LESSON 19: DEATH, PARTICULAR JUDGMENT, AND PURGATORY

Lesson 19: Death, Particular Judgment, and Purgatory

1. What are the 4 last things?
The 4 last things are death, judgement, heaven, and hell.

DEATH

2. How many of the 4 last things does an atheist believe in?
The only last thing that an atheist believes in is death.

3. What is death?
Death is the moment of separation between the body and the soul. At the same time the will becomes unchangeable for all eternity. If a person died in the state of mortal sin, he will never repent. He will be sinning and hating God for all eternity.

If a person dies in the state of Sanctifying Grace, he will never sin again. He will love God for all eternity.

After death the soul is then judged and the body will decay.

4. What is reincarnation?
Reincarnation is a false belief which claims that after death the soul instead of going to hell, purgatory, or heaven enters into another living body in this world.

5. How do we know that reincarnation is false?
We know that reincarnation is false because the Catholic Church and the Bible clearly tell us that it is false. “It is appointed that human beings die once and after this comes judgment.” (Hebrews 9:27)

If you were to die this night, where would you go?

St John Bosco had a dream of one of the boys in his school. He dreamed that the youth had a sword hanging above his head that was held by a string that was about to break. He also saw a group of demons around the youth, who were crying out, “Break string, break, so that this youth dies. Since he is in the state of mortal sin, he will be condemned.” After having this dream, St. John Bosco placed under the youth’s pillow a note that read, “If you were to die this night, where would you go?” Don Bosco prayed for him. That night the teenager saw the note. He was not able to sleep. He realized that he was not ready for death. He was not in the state of Sanctifying Grace because of the mortal sin he had committed. He got up ands went to find Don Bosco. He confessed his sins, shedding tears. Shortly afterwards, the boy did not come to his morning classes. Tey went to his room to call him, and they found him dead. Having confessed his sins, the boy died in the state of Sanctifying Grace and was saved.

PARTICULAR JUDGMENT

6. What is the particular judgment?
The particular judgment is the judgment, which will be passed on each one of us immediately after death.
-Those who die in the state of grace will go to heaven, either directly or after passing through purgatory.
– Those who die in the state of mortal sin will go to hell. Because God judges the person through his conscience, the person will be deeply convinced of the rightness of the eternal punishment of hell.

Blessed Ana Maria Taigi (1769-1837)

Shortly after Anna Maria Taigi began to take very seriously her spiritual life there began to appear to her a golden globe, which became as a sun of matchless light as she grew in union with God. At the end of her life its splendor was brighter than several suns. In this light many things were made known to her by God, including what happens to people who had died. The miracle lasted 47 years. Until her death she looked into it solely for the glory of God. On one occasion she looked into the sun and saw the results of the particular judgments of those who had died during that day. She stated, “Very few, not as many as ten, went straight to heaven; many remained in purgatory, and those cast into hell were as numerous as flakes of snow in mid-winter.” Seeing this she prayed and made many sacrifices for the conversion of sinners and for the release of the souls in purgatory.

“He who spreads devotion to the rosary will be saved.”

“Alphonsus, King of Leon and Galicia, very much wanted all his servants to honor the Blessed Virgin by saying the Rosary. So he used to hang a large rosary on his belt and always wore it, but unfortunately never said it himself. Nevertheless his wearning it encouraged his courtiers to say the Rosary very devoutly.

“One day the king fell seriously ill and when he was given up for dead he found himself, in a vision, before the judgment seat of Our Lord. Many devils were there accusing him of all the sins he had committed and Our Lord as Sovereign Judge was just about to condemn him to hell when Our Lady appeared to intercede for him. She called for a pair of scales and had his sins placed in one of the balances and the rosary that he had always worn on the other scale, together with all the Rosaries that he had been said because of his example. It was found that the Rosaries weighted more than his sins.

“Looking at him with great kindness Our Lady said: “As a reward for this little honor that you paid me in wearing my Rosary, I have obtained a great grace for you from my Son. Your life will be spared for a few more years. See that you spend these years wisely and do penance.”

