Catholic Apologetics Online

Questions and answers on Catholicism and Protestantism

Given from the Catholic Broadcasting Station 2SM Sydney Australia

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Man's death and judgment

912. Could you tell us, what this judgment is which men say takes place after death?

Yes. Whether you like it or not, you will still be you after death. Your soul, the very principle of your life, and that in you which can know and love, and be happy or miserable, is immortal. And the quality of the life awaiting you will be according to your deserts. The moment your soul leaves your body, it will be made aware of what it is, its value, its deeds, and its eternal lot. That is judgment.

913. Where is the Tribunal of Judgment?

That is a metaphorical expression. No material place enters into the question of judgment. We are always in God, and no one has to travel to find Him. And judgment occurs where God and the soul both exist. We live in God right through life without perceiving His presence, but at death a soul awakens to an awareness of that presence as a man becomes aware of things about him when he awakens from sleep. That thought is worth keeping in mind, and being made the rule of our conduct.

914. If you maintain a private judgment immediately after death, I fail to see why we should be judged twice.

The real difficulty occurs here. Sacred Scripture teaches us the fact of two judgments. That each soul is judged at once is evident from many references. Thus, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this, the judgment." Heb. IX., 27. St. Paul said, "I desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ." Phil. I., 23. He declared that, on his death, the just Judge would give him a crown of justice. 2 Timothy IV., 8. On the other hand, we know that Christ will come again with glory to judge all mankind. What is the reason for these two distinct judgments, one for each individual, and one for all men collectively? The first is to do justice to each individual at the end of his probation; the other is to do justice to Christ. At the Last Judgment, all shall see the justice of God. Men who publicly deny that there is a God will then publicly confess that there was a God after all, and to their cost. Those who deny God's Providence saying that sin does not matter, will see and admit that it did matter. Those who blaspheme, ridicule, and mock Christ before their fellow men will equally publicly bear witness to the glory of Christ. You can see, therefore, how the first individual judgment will decide the eternal fate of each soul, whilst the final and general judgment will mean the vindication of God's rights in the presence of all His creatures.

915. The fact remains, however, that we have to pass two judgments, according to Catholic dogma.

We have to be present at two judgments, but the second and general judgment is rather to be a manifestation of the results of the first. Man's chief concern is so to live and die that he may be able to pass the first individual and particular judgment successfully. The final general judgment is really a consequence of the social character of men and of religion. Life is common to mankind as a race, and should have a common conclusion. Again, at the particular judgment all is a question of the individual soul and God. Judgment takes place at death, but it is not publicly manifested. And our Lord has said that there is nothing hidden which shall not be revealed. The general judgment will be the justification of God in the sight of all creatures.

916. Men have said that there is no occasion to fear death, and that we should banish a fear which causes inability to get any happiness in this world.

Whatever men may say, there always will be a natural dread of death. But good people soon take a happy and supernatural view of death, as they accept it from the hands of God. And the thought of death does not rob us of all happiness in this world. There is enough lawful happiness without sinning to get more. And sin alone can give a really miserable view of death. As the conclusion of an evil life, death is an evil thing. As the conclusion of a good life, it is a glorious and most desirable event. If we are not afraid of sin, we will be afraid of death. If we are afraid of sin, we will not be afraid of death. St. Francis of Assisi praised that death which those who love the world so fear, and he called upon her by name, saying, "Death, my sister, welcome be thou." We should not, then, banish the thought of death. We should let the thought of death enkindle a fear of sin, and of nothing else. Holy Scripture rightly warns us, "Remember thy last end, and thou shalt never sin."

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