The Particular Judgment

The Particular Judgment
 

Submitted by Thomas Stidl

         “Space the final frontier”.  How many times have we heard that phrase?  With apologies to Captain James Kirk and all trekies, in actuality, there is a different frontier ahead for all of us.  It goes something like this.  Death, the final frontier.  This continues the voyage of our human soul.  Its eternal mission is to know, love and serve God on earth and to be happily united with Him forever in Heaven.

         So what does a particular judgment have to do with all of this?  What is a Particular Judgment?  The Catholic Catechism explains the Particular Judgment as meeting of the soul with God to receive the just deserts in accordance with the person’s faith and works accomplished in this physical life.  This can include everlasting damnation, or entrance into heaven either immediately or through purification in Purgatory.  We are all judged on our love or lack of love.  During this judgment we experience a partial glimpse of the Beatific Vision, Christ glorified.

         So how can a soul enter Heaven immediately?  Some people lead lives of great sacrifice and suffering.  They accept these willingly and live a life of Purgatory here on earth.  They offer prayers and the merits of their suffering for others, especially the deceased to expiate the temporal punishment of the sins of others.  By doing this they expiate the punishment of their own sins.  They commit acts of love for others as well as themselves.  An example of this love is martyrdom for their faith.

         Some souls will need a time of purification in Purgatory.  The flames of Purgatory are flames of love sent to purify souls of all sin and sinful inclinations.  This is why the Church Militant (those of us on earth) offers prayers for the deceased in Purgatory (the Church Suffering) such as the Rosary and the Divine Chaplet of Mercy.  To make our loved ones stay extremely short, we should recite the prayer dictated by Jesus to Saint Gertrude.  This prayer is detailed in my article, “Pandemic Practices”.

         The last option, eternal damnation, is always a possibility.  All Catholics should set aside some prayer time for those hardened souls that they will reach out to God for Divine Mercy even at the moment of death.  Remember what Our Lady told the children at Fatima, many souls go to hell because thy have no one to pray for them.  The Forgiving Father is always is looking for the slightest move in his direction and he will accomplish the rest and save that soul from hell.  All of us learned that lesson from Jesus in the parable of the Prodigal Son.  God loves us so much and does not wish anyone to be in eternal damnation.

         So please continue to pray that all souls may be in heaven united with God.  Remember ‘Eye has not seen, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into heart of mankind what God has prepared for those who love him.’

         Until next time, Laus Tibi, Christe.  Deo Gratias.  Praise be to God.  See you in Paradise.