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Cheryl Butler wrote:

Good Morning!

I am a Catholic candidate interested in approved apparitions but I have come across a few things which I find bothersome.

In the revelations of St. Bridget, she tells us, per Christ, that unbaptized infants are not in Heaven but rather in Limbo. She also affirms the damnation of Judas and at least one other person.

I thought the Church gave us the freedom to follow our conscience in these matters . . . that we are free to believe unbaptized infants are in Heaven and that, although Hell may be occupied, we are not bound to believe that Judas or any particular person is there (i.e., we are not bound to name names as it were).

  • Does this mean the revelations to St Bridget are false?

This is very troublesome to me. First, because I have a nephew that died while still in the womb and thus was unable to be baptized. In addition, I would like the freedom to be able to pray that all might be saved since this is indeed our Lord's Will.

I know St. Therese had similar sentiments as myself, but I'm confused. Surely she was aware of the revelations St. Bridget claimed to have received.

Thanks,

Cheryl

  { If St. Therese had similar sentiments as myself how can the revelations to St. Bridget be true? }

John replied:

Cheryl,

The first thing we have to realize is that St. Bridget's revelation is not official Church teaching. It is simply a private revelation and like all private revelations, it is not binding on Catholics.

Now I'm not too familiar with her revelation per se but I can tell you that private revelations often get misrepresented by those that follow them. For instance, Fatima is an approved revelation, but the message of Our Lady was clear and concise. Those who get caught up in chasing apparitions often tell me all sorts of thing that Our Lady allegedly said that are not part of the revelation.

As for Limbo, it's not official doctrine. It's a medieval attempt to explain what happens to unbaptized children who did not have time to commit personal sin. The reason it developed is because Western Catholicism in the Middle Ages fell into the trap of viewing salvation through a juridical lens.

The Church however acknowledges a baptism of desire. That same principle applies to infants. That doesn't preclude the idea that there is some transitory state for unbaptized infants. We know in the end, there will only be Heaven and Hell. Purgatory will end with the Second Coming, as will Limbo, if indeed, such a place or condition exists.

As for the eternal disposition of Judas, I would say the Church doesn't have much hope that he repented and was saved. Nevertheless, She has not said he is in Hell dogmatically. Scripture does seem to indicate that he is there but since judgment belongs to God, the Church will not presume to make such a declaration.

John

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