Jesus died for the ungodly

1. MT said: 
   I hope you now can see the problem with interpreting the "we's" "us's" and "our's" in Romans 5:1-11 as applying universally to all humanity without exception. It leads to universalism, or the doctrine that all are now or will be saved.
   
   It is you who did so. I know what we, us and our means. I also know how to understand Rom 5:6 correctly. Ungodly means those who are not gods. Those who are not divine. Those who are mortal.

   Anyway, there's no need for me to debunk your whole article. The problem is your presupposition. Your starting point is false, your logic is wrong and the makes your conclusion false.
2. This is the truth.
   
   1 Jesus died for the ungodly.
   2 That includes us and all people and all creation.
   3 But those who accepted His sacrifice, repented of their sins, obeyed His Word and participated in His Sacraments. And must continue doing good their entire life. If they do, God will grant them eternal life.
   4 Those who do not accept His sacrifice, do not repent of their sins and will be condemned to hell.
   
   Romans 2:1-13
   King James Version (KJV)
   1 Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.
   
   2 But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
   
   3 And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God?
   
   4 Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
   
   5 But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
   
   6 Who will render to every man according to his deeds:
   
   7 To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:
   
   8 But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath,
   
   9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile;
   
   10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile:
   
   11 For there is no respect of persons with God.
   
   12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;
   
   13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.

All creation suffers

MT said:So given that Romans 5:1-11 is written to believers, can we affirm as De Maria does that Romans 5:6 applies to all humanity without exception? 

Yes. And not just to all humanity but to all creation:

Romans 8:21-23

King James Version (KJV)

21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

The answer to that question is clearly no, since then we would have to apply virtually everything else in this passage to all of humanity. 

Not if you speak English.

Obviously when he says, us, we and our, that refers to believers.

And obviously when he says, "the ungodly", that refers to everything and everyone that is not divine. Everyone that is not God.

But if we were to do this, numerous absurdities would follow.

Of course. Because you want to exaggerate everything in order to create a nonsensical straw man you can knock down. But that is not truth. You simply endeavor to justify your errors.

Sincerely,

De Maria

Lent and the Redemptive Value in Suffering

Jesus fasted in the desert, 40 days

When Jesus walked with the Apostles, He was confronted by an objection:

Matthew 9:14 Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?

Jesus responded in this manner:

15 And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.

To this day, people wonder why we have to suffer.  The answer is given in Scripture:

1 Peter 4:1 Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin;

Thus, Scripture says that suffering is redemptive.  

Scripture also says:
1 Peter 2:21
For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:

Therefore, we are to suffer for the salvation of our brethren as Christ suffered for us.

Scripture says elsewhere:
Colossians 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is thechurch:

And again:
2 Corinthians 1:⁵For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
⁶And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.
⁷And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation

Therefore, the Catholic Teaching of the redemptive value of suffering is completely in line with Scripture.  And this is why, the Catholic Church expects us to fast and give up certain things during Lent.  In order that we may imitate Christ and unite ourselves to His suffering.