December 11, 2012 – Catechism 2006 – 2011

These last several sections of the Catechism have been very instructive on the teaching of what Catholics believe about Salvation.  Many people believe that Catholics think you can earn your way into Heaven.  If you read these paragraphs you will quickly see that this is not the case and Catholics have never taught that.  Many believe that Catholics teach you can buy your way into Heaven with contributions or indulgences.  These are also false understandings of Catholic teaching.  Everything and anything that will get a person into Heaven comes from God, is a gift from God, and is obtained through cooperation with God.  The gap between us and God is immeasurable and there is nothing we can do, independent of God, to get us into Heaven.  That is Catholic teaching.  Our actions are important and Catholics do believe that what we do matters and has consequences on our soul, but actions that we take that bring us closer to Heaven stem from our relationship with God and the Grace He has given us.