatise 4.6: In this chapter St. Francis is concerned principally with explaining that we owe it to God that we are able to love God: 5 "So tell me, miserable man, what you have done, in all these things, of which you could boast?  You have consented, I know it well: the movement of your will freely followed the movement of heavenly grace.  But all that-what else is it but to receive the divine working and not to resist? And what do you have in this that you have not received?  Yes, even, poor man, you have even received the acceptance of which you boast, and the consent, which you brag about... Is it not the part of most insane impiety to think that you gave effective and holy activity to the divine inspiration because you did not take it away by resisting?  We can hinder the efficacy of inspiration, but we cannot give efficacy to it....”

3)   Treatise 4.5: In this chapter St. Francis vigorously insists that the sole cause of the lack of love is in us: 6 ”Just as it would be the part of impious boldness to attribute to the powers of our will the works of holy love that the Holy Spirit does in us and with us, so also it would be the part of impious boldness to wish to attribute the lack of love in an ungrateful man to the lack of heavenly help and grace.  For the Holy Spirit cries out everywhere, on the contrary, that our destruction comes from us . . . that divine Goodness wills that no one perish, but wills that all come to the knowledge of the truth: He wills that all men be saved. ” 

Notes (As Fr. Most Records Them):

4 Treatise on the Love of God 3.5

5 Ibid., 4.6

6 Ibid., 4.5

Catechesis on Predestination, Creation, and Freedom -- Part 1, by Fr. Ronald Check

The following question was submitted: “Since God knows the future, why does He create souls that he knows will spend eternity in Hell?”  This is a great question!  It’s also a very theological question.  Because of the theological complexity of this question and the need for a pastoral and somewhat clear explanation, I am turning to Father William Most, who has explained the answer based upon the teaching of Saint Francis DeSales, a Doctor of the Church.  It is important for any theology to rely heavily on Saint Francis DeSales because of his theological authority on this subject.  Saint Farncis DeSales spent much time and energy fighting against the Calvinists, who believed in predestination.  He also had a personal spiritual struggle with this theory.  He is both an intellectual as well as a spiritual authority.  Predestination basically asserts that God, because of his fore knowledge of all future events, has already pre-destined certain souls to heaven or to hell.  This contradicts Catholic Teaching on the subject.  The next few weeks, we will see why this is the case.  This answer is coming from: “The MOST Theological Collection: Grace, Predestination and the Salvific Will of God: New Answers to Old Questions” (Pt. 2: Predestination and reprobation - Ch. 16: The teaching of St. Francis de Sales).  This answer will be done in several parts.  And so, Part 1…

273. The special importance of teaching of St. Francis de Sales:The thought of this Doctor of the Church is of special importance since the Pope himself followed the advice of St. Francis in putting an end to the debates De Auxiliis. Pope Pius IX reports it as follows: (1)“...our Predecessor of holy memory, Paul V, when the famous debate De Auxiliis was being held at Rome decided to ask the opinion of this Bishop on the matter and, following his advice, judged that this most subtle question, full of danger, and agitated long and keenly, should be laid to rest, and that silence should be imposed on the parties.” The special importance of his teaching is even clearer from the words of Pius XI: (2)“But taking the opportunity, he lucidly explained the most difficult questions, such as efficacious grace, predestination, and the call to the faith.”

Notes (As Father Most records them):

1.	Note in Context: Dives in misericordia Deus, AAS 10, 411-12.
2.	Note in Context: Rerum omnium perturbationem. AAS 15.56.

Look next week for what St. Francis de Sales actually says…