What to do about souls headed for hell

October 23, 10:57 PMDenver Roman Catholic ExaminerTheresa Navarra

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The Chaplet of Divine Mercy Jesus, I Trust in You!
tnavarra@comcast.net

A fruit tree is expected to bear fruit. If it does not bear fruit after several years, you may give up on it altogether. It is reasonable to dig it up to keep it from taking nutrients from the ground that are vital for the health of the other plants. It is a useless tree, and it takes up space that is better served for a better plant. Dig it up and throw it out. That's just the way the story goes.

Really? It doesn't have to end this way. Let's take a look at what Jesus has to say about hell-bound souls:

6 He spoke also this parable: A certain man had a fig tree planted in his vineyard, and he came seeking fruit on it, and found none. 7 And he said to the dresser of the vineyard: Behold, for these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and I find none. Cut it done therefore: why cumbereth it the ground? 8 But he answering, said to him: Lord, let it alone this year also, until I dig about it, and dung it. 9 And if happily it bear fruit: but if not, then after that thou shalt cut it down. Saint Luke 13:6-9

As Catholics, we have to do more than complain about all of the evil that is happening in the world today. What good does complaining do? Sometimes Christians feel helpless to do anything. Some believers feel that immoral people deserve to pay for this offense against God and humanity. Feeling hopeless and feeling helpless will not change anything. Nor will having a self-righteous attitude void of compassion on the blind.

From Holy Scripture, we can see that Jesus didn't set an example of feeling self-satisfied with sinners receiving harsh, deserved punishment. He laid down His life for us instead. In fact, He paid the painful price due us. That is real and genuine holy love. He did this for you, too, regardless of how great your sins.

Prayer changes things. You aren't helpless at all--you can pray. Ask God what else you can do on behalf of lost souls. One of the things that this writer does on a daily basis is pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet in song. Since songs can get stuck in my head, it's an excellent purposeful song to give to our merciful Lord on behalf of lost souls at any time. His mercy is limitless!

October 5th is the feast day for Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska. She understood a great deal about the mercy of Jesus, our Redeemer. Having written down everything that our Lord Jesus shared with her, we have quite a bit of information about Saint Faustina and Divine Mercy. Thank you, Sister Faustina. "Jesus, I Trust in You!"