“When the King regained consciousness he cried out: “Blessed be the Rosary of the Most Holy Virgin Mary, by which I have been delivered from eternal damnation.”

“After he had recovered his health he spent the rest of his life in spreading devotion to the Holy Rosary and said it faithfully every day.” (The Secret of the Rosary, by St. Louis de Montfort)

St Louis de Montfort ended this story by noting that we should seek to get others to say the rosary. If we do so we “will then receive great graces on earth and eternal life later on.” John Paul II in his apostolic letter on the rosary noted the same thing. He spoke of the great apostle of the rosary, Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926) As a young man he heard a voice from heaven in the depths of his heart, “He who spreads devotion to the rosary will be saved.” As a result, he spent the rest of his life promoting the devout recitation of the rosary.

PURGATORY

7. How do we know that there is a purgatory?
-The Catholic Church defined that purgatory really exists, and that we can help those in purgatory by our prayers.
-Every day during the Eucharistic Prayer at Mass we pray for the souls in purgatory: “Remember our brothers and sisters who have gone to their rest in the hope of rising again; bring them and all the departed into the light of your presence.” (Eucharistic Prayer II)
-The truth concerning purgatory is also found in the Bible (E.g. 2 Maccabees 12:39-46; 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)

8. Who goes to purgatory?
Souls go to purgatory who died in the state of Grace, but:

• Have venial sins that they were never sorry for (The person will immediately repent of those venial sins at the moment of particular judgment, but temporal punishment will still remain); or
• Have not been purified by acts of love and penance for the temporal punishment due for their sins that have already been forgiven; or
• Have bad habits (vices) rooted in the soul, due to continually repeating a particular sin.

9. What is purgatory like?
-Purgatory is a place of “cleansing fire” that purifies those who are there, so that they can enter into heaven. They are suffering with Christ so that they can be glorified with Christ. (Cf. Romans 8:17)
-Nonetheless the greatest suffering is not that of the “cleansing fire,” but of the longing to see God.
– Purgatory is a place where no one sins, and everyone is a temple of the Holy Spirit. They love, pray, and worship God. We call them the “holy souls.” They are at peace.

Purgatory is thus essentially different from hell. In hell the souls are constantly sinning and are not in peace. Theologians say that the sufferings of purgatory are greater than any suffering in this world, but so are the moments of consolation greater than any joys in this world. The souls are consoled most by knowing that they will reach heaven.

10. Can the souls in purgatory pray for us?
Yes, they are able to pray for us, but cannot pray for themselves. We must pray for them

11. How can we help the souls in purgatory?
We help them reach heaven especially by having Masses celebrated for them. We can also help them reach heaven by our prayers and sacrifices, and by receiving indulgences for them.

“Eternal Rest grant unto them O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed through he mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.”

A PURGATORY STORY

On November 4, 1859 a holy nun named Sister Theresa Gesta died at the age of a62. She had lived a good life and was prepared for death. Twelve days after he death, a sister named Anna Felicia was about to enter the room where Sr. Theresa had worked. Sr Anna heard moans, which seemed t co come from the room. She opened the door and no one was there. But new moans returned, that were so clear, that she was filled with fear and cried out, “Jesus, Mary! What is this?” She then heard a suffering voice which said, “Oh, my God, how I suffer!” Sr. Anne recognized the voice of Sr. Theresa. Suddenly the whole hall was filled with smoke and Sister Theresa appeared, moving toward the door. Having almost reached the door, she said, “This is a sign of the mercy of God.” And saying that she put her hand against the door, leaving the wood burned with the stamp of her right hand. She then disappeared. Sister Anna cried out and other sisters came running. They were surprised at the smell of burnt wood.  Sister Anna told them what had happened and they all recognized the shape of Sr. Theresa’s hand, which was very small, on the door. They ran to the Church and spent the night praying for Sr. Theresa. The following day they all received Holy Communion for her.

The next night, when Sister Anna was going to her room, she heard the voice of Sr. Theresa. At the same time a heavenly light lit up her room. Sr. Theresa, with a very joyous voice said, “I depart for glory!” She vanished, and entered Heaven.