Work of Salvation: A Christian Obligation 

All of us are obliged to help each other to obtain heaven … Everyone must try to prevent his neighbor’s damnation and procure his salvation with all possible means (OOCC, IV, p. 131).

According to St. Vincent Pallotti, the work of salvation is a Christian obligation. As a Christian, every baptized person is called to continue God’s plan of salvation, accomplished by Christ through his death on the cross. For St. Vincent, this obligation to continue the work of salvation stems from our natural makeup as Christians. Every Christian who freely receives his salvation has a duty to offer it to others in the same manner as he received it. Hence, no person can be indifferent to the eternal salvation of his neighbor, for if God were indifferent to us, we would have never attained salvation. Hence, St. Vincent insists that everyone must try to prevent his neighbor’s damnation and help him to attain his salvation by every possible means. The salvation won by Christ for us is communicated to us first through the sacrament of baptism and later by the other sacraments. Therefore, the work of salvation is continued in the Church through sacramental life. Hence, in accomplishing this obligation of the work of salvation, every Christian must help his neighbor to enter into a fuller participation of the sacramental life of the Church. This includes catechises on sacramental theology, instruction on the practical aspects of the reception of the sacraments, actually initiating the person in the reception of the sacraments, and above all by the witness of our lives. Thus, by  taking  personal  responsibility  for  one’s  neighbor’s  salvation,  one accomplishes this obligation.

Do I acknowledge the work of salvation is a Christian obligation? Do I recognize that this obligation has its basis in my insertion into Christ by my baptism? Do I believe that the work of salvation is continued in and through the sacramental life in the Church? Do I help the other to attain salvation by introducing him to the sacramental life?

How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard him. (Heb. 2: 3)