Death, Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

Most people do not like to think about death.

It can be a sad time if we see it as the end of person’s life
rather than the beginning of their new life with Christ.
At the time of our death, our soul and body separate and we
undergo a personal or particular judgment in which we stand
before the God of the universe
and receive either the eternal reward of Heaven or the eternal
punishment of Hell.
DEATH

Death is, maybe, the least thing we want. Simply

because “we have more to accomplish” mindset
exists.
When we die, or more correctly, “fall asleep in the
Lord” (1Thes. 4:14), we reverently bury the body of
the one who has passed from this life to the next.
While the body is buried, as was the body of the
Lord Jesus, the soul goes on to judgement.
This judgement is before the Lord
and he judges us on our faithfulness to
the Gospel and the work that follows
from that faithfulness. Actually, we
judge ourselves by how we lived our
lives, how well we tried to conform
our lives to the life of Jesus.
The Catholic Church teaches that death is not
the end. When someone dies, it is only their
physical body that stops living. The eternal part
of a person, the soul, may go to Heaven or
Purgatory. Purgatory is where the souls with
unforgiven sins will go, so that they can be
purified and reach Heaven.
Simply put, Heaven and Hell are a
state of either eternal happiness
with God or eternal separation
from Him, they are not physical
locations. Let’s look at each one a
little deeper.
HEAVEN
Heaven – The Catechism says that
“Heaven is the ultimate end and
fulfillment of the deepest human
longings, the state of supreme,
definitive happiness.” (ccc 1024)
Heaven is generally
considered the ultimate
goal of human life, where
the soul finds its true
home and fulfilment in
union with God for all
eternity.
Qualification for Entry:
 Christians typically believe that
faith in Jesus Christ as the savior
is central to gaining entry into
heaven. While good works and
moral behavior are valued, they
are often viewed as a response to
faith rather than a means of
earning salvation.
HELL
The Catechism of the Catholic
Church describes hell as "the
state of definitive self-exclusion
from communion with God and
the blessed." It's seen as the
ultimate consequence of freely
chosen actions that are contrary
to the love and will of God.
HELL
We cannot be united with God unless we
freely choose to love Him. But we cannot
love God if we gravely (seriously – mortal)
sin against Him. (CCC 1033) Therefore,
hell is living eternity completely separated
from God – that means forever!
the Catholic Church also emphasizes
God's mercy and the possibility of
repentance even until the moment of
death. The hope is that through
sincere repentance and God's grace,
individuals can turn away from sin
and be reconciled with God, thereby
avoiding the eternal separation of
hell.
 God gives us free will, and we have the
freedom to love God or reject God. He
doesn’t want anyone to suffer in hell, but
some will choose to reject God and by
doing that they choose eternal punishment.
And because God is a just God, He will
allow them the consequence of their choice.
PURGATORY
Purgatory It is seen as a
temporary state or
process of purification for
souls that are not fully
cleansed of sins but are
not condemned to hell.
Purgatory is
considered a place of
purification before
entering into the
fullness of heaven.
The Catholic Church
teaches that the living
faithful can assist the
souls in purgatory through
prayers, Masses,
almsgiving, and other acts
of piety.
The souls in purgatory along with
the saints and angels are always
praying for us. And we should
always be praying for those in
purgatory.
There are some people in
purgatory that have been there
since the beginning of time
because they have no one to
pray for them. There are some
people that are only one prayer
or one Mass away from Heaven.
Key concepts:
Heaven: Everlasting happiness with God and with
the Virgin Mary and all the Angels and Saints
Purgatory: A Final purification from sin after death,
which one may need before entry into Heaven
Hell: Everlasting separation from God, reserved for
those who freely and consciously reject Him.
Particular Judgment
Particular judgment is that after
someone dies, their soul gets judged by
God. This judgment decides where the
person's soul will go forever. It's called
"particular" because it's just for that one
person and looks at everything they did
and thought during their life.
the General Judgment is
distinguished from the particular
judgment, which occurs at the
moment of each individual's
death. At the particular judgment,
the soul is judged immediately
after death and sent to either
heaven, hell, or purgatory.
The General Judgment, on
the other hand, involves the
public and universal
manifestation of God's
judgment for all humanity.
It will happen at the end of the
world, after all dead people are
brought back to life. This judgment
is thought to be a big moment, with
Jesus returning, good people being
separated from bad people, and
God showing His power over
everything.
 We appreciate death and
judgment if we had lived a
good life.
Mercy
Mercy is the virtue that guides us
to offer assistance to a person
suffering either physically or
spiritually.
Works of Mercy
In religious terms, a "work" is simply a
good action—something you do.
Our Christian heritage lists 14 traditional
"works."
7 CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY
1. To feed the hungry
2. To give drink to the thirsty
3. To clothe the naked
4. To shelter the homeless
5. To visit the sick
6. To visit those in prison
7. To bury the dead
Corporal Works of Mercy:
kind acts by which we help
our neighbors with their
material and physical needs.
1.To feed the hungry;
Feeding the hungry is the act of providing
food to those who don't have enough to eat.
By feeding the hungry, you're addressing a
basic human need and helping to ensure
that everyone has access to nutritious food.
2. To give drink to the thirsty;
Giving drink to the thirsty involves
providing clean and safe drinking water
to those who don't have access to it. By
quenching the thirst of others, you're
addressing a fundamental human need
and promoting health and well-being.
3. To clothe the naked;
To clothe the naked means to provide clothing
for those who don't have adequate clothing to
cover themselves. By clothing the naked,
you're helping to address a basic human need
for warmth, protection, and dignity, showing
compassion and solidarity with those who are
less fortunate.
4. To shelter the homeless;
Sheltering the homeless involves providing
a safe and secure place for those who don't
have a home to stay. It's an act of
compassion and solidarity, showing care and
support for those who are experiencing
hardship and homelessness.
5. To visit the sick;
Visiting the sick is an act of kindness and
compassion where you go see someone who is
unwell to offer them support, comfort, and
encouragement It's a way to show love and
concern for others, fulfilling the biblical
injunction to "love your neighbour as yourself."
6. To visit those in prison;
Visiting those in prison involves reaching
out to individuals who are incarcerated to
offer them support, companionship, and
hope. This act of compassion can provide
emotional and spiritual encouragement to
those who may feel isolated or forgotten.
7. To bury the dead.
Burying the dead is the act of respectfully laying to
rest those who have passed away. It also includes
comforting and supporting the loved ones of the
deceased during their time of grief. Burying the
dead is a way to honor and remember the person
who has passed, acknowledging their life and the
impact they had on others.
 REFLECTION
As we celebrate Lent this year, we are uniquely
called to reflect on how we put faith into action in our
lives through works of mercy. Reflect on the spiritual
works of mercy and what they might mean for you in
your life. The corporal works of mercy are ways for
us to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.