Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults
Hi all! While we will not be meeting on Sunday, I will be on Google Meet for anyone who wants to talk about this topic on Sunday, March 29 from 10-11:30. Here is the link to our Google Meet https://meet.google.com/neb-ddqq-jig. I look forward to 'seeing you'!
If you can not log in to do a virtual chat here is the information to call in
+1 567-234-0136 PIN: 550 871 865#
We will do the same thing next Sunday, April 5.
Four Last Things
Death is one of my least favorite subjects. I wish I could skip over that part and live forever, but to no avail I know one day I will join my family in heaven. I hate talking about it, because it is so final. There is no coming back from it, there is no carrying on and seeing what will be of my family, it is final. And it is so hard for those of us here on Earth to handle because we lost that special someone that was near and dear to our hearts.
In the Catholic Church we embrace death because we know that we are leaving Earth and joining God in Heaven and we will be reunited with our family and friends in the best place.
In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve (it always stems back to them!) He gave them a choice to live eternally in the Garden of Eden, but do not eat from the fruit of the tree. As we all know they chose the fruit, were asked to leave the Garden and at that time God said you will not live forever. Sin came into play and as a consequence death too came of that free will decision.
The Church divides death into four different sections: judgement, purgatory, hell, and heaven.
Let's look at judgement. When we die we first enter the phase of judgement. In both Creeds it states that "he will come to judge the living and the dead" and this simply means that once you have passed the Earthly life, you will be met and your faith and works will be judged. How were you to the ones you loved and how did you live your life. The Catechism states that you will be rewarded for your faith and works, which enters you into heaven, or you might have to enter into a state of purification, purgatory, or you might enter hell, all depending on you lived your life here on Earth.
In the Catholic Church we embrace death because we know that we are leaving Earth and joining God in Heaven and we will be reunited with our family and friends in the best place.
In the beginning when God created Adam and Eve (it always stems back to them!) He gave them a choice to live eternally in the Garden of Eden, but do not eat from the fruit of the tree. As we all know they chose the fruit, were asked to leave the Garden and at that time God said you will not live forever. Sin came into play and as a consequence death too came of that free will decision.
The Church divides death into four different sections: judgement, purgatory, hell, and heaven.
Let's look at judgement. When we die we first enter the phase of judgement. In both Creeds it states that "he will come to judge the living and the dead" and this simply means that once you have passed the Earthly life, you will be met and your faith and works will be judged. How were you to the ones you loved and how did you live your life. The Catechism states that you will be rewarded for your faith and works, which enters you into heaven, or you might have to enter into a state of purification, purgatory, or you might enter hell, all depending on you lived your life here on Earth.
The next part is purgatory. Purgatory is a place where you are purified and for the people here on Earth to be praying for the cleansing of your soul. It is not a permanent place to be, and know that as you move through the judgement and purification, you will be moved into Heaven. This is a time for you to spend a little more time getting to know God and His love for you. As the author C.S. Lewis states, it is a time to be in the washroom and be cleaned by God. Purgatory is not a place to be feared, but rather welcomed because of the time you get to be cleaned and purified by God and the ones who loved you here still on Earth.
Heaven is the next part. The Catechism states that Heaven is the final resting place with God, Jesus, Mary and all the angels and saints that have gone before you. You immediately reach Heaven if you are in good terms with God and those you are leaving behind here on Earth. If you die at peace with dying and leaving behind everyone, and you know that you lived a life of good faith and works, then entering Heaven will be a smooth transition.
The final part is Hell. Hell is when you have a broken relationship with God and you do not believe that He exists or that He loves you. If you spend your life not believing in God, but at the last moment of your life accept Him and His love, then you will move into Purgatory, and with the prayers and purifying that you will experience in Purgatory you will not immediately go into Hell. Know that God does not predestine anyone to go to Hell, but rather it is our choice if we want to be in Communion with God or not.
These are heavy subjects, but important to discuss. Fr. Chuck will be giving this presentation, so please bring your questions to ask!
Heaven is the next part. The Catechism states that Heaven is the final resting place with God, Jesus, Mary and all the angels and saints that have gone before you. You immediately reach Heaven if you are in good terms with God and those you are leaving behind here on Earth. If you die at peace with dying and leaving behind everyone, and you know that you lived a life of good faith and works, then entering Heaven will be a smooth transition.
The final part is Hell. Hell is when you have a broken relationship with God and you do not believe that He exists or that He loves you. If you spend your life not believing in God, but at the last moment of your life accept Him and His love, then you will move into Purgatory, and with the prayers and purifying that you will experience in Purgatory you will not immediately go into Hell. Know that God does not predestine anyone to go to Hell, but rather it is our choice if we want to be in Communion with God or not.
These are heavy subjects, but important to discuss. Fr. Chuck will be giving this presentation, so please bring your questions to ask!
