On the Last Things.
580. What does God command in Scripture as a particularly effective means to avoid sin?
In Scripture, God recommends the remembrance of the last things as a particularly effective means to avoid sin, admonishing us: “In all your works, remember your last things, and you will never sin.”
581. What are the last things?
The last things are those events that will happen to a person at the end: namely, death, judgment, hell, and heaven. However, before heaven, there may also be purgatory after judgment.
582. What should we especially remind ourselves about death?
We should particularly remind ourselves that death is the punishment for sin, that it is the moment upon which eternity depends, such that after death, there is no longer any opportunity for repentance or merit, and that we do not know when or how we will die.
583. What happens to the soul immediately after death?
Immediately after death, the soul stands before the tribunal of Christ for the particular judgment.
584. What is the particular judgment of the soul about?
At the particular judgment, the soul will be judged on everything: thoughts, words, deeds, and the omission of good actions. This judgment will be confirmed at the general judgment, which serves as a public revelation of the verdict of the particular judgment.
585. What happens to the soul after the particular judgment?
After the particular judgment:
- If the soul lacks grace due to mortal sin, it immediately goes to hell.
- If it is in a state of grace and free from all venial sins and temporal punishment, it immediately enters heaven.
- If it is in a state of grace but still has venial sins or unpaid temporal punishment, it goes to purgatory until it fully
satisfies God's justice.
586. What will happen to the damned in hell?
In hell, which Scripture also calls the abyss or Gehenna, the damned endure eternal torment alongside evil spirits. Before the general judgment, this torment is endured only by the soul; after the general judgment, it is endured by both the soul and the body.
587. What are the torments of the damned?
The torments of the damned include:
- The eternal deprivation of seeing God.
- The most horrifying pains of hellfire, which is a real fire that burns but does not destroy. Torments from darkness,
remorse of conscience, unspeakable sorrow, and despair. Suffering from the company of demons and other damned
souls.
588. Is the punishment of being deprived of God the same for everyone?
The punishment of being deprived of God is the same for all. However, other punishments and torments differ according to the number and gravity of sins.
589. What happens to the soul in purgatory?
In purgatory, the soul endures temporal punishment for sins that were not fully atoned for during life until it fully satisfies God's justice and enters heaven.
590. What torments does the soul suffer in purgatory?
The soul suffers from the pain of being unable to see God and also endures other severe punishments.
591. Are the temporal punishments in purgatory the same for everyone?
The temporal punishments in purgatory differ in severity, depending on the nature and degree of the sins being atoned for. Furthermore, these punishments can be shortened or alleviated through assistance offered to the souls.
592. Will purgatory end after the Last Judgment?
Purgatory will end after the Last Judgment. At that time, God's justice will be satisfied for all souls still in purgatory, and they will all enter heaven.
593. What happens to the souls in heaven?
In heaven, the souls of the righteous enjoy the vision of God face-to-face before the Last Judgment without their bodies, and after the Last Judgment with their bodies. They experience eternal happiness without fear or the presence of any evil, in the company of Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and all the saints.
594. Do all saints in heaven experience the same degree of eternal happiness?
Not all saints in heaven experience the same degree of eternal happiness; some enjoy it to a lesser degree, while others enjoy it to a greater extent.
595. What is the cause of this difference?
The difference arises because saints are admitted to the vision of God face-to-face through the light of glory. God grants this light to each one according to their dignity and grace: to angels based on their nature, and to humans based on their merits. Yet all, though unequal in the light of glory, are perfectly happy.
