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

 

Christmas Message from Fr. John Corapi

A CHRISTMAS MESSAGE FROM FR. CORAPI

Christmas is one of the greatest of our religious feasts in the Catholic and Christian world. It is, in itself, a most beautiful and joyous time. Existentially, it is a paradox, however, because large numbers of people suffer terribly at this time of year. Why? I suppose there are a lot of reasons, but one is that depression - one of the Enemy's greatest weapons - gets the better of many of us. The world can be a cold place, and rejection and isolation in their various forms take a terrible toll on humanity.

This Christmas, make it a goal to educate yourself and your family on the weapons of the Enemy. The effects of Immortal Combat are perhaps even more evident during this season, as the opportunistic Enemy exploits the weeknesses of the lonely and depressed. Learn how to combat the Enemy with love. Go out of your way to radiate God's love to someone who is most in need of it. Love is like fire. It illuminates the darkness and transmits heat to those around it.
God bless you and yours this Christmas, and forever,

Fr. John Corapi

The Battle Between Good and Evil: an Update from Fr. Corapi

As Halloween approaches, we are surrounded by themes of the occult, ghosts, demons, curses, and hauntings. Demonic and occult themes permeate the media at this time of year. Most of this material is pure fiction, yet the part that is not fiction is an acknowledgment that angels and demons exist.

One cannot understand reality if one brackets out a large portion of reality - the preternatural order (angels and demons). If you try to arrive at valid conclusions concerning reality, but have left out a good part of that reality you are engaged in an exercise in futility. So many things today can only be understood in the light of this spiritual reality. Have you ever wondered why so many apparently educated and intelligent people just don't get it, especially with respect to such life and death matters as abortion?

There is a battle that goes on in the spiritual order between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, "the adversary." This battle between cosmic good and evil, between angels and demons, has man caught in the crosshairs. Man is an active player in his own salvation. We need the help of our allies the angels. To fail to enlist their help is reckless. To fail to realize the reality of the enemy forces, the demonic legions, can be ultimately and eternally fatal.

We are at war and our battle is not against flesh and blood, as St. Paul warns us in Ephesians 6. The battle between good and evil, truth and lies, life and death involves these angelic legions - good and evil. We are soldiers in God's army, like it or not, believe it or not. We must be aware of these fundamental teachings, learn them, and live in accordance with them.

God bless you,

Fr. John Corapi