"On the number of sins beyond which God pardons no more" (conclusion)

"Sinners in Hell"

The following is taken from a sermon for the First Sunday of Lent by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church:

"God has promised pardon to all who repent; but he has not promised to wait till to-morrow for those who insult him.  Perhaps God will give you time for repentance, perhaps he will not.  But, should he not give it, what shall become of your soul?  In the meantime, for the sake of a miserable pleasure, you lose the grace of God, and expose yourself to the danger of being lost for ever. . . . You have sinned, trusting rashly in the divine mercy: the punishment of your guilt shall fall suddenly upon you, and you shall not know from whence it comes.  What do you say?  What resolution do you make?  If, after this sermon, you do not firmly resolve to give yourself to God, I weep over you, and regard you as lost."


St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.

"On the number of sins beyond which God pardons no more" (Part 2)

"Sinners in Hell," Cathedral of the Assumption, Torcello, Italy. (12th Century)

The following is taken from a sermon for the First Sunday of Lent by St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church:

  
"Son, add not sins to those which you have already committed, but be careful to pray for the pardon of your past transgressions; otherwise, if you commit another mortal sin, the gates of the divine mercy may be closed against you, and your soul may be lost for ever.  When, then, beloved brethren, the Devil tempts you again to yield to sin, say to yourself: If God pardons me no more, what shall become of me for all eternity?  Should the Devil, in reply, say: Fear not, God is merciful; answer him by saying: What certainty or what probability have I, that, if I return again to sin, God will show me mercy or grant me pardon?  Behold the threat of the Lord against all who despise his calls: "Because I have called and you refused, .....I also will laugh in your destruction, and will mock when that shall come to you which you feared" Prov,. i, 24, 26.

St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.

"On the number of sins beyond which God pardons no more"

 "Sinners in Hell," Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta, Torcello (Italy,12th century)

The following is taken from a sermon of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church, for the First Sunday of Lent:


"St. Basil, St. Jerome, St. John Chrysostom, St. Augustine, and other fathers, teach, that, as God ... has fixed for each person the number of the days of his life, and the degrees of health and talent which he will give him, so he has also determined for each the number of sins which he will pardon; and when this number is completed, he will pardon no more . . . .God is ready to heal those who sincerely wish to amend their lives, but cannot take pity on the obstinate sinner. . . .You say: I am young: there are many who have committed more sins than I have.  But is God on that account obliged to wait for your repentance if you offend him? . . . . You must, then, tremble at the thought of committing a single mortal sin, particularly if you have already been guilty of mortal sins."

St. Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.