Mercy and Manfred

[richard]

Interesting how he was the first choice - for the atoning souls in Purgatorio.

[dailyreflections]

Indeed, why do you think that is?

[Chris]

Maybe because of his brutal past? It illustrates God's Mercy (repentant thief on the Cross)

[richard]

Maybe because of his brutal past? It illustrates God's Mercy (repentant thief on the Cross)

Absolutely - picking one of "the worst", who repented very late - AND - was excommunicated by the Church. 

Despite all of this, through God's Mercy and forgiveness, Manfred is on the path to Purgation. But, it will take a very long time. 

So it's sort of a warning too; living in vice for very long has a price. Better to change and re-orient as soon as possible!

[Chris]

Maybe because of his brutal past? It illustrates God's Mercy (repentant thief on the Cross)

Absolutely - picking one of "the worst", who repented very late - AND - was excommunicated by the Church. 

Despite all of this, through God's Mercy and forgiveness, Manfred is on the path to Purgation. But, it will take a very long time. 

So it's sort of a warning too; living in vice for very long has a price. Better to change and re-orient as soon as possible!

That's a great point about excommunication, it's a reminder that the Church, although being the closest we can get to truth at any given point, is still not always 100% right admit everything... but probably always safer to be on the same side.

[richard]

That's a great point about excommunication, it's a reminder that the Church, although being the closest we can get to truth at any given point, is still not always 100% right admit everything... but probably always safer to be on the same side.

Exactly; practically there will be a "lag" in cases like this, but more importantly perhaps, is how the internal turning to God is the primary. The spiritual dynamic comes first. The Mercy of the Heavens is bigger than the Church approval.

[Chris]

I was thinking about this and realised that it requires putting "what you bind on Earth" in context.

[richard]

I was thinking about this and realised that it requires putting "what you bind on Earth" in context.

This put me deep down into Matthew 16:13-20.. could you elaborate the realisation, and how you see/interpret the quote? Curious.

[Chris]

Just what we were saying, that ultimately God's Mercy goes beyond even the degrees of the Church. On one hand, yes, quite obvious, but makes you think how to put that scripture in context. In the text, Jesus himself is saying that whatever the Church binds on Earth is bound in Heaven (at least that's how that it was always traditionally interpreted) and yet, in this case what was bound by the Church, was then released in Heaven.