Case file · Doubt · Prove All Things
Some Days I'm Afraid I Won't Make It
“But prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” — 1 Thessalonians 5:21, Douay-Rheims
The case
I'm Catholic, and some days I'm afraid I won't make it to heaven. I'm not saying that for effect. I've done things I'm not proud of. I know what I'm capable of. A lot of Christians will tell you that's a lack of faith. That if you're really saved, you know it. Done.
The evidence
Every quotation below is printed in the words of the edition named under it. Nothing is paraphrased.
“…no one can know with a certainty of faith, which cannot be subject to error, that he has obtained the grace of God”Council of Trent, Session 6, Ch. 9 (Waterworth 1848 translation, PD) — read it at the source
“…except by special revelation, it cannot be known whom God hath chosen unto Himself”Council of Trent, Session 6, Ch. 12 (Waterworth 1848 translation, PD) — read it at the source
“...with fear and trembling work out your salvation.”Philippians 2:12 (Douay) — read it at the source
“But I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection: lest perhaps, when I have preached to others, I myself should become a castaway.”1 Corinthians 9:27 (Douay) — read it at the source
What’s established, and what isn’t
What the sources support, claim by claim — each one checked against the sources listed at the foot of this page:
- Trent Sess. 6 ch. 9: no one can know with certainty of faith that he has obtained grace; ch. 12: except by special revelation
- Phil 2:12 Douay wording
- 1 Cor 9:27 Douay wording
- Hope as trust in Christ's promises relying on grace (CCC 1817)
- Despair and presumption as sins against hope (CCC 2091-2092)
- Imperfect contrition (attrition), even when it is born of the fear of damnation, is itself a gift of God; it does not by itself forgive grave sin, but it disposes a man to receive forgiveness in the sacrament of Penance (CCC 1453)
Where the record stops short:
- The opposite of this fear is not certainty. It is hope: trust that God keeps His promises and gives the grace to keep ours (CCC 1817). The Church names both ways of losing it - giving up, and presuming (CCC 2091-2092). So the fear has a door, and the door is confession. Let it walk you to the confessional; do not let it keep you from going in.
- The Council of Trent teaches that no one can know with the certainty of faith, which cannot be subject to error, that he has obtained the grace of God - except by special revelation. That is a limit on certainty, not a verdict on anyone's soul.
- Nothing on this page tells you where you stand. It tells you why no honest man claims to know.
For your men’s group
- There is a difference between fear that drives a man to confession and fear that keeps him from it. Which one have you been living with?
- If no one can be certain, what is hope actually resting on?
- Who would you tell if you were afraid you would not make it, and why haven't you?
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Every source
- Trent Session 6, ch. 9 ('certainty of faith') and ch. 12 ('except by special revelation'), Waterworth translation
- Philippians 2:12 Douay wording
- 1 Corinthians 9:27 Douay wording
- CCC 1817 on hope
- CCC 2091-2092 on despair and presumption
- CCC 1453 on imperfect contrition as a gift of God
Found an error? [email protected] — errata corrected the day they’re found.
Drafted with AI assistance, founder-directed, and checked against the sources linked here. Our editorial standards.
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