Wider Hope: Catholic & Orthodox Faith Resources

Clear, trustworthy religious information to deepen faith, prayer, and understanding.

About Wider Hope & Other Resources

"God's plan is 'to sum up all in Christ, the things in heaven and the things on earth' (Eph.1:10), 'to reconcile all things to Himself' whether things on earth or things in heaven' (Col. 1:20). This 'all things' is not limitted to human beings; it includes the whole cosmos, which, according to Romans 8:19ff., is awaiting its liberation from the bondage of corruption...The 'all things' is so comprehensive that it must include even the principalities and powers, the Thrones and Dominations, the angels and archangels, and, in a way that is hidden from us, even the 'demons' and the 'spirits in prison' (1 Peter 3:19)."
("Dare We Hope That All Men Might Be Saved," by Hans Urst Von Balthasar--Roman Catholic Theologian, page 49.)

"Hell exists as a final possibility, but several of the Fathers have none the less believed that in the end all will be reconciled to God. It is heretical to say that all must be saved, for this is to deny free will; but it is legitimate to hope that all may be saved."
(Kallistos Ware, Greek Orthodox Theologian.)

"...the devil is always our adversary; we should not enter into any kind of negotiations with him, whether by praying for him or in other ways. His salvation is quite simply none of our bussiness...Let us therefore leave the devil and his fate to God, and let us concentrate on our own relationship with God..."
(Kallistos Ware.)

"The Church has not dogmatically defined the irrevocability of the angels' fall."
(Balthasar, Theo-Drama V, p. 297)

Holy Land Artists

Christian Art from Holy Land

Inspirational Music

Christian Songs and prayers set to Music

Pope Francis on the meaning of Romans 8:21-22

How the deposit of faith contains hope for all creation

Of Interest to Seekers of Truth

Commentary on Theological topics and Evidence Supporting Christian Faith

Self Defense?

Saint Thomas Aquinas said that Christians were not forbidden the use of violence (under any and all circumstances) in the defense of themselves and others. And as we live in a time of violence, here are some videos that demonstrate practical self-defense techniques (and discuss the ethical considerations incumbent on Christians.) With some remarks about Christian pacifism, personal self-defense, and Catholic Just War Theory by Bishop Baron.

Wilmington, DE, USA

More On Matthew 24:34

It's seldom noticed that the Greek text of Matthew 24:34 uses a grammatical form called the ingressive aorist. Taken literally, this means Jesus DID NOT SAY the generation He was speaking to would live to see all that He said come true. But that they (or their nation) would not pass away until it all started to come true. When understood this way, His words were fulfilled to the letter, because the first thing He spoke of was the destruction of the city and temple. And whether He was speaking of the generation then living, or of the Jewish people, His words were true. In fact, in the parallel passage in Luke 21, He speaks of the whole nation being again taken into captivity, being scattered among the nations, and Jerusalem being "trodden down by the nations until the times of the nations are fulfilled." From this it seems He would almost have to be speaking of a process that only began in the first century. And this is exactly how one of the earliest Church commentators understood the prophesy. He wrote "...prophesying concerning the temple, He said: 'See ye these buildings? Verily I say to you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another which shall not be taken away; and this generation shall not pass until the destruction begin."
(Clementine Homilies, Homily III, Chapter XV.)

Note: And the Wailing Wall, which was part of the Jewish Temple in Christ's day, stands as a witness that the judgement Jesus spoke of was only begun in the first century.

Will The Church Triumphant Reign on Earth (prior to the 2nd Coming, as the 20th chapter of Revelation seems to suggest)?

"There is a legitimate hope for an age of the Spirit within history, prior to the eschaton, in which the Church manifests more fully the 'form' of Christ."
Hans Urst Von Balthasar (Theo-Drama:Theological Dramatic Theory," Vol. V: The Last Act, Ignatius Press, 1998, page 85)

"This is a theologoumenon (acceptable theological opinion), not a doctrine. It cannot be the object of preaching as if it were certain.
Von Balthasar, Ibid., page 91 (parenthesis mine.)

Can we pray for those long dead?

"Because God’s eternity embraces all time, the intercession of the Church can be causally present at the hour of death of one long deceased."
(Balthasar: Theo-Drama V. p. 512)

Have Questions?

I'm only a Catholic layman. But if you have any questions, and you email me, I'll try to answer them (or find someone who can.)