FOR NATIVES, PAGANS THE ORDINARY WAY OF SALVATION IS CATHOLIC FAITH AND THE BAPTISM OF WATER ( VATICAN COUNCIL II, LG 14,AG 7)

I was talking to a Canadian novice with the Missionaries of Charity Fathers in Rome, some months back, who is studying theology at the Angelicum University, Rome. He asked if the Native Americans before the missionaries arrived there were they lost. Were they in invincible ignorance? Were they all lost forever to Hell?

Yes, in general they were all oriented to Hell since Catholic Faith and the baptism of water is the ordinary means of salvation (Vatican Council II, AG 7, and LG 14).

If there was anyone among them who led a virtuous life following his good conscience, God could save him by sending a preacher or sending someone to baptize him with water (St. Thomas Aquinas). In ‘certain circumstances’ (Letter of the Holy Office 1949) a non Catholic can be saved with the baptism of desire.

In general the American natives needed the baptism of water given to adults with Catholic Faith, for salvation, to avoid Hell. The Catholic Church does not teach that the ordinary way of salvation is invincible ignorance; ‘not knowing the Gospel through no fault of their own’, a good conscience or the baptism of desire.

Those natives who were born before the birth of Jesus and who were saved had to wait in Abraham’s bosom and only after the death and Resurrection of Jesus could go to Heaven as could the Jewish Prophets including Abraham.

Today millions of people who believe in Jesus and live the Gospel within the Catholic Church and who do not die with mortal sin on their soul are taken to heaven. Some directly others via Purgatory.

Jesus has said that the road to Heaven is narrow and few people take it. We should enter through the narrow gate. While the road to Hell is wide and most people take it. Catholic saints have said that most people on earth go to Hell.

-Lionel Andrades