The Month of November: Thoughts on the "Last Things"

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The Catholic Church dedicates each month of the year to a particular devotion or consideration. Traditionally, the month of November is dedicated to praying for the deceased that are undergoing the final purification, or Purgatory. One of the oldest and most essential doctrinal teachings of the Church concerns what we have called ‘the last things’: judgment, heaven, hell, and purgatory. I always try to emphasize these essential and mandatory doctrinal teaching during this month of November. They are always relevant, but not always comfortable for people.

 

Every human being will be judged by God, both at the instant of death (the particular judgment), and when the Lord comes again in glory (the general judgment). Some very true, and very simple things to remember:

God is perfectly merciful. Jesus, the Son of God, suffered and died so that each and every one of us can be happy in Heaven forever. God wills our salvation more than we ever could. Mercy is for now, while we are still on this earth.

God is perfectly just. In the end, as Jesus say, “every penny will be paid.” We must answer for all of our sins, sins of commission and sins of omission. This means the sins that we have not repented of, the guilt of which is still on our soul at the moment of death. Justice can begin in this life, to be sure, but the ultimate justice is extracted from the moment we pass from time into eternity.

The spiritually and morally intelligent way to live is in a state of grace. As Catholics that means we go to the sacrament of Confession or Reconciliation (Penance) frequently, confessing at least any and all serious or mortal sins we are conscious of. Live well so as to die well.

Purgatory is real. It is part of the sacred deposit of the doctrine of the faith. I think many people think it’s inconvenient, however. Unless the soul is perfect, it cannot bear to stand in the immediate presence of God, the Light is simply too bright. Therefore both remission of guilt and purification of the temporal punishment due to sin is necessary—in this life, or the next. Purgatory is the final purification. It is truly the mercy of God. It is not a negative thing. It is incredibly positive. Without it there is only absolute spiritual and moral perfection which = Heaven; or not, which = hell. Purgatory is a great blessing and the mercy of God.

 

I strongly recommend that this November each of us read the Catechism of the Catholic Church #992-1050. This will help to give you a better understanding of the Church’s teaching on “The Last Things”: Judgment, purgatory, heaven, and hell. My series “Heaven and Hell”, which is available on both DVD and CD, directly deals with these subjects.

 

Sometimes reality disturbs people. In fact “disturbed people” can be said to be out of touch with reality. The truth is not negative, so long as you accept it and embrace it, then live in accordance with it. It not, then it is extremely disturbing, upsetting, and unsettling. No amount of wishing, imagining, or denying will ever make the realities of judgment, purgatory, heaven, or hell go away. The truth is what it is, whether we believe it or not, like it or not, accept it or not. In the Catholic Church belief in the last things is a matter of faith. It isn’t optional. We don’t have to necessarily understand it, but we do have to believe it. “We walk by faith, not by sight.” Nonetheless, if you give the assent of faith, then you will begin to have some light to understand better too. Never perfectly in this life, but one day more beautifully and more perfectly than you could ever imagine.

 

For now let’s pray for the souls in Purgatory, and ask them to pray for us. It is a spiritual work of mercy and highly intelligent to do so.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi, SOLT, STD