The teaching “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” (outside the Church there is no salvation) is a traditional Catholic doctrine affirming that the Church is necessary for salvation. This doctrine emphasises the importance of the Catholic Church as the means established by Christ for the salvation of souls. While the traditional stance remains firm, the Church acknowledges the mysterious ways in which God’s grace can operate outside the visible confines of the Catholic Church.
The traditional understanding of this doctrine emphasises the necessity of the Catholic Church for salvation. It holds that the Church, as the Mystical Body of Christ, is the ordinary means through which God’s grace is dispensed to humanity. This view is rooted in various scriptural passages, such as John 14:6, where Jesus says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No man cometh to the Father, but by me,” and Matthew 16:18-19, where Christ establishes Peter as the rock upon which His Church will be built and gives him the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. These passages show the belief that Christ intended for His Church to be the primary conduit of salvation. This is upheld by the Ancient Catholic Church.
The Church has always recognised that God’s mercy and grace are not bound by human limitations. This understanding does not negate the necessity of the Church but rather highlights God’s infinite mercy and the mysterious ways His grace operates.
The Ancient Catholic Church states that all those who live in a state of grace, who love Christ and worship the Father, faithfully uphold the tenets of the Apostles’ and Nicene Creed, and who are baptised and confirmed, are part of the Catholic Church in a broader sense. This view includes those who may not be visibly united with the Catholic Church but who, through their faith and adherence to fundamental Christian truths, are mystically connected to the Church and will have an opportunity for salvation in the life hereafter through purgation.
However, we also hold a stricter interpretation, asserting that those who follow the Novus Ordo pope even when they know he was not appointed by God, are outside the Holy Catholic Church and that the Vatican II religious institute is of demonic origin.
One of the related questions is the matter of praying for non-Catholics who have died. Historically, there has been debate and differing opinions within the Roman Church on this issue. Some past popes and theologians have stated that it is a useless practice to pray for dead non-Catholics, based on the belief that salvation outside the visible boundaries of the Church is not possible. This belief led to a cautious approach regarding the efficacy of praying for the souls of non-Catholics, as it was thought that those outside the Church could not benefit from such prayers in the same manner as Catholics.
However, the Church has always upheld the importance of prayer and the mystery of God’s mercy. We must drop our pride and come to an understanding that God’s ways are beyond human comprehension and that the Church’s intercessory prayers can potentially aid non-Catholic souls. While it was more common to focus prayers on the souls of Catholics, the One Holy Catholic Church as a worldwide body did not explicitly prohibit praying for all souls, including non-Catholics. The belief in the power of intercessory prayer and God’s infinite mercy allows for the possibility that such prayers can aid non-Catholic souls in ways known only to God.
This broader understanding of prayer and God’s mercy is rooted in the Catholic Church’s long-standing tradition of intercessory prayer for the dead. The Church prays for all the faithful departed, trusting in God’s justice and mercy. This practice is grounded in the belief that prayer can assist the souls in purgatory, helping to purify them and prepare them for the beatific vision of God. While the focus has traditionally been on Roman Catholics, the recognition of God’s universal salvific will opens the door to the possibility that prayers for non-Catholic souls can also be beneficial.
The biblical example from 2 Maccabees, particularly 12:43-46, verses which we often use to prove that prayers for the dead if authorised by God, clearly demonstrates that prayers for the dead were made for Jewish soldiers, who were not members of the Catholic Church, since the Roman Catholic Church did not exist during that period of time. The Catholic Church has always used this passage to support the practice of praying for the dead, highlighting the belief in the mercy and justice of God. Thus, the Ancient Church prays for all the deceased, entrusting them to God’s mercy. The example of the Maccabees praying for the dead can be seen as an early reflection of this understanding. While certain other traditional Catholics may hold differing views than the Ancient Church, our official teaching encourages prayers for all souls—again, trusting in God’s justice and mercy.
Thus, while the traditional Catholic doctrine “extra Ecclesiam nulla salus” affirms the necessity of the Church for salvation, there is a recognition of the mysterious ways in which God’s grace can operate outside the visible confines of His Church. This understanding is rooted in the belief in God’s infinite mercy and the power of intercessory prayer. While there are varying and divided perspectives, Catholic tradition acknowledges the possibility of salvation for those who seek God with a sincere heart and the potential efficacy of prayers for non-Catholic souls. Ultimately, we must trust in God’s justice and mercy, recognising that His ways are beyond our full understanding.
Seraphim Michael
5 July 2024
St Antony Mary Zaccaria
